After a troubling run, Newcastle look to take a giant step at West Ham this evening. The Magpies were knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend at home to Brighton and have dropped to ninth in the league table.
However, a win at West Ham will see Newcastle jump to sixth in the table and just two points off fourth-placed Chelsea. Though on recent form, a brave few will be banking on three points in East London today.
Nevertheless, here is the team Eddie Howe has named for this potentially critical clash.
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Bruno (C), Joelinton, Tonali, Murphy, Barnes, Isak
This is who Graham Potter has selected for the Hammers.
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Bowen (C), Kudus.
Howay The Lads!
666 comments so far
Not another deJong
Mar 11, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Comment #161Likewise, how does the crowd singing Dubravka’s name help, if true
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Comment #162Wowzers
“Speaking of ancient history, this will be the first time Newcastle that Newcastle have entered a major final on the back of a victory since a 6-1 victory over Aston Villa in 1952 — they lost the previous four tune-ups”
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Comment #163Oh dear
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lloyd-kellys-juventus-nightmare-sinks-31166200.amp
JaveaToon
Mar 11, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Comment #164A massive 3 points last night in what is a massive week. 3 points done now for the cup HWTL.
lochinvar
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Comment #165Who gets the keeper shirt at Wembley.
Pope wasn’t at his best last night and you have to wonder if his shoulder injury has affected his ability to attack high crosses.
Eddie thinks he’s no 1 but Dubs delivered when we needed it.
Maybe Dubs gets the call, as he’s earned it.
fray bentos
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Comment #166@Mund
Yeah agreed, I thought we were decent considering we were in London playing against a team with their confidence high. West Ham didn’t look great, but maybe that’s due to the way we were setup
It looked very tight out there, it felt like they had every player behind the ball when we were attacking, their box was always crowded
Therefore not sure how the usual posters expected us to play like 70’s Brazil, but they expect us to play like that every match against every team, that strange world they live in when you can dictate every game because the opposition are not trying to win
Rotonda heights
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Comment #167Very mixed performance from Tino. Got in some great attacking positions but sadly his left foot is like Almiron’s right and he kept checking back all the time and losing momentum. Hall is a huge miss in that regard. Still Tino did nullify Bowen.
Think we have to accept Pope and Burn are just not and never will be ”natural” footballers. Honestly never seen anyone so bad with the ball at his feet than Pope. He just spreads panic any time the ball is played back to him. Great one headed and some good punched clearances though .
I do worry about anyone with speed, ie Salah running at Burn and Schar. Salah destroyed Burn at SJP so Tino’s pace on that left hand side could come in handy as he’s a bit quicker than Hall.
Pleased Barnes got the assist as up to that point it was looking like being another frustrating night for him.
I think it would be an even greater achievement from this position getting CL than winning the Carabao cup. That said, winning the Carabao cup would have me on a permanent high and mean that they’d actually won something before it’s too late for me at 63 !!
JaveaToon
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Comment #168NADJ…Where did you read (or hear) about Dubz’s name being sang last night?
Only thing I’ve read about it this morning referred to fans singing his name during the Brighton game.
Loch…I prefer Dubz in goal but don’t think there’s a cat in hell’s chance he plays in the cup now barring injury to Pope.
lochinvar
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Comment #169Last night Wilson got 10minutes to trot across the pitch.
Why not an athletic and physical presence of Osula. To the end we had chances to put long balls into their half and he could have taken the ball goalwards or even to the corner.
Game management plan needs checking
Rotonda heights
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Comment #170Lochinvar
There seems to be an unwavering stance on Wilson. He’s had a few sub appearances and a cup game now and Brum apart has done very little in all of them. Feel for Osula, he’s impressed in the 2 games I’ve seen him.
Wondering if Alex Murphy will get more chances next season. Seems to be tearing it up at Bolton.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Comment #171Dubs got a winners medal last time, let Pope have it this year.
