Today is a big day for Newcastle, because after 15 days with no action, we take on the powerful Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park. Although Spurs have had a poor start to the season, it may well be we are getting them at the wrong time, since they seem to be getting back to their form of last season when they finished 5th.
But Newcastle have played well at St. James’ Park this season and are a difficult side to beat, especially with the new defense showing some steel at last and looking to be good once the players get to know each other a little more. Like in most games this season the defense will be key for Newcastle because sloppy goals will be of no help against Spurs, who have Robbie Keane in top form.
With all our players back it will be very interesting to see what the team will be since it’s the first time both Joey Barton and Emre are both available. There are some doubts about Cacapa but we hope he’ll be fit from his groin strain because his experience at the back certainly makes a difference.
Picking the team that will start is difficult given the great competition these days for places. We’d like to see the following team start
Given
Beye Cacapa Faye Enrique
Milner Emre Butt (Capt) N’Zogbia
Owen Martins
Subs: Harper, Taylor, Rozehnal, Geremi, Barton
We’d like to see Emre start to add some creativity and skill to our midfield, but somehow we think Big Sam will again start Butt and skipper Geremi in midfield and then maybe call on Barton and Emre sometime during the game.
If Newcastle fans don’t think our squad has improved this season just look at the bench – which is extremely strong. If Cacapa does not make it then David Rozehnal fresh from his country’s 3-0 win against Germany in Germany is a more than able deputy. We think David’s been a little unlucky to lose his place since he’s played extremely well for Newcastle this season and looks to be a great singing.
But we have to think Sam will start Cacapa and Faye at the back because they played so very well in our good win against Everton.
This will be a good test for Newcastle and we’ll be able to judge just how improved we are under Big Sam. Tottenham are a good side and as Sam has said, it may not be a good time to play them. But we have to somehow get all 3 points from this game – it’s that important and will keep us in touch with the leaders although the best we can be is 8th place even after a win.
You can join in the discussion of the match before and after the game on our Newcastle United Forum. Ahmed Bilal of Soccerlens has also arranged to have a running commentary of the game if you are not able to watch the game on TV. You can follow the game here on Soccerlens.
As usual we’ll have out team lineup, half time report at the break, and full time report immediately after the game.
But there cannot be any excuses tonight – and we’ll just have to hope the lads can keep up their good form at home. We know they’ll all give 100%, that’s a given these days under the big man. The Newcastle fans have been great support for the team this season, and helped to turn the game against Everton in the last 30 minutes. But there again you expect that from the best fans in the land.
We predict a 2-1 win. A clean sheet would be nice but we’ll take the 3 points, anyway we can get them. 
Let’s know what you think, what the team will be and the result you predict. Comments and opinions always welcome.
Loading ...
28 responses so far ↓
1 steve // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:12
Should be a good game, stating the obvious but if we can keep there strikers under wraps then we should win as they leak goals without Ledley King so we should be able to score - pity Robinson aint in goal tho
prediction 3-1
2 Johann // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:15
Agree but would start with Harper in goal definitely
Damn Viduka getting injured!!
3 Brisbane Mag // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:23
It’s going to be a close game but I’m taking Newcastle to win in a 5 goal thriller; i.e. 3-2 to Newcastle…..
4 Aussie geordie // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:26
After that twat Jol saying we were not at there level we need to give them a hiding. Spurs will be setting out to prove him right we have to make him wish he’d never come to St. James. Not long ago Newcastle we were fighting to be in the top 4 and regularly playing Uefa cup and hopefully this is a return to that sort of form. Having spent $100 million they should have pulled a chelsea yet they are bang on down there on the table. Bunch of posers and we need to hammer them.
5 nufcstats.com // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:33
hope for a good game and result but remember our Monday night game after international break at Derby? BS blamed the break then so interesting how we will look this time. very curious about Barton and Owen-Martins up front because Spurs are not too fast at the back.
prediction… 1-1 or better 2-1
6 Lasse // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:37
Should be an easy victory over a Spurs that struggle to make all their new signings play as a team. Fingers crossed
7 roscoe // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:37
Should be a very tense game with alot on the line for both teams, good to see martins and owen gettin the opportunity to start together and play some silky footie with the ball on the ground.
I agree with ed, 2-1 to the lads! Martins and Barton scoring.
8 indian toon // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:43
today ill be watchin the game on tv at 12:30 am , really lookin forward to the game.. expecting a similar 3-1 win same as the last season. expectin threats from lennon , bale berbatov and melbranque.. wish all the luck to solano., scored a nice one yesterday.. howay the lads..:)
9 Haway man // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:08
Ed,its not really a’given’that the players give one hundred percent these days remember Derby they didn’t even turn up,I love your optimism but you should also keep your statements realistic.
