The Premier League takes a break once again as Newcastle’s next two matches are against Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The first leg takes place on Tuesday night at St Mary’s with the second one week later at St. James’ Park.
This cup competition is the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal campaign for the Saints, who lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa yesterday to remain rock bottom of the Premier League.
It’s a polar opposite feeling up north as Newcastle are having their best season in a decade with a chance to make it a historic one. Newcastle are rooted in the top four of the league and have silverware in their sights.
Southampton are the next focal point for Eddie Howe and the Magpies. Coming away from St Mary’s on Tuesday in good shape for the return leg is the aim. A multiple-goal victory would ease any angst on Tyneside.
Newcastle need to quickly solve their goalscoring woes for any hopes of an easier second leg. Goals have been in short supply – except when playing Leicester City – since football returned after the World Cup break. More struggles finding the back of the net against Southampton could prove costly.
The other end of the pitch has been nothing short of sensational as Newcastle continue to keep clean sheets. Southampton are the last club to breach Howe’s preferred eleven with Romain Perraud’s late strike in early November.
The Magpies continue to be very difficult to breach but goals are going to be needed for a Wembley final. Hopefully, the lads can take their frustration in front of the net out on the struggling Saints on Tuesday.
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259 comments so far
niafron
Jan 23, 2023 at 9:45 AM
Comment #241Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!
The away goals rule is still on for the league cup?
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 9:48 AM
Comment #242Niafron; no mate.
IrishRob
Jan 23, 2023 at 9:52 AM
Comment #243As much as I think he should, I just don’t see Howe starting Isak tomorrow. Ever since he’s come in one of his biggest psychological weapons or tools he’s used was to convince weaker players they won’t automatically be benched if they play well.
Granted Wilson isn’t playing well but ive a feeling Howe will view it as a setback to Wilson by knocking his confidence if he drops him.
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:04 AM
Comment #244Logged onto get St James cup tickets 21460 in the queue.
Website wouldn’t let you go in till 9am.
Waited since 9am.
This is chuffin ridiculous
phy
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:06 AM
Comment #245Went on website at 8.30, auto directed to holding page at 9. Q opened at 10 7000th in q
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:09 AM
Comment #246Site wouldn’t let me go to holding page. Nothing.
Its a truely abysmal way to try and buy tickets.
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:11 AM
Comment #247There’s only about 8000 tickets and if you have memberships one can log on and buy a few tickets.
I was going to buy 3.
Have only ever had success when under 5k in the queue position.
phy
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:11 AM
Comment #248It was just a redirect said the site opened at 10. Then I was directed from there into the q
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:12 AM
Comment #249I been on the site since 8.10
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:14 AM
Comment #250Jail wanted another 4.
This random queues a pile of poop
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:18 AM
Comment #251Been on Facebook other fans have 20 pages open on the queue.
Bah!!!!!
Rotonda heights
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:19 AM
Comment #252Getting the feeling that teams have worked out Miggy now. Seems to attract a lot more attention than previously with opposition doubling up and stifling him.
Compliment in that teams now take Miggy more seriously but we need to find alternative areas to create from now.
Don’t get the link to De Vrij at all. Same age as Shaer but will be on stonking wages. Obviously a massive upgrade on Lascelles though.
Absolutely hate the links to Gordon and DCL too and just wish we could get any of those youngsters not already snapped up by Chelsea, Arsenal and city, ie Varela, Franca and Gabriel
Kephrem and Marcus Thuram would also be ideal to cover the positions we really need to. Longstaff will need a break and anyone of Kephrem Thuram, Kone or Edson Alvarez would be awesome.
scott
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:21 AM
Comment #253I’m fairly sure I also predicted 8th at the start of the season!
My thinking was the big six would have stronger squads over the full season & one other team would do a West Ham! (Turns out that was us)
I don’t think I was being pessimistic but more practical & still staying in the top four is a monumental challenge for the lads only really helped by the fact we have no Europe this season!
In all honesty at the start of the season I would of been extremely happy with 6th & a great cup run!
HWTL
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:26 AM
Comment #254Rotonda – one thing about Miggy is that he was obviously on fire earlier in the season. For fans to expect that he suddenly upped his average game to that level is unrealistic. He had a burst of form and that can’t be sustained forever. He’s still working hard but he didn’t suddenly become a world class player at the age of 28.
Another thing is that we don’t have enough threat from the left. Joelinton does well wherever he plays but he’s not deadly or scary to opposition defences.
I do agree that teams will be countering Almiron a little as they’ve learned they have to take us seriously. Several of his goals were pretty similar so they will be trying to stop him getting into those positions.
It’s all why the second half of the season could be tougher than the first.
Adamn_92
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:29 AM
Comment #255Rotonda
It’s also a benefit that Miggy is getting more attention though. Allows Trippier more space out wide and often Longstaff has been getting into the space between the opposition left back and center back. Like when he was unlucky to have his shot blocked against Fulham early into that game. Getting into space in that area as the full back is too occupied with Miggy or he’s dragged the full back and center half more central by running inside.
So even though it may hamper Miggy from scoring as freely, it’s still dangerous and creating spaces and gaps for other players like Longstaff and Trippier to exploit.
That’s why a creative midfielder would be ideal to bring in this window if possible. Imagine a Maddison type player for example, he would have the likes of Miggy making dangerous runs either out wide or cutting in, leaving space for Trippier and Longstaff to exploit, has Bruno to link up with, Wilson or Isak making moves in the box or would have enough space to work into and create a chance for himself. Would have loads of options and the quality to choose the correct one.
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:29 AM
Comment #256Rotonda
I think there a couple of things with Miggy. Firstly, exactly as you say, teams are more wary of him that they used to be and are trying to stop him coming inside as much. Secondly, when looking at the data, he was massively overperforming his XG, so he it was unusual he was finishing as many chances as he was, making it unlikely he’d keep that run going.
I do wonder who we’re looking to sign as a number of our reported targets have gone elsewhere or are close to going elsewhere. These may never have been targets so not claiming we’ve missed out, but I’m hopeful we can get a couple more in during this window.
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Comment #257Adamn
I’m with you on needing a more creative midfielder. I think we also need a player out wide who can offer a little more and/or adjust our system a little to make sure that wide player is getting in the box at the back post when the other delivers a ball in… much like City do on a regular basis.
I posted the other day when nobody was about but I think now that teams are showing us more respect and being cautious, we will need a little more quality to break teams down as we won’t have as much space with teams sitting deeper. We’ll need to find a way to go from a team creating a lot on the turnover to a team able to do that at times but also to play in front of teams and find those combinations to make the clear cut chances the forwards need.
I have full confidence in Howe finding out how to do it, even if it takes reinforcements now and in the summer. It may mean we drop out of the top four until we have those players as we keep picking up more draws but it also might not as plenty teams below us drop a lot of points too.
The overrated Frenchman
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Comment #258We don’t have enough threat from the left because Howe sits ASM on the bench. And Joelinton should be playing in midfield.
FollowFollow
Jan 23, 2023 at 10:53 AM
Comment #259I got to the front of the queue then “A potentially dangerous Request detected in one of the fields. Please correct the offensive value and try again.”
A red card basically. Told to get back in the queue. No point at this stage.