Newcastle fan here - no confidence going into this game whatsoever. Lurker on your forum this season after Cooper was brought in - always thought he's a Walter Mitty, never employ someone the FA employed! Wout Faes' thread has been great reading as well!
We probably have the slowest CB pairing in the 92. Pope is injured, so probably Dubravka is playing - we lost Pope last season for a good chunk last season. Imagine him as a Slovak Danny Ward!
If you imagine 'cans and celebration' outside St James' when we got the takeover, this is probably the lowest ebb and confidence in Howe ever. FFP has fooked us, since our takeover a 'select PL group' (American owners) have moved to make it near impossible for our ownership to bridge the gap to even Spurs. There is a horrid pattern that's becoming of Howe's team on the pitch - we couldn't break down Wimbledon at home, we are just meh. We are playing exactly like Howe's Bouremouth side did in PL, foundation season, 2nd is score loads of goals, then can't balance the ship and eventually relegated... That was Bournemouth/Howe's experience - if we're not at least in top 10 end of season, Howe is gone, if we are even dragged into relegation by Feb Howe will be gone.