10 valle // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:11
Jol is right… We arent like them, they havent been in the champions league, they have a stadium which have 16.000 less than us and they have never been considered a big four team in the premier league like we was in the later Keegan days… So Martin, i couldnt agree anymore, and i will take it a tag further and state that u never will be.
11 liam // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:23
really annoyed at what jol is saying, but that will give us more determination to beat them. its a shame that taylor cant get into the starting 11 as he was a real key player last season. definitely play emre and butt in midfeild. i think we’ll get a 3-1 win with tottenham getting a late concelation
COME ON THE LADS
12 Ed Harrison // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:27
Sam may well pull a shock and play Harper in goal - Shay was really dodgy with that 2nd goal against Everton.
13 Ed Harrison // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:27
liam - agree - but think he’s trying to keep his job.
14 Ed Harrison // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:29
Haway man - you’re right about that game - they were so flat.
15 ToonKing // Oct 22, 2007 at 12:39
I love these preview’s Ed, it’s always a Newcastle Win
:) , i don’t want to sound pessimistic………..but i do have THAT feeling, someone is in for a hammering today….hope it’s them ………..
16 Ed Harrison // Oct 22, 2007 at 12:45
ToonKing - well I once forecast a draw - away to Man City - and before that every game was forecast as a Newcastle win.
What do you expect
17 Ed Harrison // Oct 22, 2007 at 12:45
It’s a test for us tonight - no doubt about it - but we’ll see just how good we are - a win is certainly possible.
18 Bjorgvin // Oct 22, 2007 at 12:46
Harper hasn’t made single mistake so far. I would pick him rather than Shay !!
Picking the team for Big Sam is getting really really hard these days… Witch is always a good thing..
He might also go for:
Given
Beye Cacapa Faye Enrique
Milner Geremi Butt N’Zogbia
Emre
Martins
19 Rich // Oct 22, 2007 at 12:50
He better not start Butt n Geremi in teh middle again we are sick to the teeth of discussing this!!Emre is a differnet class compared to these two n must start Emre n Geremi or Butt for me and im happy! Then bring on a cameo Joey Barton performance!!
20 Dirk // Oct 22, 2007 at 13:28
harper
beye taylor rozehnal enrique
milner emre butt n’zogbia
owen martins
subs; given geremi barton faye cacapa
id start harper because given seemed a little shakey and i think he needs to realise that he must play constantly good or let harper have a shot.
faye on the bench and not startin in defence because he can play in idfield also if we need him, let taylor and rozehnal have a chance to prove themselves that they have improved since man city. Give the captains armband to butt or emre, personally emre because he has theres a good influence about him and he drives the team forward all the time.
21 leo // Oct 22, 2007 at 14:07
my team is
harper
beye rozehnal cacapa enrique
milner/geremi faye emre nzogbia
owen martins
22 Rich // Oct 22, 2007 at 14:36
Given
Beye Roz Faye Enrique
Milner Geremi Emre N Zogbia
Owen Martins
Subs: Harper, Taylor, Butt, Barton, Cacapa
I would start with this team purely becasue if Cacapa n Viduka are doubtful i see it pointless risking them when we have adeqaute cover in both positions.
23 John // Oct 22, 2007 at 15:40
Rich, Love that team mate..Perfect….
that team would role over any at St. James on its day.
Come on the Toon lets give it to those top four wannabies..
24 ChrisL // Oct 22, 2007 at 15:48
We’re missing a striker on the bench.
25 Spursfangin // Oct 22, 2007 at 15:49
Spurs fan here,
Jol has alot of respect for Newcastle and I think that his point was not that the two teams are in different leagues but rather that his success should be appreciated against the underperformance of strong rivals around us.
In any case the game will be very tight and the fixture is very well balanced. In fact there probably is no other evenly matched set of teams in the whole league. Both teams have world class strikers, quality midfielders and promising youth. Though Spurs and Newcastle have not set the world alight this season so far, the potential to climb the table is there for both.
In honesty I think you will beat us today, considering our tendancy to screw up away and Martins’ great record against us. That being said, at the end of the year I do fancy us to have leapfroged above.
Hope Berba punishes you this evening but good luck for rest of season.
26 Ed Harrison // Oct 22, 2007 at 16:20
Spursfangin - hope you are right about who will win
27 toonUSA // Oct 22, 2007 at 18:56
I think Big sam will want a lot of hight in the game so i dono if he will go for a Butt-Emere pairing in the middle I would considere putting Fay in place of Butt and put Rosz in with Cacapa as the central defenders. That should give us a solid back line and hight in the middle of the field to win the areal balls from thir half. It should also give the strikers a target if Fay can push forward on ocation.
Well fellas it should be a craking game and i am counting down the seconds until the live comantary starts..
lets goo toon
28 valle // Oct 22, 2007 at 22:34
Spursfangin… Nice to see a comment like that from a spurs fan, since most i have seen directed at NUFC have been very arrogant
Leave a Comment