Newcastle get an early start to this weekend with a trip to Nottingham Forest on Friday. Eddie Howe and the boys will hope to seize the momentum from their 2-1 win over Wolves and further enhance their claim for a European place.
Howe made significant changes last weekend resulting in the first league win in almost two months. The front three was completely altered and we could see Howe stick with the trio of Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy, and Allan Saint-Maximin.
Isak has captured our poll as the Man of the Match by a very healthy margin. The striker bagged Newcastle’s opening goal with a superb header, the fifth goal of his Magpie career.
Loading ...Equally impressive was Joe Willock as he put in a monster performance. The midfielder came in for the suspended Joelinton and will be relied on once again at the City Ground on Friday.
There will be extra emphasis to pick up three points with the international break looming afterward. Newcastle will head off to Dubai for some warm-weather training. It will be that much more exhilarating on the back of two wins.
It will be a difficult task with Forest enmeshed in a survival fight. They hold a tenuous two-point lead over the bottom three in what is shaping up to be a relegation battle involving 9 clubs.
Those scraps are behind Newcastle this year as they keep pace with the top six. A claim that can be further cemented with a timely victory on Friday.
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212 comments so far
Ap
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:26 PM
Comment #121Fatman to chalfont getting arrested with his missus for threatening behaviour.
https://twitter.com/StokeyyG2/status/1616347759174459394?s=20
sparky55
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:26 PM
Comment #122I think one of the best two footed crossers of the ball who always crosses early and is great at pressing is that lad from leeds whose name escapes me but scored a beauty against brighton
Jack summat I think
Ty21
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:27 PM
Comment #123I would say Almiron can walk into any team for his super sub role.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:33 PM
Comment #124Cheers sparky55, it’s my mate who I normally get them off in the Leazes, both him and his daughter are away so me and his Mrs are going up there, would have been gutted to miss that one.
Ap
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:34 PM
Comment #125World cup getting expanded
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:34 PM
Comment #126Harrison, we were heavily linked with him last summer
Ap
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:35 PM
Comment #127I see digger and raj exchanged a few words today like a ventriloquist and his dummy
CLINT FLICK
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Comment #128Ty
No one can fail to see Miggy’s input, industry, tenacity, skill, engine…if only Maxi put in half of that.
The interplay between Miggy and his midfield compadres is platinum!
Particularly, Bruno and Jo!
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:39 PM
Comment #129Can’t wait until you’ve fed yourself enough rope again 😕
Ap
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:40 PM
Comment #130There’s gonna be too many games in World Cup
Novocastrian66
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:40 PM
Comment #131I’ve gone for a win on Friday. We battered them in the first game of the season. Their defence is poor.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:41 PM
Comment #132@Sparky55
You mean Harrison of Leeds? Great player would be perfect for our system has all the attributes to do well plus he has a good end product can score all types of goals
If Leeds get relegated we might be looking to swoop in reasonably cheap we were linked with him before but not sure if we were put off by the asking price
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:44 PM
Comment #133LCBP,
I’ve seen people say we need to go for a higher calibre than him, I’m not sure what level people think we’re at in this moment of time.
magscar
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:48 PM
Comment #134Dayvan
Thanks for clarification – i had a distant memory of discussion on here or maybe with a mate up there awhile back about a scheme involving an annual fee
Maybe next season then?
dazzler
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:51 PM
Comment #135I can’t see us trying for another winger in the summer (even if/when Fraser leaves). Maxi, Gordon, Miggy and Murphy will be the ones competing for those places I have no doubt. If one of those leave they will be the ones replaced.
Out of those 4 it’s Maxi who I think will be the one going (if any). Murphy is a boyhood toon fan, has improved a lot under Howe and is happy being a squad player so can’t see him going anywhere.
I think we’ll be looking at a long term Wilson replacement, so someone younger and likely going out on loan unless Dylan Stephenson excels on his current loan.
