Newcastle are back at St. James’ Park today with Fulham on the docket. The lads course corrected at St. Mary’s last weekend after a horror showing at home against Bournemouth.
To look at the larger picture ahead of a crucial week for the club. The Magpies have won ten of the last eleven in all competitions and will be aiming for three more points for some momentum into the second leg of the league cup semifinals.
Unsurprisingly Eddie Howe has named an unchanged team.
HOWAY THE LADS! ? pic.twitter.com/OViLsoIUnp
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 1, 2025
Marco Silva has named the following team for the visitors.
Marco Silva's Fulham. ?#NEWFUL pic.twitter.com/FR7Hs37qrg
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 1, 2025
Howay The Lads!
802 comments so far
magscar
Feb 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Comment #761NADJ
If Joelintin is out as expected then to me it’s between Willock or Longstaff to start – I doubt Miley will
But for Willocks poor game as a sub on Saturday I believe he’s the natural starter rather than shifting Bruno to left to accommodate Longstaff
It’s not the first time that Willock has disappointed this season though
Front 3 pick themselves but there are choices at back between Schar and Botmsn and maybe Tripps for Tino?
Choices for Eddie and he can’t afford to get it wrong
Whoever plays most will remember our disappointment against Man U 2 seasons ago and will want to.be there again and this time win it
magscar
Feb 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Comment #762Dave
I share your thinking on there must have already been work done behind scenes about new stadium location
It would be falling at first hurdle if they announced the decision was a new stadium then failed to get Council etc on board
As with you just a gut feeling and no inside info
Pottsclock
Feb 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Comment #763Surely Willock will have a point to prove against Arsenal and I’d expect him to start but Longstaff to be one of the subs around the usual 70min sub time
check the toastie
Feb 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Comment #764Wonder if Botman comes in and Burn goes left back.
Sort of makes sense considering we will for sure defend deepish for long periods. And their Setpieces are wicked. Pope and Burn at full back. Dunno. Could be
jimiley
Feb 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Comment #765Has to be Longstaff. Willock has been bollix since he came back but fans are saying this game is the perfect game for him. As if he can transform his game.
We will come through this game because the real Toon will turn up. The players seem to decide which games they want to put a shift in.
jimiley
Feb 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Comment #766Arsenal set pieces are wicked because their big players put their heads where it hurts and the others act as a distraction.
Only Dan and Lacelles put their noses where they might get bent. The rest are too pretty.
Munster Mag
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Comment #767Adam I think they shud have scored at Emirates though. That header by Havertz…lol
Adamn_92
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Comment #768Jimiley
Course Willock can transform his game. Any player can. Usually when they have a point to prove, like Willock right now who we all know can play far better.
Think he’ll start alongside Bruno and Tonali anyway, he’s got the pace and ability to drive forward with the ball which will be needed in Joelintons absence. Longstaff and Miley don’t have that same drive. Tonali does, but he’ll be needed to sit and mop up/dictate play well tonight.
I’m still backing Willock to prove doubters wrong tonight if he starts.
Adamn_92
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Comment #769Munster
But they didn’t 🙂
Munster Mag
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Comment #770Confident earlier but shitting it now. Decent few Irish Mags and Munster lads going over. Some by edinburgh
Munster Mag
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Comment #771It’s all about not conceding early .
I expect Pope in goals
Munster Mag
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Comment #772Has to be willock if Joel not ready.
Bringing Joel off bench for last 20 wud also raise the crowd
jimiley
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Comment #773Adam’s
I hope you are right but I fear you are confusing the pre injury Willock with the post injury one.
Still waiting for pre injury one.
jimiley
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Comment #774Munster
Concede early and the fans will go into nervous meltdown. That transmits to players
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Comment #775Cyprus maybe for murphy if 532. Joelinton if 343
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Comment #776Joelinton
For me it has to be Longstaff – We will need a bit off bite in midfield which Willock doesn’t give us since his injuries.
Miley more creative but not sure about his tackling prowness
Hibbit
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Comment #777in the toon,
The Chronicles AL generate version of the new St James Arena âť“
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stunning-new-st-james-images-30939076
i could live with that !!!!!
lesh
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Comment #778Munster, Jimiley
We’ll just have to score first then. Simples
lesh
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Comment #779Hibbit
If you’re happy with the AI image, job done!
Enjoy the match
Adamn_92
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Comment #780Charlie
Longstaff would make us too defensive in my opinion. Joelinton can hold players off and is able to drive forward with the ball. Remove him and replace him with Longstaff and we lose that driving part of our midfield.
Bruno doesn’t have the raw pace to do it, Tonali can but he’ll need to sit and dictate/mop up. Only Willock can give us that. Which we will need on the counter or to relieve some pressure and drive up the pitch.
