The day has finally arrived when Newcastle will play their first game of the 2023-2024 Premier League season, after finishing in 4th place last season and reaching the League Cup Final, and qualifying for the Champions League.
And it comes as Harry Kane signed for Bayern Munich early this morning so Spurs will definitely miss his goals this season.
So in a rather selfish way – that could help Newcastle in the league this season – but that should be completely dependent on how we play and our head coach Eddie Howe knows that.
Preseason has gone well and we won four and drew three of our 7 preseason games against good opposition.
Several of our younger players like Elliott Anderson, Lewis Miley, and Anthony Gordon shone, so it’s a good question whether either will start today.
Howe has built up good competition for places across the pitch although he does want one or two more players brought in on loan before the end of August.
It’s really difficult to know exactly what team Howe will start today, especially when he said yesterday that center-back Fabian Schar had trained this week and would be in the squad.
Here’s what I think will be the starting lineup for today:
I don’t think Howe will start Schar because of a lack of match fitness, but he could – after all he has great confidence in the Swiss defender.
So in comes right-footed Jamaal Lascelles to partner Sven Botman.
Left-back is also up for grabs but think that the head coach will start off the season with Burn still at left-back, but Matt Targett has been impressive in preseason training.
And in midfield, I think Elliott Anderson will get the start and Howe will manage Sandro Tonali slowly into starting in the Premier League, much like he did with Bruno, and that worked out well.
As far as the left wing position, Harvey Barnes will just get the nod over Anthony Gordon because he is – at the moment – a more reliable goalscorer.
But we do expect Gordon to have a great (goalscoring?) season.
So there you have it – that’s my choice.
Let me know what your choice is for today’s game.
It’s certainly a tough start against a quickly improving Aston Villa side under head coach Unai Emery.
Enery took over a struggling Villa side late last October from Steven Gerrard and finished the season in 7th place in the league – and only three places and 10 points behind Newcastle.
It would surely be an excellent result if we can win this game today.
Loading ...Howay The Lads!!
Comments are always welcome.
677 comments so far
DKillers
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:32 PM
Comment #601This is just a gorgeous performance.
dazzler
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Comment #602Villa are doing a Brighton at SJP last year. They just don’t know what to do with our pressing and quick counters.
The Ledge
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Comment #603Like some of us said on here give Gordon a pre season under Eddie .
Brilliant today
dazzler
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:34 PM
Comment #604Tonali easily MOM for me. Would have been Gordon had he not been subbed, but then Barnes comes on and gets a goal and an assist š
Throckley Gadjee
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:35 PM
Comment #605OH well not 4-0 nil but I’ll take it š
Ronway
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:35 PM
Comment #606The one (1) goal Villa scored will be probably be put down to the quality and tactics of their Manager – Unai Emery?
Would anyone swap him for Eddie Howe????
DrGloom
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:35 PM
Comment #607Top of the league )
Optimistic geordie
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:36 PM
Comment #608top of the league up where we belong
coming home
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Comment #609Make no mistake Villa are a good team and we demolished them
I doubt City will relish coming to SJP
Toon Irish
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Comment #610TOON TOON BLACK AND WHITE ARMY TOP OF THE LEAGUE LOL
AnyToon in Indiana
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Comment #611Wow…that was…..uh….Entertaining š
Flurzinho
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Comment #612That midfield 3 of Tonali,Bruno,Big Jo!
Simply undroppable!
Who questioned Tonali?
Awesome!!!!!!
dazzler
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Comment #613They’ll blame Ming’s injury on the loss even though they had a better player on the bench to replace him with. Fantastic second half, breathtaking.
AncientC
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #614Apt Primal Scream blasting out of the stadium sound sytem at the end.
Assassins Inc
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #615Eddie Howe 1 – 0 Idiot Pundits.
Limping Toon Fan
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #616Holy shit…should have been 6 or 7.
Gordon, barnes, tonali.. brilliant.
Flurzinho
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #617Tonali is going to be so good,I can’t wait for Man City!
