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
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Comment #281LCBP
Yeah I hadn’t really noticed much of him before, but I thought he was easily the stand out player in the match last night. Never looked flustered, constantly found space, calm on the ball, looked after it well, broke play up, perfect link between defence and attack….the whole deal.
Dembele has matured really well too, team player like you say. If he keeps injury free, the sky is the limit. Always concerned he’ll get injured again badly though.
Hope we take note of that long ball through the middle. Doesn’t need to be a hoof or even a high pass, they had big gaps and space around the center of the pitch that just a fizzed long pass on the ground was cutting right through their entire attack and midfield.
Peckham Mag
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Comment #282I like Barnes but he’s our one properly sellable asset in the squad (in a non-first team sense). Maybe you’d put Willock in that category too and to a lesser extent Longstaff, but Barnes is someone you’d feel a lot of clubs would line up to pay decent money for. I can see him leaving this summer and being replaced with that younger cheaper Mitchell option. That said I don’t think Eddie will want to see him go.
Dougall
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Comment #283The Liverpool result last night could be great for us the mood in that Anfield dressing room must be flat as a fart we could really take advantage of it imagine we go 1 up in the final i can see heads dropping
Peckham Mag
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Comment #284Adam I only watched the last 20 mins and ET but couldn’t believe how much Vitinha was showing for the ball on the edge of his own box (and calmly recycling it) when PSG were defending a precious one goal lead late on. Top drawer. It’s what England have been (glaringly) missing for… well forever really.
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Comment #285Peckham
Yeah he was sensational. Made it super easy for PSG to deal with the high press. We really need Bruno or Tonali to step up and take that responsibilty, as if they’re calm and composed and show for it all the time in those situations, we can break past their press and cause them real issues with Isak, Murphy and Barnes running on the break.
I’m actually a bit disappointed that Alexander-Arnold might miss the final. Yes he’s dangerous in their attack, but he is an awful defender and leaves space behind him constantly. Would have been a great area to target.
Peckham Mag
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Comment #286Eddie will have been given plenty to think about… gutted Gordon’s out but Bruno or Tonali would have been the bigger misses by far.
I would be tempted to go with Willock and Big Joe on the left and then bring Barnes on for Willock and slot Joe back into midfield for the last half hour.
Peckham Mag
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Comment #287Aye Adam and that Conor Bradley is class. The injury/suspension we really needed last night was Salah!
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Comment #288PM,
Bradley is out as well, likely to be Joe Gomez and hopefully Quansha
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Comment #289@Jail
Gomez isn’t fit either!
Had seen that they have played Enzo at CB at times I mean that would be really good for us if its Quansah and Enzo on that side
Feel like that would even it up with us missing Hall and Gordon
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Comment #290You know what, I’d forgotten all about AG given that Barnes is a natural replacement with the ideal opportunity to show he has a future here. Complete left him out of my thoughts when talking about distractions.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Comment #291LCBP,
Seriously 😀
Peckham Mag
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Comment #292Kinell lads the good news just keeps on coming
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Comment #293@Jail
I suppose what that ultimately does is on that side of the pitch we will have a weird setup and so will they
Apart from Salah will still be there to take advantage of any funny business!
But then I also feel like Barnes can also be that match winner for us in a similar fashion
Dougall
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Comment #294Jail don’t you think if the club received a good offer in the summer for Barnes they wouldn’t take it i think they would as he isn’t replacing Gordon in the side no matter how well he plays and you have to wonder how long Barnes remains happy being a substitute
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Comment #295PSGs goal came from a pass out to a player who was standing in the centre circle – the area between defence and attack. All night the dippers left this space. With a bit of luck Newcastle could utilise that space with Tonali or Bruno to set our attacks going.
Dougall
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Comment #296I would be more than happy for Barnes to be here in the long term as i think he has a lot to offer but not sure the club would feel the same if they received interest in him
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Comment #297@Dougall
The issue is because of PSR we would need someone to buy Barnes off us for at least 30 million to break even?
