Here is my team prediction for today’s pivotal match against Watford. It has four changes from the Cambridge defeat with a debut for Chris Wood.
Eddie Howe fielded his strongest available side for Cambridge. An inability to finish a multitude of chances doomed Newcastle to an early FA Cup exit.
A few more options come into play today. Big Chris Wood signed from Burnley on Thursday. He was brought in to fill the void while Callum Wilson recovers. Today is a perfect opportunity for him to introduce himself to a packed St. James’ Park.
Jamaal Lascelles is available so he’s likely to slot straight back in. Paul Dummett could be ready for his season debut and provides more defensive stability on the left than Matt Ritchie.
The full scope of who Howe has available is unknown. He confirmed that Covid is still impacting his team selection. Though we do know Wilson, Federico Fernandez, and Isaac Hayden are out with long-term injuries.
Watford boss Claudio Ranieri has a bit of a selection crisis on his hands. He has numerous players out injured or away at the Africa Cup of Nations including star Ismaila Sarr. However, Emmanuel Dennis is available after missing the FA Cup with a knock.
Newcastle Injuries
Callum Wilson (calf), Federico Fernandez (thigh), Isaac Hayden (knee), Javier Manquillo (suspension), Jamal Lewis (hamstring – late fitness test), Martin Dubravka (toe – late fitness test), Karl Darlow (status unknown), Dwight Gayle (status unknown), Ciaran Clark (status unknown)
Watford Injuries
Nicolas Nkoulou (hamstring), Peter Etebo (knee), Kwadwo Baah (ankle), Ismaila Sarr (knee/international duty), Imran Louza (international duty), Adam Masina (international duty), William Troost-Ekong (international duty), Ben Foster (groin – late fitness test), Christian Kabasele (calf – late fitness test), Kiko Femenia (hamstring – late fitness test)
Newcastle fans are confident and hopeful as 75% are predicting a win. Three points would take us out of the relegation places at least until Tuesday.
Victory is really the only acceptable result. There will come a time when you run out of must-win chances. This one is as big as they come.
31 comments so far
The Dyslexic God
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:35 AM
Comment #1hello
The Dyslexic God
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Comment #2-49c in Kiruna was the worst I did, even the Antarctica ice shelf was warmer than that when I visited. Of course, being a Geordie, I just wore a mankini and layers of winter survival gear.
TomaKaThor
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Comment #3I hope to god it’s Dummett and not Ritchie
The Dyslexic God
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:38 AM
Comment #4Martoon went for a free curry and didn’t take my sister!
DubaiMicky
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:38 AM
Comment #5Fenham, while I was there I also met some reprobate from here too.
Mucho drinks were consumed!
Mund
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:40 AM
Comment #6Get Italian Football News
@_GIFN
·
27m
Newcastle United are ready to make a move for Atalanta’s Robin Gosens, claim Sky Italia. The player has agreed personal terms and he wants the move this month.
Davas28
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Comment #7I’ve also got Dennis in my team. I was going to drop him but I’m not very good at fpl (3rd bottom in div 2) so thought he’d likely get a hat trick of I did, so, reverse logic I kept him in and will gladly take the hit if he fails to score.
magpie6699
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:44 AM
Comment #8On a totally different and irrelevant note, we watched an episode of Death in Paradise the other night. The actress Juliet Stevenson was in it. I’m sure she must be Amanda Staveley’s mother / sister.
Fenham to Chalfont
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:46 AM
Comment #9Micky,
Aye I bet drinks were involved too lol…
It’s crackers when you are in a random bar and yiu hear another Geordie voice, happens so much mate. I remember once in Thailand on Koh Pip (with the missus lol)i I heard a Geordie voice, turned around and it was my cousin from Blakelaw who I’d not seen in over 8 or so years. Me missus that day then realised how much Geordies can drink. Find memory that one 🙂
Fenham to Chalfont
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Comment #10Koh Pipi*
jane
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Comment #11i see what you mean
https://imaging.broadway.com/images/square-11/w800/112342-12.jpg
Not another deJong
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:48 AM
Comment #12I hope we are not returning to Hoofball
jane
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:50 AM
Comment #13free Novak again
jane
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:52 AM
Comment #14i like Australia and australians but their government is awful.
Fenham to Chalfont
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:53 AM
Comment #15Surely Dummet won’t start, he won’t be 100% match fit as he’s been out for so long? He needs a few sub appearances before he can start surely?
Then again it’s only against Watford (no disrespect Watford) so we will be doing most the attacking so it may potentially be ok to start? Hmm?
DubaiMicky
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:53 AM
Comment #16Fenham, I agree, in every expat bar i think I’ve ever been to more than a couple of times, you hear a Northern (Boro upwards) accent.
I think it’s cos of our seafaring ancestors.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:56 AM
Comment #17Jane – Djokovic has been freed? Or you want him to be freed?
He was granted a visa based on an exemption that he wasn’t entitled to. The first cancellation was just because immigration officials failed to follow the correct protocol. He still isn’t eligible for a Visa based on Australian immigration rules.
He should be treated the same as anyone else would in the situation and deported. Rules should be applied fairly.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Comment #18I like the squad above. Obviously would prefer changes but if those players are unavailable, that’s probably our best starting 11 right now. Hope there aren’t more unknown issues with players.
Maybe Dummett on the bench? Would be good to see.
NY Mag
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Comment #19Jane,
You seem to have a real “thing” about Novak…..I don’t know the details.
What’s you’re concern?
The Dyslexic God
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:59 AM
Comment #20If fit, put Dummett in for 60 mins
NY Mag
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:59 AM
Comment #21Your not you’re…..for the grammar police 🙂
The Dyslexic God
Jan 15, 2022 at 10:59 AM
Comment #22Then pull him before he gets injured
The Dyslexic God
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:02 AM
Comment #23NY Mag, there are a few dyslexics on here (not me), so I never pull anyone up on their spelling. I wish other posters would stop the practice and acknowledge that as long as you can understand the post, the odd misspell is ok.
Fenham to Chalfont
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:02 AM
Comment #24Micky
We are vikings mate (gan yem = going home it’s Nordic) a lot of Geordie dialect is Nordic as the Vikings settled in and around Newcastle/Northumberland. So we are sea ferring folk 100% we also like to pillage (not the other R though lol)
Not another deJong
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:04 AM
Comment #25Might be better going with a 4231 formation, with defensive security for the first 60 minutes.
https://twitter.com/newcastle_arabi/status/1482301063004921861
Tom
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:05 AM
Comment #26The Geordie accent is the oldest english accent in the country it comes from anglo saxon and viking …
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:06 AM
Comment #273 Hours 53 Minutes to KO.
Tom
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:08 AM
Comment #28https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2022/01/15/sky-italia-newcastle-agree-personal-terms-with-atlanta-star-player-wants-the-move/
DONEGAL NUFC IRL
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:11 AM
Comment #29Today the 2nd win is coming (I can feel it)
hibbit
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:13 AM
Comment #30sorry about that Lesh, but with all the west road talk i always thought you were from the west end,
my apologies
Unused Substitute
Jan 15, 2022 at 11:16 AM
Comment #31Is Fraser unavailable? Difficult to see how Howe can settle for a line up that’s doesn’t have a single Bournemouth vet in it.