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
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:18 PM
Comment #121Blaydon-Toon,
Same old, same old really. You will have missed out on FPL GW1 and GW1 of Raj’s Eddie Howe Bingo. I think you can still enter Martoons prediction league without missing anything there.
Blaydon-Toon
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:18 PM
Comment #122Can’t wait to see what our opening gambit team wise will be – Essex how long till Ko ?
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:19 PM
Comment #123Brighton fans doing a copy/paste of our songs.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:19 PM
Comment #124Things are grand Blayd. Very pleased competitive football has returned. It’s a fantastic aid to my professional crastination.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Comment #125Valle
Everyone is thieving our songs, even Burnley.
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:21 PM
Comment #126Mund,
Revenue. Also the fact that actually they have made +£40M profit in this window so far. They will get a huge shirt sponsor deal soon too.
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:28 PM
Comment #127Vask
I guess its a compliment, but its a bit annoying.
Ashingtoon62
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:28 PM
Comment #128TTT
I’m watching the Bournemouth game,yer man looks the biz mind.
West Ham very lucky to be leading..
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:29 PM
Comment #12960 Minutes to KO.
IrishRob
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:30 PM
Comment #130https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1690385216953610240?s=20
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #131SuperMac in the Chronicle. Newcastle’s Villa revenge mission as Barnes brings guarantee ASM couldn’t
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastles-villa-revenge-mission-harvey-27502122#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare
Flurzinho
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #132Midfield 3 of Tonali,Bruno and Big Jo.
Exactly what I predicted!
IrishRob
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:32 PM
Comment #133Wow Gordon is starting i did nptvsee that coming.
It surely has to be as cover for Diabys pace. He has a big job ahead of him but hes definitely as fast.
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:32 PM
Comment #134Who has won bingo then?
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:33 PM
Comment #135What a bench!
Flurzinho
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:33 PM
Comment #136We also now have a mighty strong bench.
Come on batter these tw@s.
IrishRob
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:33 PM
Comment #137Im sooooooooo excited to finally see that midfield together FINALLYYYYYYY
cleveleysbob
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:33 PM
Comment #138Not me, got the front 6 spot on, but not the defence.
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Comment #139Thats tough on Anderson, but he will get his chance… Anyone know the Villa lineup?
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Comment #140It’s official, I’m a know nowt.
Good looking team that! 😀
Any Villa news?
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Comment #141Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier (c), Fabian Schär, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães, Miguel Almirón, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak
Substitutes: Martin Dúbravka, Tino Livramento, Matt Targett, Jamaal Lascelles, Sean Longstaff, Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:35 PM
Comment #142Not bad bob
How many out of 11 though? 10 or 9?
Ashingtoon62
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:35 PM
Comment #143Didn’t see that line up coming….
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:36 PM
Comment #144Ashingtoon,
Yeah I always thought he looked suited to the PL, and you don’t get recommended to AC Milan by Paolo Maldini for no reason. Let him gain some experience at Bournemouth and then snatch him from them.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:36 PM
Comment #1459/11 for me, didn’t think he would start Schar or Tonali.
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Comment #146Watkins start for villa
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Comment #147Lots of pace in that front line. Might force the villa defense back somewhat.
t00narmy88
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Comment #148Lets smash these villa B”stards, howay the lads!!!
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Comment #149Their team is as expected
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Comment #150I reckon that that bench would be a good starting 11! 🙂
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Comment #151Diaby also start for them
Vask
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:38 PM
Comment #152https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66413644
valle
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:39 PM
Comment #153Everton behind at home
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:39 PM
Comment #154Some quick scran and then the match.
Ashingtoon62
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:40 PM
Comment #155Bournemooth just equalised,definitely deserved..
West Ham have been poor mind,
Ronway
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:40 PM
Comment #156Aston Villa’s line-up:
1 E Martínez
2 Cash
4 Konsa
5 Mings
12 Digne
44 Kamara
6 Douglas Luiz
19 Diaby
7 McGinn
31 Bailey
11 Watkins
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:40 PM
Comment #1579 for me Vask as I thought he would reward Anderson and play Barnes. Very happy with that team though aside from its FPL implications for me.
t00narmy88
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:40 PM
Comment #158Lets smash these villa B””tards, howay the lads!!!
The Taco Taker
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:41 PM
Comment #159Damn, Villa “ITKs” were wrong.
Uncertain Toon
Aug 12, 2023 at 4:44 PM
Comment #160Win the midfield battle, win the game, simples 😆