A lot of teams would be interested in him I imagine but maybe not at the fee we want
I suppose it depends on if Barnes wants to stay bit part
For me personally I would still like to see a front 3 of Gordon, Barnes and Isak playing a good run of games together with everyone fit they looked amazing for a few games last season with Gordon wide right
Gordon also hasn’t played that great at times this season either so it shouldn’t always be a guarantee he gets on the left especially after that red card he let the club down with that badly
carltoon
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Comment #298We certainly don’t score enough goals from midfield, or anywhere on the field, apart from Issac and he’s isolated up front, if Barnes could just get back to when he first came and before injuries, we have a player who will score and assist.
I’m pleased the players all came through the last game unscathed, and I think Howe will go with that team for the final.
I won’t care how we play as long as we win, it will be the first final I’ll miss since the two I went to in the seventies, so we’ll definitely win, and my son will be there in my place.
I don’t even know if I’ll be able to watch it, I’ll be taking a handful of kalms.
carltoon
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Comment #299I would keep Barnes, surely injury free and more game time he will be an asset, even coming off the bench, he knows where the goal is.
carltoon
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Comment #300Just a shout out to Mund and Munster for the hand shake.
carltoon
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Comment #301I hope it last 😀
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Comment #302That PSG is vert good. Did they spend a load of money?? I don’t think so.
Well deserved win. Loving it.
Not sure how that works for us.
Flat and play crap. I doubt it. The manager wants some silverware and will not be complacent.
Out midfield is our strength and the CBs our weakness.
I knew Nunez was going to miss. And I do not want him and cash for Isak. If we have to sell just give us the money. Minn150 mil. I think Liverpool will sell Salah for silly money to Saudi
( he wants his million a week) and give us what we want for Isak. Isak would have got them a draw last night. Jota and Nunez are crap in comparison
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Comment #303Trips played LB for England. Tino is much greater threat in right but I think Eddie will keep him on the left to just tap the ball backwards.
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Comment #304Jimiley
If you think we’d sell Isak to a premier league rival, you’re mad.
If we sell Isak (still has years on his contract), it’ll be for big bucks and abroad somewhere.
I don’t think we sell him at all though. We have no need to.
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Comment #305Also imagine Tino will start on the left to be able to keep pace with Salah.
Trippier against Salah would be suicide.
Just one ball down the channel or over the top and Trippier is never catching up.
At least Tino has the pace to keep up with Salah and recover quick if he gets beat.
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Comment #306Liverpool is not a rival. different level at the moment.
We will sell anybody to anybody if the price is right.
Every club will.
Agree it will have to be stupid money but if Liverpool have stupid money….
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Comment #307Adam
Take your point about Trips and Salah
Dougall
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Comment #308@Lee Charnley so who plays right wing between them 2 as it is obvious neither of them are particularly good out there as it isn’t there natural positions so i don’t see that being a regular thing unless injuries dictate and barnes would easily command a 30 million fee but do the club see him as a vital cog in the wheel not so sure on that one
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Comment #309Jimiley
They are absolutely a rival.
We are aiming to be Champions League each season, the goal is to become number 1.
No point selling a star player to a team we are hoping to regularly challenge each season.
If Isak is sold at any point, it’ll be to a team abroad. We have put ourselves in a good spot PSR wise, Eales has said we’ll spend this summer, Adidas money will be added to PSR in the summer, still plenty of players to shift before we even need to think about selling a key player.
Isak is going nowhere. Least of all teams, Liverpool.
carltoon
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Comment #310Well! we will have a good bit money this summer SURELY!!!.
next season has got to be the one where we definitely break into the top four, and stay, improving every season.
Why can’t we be the team to buy big now, keep all our great players, parting ways with the ones who no ,longer fit into our team, onwards and upwards.
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Comment #311Worth noting as well that Liverpool are of course having an amazing season. But…..
Highly likely Salah will be gone at the end of it.
He has 27 goals and 17 assists in the league this season.
Take those goal involvements away and Liverpool will have only scored 25 goals, it’d make their goal difference -2.
Very simplified I know, but point is next season if Salah is gone, they have an enormous task in replacing him and making up those goal contributions.
So they are not guaranteed so walk the league next season and could very easily find themselves as direct rivals to us.
