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
HobokenToon
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:53 PM
Comment #641We can’t go up the table anymore. We’re as high as we can go:-)
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:53 PM
Comment #642TY,
Thanks, I warned people to not bet against the toon in FPL. For me it is a matter of principal.
cyprus
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
Comment #643Hey where’s my long post?
Anyway, comprehensive team display. So impressive.
clinath@ed
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:55 PM
Comment #644Didn’t pick Tonali for FPL, didn’t think he’d play. How glad am I to be wrong.
Superb result and performance against a new rival. We are a serious contender now.
HWTL
Adamn_92
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM
Comment #645What a performance and we have so much quality in depth now. Barnes is going to score plenty of goals similar to that this season.
Agree with Tonali as motm, he was incredible. Looks like he’s been playing in this league for years. Also what an engine on him, Howe fit already! To be honest he looked like he didn’t have to even get out of second gear much, almost made the whole game look like a walk in the park to him.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM
Comment #646I wonder who will be first on MOTD?
Adamn_92
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Comment #647Sandro Tonali’s game by numbers vs Aston Villa:
100% tackles won
88.7% passing accuracy
64 touches
7 final third entries
2 shots
1 chance created
1 goal
0.59 xG
Ronway
Aug 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
Comment #648Who is “NOT” looking forward to the next game?
HWTL
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
Comment #649All week pundits have been saying Villa are going to do this do that oaft back to reality
It really could have been any score for us in that 2nd half
Barnes did exactly as I thought he would do piercing runs which totally changes our dimension as a team ! Just wonder what those on the fence thought about him tonight? Not fishing just genuinely wondering if people were impressed as I thought he was awesome!!
That result and 2nd half performance would’ve sent shockwaves in the world of football
Harley
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:03 PM
Comment #650Absolutely brilliant performance today. Everyone played well but pick of the bunch for me were Almiron, Gordon, Isak and my motm Tonali.
Ace50
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:04 PM
Comment #651This is funny: https://twitter.com/fun88eng/status/1690432649314144256?s=61&t=oE9r0YZuqCwo-geMmhvYtQ
lochinvar
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:04 PM
Comment #652Was the ref on a training course ?
Why did he book Tonali when on the touchline being subbed ?
Ace50
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:04 PM
Comment #653LCBP, it’s gonna be a long season but the future looks bright 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:06 PM
Comment #654Fantastic performance by us, Toonali MOTM but Gordon a close second.
I’ve gone for Gordon as our POTS and wouldn’t change it! 🙂
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
Comment #655Lee
I could see the value in his transfer but was disappointed that we had to sacrifice Maxi for him.
But he has brought that direct threat that maxi sometimes lacked. Clinical but also unselfish so he’s alreet by me.
I quite like his archery celebration.
Ooooo........it's Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
Comment #656“The fly-on-the-wall documentary We Are Newcastle United may be safe and sanitised but the real thing is anything but. Unvarnished, unspun and viewed with the naked eye, Newcastle are brilliant and brutal, ruthless and relentless. In cameos, Aston Villa suggested they are a very decent team but Unai Emery’s players could not match the edge and desire of hosts who appear to have found a new cult hero in Italy’s Sandro Tonali.”
…….and that’s from a Mackem. 😉
Louise Taylor in the Observer.
lochinvar
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
Comment #657Feel sorry for the Villa fans leaving early as they were facing having to go back to Birmingham.
Mister Tuff
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
Comment #658What a statement of intent – thought we’d win but not as good as that result.
Good spread of players scoring.
Tonali and Bruno and Big Joe were excellent.
Please lets us celebrate the win -no mischief by the usual suspects.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
Comment #659Loch I think he thought that Toonali was taking too long to go off, bad reffing decision though along with many others.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:09 PM
Comment #660Loch
Commentary said it’s cos Sandro was walking too slow.
Mister Tuff
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:11 PM
Comment #661Oh not a lot of close ups or even camera shots of the technical areas/bench areas. Might be coincidence but would not be surprised if the TV companies have been told not to feature these areas too much.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:11 PM
Comment #66216 minutes of extra time although a big chunk of that was from that unfortunate injury to Mings, hope it’s not too serious for him.
Flurzinho
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:13 PM
Comment #663Tonali £52M+Bruno£45M=£97M
Rice £105M
“But they have not done it in the premier league”!
Cry on!
Take your pick
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:13 PM
Comment #664Nicky,
She summed us up pretty well overall, for a change!
lukes26
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:14 PM
Comment #665unpopular opinion: I thought the ref was excellent.
never a martinez red, he let the game flow. yellows newcastle received are the directive of the EPL. if you’re going to be upset, be upset with them
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:21 PM
Comment #666Flurzinho,
I said similar things ages ago.
Even if Tonali ultimately turns out to be average overall and Bruno goes downhill who got the better deal?
There is no way Rice is worth more than them two.
Also, just think of it from the perspective of odds. 2 vs 1.
Ace50
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:23 PM
Comment #667Luke’s…should have carded Cash a bit sooner and was quick with some yellows for Guimares, Tobpnali, and there was a Villa player too. A 7 out of 10 for me. Refs should be at least a 9 though.
Ace50
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM
Comment #668TTT…you should do a post-match comments from opposing fans section too.
NB only when we get a good result though 🙂
cyprus
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:29 PM
Comment #669Vask
His archery celebration seems to be missing something. Does he actually release the arrow?
But, his game, top notch. Gordon was excellent but Barnes was even better, if that makes sense.
But, really, the whole team performed. Bruno was our “worst” player and he had a canny game.
Ronway
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:33 PM
Comment #670Former Scotland winger, Pat Nevin, on BBC Radio 5 Live
” We all knew this was going to happen eventually for Newcastle.
But even this looks like a giant leap forward, just from last season.
They have put on the right song at the end of the game here!
‘ Moving on up ‘
They certainly are! ”
HWTL
9
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:37 PM
Comment #671Sensational!
9
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:39 PM
Comment #672Electrifying!
9
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:40 PM
Comment #673Dynamic!
9
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:42 PM
Comment #674Awesome!
9
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:46 PM
Comment #675Breathtaking!
9
Aug 12, 2023 at 8:49 PM
Comment #676Stupendous!
JohnJ
Aug 12, 2023 at 11:04 PM
Comment #677Wonderful
Absolutely
Wonderful
🙂 🙂 🙂