BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has given his predictions for this weekend’s Premier League matches. He has Newcastle losing 2-0 at home to Chelsea. No surprise there.
Here is some of Lawro’s write-up of the match:
Newcastle will be awkward, perhaps even more so than usual, after their non-performance in their defeat at Southampton last time out. Magpies boss Steve Bruce will try to make them much tighter, and they will have to be to keep Chelsea out.
Frank Lampard’s side were just hitting their stride before the international break, especially in attack – they created so many chances in their win over Sheffield United.
Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz are out of this game but that would still allow the Blues to name pretty much the same team that beat the Blades. At the back, Thiago Silva is a doubt because he has only just got back from international duty, but I’d still expect Chelsea to win comfortably.
Awkward is a strange word to describe Newcastle’s display at Southampton. That performance was a calamity after two excellent results at Wolves and against Everton. The fact that this team cannot remain consistent is very frustrating.
The coaching staff and players need to put in a competent display Saturday. A result is very unlikely against this Chelsea side who have won their last four in all competitions and not lost since September.
Chelsea, as generally is the case, will be able to field a very strong team despite a few missing players. Christian Pulisic and Thiago Silva are almost certain to miss Saturday’s match.
The latest we’ve heard is that the outstanding young German Kai Havertz has a chance for tomorrow. Frank Lampard confirmed during his press conference the 21-year-old is back training after a period of self-isolation due to Covid-19.
As for Newcastle, we’ll have to get an injury update from Steve Bruce as to who will be available. Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie are back in training though tomorrow is likely too soon.
That is probably also the case for Callum Wilson, who suffered his hamstring injury two weeks ago. Then there’s Dwight Gayle, Martin Dubravka, Ryan Fraser, and Paul Dummett who won’t be available.
Tomorrow is about a reaction more than a result. The following four fixtures are where we desperately need to pick up points. Hopefully, we can put in a competent performance against the Blues with what will likely be a makeshift team.
Maybe we can even perform another smash and grab miracle like in this fixture last year.
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21 comments so far
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:20 AM
Comment #1Jacobs is saying he has deleted anything.
What this clown needs to understand is he has been giving by a PL source private and confidential information which is a breach.
Whoever is the whistle blower (nice hibbit) then he or she is breaking rules about releasing information of a totally confidential process needs to be held accountable
Optimistic prime
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:21 AM
Comment #2Someone ask Lawro how Bruce makes us tighter?
10 at the back?
Optimistic prime
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:25 AM
Comment #3Mund
I disagree, they should keep releasing info imo.
Its only damaging to the powers that be at the PL.
Might bring about looking into the governance of the PL sooner.
Whoever has leaked the Big Picture then this letter has done Nufc a favour, maybe unintentionally but its not a negative.
Optimistic prime
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:25 AM
Comment #4Mund..
I’m sure some nice Twitter user will have a copy to share with Ben
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:28 AM
Comment #5repost …
ive been posting on here since december 2017 , someone mentioned when the takeover happens the blog will be bubbling be nice to see some of these lads back on here …
Lascelles sells sea shells by the sea shore
jesperfuglsang – capt’n awesome of the lemon crew. fog on the tyne, Slank, midweek weekend, YoungMag :P, Vask , SecretSausage , PureGeordie , Frank pingles come sock, RUNAWAY777 , Binney , toontaff2 , toontaff2 ,kimbo, manxpie ,Transfer Sage , magic hat, Blofal, , to name but a few maybe some are still posting under different names ? …
Not another deJong
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:29 AM
Comment #6IMO the illusion of attacking football talked about by Bruce and ex-footballers is due to their out dated perspective.
Both Bruce and Savage gave some detail to their opinion in the past week or so, our Manager explained his tactics as wanting the team to get the ball to the front players quickly and then play from their. The blonde booffon said that he would expect his ex-boss to be giving the same instructions to his current players, that they should get the ball to the attacking players as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, as we can see, the game has moved on and attacking is now defined as possession, counter attack or high press. The current thinking really is about the transition of possession and being able to quickly establish the opportunity to shot on goal once the ball is recovered.
