Newcastle (H) Team and Predictions

[linkenholtroyal]

Stam plays a really weird set up we would never have thought of with Ali al Habsi as a lone striker and Kermit in goal and we win 3-0 (and i wake up about now)

[Zammo]

Same as Villa @ home. All the possession in the world. Run out of ideas. Get beat. Really looking forward to Al-Habsi in front of the Newcastle fans receiving the ball under pressure............whoooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaa

[BR2]

Assuming we win the toss.
We choose to kick-off and, following the new rule about passing backwards from a kick-off, we then pass the ball amongst ourselves until about the 35 th minute when Shelvey deliberately kicks one of our players out of frustration (hopefully Gunter who then plays no further part in the game) and gets sent-off, racially abusing as many of our players as he can.
When it is 10 v 11 we actually take the ball into their half from the free-kick awarded against Shelvey and the Geordie players are so shocked to see the ball in their half they allow Williams to have a shot which was going wide but is deflected in by Kermie.
We then keep everybody back until half-time.
At the start of the second half all of our players think they are Kante and chase like mad to get the ball back-the surprised Geordies give the ball back and we revert to plan A for the rest of the game and win 1-0.

Benitez (a la Eddie Jones) in his post-match interview says that the fans should get their money back but Ashley, courting popularity with the Geordie fans, offers them a .50p discount on anything bought at one of his stores as long as they spend at least £200.
Everybody is happy-they are still top,we get the 3 points, the Geordie fans think they are getting something off Ashley , Benitez enjoys being able to moan and Stam is orgasmic over the possession stats and we move on to Preston.

[biff]

We're going to get royally fcked. Just be grateful it isnt on the tv.

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Stam's team selections have totally bemused me all year, but we are in the playoffs so I can't really argue

If it was up to me I'd obviously have Obita ahead of Blackett. I do quite like Blackett as a footballer, particularly as people forget he's still really young and got lots of years to improve (young defenders are prone to mistakes, see Jake Cooper), but my god not at left back ever again please. He's perfect in a 5 at the back as a left-sided centre-back, just ask Louis Van Gaal who came into Man Utd and plucked him out of the youth setup and put him straight in there whilst trying to enforce that formation. Anywhere else I'm not sure. But I agree, having no help from Beerens whatsoever leaves him totally exposed, wingers in the Championship these days are more than capable of coming out on top 1-v-1...

The midfield is a contentious one given the amount of options. I've been campaigning for the dreadful Williams to be dropped all season, but it seems no matter how he plays and what formation we choose he will always find a place in the starting XI, even at right-back. Square pegs and all that. VDB did okay against Wolves but before his injury he was a disaster waiting to happen, so I'd rather Evans in there every single day. Although if there's anyone who's going to rile up Shelvey in a way that benefits us, it's going to be our Joey. Swift has been poor for too long now, we can't afford to start him just because he got one set-piece right on Saturday. Kelly is the better player right now, yes he's nowhere near start-of-the-season-Swift, but neither is Swift right now. Mutch has looked poor whenever I've seen him, so now I've talked down every midfielder we have I'd probably go Evans, Kelly, Swift (?), or maybe swap Swift for VdB as defensive as that sounds. Maybe Williams will find his way in again.....

Grabban looked completely awful on Saturday, his decision making was literally the opposite of the correct one every time, including a wild 30-yard shot when he could've played Meite in for an easy 3-1. I fear Stam will go completely mad and stick him defensive-midfield again, so Jaap - can you not? If McCleary is fit then put him in for Popa. I guess that means someone will have to make way on the bench, I feel a bit for Meite who did well on Saturday when he came on, but he played yesterday for the U23s (didn't particularly stand out) and probably won't fit in the 18. Beerens gets in by default, and you can't drop Kermorgant, the guy's essential

That was a long-winded way of saying I'm not sure what line-up I'd go for, but I know Stam will pick the exact opposite of what I think. I'm hoping for Obita, Kelly, and no sign of Grabban, but I won't hold my breath

[maffff]

Damage limitation

--------------------Ali--------------------
Watson--Moore--McShane--Blackett
Gunter----------vdB----------Obita--
---------Williams------Evans----------
------Kelly-----Mutch-------Swift------
-Popa---GMac-----Beerens---Meite
------Kermorgant--Grabban----------
--------------Mendes--------------------

[Geekins]

Damage limitation

--------------------Ali--------------------
Watson--Moore--McShane--Blackett
Gunter----------vdB----------Obita--
---------Williams------Evans----------
------Kelly-----Mutch-------Swift------
-Popa---GMac-----Beerens---Meite
------Kermorgant--Grabban----------
--------------Mendes--------------------

Still lose 4-0?

[Hound]

Some interesting points Saaa...m

I thought Grabban looked pretty dangerous on Saturday, just did make the wrong choice a couple of times. Not sure it was an easy pass to Meite to make it 3-1 to be honest, though any attempt at it would have been better than that shot. He certainly offered plenty more than Beerens.

Agree on Blackett. Think he is a good player, but not a LB. Personally think Obita is one of the best left backs in the division. Can't quite work out why he keeps getting left out. Thought he was our best player in Feb

Williams I disagree on. He's a good player. He very rarely gives the ball away when in possession, and is reasonably solid in terms of making tackles in the middle. I'd like to see him get in the box more and also toughen up a bit, but I do rate him. I often go with 'neutrals' to watch games, and nearly every time he is the player they pick out as useful which I find interesting.

[Top Flight]

Damage Limitation

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Al Habsi------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gunter------------Watson--------Van den Berg--------Blackett---------Oxford-------------McShane-------------Cooper---------Moore-------Dickie-----------Obita

Formation 10:0:0

Cooper to be recalled from his loan at Millwall for tonights game. We can send him back tomorrow.

[maffff]

Damage limitation

--------------------Ali--------------------
Watson--Moore--McShane--Blackett
Gunter----------vdB----------Obita--
---------Williams------Evans----------
------Kelly-----Mutch-------Swift------
-Popa---GMac-----Beerens---Meite
------Kermorgant--Grabban----------
--------------Mendes--------------------

Still lose 4-0?

Pretty much.

[jd82]

Should have just ctrl c+v from the Brighton thread..

Haven't seen reading win live for about 2 years.

1-4

[Ian Royal]

1-3
Swift

Although we *might* squeek a draw if Stam stops fartarsing around in midfield and plays Evans / Joey, Kelly and one of Swift / Williams / Mutch - ideally in that order of preference.

[Melton Royal]

I'll be peeping out from behind the sofa to get updates on this game - heart says home win, head says at best a draw

[Ian Royal]

I'm going for 1-1, Shelvey in the first half, G Mac equalising in the last 10

Closest we have to a winner?

[Basildon]

I'm going for 1-1, Shelvey in the first half, G Mac equalising in the last 10

Closest we have to a winner?

Could have easily happened to be fair! Shelvey had at least one good chance in the first half and G Mac hitting the bar in the last minute!