Under Eddie Howe, Newcastle have done very well in the domestic cup competitions. The hope is this season will be no different. After a disappointing 1-1 draw at Bournemouth over the weekend, the Magpies are in need of a positive result at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
During his press conference for the league cup tie, Howe committed to fielding a strong but slightly rotated squad. Here is some of what he said:
“We will try and play a really strong team; we want to progress. We will make changes as well at the same time, because we have a squad that I think enables me to do so, while not weakening the quality, we saw the strength of our bench on Sunday, which made a huge difference.
There are a lot of players eager to show what they can do. We are determined to do well; this competition has been good for us. Last year we were incredibly close to another semi-final.”
Howe got some excellent cameos on Sunday that helped salvage a point. Two of the standouts were Harvey Barnes and Kieran Trippier. I expect both to start on Wednesday as part of four overall changes with Lewis Hall and Joe Willock also involved.
Here is the team I predict Howe to name.
I have Anthony Gordon remaining in the starting eleven but jumping to the right flank. Howe must find a way to get his best attackers on the field together. Especially with news this morning that a right winger may not be in the summer’s transfer plans.
Howe also confirmed Sandro Tonali would make the squad after the end of his lengthy suspension. The Italian will likely not start due to a lack of match sharpness though reports are he has been terrific in training.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to put out the team news for this match. Hopefully, the lads can advance in the competition and then complete a few transfers by week’s end.
1,772 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Comment #81Tonali is supposed to be fit and raring to go. Looking forward to his return .
Adamn_92
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Comment #82What I will say about the window, is that it’s going to be hard to be excited about Guehi signing now, if he eventually does. As it’s dragged on so long.
I’m still hopeful there’s a surprise signing between now and the window shutting.
I’ll be the first to admit I thought we could spend pretty well and would see 2 or 3 real quality signings come in. But sadly that has happened and I guess PSR is more of a pressing concern that I thought. With us focusing on adding one quality defensive addition, instead of 2 or 3 faily good signings spread out.
Pottsclock
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:23 AM
Comment #83Can’t wait for the match tonight. Will we see some of our second choice players starting? I’m not so sure, with the exception of Tonali. We’re badly missing match sharpness at the moment and the best cure for that is to play in competitive matches. Secondly, we definitely want a good run in the cup this season.
One of the reasons we haven’t been playing so well is that the pre-season was all about commercial revenue and not player preparation. Germany must have been part of the Adidas sponsorship deal. Japan to extend our supporter footprint.
Recruitment has been disappointing so far, given that we do seem to have financial pressures, I am not a fan of spedning £70m on Guehi if it means no RW. As bad for me is the lack of exits. However, what I will say is that if Mitchell is not up to the job he’ll be gone in a jiffy – our owners will not tolerate incompetence.
magicmac54
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Comment #84I will be very surprised if Tonali is in the starting 11 tonight, the lad might be fit, but being fit, and match fitness are two entirely different things, my best guess is he will enter the fray at some stage in the second half, just my opinion though.
captainmarvel
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Comment #85If anyone can light this season Tonali can, he will be determined to do it too.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:34 AM
Comment #86Well Chris Waugh reckons it’s because we’re looking like being in need of freshening up and I tend to agree with him, nearly always has it bang on the money and I guess that’s why The Athletic pay him good money. As for hissy fits, I’d equate these constant references to Mitchell having his pants pulled down and Howe not getting on with him without a shred of evidence as a hissy fit.
JohnJ
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:44 AM
Comment #87A thought from me.
It seems the fact that we can’t move on the players that we need to move on is a big hinderance to our incomings.
The players who are surplus to our present needs just don’t want to go!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:46 AM
Comment #88When you think back to last season we bought Hall and Tino eventually totalling up to 70 million plus the problem was neither of them were ready for most of the season in Howes eyes
It cost us a lot of points not having a fully functioning left back while Trippier was also costing us points but still he wouldn’t change it up properly till after January as presumably he didn’t think either player was ready?
Perhaps Eddie just wants a player he can plug and play straight in and the club want cheaper players who need coaching? Thiaw who has been touted is pretty error prone and is now injured again!!