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Mar 11, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Comment #172Subs get winners medal too smh
fray bentos
Mar 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Comment #173@rotunda
Win a game away that keeps us well in the race for the CL, and you’re still mostly negative, what a life! lol
I think you don’t like being proved wrong with your comments about old players and 3CB’s before the game
magicmac54
Mar 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Comment #174Raj Jail
I think we will play the same team in the final as last night, although visually Pope looks so tense and nervous at the moment, i could see it last night anytime the cameras were on him, he really looks devoid of confidence at the moment for some reason.
Dougall
Mar 11, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Comment #175The game wasn’t pretty last night but the team got the job done on the pitch which is all that matters to keep us in touch with the top 6 winning ugly is a trait all top teams have
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Comment #176magicmac54,
It certainly is a conundrum but I just don’t see why he would play him last night and not on Sunday.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Comment #177What do yous think of Tino’s performance, i thought he done OK.
magicmac54
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Comment #178Raj Jail
It certainly is a mystery in reference to Pope, but that win last night will hopefully invigorate Pope and the whole squad for the final mate, that was a massive victory last night, and it really should boost the whole squad, so we go into the League Cup Final with a spring in our step, and with a much better mindset.
On that positive note, thats me off to the Golf.
Keep er lit.
HWTL
Macas
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Comment #179Livramento was getting a bit of stick, and while he did have a couple of slips I think he always looks a far better player on the left. For me he has been very average at right back this season.
Bit of a lucky win given Isak’s foul for the goal, but it was vital to stay above the chasing pack.
Just hope Pope doesn’t get punished in the final as teams now know to charge at him when he has the ball, and he looks a bag of nerves half the time.
Barnes will probably play too but apart from the assist he did very little. hopefully the game time will do him some good for the weekend. I always prefer when he comes on as sub as he has very little overall influence in games but is capable of a good moment.
simon376
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Comment #180Raj
Thought tink did very well especially as he was on wrong side. Defended well and got down pitch. Only down side not able to use left foot where hall woukd have had better crosses in. But thought he did good. As for pope. I wonder looks worried with all these comments about him. Need to get behind him.
Couldn’t work out if he was playing the game about his ankle or if did have a slight injury. If he does and not 100% Dubs will be in for final but if pope let’s all get behind him
fray bentos
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Comment #181Where is the idea that Barnes did very little apart from assist come from?
He had 2 of the best chances in the game, both very close to being goals, he had to get him into those positions, that’s basically his job, to get into scoring positions
It does seems he’s gonna find it difficult to shrug the scape goat (one of) title, I think he needs Murphy to step up and take that position back lol
Adamn_92
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Comment #182Great performance away from home where a win was crucial, not just to keep Champions League hope alive and well, but confidence going into the final.
Thought our whole midfield played really well, but Tonali just pips it for motm for me. Understanding of the game is another level and he’s so important to the team. Always knows when he needs to sit a little deeper and cover someone, like when Tino or Trippier bombed forward, he naturally sits a bit deeper and a bit more on their side. Quietly controls and breaks the game up. All effortlessly as well, top top footballer.
Tino done well defensively, but having to constantly chop back onto his right did kill some attacking momentum. Overall had a good game I thought though.
Pope, we all know he is awful with the ball at his feet. Which is also confusing sometimes why we play it back to him, when a pass is on to a midfielder or defender. As we know it’s the riskiest option. I thought his overall peformance was good though. Came off his line well, claimed a few crosses and got some good punches in to clear danger. Thought he had a decent game.
Bills Son Is Back
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Comment #183On Pope…
His facial expressions last night when he booted balls straight into touch were not good. He looked distraught.
Pope obviously knows fans are watching like a hawk how he plays the ball out and that must be nerve wracking for the lad. He is one bad pass that concedes a goal away from having a total collapse in confidence IMO.
If that happens in the final Eddie will get slaughtered by many fans and I have to say that criticism will be somewhat deserved.
Lpook will pressure Pope for sure and their front three are so quick that it’s a calamity waiting to happen.
IMO Dubs has to play in the final.
JohnJ
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Comment #184Anyone think we were holding back just a little bit last night?
It seemed as though we were just doing enough to take the three points!
Maybe I’m wrong?
JohnJ
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Comment #185I’m sorry that Pope seems to have hit a confidence barrier perhaps he needs time out to build his confidence back up again?
