Goals practically assured

In the last three league meetings at St James’ Park, we have shared a whopping 15 goals (details below).

Add the fact that we’ve slammed in 13 goals in 5-league games already this season - plus we appear to be a little leaky - then I think you only have to glance at those very same, recent league meetings at their place to get an insight into how this game might play out.

You watch, it’ll be 0-0 now…🙄

There’s a small blog announcement at the end of this piece.

v Newcastle United

St James' Park

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Doku____________________________________Savinho

_______________________________Silva____________

_________Gundogan______________________________

____________________Kovacic_____________________

 

Gvardiol__________________________________Walker

____________Dias_______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Wright, McAtee, O’Reilly, Nunes, Foden and Grealish.

Ederson returns in goal for this league match.

We do have first team personnel options in defence, so I could be wrong here. There’s a good argument to put Rico Lewis on the right, which would give us the option of him occasionally popping into midfield not just to bulk-out that department but to-occasionally help Mateo Kovacic with defensive midfield duties. However, there’s equally a good argument to pick Kyle Walker, seeing as Newcastle like to break fast and use the wings. Therefore, I’m going for the pace of Kyle on the right and the rest are made up of Josko, Ruben and Manuel.

Mateo takes over the ‘Rodders role’ and ahead of the 5’ 10” Croatian, I’m going for Jeremy, Ilkay, Bernardo and Savinho.

Erling returns up front after almost a full week off.

Stefen returns to the bench; Rico and John make up the defenders on the side. Jacob, James, Nico, Matheus and Phil are the midfielders available to come on should they be needed, with Jack being the only natural wide man in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Nathan Ake – Out injured with either a thigh / muscle injury or a ‘hammy’. The Dutch international will be out for around 6 weeks from the date we were given the information, which was 13^th September.

-       Rodri – Injured with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury and will be missing for the remainder of the season. 😢😔

-       Kevin De Bruyne – Still sidelined with a groin / pelvic / hip issue and now, we were just informed by his manager, will be out for a few weeks. He could return either just before or after the next international break.

-       Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training. Expected return is anywhere between mid-November and mid-December, going off the initial assessment / information released.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

The only thing I’d perhaps question is whether it would be wise to use the slightly slower Dias over the pacier Stones in defence.

I appreciate that John played the whole 90+ on Tuesday night while Ruben got a rest but I have highlighted in my blogs, from time to time, Ruben’s lack of a ‘turn of pace’ when we get caught out. In fact, I seem to recall one of those occasions being at St. James’ Park itself; where he was left chasing the heels of an attacker and it lead to a Newcastle goal, unless I’m mistaken.

Other than that…yep. 👍

Result?

I’m gonna get this one out of the way straight away and not JUST because it appears to be a general theme for us so far this season. Our Saturday hosts have a nasty habit of scoring against us in recent seasons; often more than once and regardless of the final outcome. However, and in addition, the general theme that I mention is that all-but-two sides have breached our defences from the Community Shield game onwards, so why should this Saturday be any exception?

The Magpies have got their season off to a decent start but a draw and, last time out, a defeat have interrupted their 3 wins. Their goal difference is +1, having scored 7 from 5 league matches and conceded 6. As I say, not a bad start but I’m guessing there will be disappointment amongst the Newcastle ranks at their away draw and defeat; both games where they dominated possession but somehow failed to capitalise.

At home, where we travel to of course, it’s a different matter. They’ve won both of their home matches and those came on the back of two back-to-back pre-season home victories against Girona (4-0) and Brest (1-0).

So, City fans, I would expect similar to the last two campaigns:

2022-23 – Newcastle United 3-3 Manchester City

2023-24 - Newcastle United 2-3 Manchester City

With a bit of luck and some better defending of our goal from the midfield department backwards, I hope to see a similar result to-when we travelled to the North East in 2021-22: Newcastle United 0-4 Manchester City.

I expect an exciting, nervy-for-us at times, match…but I’m also going for a City win.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

Expected weather conditions during the game: After torrential rain battered the region on Thursday, it dried up the following day and that dry theme continues into match day. The sun could be out for kick off but it would be advisable to wrap up, especially away fans ‘up in the Gods’. 11C is the maximum temperature but the ‘feels like’ is a degree or two cooler in a brisk, westerly breeze. Perfect conditions for the players exerting themselves on the pitch below.

Announcement

There is a chance that I won’t be doing a pre-match blog posting ahead of our Champions League fixture on Tuesday 1^st October.

Additionally, my blog time during the week may be limited over the next three months due to other commitments / time constraints and, therefore, I’m thinking of dropping pre-match blog postings for Champions League matches for the time being; likely until the start of 2025.

Solidarity