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
lesh
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:16 PM
Comment #81The Taco Taker
@76
Chance’d be a fine thing but it wouldn’t be very fair on Siberia!
JohnJ
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:17 PM
Comment #82Well I’ve named “my team” and I recon a win by two goals for our lads!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:17 PM
Comment #83JohnJ I have a Victoria one end and a George the other end. Only noticed the latter this morning walking Peter. I just hope I don’t wake up after a long night with an Albert. oops!
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:19 PM
Comment #84Villa fans thoughts (repost from Thursday):
“5-0 defeat first match incoming”
“This will be a fascinating and difficult early test of the new-look Villa and it’ll be interesting to see how Emery tactically approaches a side we just played. I think our boys go in there thinking they’ll win it. And I think they will too. 2-3 to the Villa.”
“St James has become a bit of a fortress for then again. I’d be happy with a point.”
“ll take a boring 0-0 at the skunk park”
“We never win up there. 2-1 to Newcastle”
“Newcastle got quite a tough start looking at their opening fixtures. After us they have Man. City away, Liverpool at home and Brighton away, took one point from those games last season. A win up there would be a huge statement but would be happy with a point as it’s that away ground for us where we seem to implode every year as soon as we concede a goal.”
“Given our record up at St James Park and with it being the first game of the season I can see us losing this by the odd goal. Obviously hope to be wrong and it would be great for us to get at least a point. Either way I expect a big improvement on our last visit there!”
“Obviously we are expected to lose and get nothing from the neutrals. I prefer to be the underdog. In a way im glad to get this game out the way early”
“I am not looking forward to the fan response if we don’t win this.”
“Eh? A point away to a current CL team and at a venue where we haven’t won since 2005 would be excellent so don’t see where the hysteria will come from. Unless we blow a 3-0 lead or concede in 105th minute.”
“Checking out Toon fan forums, here’s what I found, FWIW …
They basically think they’ll win.
They’re proud of their bench and think Howe fooled everyone by not playing full-strength in preseason.
They call us a “good side” but it’s clear they think we’re the lessers.
Many of them don’t think Tonali will start.
Miggy-Isak-Gordon to start with Wilson as striker
They think they have to score early or they’ll not beat us.
Our only player who really strikes fear into them is Diaby.”
“I still think on paper we are better than them all over the pitch”
“Miggy scares the **** out of me. That boy is hungry for goals and does not slow down. ”
“This lot are shite and they’ll end up lower top half this season which is more reflective of their squad. 4 goal win and Targett to punch Howe.”
No they have had time to digest their injury woes I will pop back and see what they think now…
lesh
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:20 PM
Comment #85Fenham
You might have missed the his post, but Coming Home said he wouldn’t be attending a Blog meet because he knew he wouldn’t be universally popular and his presence could spoil the gathering.
Has such a thought occurred to you?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:24 PM
Comment #86Taco, The one time I enjoy a long post is “over the lines* reporting. Keep it going.
jimiley
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Comment #872 nil to Toon
Centre halves will not score.
That’s a given
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Comment #88Every one, Every one should attend a blog meeting if they can. End of #exit
Moonraker15
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:29 PM
Comment #89We’ve got so many options now. He has to play Gordon and Tonali must start even if he only gets 60 minutes!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:31 PM
Comment #90Oh Dog, I have to go to see Jessica Rabbit. I get so worried about that I mix my toes up.
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:33 PM
Comment #91The latest from Villa:
“I see Eddie Hearn has become the new Lawro. Predicting a four nil whopping for us.”
“Need an early lead to silence that crowd”
“Avoiding defeat will be a good start, anything more a nice bonus.”
“Hope we do them. Sky Sports actually had them in the list as title challengers with Chelsea and Spurs. Sky Sports jokers really.”
“Our last win there was over 18 years ago! Time to put that right.”
“(in reply) Was that the Bowyer Dyer game?”
“(in reply) Yep that’s the one. Steven Taylor was sent off for handball too, so they actually finished with 8 players the last time we beat them there”
“I have been really confident all week that we will get a result tonight, now it’s match day I’m not so sure.”
“We have to score at least 2 goals to win this game because Harvey Barnes always scores against us.”
“Would love to shithouse a 0-1 win today.”
“Going to go for a close 1-0 Newcastle win. Think at the moment the grounds teams won’t really want to go to are Old Trafford, Anfield, Eithad, Emirates, St James park and Villa park.”
“Such a horrid fixture to start the season.”
“Let’s get it out the way, I’d take a complete anti football backs to the wall filthy 0-0. Not getting beat would be great but that said they haven’t got any home momentum as it’s the first game.”
“If Watkins is injured as being murmured, I’d snap your hand off for a point. Four first team players unavailable potentially, FFS.”
“I hadn’t heard the Watkins rumour… that’s stuffed us if so.”
(Note from Taco – I hope this is true – Watkins being out for them would be huge)
Fenham to Chalfont
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Comment #92Mackems getting beat 1-0 already off Preston. I can see that lot having a very poor season.
