Newcastle are on a run of four straight wins as they head to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. The Red Devils have struggled this term sitting in the bottom half of the table. Even a managerial swap to Ruben Amorim has failed to pay dividends thus far.
Eddie Howe will hope to have at least one of Kieran Trippier or Tino Livramento available. Trippier came off in the win over Aston Villa, though it may have been fatigue related. Tino missed the match through illness. With Emil Krafth out, having a natural right-back available will be key.
Other than right-back, Howe is expected to field an unchanged team. The lads have been simply sensational over the previous four fixtures. Hopefully that continues to close out 2024 on a high note.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to catch the match today due to my job. This post can stand in for the matchday one.
Howay The Lads!
943 comments so far
Adamn_92
Dec 30, 2024 at 10:09 AM
Comment #1Forgot that Trippier went off injured against Villa.
Hopefully him or Tino are available. Targett is a fine back up, but means someone out of him or Hall would be playing in not their strongest position.
Murphy has always done well as a right back, but he’s been in great attacking form so need to keep him at right wing in my opinion.
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Comment #2Have we heard any news on either?
Wor B
Dec 30, 2024 at 10:24 AM
Comment #3Tino’s Mrs has returned 56 bog rolls to Sainsbury’s so hopefully he’s ok.
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Comment #4This’ll get the hairs on your arms standing up 😀
https://x.com/Nusc2023/status/1873652262909968389?s=33
Dougall
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:02 AM
Comment #5Reservations about tonight’s game as on paper we should hammer this lot and the confidence is high we have won 3 out of the last 5 games head to head i am going for 2 nil win
WLtoon
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:08 AM
Comment #6Good morning bloggers, hope you are all recovered from the Xmas festivities.
Onto tonight`s game, im predicting nowt saying as it`s the red scum at their place but if ever there was a time to play them it is now.
Magicmac must be the only poster who hates this lot more than me, you can tell in his posts he detests them..
I`m praying for a win, not just a win but an absolute hammering to put these footers in their place , on current form it could happen.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Comment #7Other clubs are complaining that we have a unfair advantage – we have AI scoring goals
Not another deJong
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:31 AM
Comment #8Does that mean Alexa should be able to predict Isak’s number of goals today?!
Adamn_92
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:34 AM
Comment #9Going to make a prediction that Casemiro gets sent off if he starts.
He doesn’t have the reactions anymore and with Bruno fantastic at winning free kicks, Tonali’s quickness and sharpness in passing/moving the ball and Joelinton being physical with him, I think he could very easily get 2 yellows being bossed by our midfield.
Adamn_92
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:37 AM
Comment #10Should definitely target whatever side Dalot is playing as well.
Loves to bomb forward and playing at home, you’d imagine he’ll be instructed to still do that.
Every game i’ve seen him play, he leaves space behind and is bad positionally when it comes to defending. Whether it’s Murphy or Gordon, they should be able to get in behind him with relative ease. Especially on the break.
JohnJ
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:54 AM
Comment #11Obviously I’m hoping for a win and yes I feel optimistic however I’m not counting my chickens just yet.
I’ll be more than well chuffed with a win for the Toon!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Pottsclock
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:22 PM
Comment #12For me, almost anything is possible tonight. We could win very comfortably or Man U could sneak a win with some dodgy refereeing thrown in and discover a new leader to step in the shoes of Fernandes. It could even be a draw.
That said, I am way more hopeful than I normally am and there is no doubt whatsoever that Man U are a worse team than us. If this game goes to form and quality, we win.
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Comment #13On the game…
IMO Eddie wants to prioritise keeping possession from the KO because I reckon ManU will throw the bus at us from the start to get an early goal and settle themselves and the crowd.
We mustn’t let them dominate possession from the off.
So, for the first 5-10 minutes, I’d just play it around at the back, sideways and back from midfield, and let them chase the ball. They are the desperate team not us.
Then…
Play it over the top to the front three as soon as we see that they have pushed up too far.
I’ll wager that there will be a goal in the first 15 minutes, if we don’t get it how we react will tell us a lot about whether we are genuine top 4 contenders.
If we get the first goal, especially early, it wouldn’t surprise me if we won 3 to 5-0.
I’m having £10 on Isak to get another hat trick 🙂
A Geordie Mongrel
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Comment #14Cut off for the Bingo is 5:45 tonight. https://www.nufcblog.com/2024/05/19/newcastle-finish-7th-with-good-4-2-win-but-now-wait-on-europa-conference-qualification/comment-page-5/#comment-3057297
Not another deJong
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Comment #15A hattrick for Isak and equalling Shears record for goal in a calendar year, would be superb.
jimiley
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Comment #16I am betting Isak does not get a hattrick.
I will settle for 2 0.
1. 0 is not good for your health in the last 15 because you know they will come at us at the end if we are only one goal up.
Clubs do have bogey grounds. Ours are Man U Chelsea and Liverpool. Two wins at Anfield in 70 years! Aboit 50 games there.Dippers could play their juniors and we would struggle to get a result there.