Kuol will probably be looked at to replace one of the wingers long term, so may get a year in the championship.
We need an upgrade on Schar, at LB and a more advanced centre mid (at least I think), and the rest would be gravy.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:51 PM
Comment #136@Jail
I think the thing is everyone is always tempted by a foreign or “bigger” name so I imagine its because some would prefer a Diaby or Mudryk at the time
Harrison in the last 3 years has been one of the top scoring wingers in the league outside the top 6
In the top 10 pressing players in the league
Scores all types of goals, can take set pieces and is a team player
Also English and is rarely injured would take no time to adapt to our team either if we had signed him in the summer he would be a serious fan favourite by now
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:51 PM
Comment #137No Brennan Johnson this weekend???
sparky55
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Comment #138Thanks lads….yes Harrison…Wud love it…just love it if he joined us in the summer
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:54 PM
Comment #139LCBP,
I’d be surprised if we weren’t in for him again this summer.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:54 PM
Comment #140Brennan Johnson is another young player that I like!
That’s actually good news for us if he is injured!
Hibbit
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:55 PM
Comment #141magscar
sorry for your loss my friend,
stay strong.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:55 PM
Comment #142Dazzler – I think a smart signing would be a forward who plays on the right but can also be cover centrally. Someone young and perhaps a bit different to Almiron in terms of style perhaps.
If Almiron gets injured, I think we’re much less threatening with Murphy starting. He works hard and is good at retaining possession but I think he’s pretty easy to defend against from what I’ve seen.
Ty21
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Comment #143dazzler
Newcastle probably need to get a winger in to replace Ritchie and Fraser, might as well get one of the best ones. Since attacking department is the weakest link this season.
magscar
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Comment #144Jail
Do we need him as much now when we have got Gordon ?
Further to discussion about Ashworth system it is possible that as well as likes of Maddison and Ward-Prowse we are looking at relatively unheard of players in the required positions
Having said that we have a reputation of going back again with serious offers for targets we miss out on and Harrison is one we were reportedly turned down on/priced out of last Summer
Fun to mull over but I am confident in our recruitment system which largely goes under the radar
cyprus
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Comment #145So Shearer’s got Isak in his team of the week.
Man he looks promising. He was blowing them away with his pace and when they caught up shimmying past them. I especially liked what ASM and him were doing.
On the game, well we blew them away last time. Show the players that footage Eddie and simply ask for more of the same.
I’d start with the same as last time.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:57 PM
Comment #146@Jail
It wouldn’t surprise if the players that we were heavily linked with Harrison, Maddison, Pedro we are just biding our time to move in
Watford might not get promoted so he would then become really cheap that’s your striker backup sorted
Harrison Leeds might go down he also would be a knock down fee
Leicester really do need a big sale in the summer Maddison might become cheaper
If we got those 3 players with a good left back and young centre back we would be looking seriously good
Macas
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:58 PM
Comment #147Maxi actually did ok in the second half against Wolves before being subbed. He wasn’t as explosive as in the first half and looked a little leggy, but he still got back and defended and was involved in some of our better moments going forward.
I watched that 20 minute spell again as I was a bit surprised at how much stick he was getting on here. The only thing I can criticise him for in that second half is not tapping the ball to Bruno in the box when he was in space. Other that that he used the ball well.
He linked up with Isak on the line in a move which almost developed into something promising if Isak had managed to release Willock in the box, and he played the ball forward for Murphy for the foul which on another day could have been deemed a professional one and a red card. His last contribution was to beat his man on the right and whip a great cross in to the box.