Ok off into the toon with me uncle and cousin for the match. Laters all, even the 3 knackers!
captainmarvel
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Comment #93Ed posts an update on his health which is not good. How many take notice?
He is going through hell can you lot not see that?
I think it’s high time respect be shown to each other, rather than the petulance we see practically every single day, it is ridiculous.
AnyToon in Indiana
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Comment #94Interesting of all the games today that ours is the only one to get the main channel coverage on NBC over here in the 1230 time slot as all others were on Peacock and not even their second network channel USA. They must think people are tuning in to see Villa. 😉
Burni
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Comment #95I reckon we should line up like
Pope
Trips, schar, botman, burn
Tonali, bruno, JL
Gordon, isak, barnes
I know he bought the players he has to add depth for CL and other cups but i think if you spend the money he has you have to play them.
I dont think schar tonali or gordon start. Lascelles, anderson and miggy probs will but imo they shouldnt. Theyre class dont get me wrong but get the new players on straight away
Ashingtoon62
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Comment #96Bowen got booked under the new rule,of kicking the ball away,as per instructed by Howard Webb..
It will be interesting. to hear everyone’s views on the incident after seeing it on MOTD..
He never kicked the ball away at all.
The powers that be, in charge of the game,seem hellbent on footing the game up,at every opportunity.
What’s wrong with these footing numpties???
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Comment #97I’ve just had a quick search and I can only find a reference to Watkins being injured in August 2021 before they played us.
We’ll know in 37 minutes. Tick tock, how slow is the clock. 🙁
AnyToon in Indiana
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:56 PM
Comment #98Nice during the halftime coverage here they are at SJP and you can see the Wor Flags doing their job in the backround 🙂
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Comment #99Did anyone see that if any of the arsenal coaches got booked for being in the technical area at the same time as arteta towards the end of their match?
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:58 PM
Comment #1001 Hour 31 Minutes to KO.
31 minutes to Eddie Bingo.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:58 PM
Comment #101So slow AGM, so slow!
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 3:59 PM
Comment #102AGM, I think they got that from some Villa ITK on twitter or something from what I could tell. No idea if it is true but I hope it is both for NUFC’s sake and cos it will piss on TDS’s chips who unashamedly has Watkins in his FPL team while also not selecting any Toon players.
🙂
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:01 PM
Comment #103Vask, *sigh*
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:01 PM
Comment #104If Watkins is out for Villa, then that is huge… I would back us in any case, but with a bit a of nerves considering the class they possess which can always turn a game on it’s head. But with both him and Buendia out, I would feel much more certain on a win for us.
Mister Tuff
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:04 PM
Comment #105Again the greatest disrespect to Ed and his requests for people to behave is unfortunately happening again and again. The main culprit over the last 10 years is Lesh Lukashenko with his leftoid politico shite.
He never stops, disagree with his politics and you get called a na*i, a racist a homophobe fascist etc etc.
Out of respect to Ed – get that mother banned – once and for all.
Mister Tuff
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Comment #1063 – 1 to the Toon today.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:06 PM
Comment #107AGM
Pure toska!
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:07 PM
Comment #108Taco
I see your man kerkez started today.
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:11 PM
Comment #109He did indeed Vask,
He is on the bench for me in FPL though, but depending on what EH does I might need him.
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:11 PM
Comment #110Vask, nice one. I had to look it up.
Taco, I know he’s playing to win but I would have thought one of Pope or Botman would be a shoe in? His call though. 🙂
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Comment #111Tac
Is he any good? I’ve only heard of him because you mentioned him.
Ronway
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Comment #112captainmarvel – #93
Absolutely agree!
Today’s game:
Aston Villa predicted XI vs Newcastle: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Torres; Kamara, Luiz; McGinn, Bailey; Diaby, Watkins.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-predicted-line-newcastle-27491108?int_source=nba
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:13 PM
Comment #113I can’t remember very well so did pope get a half against villa in preseason?
Blaydon-Toon
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:14 PM
Comment #114Good afternoon Geordie nation ! The season is back and so am I after a blog sabbatical 🙂 have I missed much ?
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:14 PM
Comment #115AGM
Was going to go with l’ennui but I thought the extra implications of the Russian version was more appropriate for this feeling. 🙂
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:15 PM
Comment #116Oi oiiiiiii Blaydon!
Blaydon-Toon
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:16 PM
Comment #117Tough opening run of fixtures first up so I expect the Howe out posts after 4 games when we are not on 12 points !!!
Blaydon-Toon
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:17 PM
Comment #118How’s things Vask
Mund
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:17 PM
Comment #119Do you reckon Todd Boehly knows FFP is full of shit…?
Spent nearly 800M in 12 months!
How is that possible?
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:17 PM
Comment #120Blaydon
That’s only if we don’t get twelve points. We will. FACT.*
* terms and conditions apply.