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:52 AM
Comment #89JohnJ,
It’s as simple as that mate, if we could have got rid of Miggy to Saudi it would given us leeway, it doesn’t sound much but look at the £10M Lpool sold Bobby Clark for, huge in terms of PSR, imagine the uproar if we’d sold Palmer, Nketiah or B Clark, there’d have been uproar.
JohnJ
Aug 28, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Comment #90Very sorry to learn that Nobby Solano has been sacked by Blyth Spartans after they failed to win any of their first six games. 🙁
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Comment #91@Jail
I honestly think the club thought they were going to be selling Bruno for his release clause
For us to progress every summer we need a big sale Anderson and Minteh covered it this year and if we had also sold a blue chip player like Isak, Bruno or Botman it would give us leeway to go all out
Looking at Brighton they have had 3 summers in a row with a big sale and then this summer have totally revamped their squad with higher level players still with potential
Unfortunately because of different reasons we haven’t been able to shift players on although because of contracts running out we have a great opportunity next summer but will probably need a big sale to go with it
Munster Mag
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:09 AM
Comment #92Adam if we are that close, again, to the flame on PSR then I’m afraid Eales needs to watch what he says re transformative windows
There are some on here who won’t accept this though and would be happy if we signed a new catering team only.
I’m not saying thats you by the way.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:11 AM
Comment #93Roughly 60 hour to go and not a sniff of anybody coming in to the club
Palace have sold 4 player, why would we keep trying to get 1 player for so long.
lesh
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:12 AM
Comment #94Magic, Captainmarvel et al
When Amanda and her young fella moved out, the club lost its connection between pre and post buyout. They engineered Ashley out of the club and thus became heroes in the eyes of its fans.
That might éxplain why some fans feel a lack of connection with the club….. maybe?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Comment #95Also wouldn’t be surprised at all to see a Chelsea or City player rock up on a loan to buy deal tomorrow
There’s too many in that Chelsea squad for example that would make a good dent in improving us Chalobah I could see being here i don’t think Guehi is massively better than him either
RUNAWAY777
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:25 AM
Comment #96Can’t remember who said keep our money till Jan transfer window we all no players cost more in that window as teams don’t like to sell.
If it went bad in the first part of the season we would never catch up,
I’ll been watch the next 3 or 4 games cause the owners will only take so much.
magscar
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:29 AM
Comment #97Well a good morning walk “Pod on the Tyne” on ear buds, sun on the face and positivity kept well topped up
Now had coffee watching Tonali’s encouraging interview and feeling even more chipper
Bring on Forest whilst I’m still on the up 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Comment #98I never heard one single complaint about PSR when buying Bruno, Isak, Botman or Gordon, even the HB money, people wanted that spent on a striker, why weren’t the people whining about money spent now, or lack of it complaining we were spending too much back then.
Munster Mag
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Comment #99Good point Lee
The Bard of Bensham Bank
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:37 AM
Comment #100With still no major signings done
Let’s take a moment for a bit of fun…
I noticed a couple of things from this weekend
So for you lucky lot, here’s a ditty I’ve penned
It’s a little contrived, but what needed highlighting
Is the bit near the end, which is a superb piece of writing…
.
I was having a look just the other day
At some interesting books for sale on ebay
There was a fella in Derby who was trying to sell
A big book of jokes, which I thought looked swell
He was trying to raise funds to pay off his tab
For a years supply of Doner kebab
So I offered a tenner including fees
But was outbid by someone from overseas
Whoever won the bid, I had no idea
But it seems he resides in Tanzania
Cos the jokes that have recently been coming our way
I’m sure were old Tom’s from back in the day
But there’s nowt wrong with having a laugh and a joke
They take blogging too seriously do some of these folk
So it’s good to see Swallocks is back on board
After battling the lefties over on Discord
.
Now where was I? Oh aye…
.
Missing out on that book was a disappointment to me
Then I saw one with tips on cod philosophy
I’ve enjoyed that sort of thing on here
So I just had to have it, although it was dear
So I emptied my account of fifty quid
Logged into ebay and placed my bid
For a place like this it would have been the holy grail
But I lost out to a fella from Nidderdale
It must have been Regan, for where else would he’ve found
Something so meaningful, so deep and profound
You’ve heard of the seagulls and trawler by Cantona
Well, in my humble opinion this little gem is on par…
.
