Newcastle’s recent lack of prowess in front of goal is a point of intrigue heading into Tuesday’s first-leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Southampton. The Magpies have created plenty of chances but just haven’t had their finishing boots on in recent weeks.
That could lead Eddie Howe to alter his team tomorrow. Conventional wisdom is Howe will go with his preferred eleven. However, tweaking the lineup could spark the desired result of more goals.
I suspect Howe will make a bold change by dropping Callum Wilson and handing a start to Alexander Isak. It would be harsh on Wilson but giving him a break may benefit the 30-year-old in the long run.
This is the team I am predicting Howe will select with just the one change at the top of the pitch. It would be Isak’s first league start since the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth in September.
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217 comments so far
Darnik
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:48 AM
Comment #201What’s happened there, up to 3rd in the H2H Div 1 😀
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:49 AM
Comment #202Why would anyone say Everton are gone? There’s 6 points between 13th and 20th. That’s 8 teams definitely in trouble and Palace could be dragged into it too (7 points clear currently).
Should be interesting anyway.
Darnik
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:49 AM
Comment #203Where’s WorB with the table when you need him?
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:51 AM
Comment #204I’ve got Davas in FPL H2H this week…
Darnik
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:51 AM
Comment #205TDS
It’s just nice to not be involved for a change
dazzler
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:51 AM
Comment #206Adam/Rob,
I read somewhere that that tactic is a favourite of Dan Ashworth. He leaks fake targets to the press and then signs players nobody expects out of the blue.
I also read that he’s very strict with this and will immediately fire anyone found leaking info to the press.
No idea how true any of it is, but I am presuming he’s got previous for it at Brighton or something for people to believe it’s a thing.
Tinos Vino
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:52 AM
Comment #207TDS because they have been too near the fire too many times and havent been this deep in it this early in the season. They usually fall towards it from Feb onwards after a mid table start.
They have no money to spend and no manager currently. plus their next 2 fixtures are hardly closing the gap ones so the pressure will just continue to mount. My thoughts anyway
Wor B
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #208Darnik
Working on it, £10 to the usual address will ensure max exposure.
Adamn_92
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #209TDS
For why I believe Everton are gone, check my previous comment to Pug. Too much going wrong there and can’t see them hiring the right person either.
Dazzler
Who knows how true that is but it would make sense. We are getting linked to loads of players who we are then supposedly ‘missing out on’ to other clubs, but maybe it is just Dan leaking them to get clubs to focus on them and not our real targets?
Also makes sense how we then managed to swoop in really quickly to get Bruno pretty much under the radar and Isak was much the same. Not to mention how many gems he got for Brighton without really any competition.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #210TDS, you are a youngster. I was brought up on both.
The biggest tragedy was decimalisation. Blackjacks went from 4 a penny to 4 a new penny! (Think of petrol cost rises in last 12 months). Well ripped off! (2x as much)
niafron
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #211@Peter
Too bad…
But i’m confident, in one or two seasons ( i guess summer 2024 ), he will leave Paris, with luck, FFP will no longer exist, we will be in CPL, and perhaps we could send Cheryl Cole Tweedy to ask him personnaly.
dazzler
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:55 AM
Comment #212TDS,
They just fired their manager a week before the end of the transfer window, are desperate to balance the books (or potentially face a massive fine / points deduction), and have no money to bring in the players they need to fight against the very real risk of the drop.
They aren’t like we were last season (or the other seasons we actually went down). They are slap bang in the middle of doing a Leeds or Sunderland.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jan 24, 2023 at 10:59 AM
Comment #213Niafron, so no Mbappé to Toon, Cheryl would scare me off!
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 24, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Comment #214Darnik – I completely agree. I’d have taken hardly anyone talking about us this season because we’re currently sitting in 8th place and not serious contenders for Europe or relegation. It seems that we skipped that step! 🙂
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 24, 2023 at 11:03 AM
Comment #215Adam/Tinos – I agree that there’s lots wrong there and they’re in a mess but they’ve only got to be less bad than 3 other teams. Southampton, Leeds, Bournemouth and Forest have been bad too. I’d be very surprised to see West Ham or Leicester go down though.
The new manager appointment will be crucial. I think they need someone with experience to steady the ship. Dyche perhaps.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 24, 2023 at 11:05 AM
Comment #216Pug – I was taught both imperial and metric when I was growing up. Well, I was mostly taught imperial for some backwards reason!
Price changes are always an opportunity for the sellers to round up sadly. But the maths would be easier for everyone to check if they’re being ripped off if it was all metric.
dazzler
Jan 24, 2023 at 11:08 AM
Comment #217TDS,
They need someone the fans will rally behind. Dyche is just going to piss them off even more than they already are, it would be like bringing in Fat Same or Bruce IMO, it’s just fanning the flames.
They should have given the job to Duncan Ferguson last year instead of appointing Lampard, I am pretty sure he was doing less shite than Lampard was as interim.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to get Rooney back over from the MLS and try and do what Ashley did by appointing Shearer in the hope it would quieten the discontent. I would fully expect the end result to be the same if they did that too as Rooney has previous managing a financially irresponsible club in free fall from the league they were in. It will be nice to see that from the outside this time though.