Ashingtoon62
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #618I too have no Toon players in my FPL team (yet) and Iām a Watkins owner.
And yet Iām as happy as a pig in shoite š
Uncertain Toon
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #619We did owe Villa one though for doing us at their place in April
Pottsclock
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:39 PM
Comment #620If you’re a Villa watching that and your club has spent all its money on attacking players, then you’d be very worried.
Could have been 6 or 7. They were so open at the back.
Howe did his research and got the better of Emery.
Romford mag
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Comment #621Just glorious !!
HWTL
Ronway
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:41 PM
Comment #622Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
” See those two Newcastle defenders, they are five one up and they are battling each other to keep the ball out of the net.
Even though it is the last minute, even though this game is done, they don’t want to give anything else away.”
HWTL
peterk3
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Comment #623Not a bad day today, England women won, Makems got beat and we won, hehehe.
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Comment #624I am buzzing, brilliant performance from NUFC.
My little gamble on FPL seems to be paying off too. Sitting on a minimum of 78pts but all my players played so it is game over for me. Good luck to those that picked Lpool/Chelsea/Man U/Spurs players…
š
DKillers
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Comment #625Iām in heaven.
Our player recruitment is impeccable.
Toon Fans Good
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:43 PM
Comment #626I put my hands up I was wrong. Pleasantly wrong. Great win. Top of the league
lukes26
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:43 PM
Comment #627Tonali MOTM along with LW duo anthony gordon/harvey barnes
why do teams even try to play it out from the back against us? fools errand
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:43 PM
Comment #628Wow, what an amazing performance!!! I was nervous if Tonali was ready before the match, but who am I to question Eddie?. He was absolutely amazing, and if Bruno have had a good game (Which I dont think he did) we would have dominated even more!. When those 3 midfielders hit a good game at the same time, there wont be anyone who can deal with them in the league.
Ty21
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:44 PM
Comment #629The Taco Taker
Well played with those 3 Newcastle players.
Pottsclock
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:44 PM
Comment #630I actually think Bruno had the worst performancer of our midfield three who started. He’s gonna get better
Kangatoon
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:46 PM
Comment #631Just after 4am and too pumped for sleep – what a performance!!!!
Only concern is that it should’ve been 6 or 7 goals.
To finish a short message for ilovetoon8788 from downunder re: Tonali being a flop.
FAAAAARRRRRRRK OOOOFFFFFFFF YA KNOB!!!!!
Ty21
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:46 PM
Comment #632I think soon might be Barnes, Isak and Gordon as front 3, if their performance stays this way
IrishRob
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:48 PM
Comment #633The most satisfying thing about this game iscwe were so sooooo much better in tge second half and much more like ourselves. Great to see!
Tonali was MOTM absolute phenomenal
ottawageordie2
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:49 PM
Comment #634WoW what a game! Interesting that Eddie played Tonali from the start. He knows his stuff. The pundits donāt have a clue.
IrishRob
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:49 PM
Comment #635Tonali got ss MOTM too.
What a debut! He just got better and better and better.
Ace50
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:50 PM
Comment #636Amazing performance from the team/squad and we are just going to improve as Tonali gets used to playing alongside Bruno and Joelinton. I hold my hands up at being totally wrong at anticipating Longstaff starting. I am glad I am not a betting man š
investinyouthtoon
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:50 PM
Comment #637Fantastic result and performance. Canāt fault a single player.
Tonali is like a classic Ferrari, oozes class. I reckon there will be teams who say āwhy didnāt we go in for Tonaliā.
Ace50
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:51 PM
Comment #638And the finish from Isak for his second goalā¦.wow!
ChicoUSA
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:52 PM
Comment #639Tonali so cool and mentally sharp! He will cause Bruno and the rest of the squad to raise their game! MotM! What a debut!
investinyouthtoon
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:52 PM
Comment #640Strength in depth is a massive benefit. Barnes looks a very good signing, hoping he proves me wrong. Iād rather he exceeds my expectations than me being right in my opinion.