.
———–
Regan
Aug 25, 2024 at 8:27 PM
Comment #342
If you think you’re a big cat but act like a little pussy when the taxidermist is chasing you through the woods..
do not lay down and play dead
———–
Beautiful words, you have to admit
A finer passage has never been writ
He has a history of posting things bizarre
But that book has helped him to raise the bar
And now I have greater expectations
Of seeing more of these wonderful crazy quotations!
😀
RUNAWAY777
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:38 AM
Comment #101Well breakfast in the toon with few of the lads then off down the A1 to Nottingham for day before the match.
magicmac54
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Comment #102Lesh@94
Morning mate, everything you said in that post makes a lot of sense, and she most definitely will always be a hero for setting the wheels in motion to usher Ashley out the door, not to mention getting such wealthy and ambitious owners through the door. But i will add Lesh, for me personally there is nobody now in the clubs hierarchy who has the same skill set as Amanda, in terms of warmth charisma and charm mate, she really had that special connection with all the fans, it`s really not the same without that link in the chain at the present moment Lesh.
magscar
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Comment #103Still apparently some belief in Press that Guehi can be done notwithstanding he’s now cup-tied
It’s quite clear that Club have had a very truncated shortlist for a ball playing CH with Pl experience who can partner Botman for good few seasons and they believed they could get but wouldn’t be easy – maybe only one ticked all boxes
The fact that despite all the turmoil we seem to be still at table says a lot – exactly what that is will of course differ depending on where you stand on the saga
Be honest when he was first linked did you think yeah we can get him – I didn’t – thought he would be on his way to Liverpool or such
If it comes off I hope Guehi is given some breathing space to fit in as neither the fee nor the drawn out saga are directly his fault
Somehow though the lad is not going to have that luxury in some fans eyes who will want their instant gratification satisfied
JaveaToon
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:52 AM
Comment #104Being cup tied might not matter at 10pm tonight…just sayin! 😉
mctoon
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:54 AM
Comment #105Munster,
Most of us are enjoying the club we’re building and are fully appreciative of the ownership we’ve now got and what they’re hoping to achieve.
There was always going to be bumps in the road even without PSR.
“Success isn’t a straight line”
Dreamers over screamers.
Catering’s already been improved by the way, can even get a birds eye view of the pitch from your table…
It’s a struggle to be an Ostrich and a happy clapper, they’re biologically opposed.
Well worth the effort though….
magscar
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:57 AM
Comment #106Javea
🙂
didn’t wan to go there
JaveaToon
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Comment #107I said over the road earlier…at least I think it was over the road (I’m easily confused), if Guehi was signed completely out of the blue then I suspect most would have been over the moon and nowt would have been said if he was worth that price or not. In fact I’d go even further and say that if we’d bit out of the blue 65m and Palace insisted on 70m and we walked away immediately that many would be complaining that we’d walked away for the sake of 5m.
JaveaToon
Aug 28, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Comment #108Magscar… It’s always a possibility, tough game but I’m looking forward to it…for Tonali’s comeback above all else.
magscar
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:03 AM
Comment #109mctoon
I stay away from Blog during match – even thought i might give it a miss today
https://youtu.be/z9nkzaOPP6g?si=cSmLI64bEDu6ljAt
If worst happens as Javea has ( humourously) hinted at I might stay away for awhile 🙂
JaveaToon
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:12 AM
Comment #110I’m gonna go 2-1 toon. HWTL
magscar
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Comment #111Javea
yes exactly my thoughts
The trick is to not let expectations turn into demands then blame game when those aren’t met
I don’t want to put too high expectations on Tonali but together with better form from some, a sound game plan I am hoping for a good night for us
I suppose I’m a lucky guy I’ve got a glass that is rarely below half full ….
…….apparently that makes me a mug though – if i can mix my crockery and metaphors 😉
mctoon
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:14 AM
Comment #112magscar,
lol, Yeah, always a tough crowd on here on matchday.