Bruno and Tonali can provide the bite in midfield, we need someone to run with the ball and carry it which only Willock can do well and at pace, out of our other options available.
lesh
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Comment #781I see the bindippers are crying again. Slot’s calling for an increase to the size of matchday squads!
Munster Mag
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Comment #782I pray Joel will be fit but Willock for me if now
Longstaff offers so little and the criticism of those who highlighted this was way OTT, as is so typical of here
Same happened with Miggy
check the toastie
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Comment #783The idea that Longstaff starts is mad.
Rice tortures him every time he plays against him as Sean is weak as piss.
Plus his confidence must be shot.
It Miley or Willock.
Prefer Miley to try and keep ball and run control game 1st half. Hopefully get Willcck and Big Joe on 2nd half.
check the toastie
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Comment #784Its as big a game as we have had in years.
Spurs may nick a draw tomoro. And we have a sniff of a trophy…
Mister Tuff
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Comment #785Moanster – Pope in goal – hope not Dubs has been doing ok.
Few starting Longstaff as a replacement if Big Joe is not available . I would agree with that instead of Willock.
RUNAWAY777
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Comment #786No match for me tonight as doing a wedding disco, in Kelso hope I can pick radio newcastle up or iam f..ked. but as long as we get the result that will.take up to Wembley that’s all that matters.
So 1…0 or 1..1.
mctoon
Feb 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Comment #787Despite the brilliant first leg and two goal advantage, we’ll still be the underdogs tonight…
Arsenal are odds-on favourites at every bookie, to win tonight’s leg.
Lap of the gods, on aggregate score if that’s the outcome.
Would of preferred big Joe, to have been fully fit, and raring to go. He’s not been at his best of late, but even if misfiring, we’ll definitely miss his presence, power and energy in midfield against a very physical Arsenal.
We need to be at our absolute best and also ride our luck a bit, but only two teams in the whole football league get to contest an EFL final… so to be in with a chance to reach our second final in three years with a quarter final in between, is testament to the brilliant progress made by this manager and current group of players.
They deserve this, we deserve this…
Lets cheer em’ home.
HWTL.
magicmac54
Feb 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Comment #788Evening All
Tonight is our big date with destiny, no doubt the nerves will be jangling in some parts, i think the Toon will qualify for the final, as we usually turn up against the big teams. My prediction 1-1
HWTL
Pottsclock
Feb 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Comment #789I also have a date with Destiny tonight be she’s letting me see the match first
mctoon
Feb 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Comment #790Essex Geordie Bill,
Just caught up with the blog, much belated but no less heartfelt, sincerest condolences.
So sorry for your loss.
A Geordie Mongrel
Feb 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Comment #791The clock is ticking for Eddie’s Bingo. It closes at 6 sharp. https://www.nufcblog.com/2024/05/19/newcastle-finish-7th-with-good-4-2-win-but-now-wait-on-europa-conference-qualification/comment-page-7/#comment-3064308
cyprus
Feb 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Comment #792MrT
My only concern with Dubravka is he got lucky with those corners in the first game. He was getting blocked off, was kind of lost in some of them. I think Pope would handle those better, is a much better keeper. However, he’s not match fit so I’d start Dubravka.
On the Joel vs anybody else, if he’s fit I’d start the beast. It’s going to be a war and you need such players there. There’ll be a lot of bullying tonight and he cannot be bullied. Rather, he can be intimidating.
Mister Tuff
Feb 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Comment #793cyprus – I’ m hoping big Joe is fit. His on field aggression is excellent and a bonus for us.
Dubs has earned his place as long as he doesn’t bottle things/get caught in two minds.. Pope isn’t really a natural footballer – viz his dodgy footwork (like a ballet dancer).
magscar
Feb 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Comment #794Has Eddie been playing mind games over Joelinton?
Why mention in presser that there is a chance he may play if he isn’t dit
Could he be keeping Arteta guessing either way ?
We’ll know in less than an hour what the craic is
IrishRob
Feb 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Comment #795https://x.com/NUFC/status/1887214616402358722
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Comment #796Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Lewis Hall, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimarães (c).
Substitutes: Nick Pope, Callum Wilson, Matt Targett, Emil Krafth, William Osula, Tino Livramento, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley.
jimiley
Feb 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Comment #797Every team which has won first leg away by two goals or more has gone through.
Nothing to worry about. History is on our side
jimiley
Feb 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Comment #798I like that side.
lochinvar
Feb 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Comment #7995-3-2 ?
fray bentos
Feb 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Comment #800hmmmm is Hall in midfield or is it a back 5?