Of course he has his faults but so do most of our players, each has their own strengths and weaknesses, but personally I think he is an important member of the squad for what he can contribute.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:01 PM
Comment #148@Magscar
I think a blend of the 2 approaches would work well for us so get a couple gems in the Bruno, Botman mould while having a few proven premier league performers like Maddison who you know will deliver serious numbers
To be honest there isn’t a player that we have signed that I have been unhappy with I also think Gordon will turn out to be a proper beast when he gets going
dazzler
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:02 PM
Comment #149Cyprus,
They’re a different team now (quite literally), and not exactly easy to break down and beat. I think it will be a tough game but them missing their best player gives us a better chance to get the win.
lochinvar
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:03 PM
Comment #150Pedro , no thanks. Don’t know why but not a the level we need for the future
Harrison could be good as he’s combative and we need some steel, Maddison likewise.
Not sure why the Leeds lad who went to Barca ? is heading back to the PL , think we were linked with him previously. Suppose he wants to leave a struggling Spanish club for the greatest club in the PL. Can’t fault that
magscar
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:03 PM
Comment #151hibbit
Thank you mate and good to hear from you
Weirdly in the last hour I had been thinking about posters I hadn’t noticed on here since my return and as a long term regular whom i often had chatted with you were top of that list 🙂
Was debating should I ask but I know we are of similar ages and you do worry when it seems folk have stopped posting
Hope you and yours are OK
cyprus
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:06 PM
Comment #152Spot on Macas,
But we need a player to pick on and it’s his turn.
For me, he’s a confidence player. When he’s up for it, he’s unbeatable. No way I’d sell him. He can break down stubborn defences, we’ll need that kind of player.
His confidence now is about at 3/10, unfortunately I think he spends time on SM.
Watch him go when it’s at 7+ 🙂
PS. Rashford has talked about the confidence thing when asked what’s changed. Imagine, most mufc fans wanted him out just a short while ago.
dazzler
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:06 PM
Comment #153TDS,
I would disagree but then Miggy came off the bench and bagged the winner so it would be pointless. I think Murphy did well early in the first half whipping in some nice crosses, but we’d need someone on the end of them.
My only gripe with Murphy is that he seems to lose confidence when he’s one on one. He has the pace, but he just seems to want to look back for support players.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:07 PM
Comment #154LCBP,
He’s another I mentioned after watching him in a game, against Spurs I think at the start of the season. That was dismissed as not good enough, then again we had people turning their noses up at Rashford as another Delle Alli 😀
cyprus
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:07 PM
Comment #155Dazzler
True.
We’ll get to see if bills was right all along about Shelvey too 🙂
I think our speed merchants will have a party.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:08 PM
Comment #156I do wonder if ASM will be sold this summer anyway. Might still fetch a decent sum and I wonder if he’ll want to play for a team where he’s the main man. If Gordon is first choice, I’m not sure ASM will want to stick around.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:10 PM
Comment #157Macas,
I’m not really of fan of ASM and would love to have him as a bench player, so not sure if that jaundices my perception of his performance, but I didn’t think he was much at all on Sunday, his shot is weak as….tea and his passing, unless very basic is woeful, the worst bit is though when he shapes up to do something exciting and just….. doesn’t, bench or gone for me, sorry to all his fans.
lesh
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:10 PM
Comment #158Magscar
No, I didn’t realise you’re one who watches what and why things that affect us happen – taking a wider view of goings on in Parliament and its environs..
Being that as you are, and in the light of criticisms that dear old aunty Beeb leans to the left despite trying to be impartial, you’ve probably seen today’s Grauniad piece that shatters the whole myth of its impartiality.
For information only.
snowdone
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:11 PM
Comment #159Nottingham Forest are not in good form. They were lucky to draw at home last time out to Everton. This is a game we must win in my opinion. Some of our play on Sunday was exhilarating. Hopefully, we can replicate this on Friday. I would go with the same team again.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 14, 2023 at 1:12 PM
Comment #160Dazzler – I just don’t think Murphy has enough skill to seriously and consistently threaten PL defenders. I know he works hard and retains possession well but I still don’t think his deliveries are good enough. Yes, he gets a few crosses in but do they have the accuracy and spin required at the top level? I think they fall just short.
I think that’s why he passes the ball to support players.