It’s a difficult cup draw (again), every EPL team away from home is difficult.
Some just don’t accept it.
I’m hopeful for the win…
magicmac54
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Comment #113WOW it looks like Gazza is a member of this renowned Ostrich Club 😀 😀
https://youtube.com/shorts/lU03Rpc7qx4?si=ZSbhpE6LvP5L3nLV
Adamn_92
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Comment #114Munster
I agree that maybe Eales made a slight error in saying the window would be transformative. Maybe will learn from that and take ntoes from Eddie in his pressers, kind of down playing things a bit. But then I guess if Eales came out and said ‘Don’t expect much this window’, then fans would equally have been repulsed by such comments and start to claim ‘lack of ambition’. So needed to give a more closed generic comment like ‘We’re going to do what we can to try and improve the team’ or something.
Still, transformative is also one of those terms that will vary person to person. Guehi may be deemed as transformative in Eales and Eddies eyes, as they believe thats the key player we need and we’re ok elsewhere for the season. Fans may think differently.
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Comment #115Eddie’s Bingo closes at 5:45 this afternoon. The clock’s ticking folks. 🙂
https://www.nufcblog.com/2024/05/19/newcastle-finish-7th-with-good-4-2-win-but-now-wait-on-europa-conference-qualification/#comment-3036235
JaveaToon
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:21 AM
Comment #116Magscar… Yeah, there could/will be a lot of expectation on him but as fit as he is he’s still gonna be a little ring rusty and maybe a little too eager to impress and try too hard. I’d be happy with him getting a decent amount of minutes, a steady performance and anything beyond that is a bonus.
We’ll probably all be a bit disappointed if we don’t bring anyone in but we’re trying to bring in better quality so the market place is smaller than before and harder to get things done. I do think we should have walked from this one but then I don’t have all the info about what’s gone on so…
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Comment #117magscar,
I think there are still a few that just can’t comprehend the absolute mess the club was left in by the previous owner, people said he didn’t take money out of the club, I argued that all it wasn’t shown on paper he was fleecing tye club dry. For example the Castore deal, although that wouldn’t show on the books as him extracting the kit money, the deal favouring Rots Direct was indirectly taking money from the club, he wasn’t interested in any commercial revenue that didn’t benefit him and that’s why he never had departments exploring and growing it, player sales were done to satisfy his buzz of horse trading rather than to benefit the club. Yes he’s gone and not worth talking about but with players like Hayden, Fraser and Lewis still on the books and our having to start from scratch our revenue stream, his grubby paws are still evident to show shat we are up against.
carltoon
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:26 AM
Comment #118Thought I’d check out “off topic” on Discord,
OMG it’s certainly not for the faint hearted, although to be fair, they didn’t seem to be arguing. So I suppose it works. But my views or totally opposite, and would never be able to even try to put my views on there.
I did leave a comment on Jail’s leisure top on general chat but it got lost in the stream of posts.
So Jail, absolutely love the top, I’m getting one for my brother. Do they sell it in the temporary shop, as he got the other leisure tops online.?
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Comment #119My Nanna, lovely lady and well respected in the neighbourhood, hundreds at her funeral despite her age, used to drown kittens in a pillowcase because they could barely afford to feed themselves between the 8 brothers and three sisters never mind constant litters of cats, I bet she’d think nothing of sticking a few of the matchday warblers in a compacter sack and throwing them in a swimming pool come three o clock on a Saturday afternoon, I think I’d help her 😀
JaveaToon
Aug 28, 2024 at 11:32 AM
Comment #120Let’s just say Eddie is the one that really really wants Guehi(I’m assuming this is the case) and has said that he is the player he wants above all else, even if it’s all or most of the budget for this window and regardless of whether you rate him or think he’s over valued then…what do you think is the correct way for the club to act A) try and back the manager to the hilt and do everything in your power to get him the player he really wants. B) Say “sorry Eddie, we tried for a week or 2 and it’s too difficult so let’s move on” .
Assuming you pick B, would you still pick it if the club had tried that approach but Eddie says”No! Guehi is the one I want and the one I believe is right for what I’m trying to build here”?
This is a bit more longwinded than I intended. 😆