Not another deJong
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Comment #186Javeatoon
https://www.geordiebootboys.com/match/bruno-guimaraes-grabbed-the-winner-but-58-touch-newcastle-united-star-was-the-unsung-hero-vs-west-ham/
“”Then there is the goalkeeper dilemma. Newcastle fans chanted for Martin Dubravka, but Nick Pope kept an important clean sheet against West Ham.””
Not another deJong
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Comment #187One of the times Pope sliced the ball out was from a free kick on the left that he was standing over, then Tino played it inside and left the goalkeeper stranded. The ball was fumbled by the back line whilst Pope scrambled to return to the penalty area. The error was by the young full back which resulted in Pope looking bad.
Macas
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Comment #188Fray
On Barnes, because he has the odd good moment and has quality but doesn’t always seem involved in the game or making too much impact.
For me is better as a sub because of that, when you want a player to come up with something special, but against Liverpool maybe we want a more solid option to be starting when we are likely to be under the cosh.
Nothing to do with making him a scapegoat at all.
jimiley
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Comment #189Sets us up nicely for Sunday.
Our back 4 will be pressed and Nunez will be all over Pope. Hope we are ready. Hammers stood off and it suited us.
Tired of watching Wilson jjog along halfway line. He might as well stand still for all the use he is. Not bad money mind
lochinvar
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Comment #190https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgprplz94yo
Billy Smarts Circus is back.
Manchester Council to buy land owned by Manu at inflated prices so man u can pay the deposit before the tax payer funds the development as manu being £1b in debt isn’t an issue apparently.
fray bentos
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Comment #191@Macas
But like I said, he had 2 shots which on another day, a keeper may not have saved. Plus the assist
Sounds like game involvement to me
Just confirmation bias I reckon
JaveaToon
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Comment #192NADJ…I don’t think he’s talking about last nights game. The bit in that article that says fans chanted for him is underlined, when you click on it, it goes straight to the article about them chanting for Dubz v Brighton
Also if I read that very same article on my football app rather than Geordie Boot Boys site it shows like this “Eddie Howe confirms “difficult” Nick Pope decision before Newcastle United play Carabao Cup final
Newcastle fans chanted Dubravka’s name during the FA Cup defeat to Brighton, signalling their support for a player to have impressed when called upon during Pope’s injury-enforced absence.”
fray bentos
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Comment #193And it wasn’t directed just at by the way, I was only posted because there we’re quite a few who posted a similar thing
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Comment #194I think we’ll see the best of Barnes when we get in to Europe, I understand the frustration at fans who think he’s a waste of money because he’s not ahead of AG but we need players of his quality when fighting on four fronts. We seen what happened last year when players have to play twice a week every week, if Barnes gets a run in Europe and his confidence back there’s no reason why we won’t see him start to pinch PL games off AG.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Comment #195As for his not doing much last night, he assisted the goal despite being rusty, that performance last night hopefully sets him up very nicely for Sunday.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Comment #196JT,
I’ve not read it but there’s not a chance in hell fans chanted for Dubravka while Pope was in goal last night.
Macas
Mar 11, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Comment #197Fray
I said he has good moments, but for me you need more than good moments unless perhaps you are just a goal poacher up front.
Hopefully he will have a blinder against Liverpool but I worry he is not involved enough all the way through a game.
onmeedsun
Mar 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Comment #198Loch
It would be criminal if Manu are given any financial support to build their new stadium. I have no problem with infrastructure around the stadium, but anything that gives the club a revenue stream must be fully funded by the club. Unless of course the government want to help us build our new stadium. He is one slippery fecker though so needs to be watched.
onmeedsun
Mar 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Comment #199I think Eddie will give Pope the final, as he missed the last one. But the guy looks nervous all the time. Keepers at his level need to be arrogant and full of themselves. Dubs would be a better choice. I suspect Pope knows his place is in jeopardy next season, and this makes him more nervous. A really top keeper would embrace that challenge and excel. Eddie has a big decision on Sunday.
onmeedsun
Mar 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Comment #200Magic
I showed my missus the clip of Lesley from Benidorm. Hilarious, thanks for that. Johnny Vegas is a really good actor and Tim Healy just a mad Geordie!