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Comment #312Adam
Disagree on rival thing.
At the moment Liverpool are well ahead of us and we won’t bridge that gap for a few years.
They are going for titles with Arsenal and City
We are going for CL and rivals are the likes of Chelsea and Villa Bmth.
We are 25 points worse than Liverpool over a season and that’s with them playing all the time in different comps. Look how CL affected our form. We will be rivals in a few years. That means competing for top spot, not 4 or 5. Big difference
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Comment #313Adam
Exactly my point. Who could replace him.?
jimiley
Mar 12, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Comment #314Adam
Not saying it’s nailed on that Isak goes to Liverpool but it cannot be dismissed coz you don’t want it to happen.
Teams sell their best players all the time for top dollar. Ronaldo and Coutinho or Caicedo to name a few . Never held them back. Exact opposite
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Comment #315@Dougall
I would like to see them rotate more as a fluid front 3 Barnes often starts wide left and ends in the centre forward position ahead of Isak when they play
Barnes best attribute is his finishing him and Isak are the 2 best in our squad
Gordon’s finishing can be terrible at times but he has pace , can beat a man and puts in a peach of a cross
Its not that Gordon isn’t good on the right its just that he doesn’t seem to put in the same effort (neither does Barnes) for some reason
Of course if we can trade Barnes to get Mbuemo then sign me up !! But I expect Barnes will not be sold and will be here next season
Adamn_92
Mar 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Comment #316Jimiley
We’ll have to agree to disagree in that case. If our goal is to be competing at the top, it means those at the top are our rivals. I’d also say anyone we go up against to win a trophy, aka Liverpool on Sunday, is considered a rival.
Also on Salah, well yeah that’s kinda my point, they need to replace him….why would we then say ‘Aye sure, here’s the best striker in Europe to replace Salah with, can’t have you getting weaker now can we, we’ll help!”.
Can’t see it.
Not about me not wanting it to happen, I truly just don’t believe he goes to another Premier League team. Or anywhere for at least another season, like our other key players.
lesh
Mar 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Comment #317Jimiley
Yes, ‘teams sell their best players all the time for top dollar. Ronaldo and Coutinho or Caicedo to name a few’
But, were Ronaldo and Coutinho sold to their owners’ Prem rivals?
Top teams rarely sell their best to enhance the clubs that are challenging them.
JohnJ
Mar 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Comment #318I note the following comments lifted from another site.
Manchester United!
It’s understood that with government funding, not only will the new plans heavily reduce costs of a £2bn project, but accelerate construction and allow Manchester United to put themselves in a better position that very few (if any) other clubs in the Premier League would be afforded.
Why on Earth have Manchester United got any right to Government Funding???
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Comment #319@Jmiley
Salah, Van Dijk and Trent are currently out of contract as it stands
Going to cost them a fortune to replace them especially with no transfer fee coming in
Their owners are very stingy as well so there is no guarantee they don’t fall behind to being just euro challengers rather than title challengers for a while
Salah is almost impossible to replace the pressure on the next guy will also massive to do the business
WLtoon
Mar 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Comment #320I might sound bitter,, well actually i am, but last nights result was music to my ears, it couldn`t of turned out any better really.
Those scouse tossers going into Sunday`s game on a complete and utter downer could work massively in our favour.
I hope Howe watched last nights game and took note of how easy it was for PSG to create chances against that lot, Alison kept the entitled scouse footers in it, best keeper in the world imo.
I am not bothered who plays for them on Sunday, they have a stronger squad than us , and by the way we have 3 key players out , so they have no excuses.
Remember they are supposedly the best team in Europe right now, right?
My main concern for us is Pope getting the nod over Dubs, every time Pope touches the ball with his feet my heart is in my mouth, he is absolutely shocking for a so called top Pro keeper.
If Dubs does get the nod i will be a lot more confident of us getting a positive result as he is the much better sweeper keeper and i am sure our back line feel less vulnerable with him behind them.
Not just that, if it does go to pens then Pope seems petrified of getting another serious injury to his shoulder and i reckon opposing players will know putting the ball to his left will be a certain goal.