It’s always hard for us at Mancland regardless how shit they are. Any win will do
magscar
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:56 PM
Comment #17Yes Old Trafford never been a happy hunting ground which is exactly why we need to play the team not the history
Let’s make the plastic fans worry that we haven’t won many there but it’s
finslly going to be our night
It was our key midfielder wot won it for us last time ( apart from cup) – take your pick for tonight
Bruno
Tonali
Joelinton
or
Isak
AG
Barnes
Murphy
Maybe even Burn 🙂
The team have grown the last month or 2 and Eddie will have them in right mindset
magscar
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:04 PM
Comment #18As Bill says we need to keep them quiet from the off
We score first and that crowd no longer has the self belief that saw them win PL titles and will strughle to drive them on
I fancy we might start on front foot though rather than be cagey ( as in last 2 games)
Certainly having to come from behind will be hard for us – and tell a lot about us but I’d rather not have the test – we might still be fragile
Let’s keep clean sheet and just win
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:08 PM
Comment #19I see the lesser spotted jimiley is getting his doom in beforehand so as not to be accused of only posting after a loss, where have you been while we’ve been winning?
Hibbit
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:09 PM
Comment #20jimiley
it must be being so cheerful that keeps you going ,
i bet your the life and soul of parties 😆
jimiley
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:12 PM
Comment #21Raj
Staying well away from you.
Oh, is that the time? I must be on my way
JohnJ
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:16 PM
Comment #22Bills Son Is Back
Dec 30, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Comment #13
I always find your comments worth reading
I hope you are right about a certain No 14 eeeerrrrm No 9 getting a Hat Trick!
You should get good odds for that!
magicmac54
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:17 PM
Comment #23Good Afternoon Folks
I think it`s imperative we get off to another good start tonight, and another early goal could set the seal on another comfortable win, as they are very low on confidence and self belief at the moment!!
Conversely if they get the early goal it could change everything, and that low self belief and confidence could return,
we then have to factor in the referee who usually is their 12th man at Decrepit Trafford.
In Conclusion, if the Toon bring the best version of themselves to the table tonight we can expect to win.
HWTL
Mister Tuff
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Comment #24If we get the first goal tonight – they could well collapse into a real shambles and fouling like mad. So here’s hoping.
3 -0 to the Toon,
cyprus
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Comment #25Neil,
First off thanks for keeping this thing going.
Second, dude, your work is in the way of a big match, stop and reconsider your life’s choices my good man!
And have a happy new year, since you won’t be on later.
magicmac54
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Comment #26All hands on deck, Rashford returns to their squad tonight.
Young Alice is extremely dismissive of their chances tonight!!
I for one, will not be lulled into a false sense of security, a dull borning scrappy 1-0 to the Toon, will be like pennies from Heaven.
HWTL
https://www.youtube.com/live/Aw2nux7gvDU?si=4F2Hj8EpmTh4GMsO
simon376
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Comment #27Really hope Isak does get a hat trick apart from our win, for first time taken captaincy away from Holland and given it to him
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 30, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Comment #28One of the few times we won at OT…
Was the game after that infamous defeat in the FA Cup by Hereford.
Typical of NUFC to lose to a non-league team and next game beat Man Utd 2-0 away.
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Dec 30, 2024 at 2:34 PM
Comment #29Even pardew won at old trafford
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Dec 30, 2024 at 2:35 PM
Comment #30If Eddie is king surely you beat a manure team without Bruno Fernandes
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 30, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Comment #31We will never ever get a better chance than to win at Old Trafford we just won’t!
We have done amazing to get back into the mix for europe but this is the game to see what kind of team we are going to be! Its not about quality now its mentality lets get a winners mindset and deal with them professionally
Get the early goal control the game and watch the stadium empty early come on lets do this!!
JohnJ
Dec 30, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Comment #32Magic,
Young Alice can kill two birds with one stone tonight. Two reports for the price of one eh!
magicmac54
Dec 30, 2024 at 3:12 PM
Comment #33John J
John just like your goodself, i hope young Alice is feeling very downbeat and gloomy and ready for a good old rant about 9-50pm tonight mate 😀 😀
HWTL
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2024 at 3:18 PM
Comment #34I’m also confident of a win but what I don’t like about over confidence is the hysteric reaction from some should we not claim all three points.
Mund
Dec 30, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Comment #35Former Newcastle United academy defender Michael Newberry has tragically passed away at the age of just 27.
My thoughts are with his loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
Rest in peace, Michael. #NUFC
Mister Tuff
Dec 30, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Comment #36A few outlets are predicting this team for tonight with Livramento returning.
Dubravka, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Cannot argue with that team.
Hibbit
Dec 30, 2024 at 4:41 PM
Comment #37According to The Chronicle,
Tino Livramento traveled and will be back in the squad after recovering from illness which kept him out of our 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
With Kieran Trippier touch and go after his withdrawal last week, it’s a timely return.
IrishRob
Dec 30, 2024 at 4:53 PM
Comment #38I’d be surprised if Tino starts tonight. Being available is one thing but I don’t see how his lungs will have recovered from a flu or cold in 3-4 days.
I’d much rather see Trippier start.
IrishRob
Dec 30, 2024 at 4:54 PM
Comment #39.
IrishRob
Dec 30, 2024 at 4:54 PM
Comment #40..