The difference between the modern game and that played by many of the current pundits is very evident by their opinion expressed on NUFC.
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:29 AM
Comment #7repost 2 …
my very first post , how ironic pmsl …
geordietom
Dec 16, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Comment #104
hi lads and lasses. been watching the blog for weeks ( if not months ) like all of us toon fans we only want to know about the take over ect . in fact its deeing me heed in. palace just scored by the way … anyway stop the in fighting ffs . sit back enjoy the ride after all we are NEWCASTLE UNITED
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:29 AM
Comment #8OP
I agree more leaks would help but to be honest there’s been enough leaks that’s damning and tbf I can’t believe they got away with it or I should say have so far.
During the takeover when the papers were with the league the amount of leaks of confidential information was shocking but not once did that get mentioned in the media or anything. Its gone under the radar until now.
With the other leaks like project big picture it’s IMO that’s from DeMarco and Co
Optimistic prime
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:29 AM
Comment #9On the Rafa interview.
Don’t think I’d want Rafa as manager after a potential takeover.
I’d like to see him as DOF and oversee the complete overhaul of academy training facilities etc.
Getting ahead of the game a bit but with the talk atm and his interview
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:30 AM
Comment #10Sing …
defo a blast from the past mate …
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:31 AM
Comment #11OP
Anything from the likes of Jacobs and Dicky Keys that they try to delete are all screen shorted. Dicky Keys tried deleting a lot about his mate Hoffman but fans where all over that and have all the tweets he deleted
Northumbrian
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:32 AM
Comment #12https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/11/blogs/premier-league/newcastle-united-mark-douglas-discusses-the-foi-request-made-regarding-the-proposed-takeover-newcastle-united-newcastle-takeover-mark-douglas-the-chronicle/
A different view of why pif declined arbitration.
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:32 AM
Comment #13Tom haha that posts sums it up on the blog that nowt changes lol
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:34 AM
Comment #14Mark Douglas
“The problem you’ve probably got with the government and their relationship with Saudi Arabia is that there are so many different layers of complexity – there’s a lot of diplomacy between the UK and Saudi Arabia and probably a lot of it is very, very sort of opaque, I would think.
“I think a lot of things that are said in unofficial channels [are things] it won’t necessarily want to come out.
“I think that’s probably, in the end, why this group didn’t want to go to arbitration, because they felt that it might drag the kingdom of Saudi Arabia into things that perhaps they don’t want to play out in an open court.”
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:38 AM
Comment #15Hoffman will be screaming at Masters this morning…
“Call a plumber …these pipes are about to burst”.
hibbit
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:44 AM
Comment #16sing i agree about Reilly, always spot on with his breaking news,
Not another deJong
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #17https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000pjtm
Rafa Benitez last night
Moonraker15
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Comment #18Not a word on SSN about the takeover situation! Strange, I thought they’d be all over it!
hibbit
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Comment #19Moonraker15 sky and their american owner are in bed with the pl and won’t rock the boat,
SuperShearer
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:58 AM
Comment #20I hate to say it – and hope I’m proved wrong – but this to me is all just noise.
The PIF have said nothing since July. The PL clearly don’t want this takeover to go through – they’ve waved others through without batting an eyelid.
There’s about 6 weeks until the January Transfer window opens – I can’t be the only one thinking this is MA’s clever ploy to say “I can’t invest in something I’m actively looking to sell.”
Due to COVID the PL’s return on investment has massively dropped – add to that the Big Six desperately trying to gain more control or even leave the league and, being honest, if I were the PIF I think I would be walking away.
Like I say – I PRAY I am proven wrong but that’s just my two cents.
hibbit
Nov 20, 2020 at 9:58 AM
Comment #21bus