The Run in.. NEWCASTLE.. At Home.. Next..

[Harry96]

This.

We're top because teams havent been able to cope with what we can do, regardless of who their manager is.

If we play our usual patient, relaxed game, we'll be fine.

The only thing that worries me is the crowd and whether they'll start to get edgy. We need to keep doing what we have been doing. Against WBA, the commentary I was listening too were creaming over the fact that when they scored, instead of moaning and being negative, our crowd cheered. They mentioned how this would have such a positive effect and they're right.

Opposition teams will be saying now if they can turn the crowd, it'll make the players edgy. We cannot allow that to happen.

this.

[foxfanazer]

Rafa doesn't lose his first games at new clubs according to sky.

Rafa doesn't manage relegation threatened teams to be fair

[Captain...]

Rafa isn't going to  work miracles, his comments refer to organisation and confidence:

 

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: "We need to give confidence to our players, to organise the team in the way that we want to do things, and I think we can do it."

 

He isn't going to be focussing on basics initially getting a solid platform defensively to build on. This points to a similar game to Norwich, but with very little time to get the back 4 sorted and a number of injuries and players coming back, it is not going to be easy for them. He will not be focussing on us specifically, but just on basic defensive organisation, which could play into our hands as we do not play a conventional way.

 

There is every chance there will be increased effort, commitment and desire from Newcastle players, but there is also every chance that we will raise our game for the occasion too, we know what is at stake and we know that we will be coming up against a fired up team. There is also a fair chance that Newcastle will be unsure of what to do as they look to carry out Rafa's instructions whilst being turned inside out by Mahrez, burned for pace by Vardy and hassled to death by Shinji, Kante and Drinky.

 

I just want it to be 8 already getting nervous thinking about the endless combinations, permutations and possibilities. Thing is I would be doing the same if Rafa hadn't become the manager.

[isleofwightfox]

I'm worried about every match as a banana skin! Just like when we were on the brink of relegation last season. I think tonight will be interesting; i don't think Rafa has had long enough to have an effect on the major organisational/ defensive problems that Newcastle have - but every one of his players will be playing for their place and the chance to play for Rafa next year. I wonder if them being really up-for-it will be enough to beat a well-drilled unit like ours.

[RowlattsFox]

Schlupp should start. Him running at janmaat and Mahrez running at dummet. Surely we can't fail to create chances, let's hope vardy and shinji have their scoring boots on.

[filbertway]

Schlupp should start. Him running at janmaat and Mahrez running at dummet. Surely we can't fail to create chances, let's hope vardy and shinji have their scoring boots on.

 

Dummet's out so it will probably be Mbabu in at left back, equally dangerous though.

[RobHawk]

I can't remember being so nervous before a league game for a long time, I'm not sure why but think its just the impending realisation of how close to something special we are getting and this sense of doomed consciousness that i'm going to wake up from this dream at any moment!

 

3 points tonight will be massive - however they come and will effectively make it a 2 horse race for the title! 

[Max Power]

Schlupp vs Janmaat would be a massacre. Defintely give Albrighton a rest for this one imo

[Guest CityFan 06]

Looking forward to tonight's match. Hopefully a win for us and a good home atmosphere. 

[FoxonMaui]

I am as excited about this game as any in my 53 years of supporting city. Win this game and we make a massive statement of intent.

We will put huge pressure on the spuds with a tricky game coming against and in form Bournmouth and two tough games with Liverpool and Man United. I do not care how we win it. Something reminiscent of a Claridge "shinner" will do me fine.

I believe Claudio and the players will be massively up for this one, let's hope they make this the game where they destroy a team and save us all heart palpitations.

[Harry96]

I'm going 2 1 to us similar kind of game to the Chelsea one earlier in the season on mnf. Might be a very nervy end

[AKCJ]

This was a routine victory a few days ago but the appointment of Rafa has thrown a spanner in the works.

 

We need to make a statement tonight. Show that we're not under pressure.

 

A 2-0 would do me just fine.

[Countryfox]

I am as excited about this game as any in my 53 years of supporting city. 

 

I'm too excited to be honest.  Every game is now becoming must win if this ridiculous dream is to turn into reality ....    spurs look good and we can't afford to slip up.

 

Any score win will do.

[ranxerox]

This was a routine victory a few days ago but the appointment of Rafa has thrown a spanner in the works.

 

We need to make a statement tonight. Show that we're not under pressure.

 

A 2-0 would do me just fine.

 

 

True this, fortunately for you guys he's only been with them since Friday so has not had much time to make an impact. Benitez has always been very defensive and tactically very good. They will obviously be playing for a point and no more, particularly given the Norwich result on Sat. I expect they will sit deep and flood the middle likely playing 2 DM's. 

 

I think the best approach for you guys would be to go right after them from the start. They are still low on confidence and fragile, the longer the game goes scoreless the more they will grow into it. Unsettle them early and they'll fold. 

 

They've lost their last 8 league games that they have played on a Mon night. Of course you could look at a stat like that both ways, either bad for them or they are due a different result. 

[Guest safetosurfthisbeach]

Cannot remember the last time I was this nervous about a game. Scary.

[Gerard]

We are all nervous regardless of who are playing now. Tonight is all about patience and concentration at the

back. If they park the bus, then so be it. Personally, I would think about play Schluppy from the off. As

the way to overtake buses is on the outside

If they play deep and deny space (as expected), then playing over the top into non existent space will

produce nothing.

We need a plan C as well as a B tonight. Lumping it high into the box being absolute last resort.

 

That could be a possibility.

 

Albrighton was awful against Watford but Schlupp was great when he replaced him at half time.

 

Maybe start Schlupp instead of Albrighton and if we're chasing the game with 20-30 mins to go we can play 3-4-1-2. Play Albrighton wide right to put in crosses for Ulloa and Mahrez just behind Ulloa and Vardy.

 

It annoys me when we take off Albrighton for Ulloa as there games suit each other.

[Gerard]

Cannot remember the last time I was this nervous about a game. Scary.

 

I know and it's only going to get worse. 

[Hammered]

I hope that you'll batter these tonight. Reckon they'd be a decent Championship side. 

[jammie82uk]

On SSNHQ this afternoon they are going to interview our kit man, the match announcer and a fan who apparently travels from Monaco for every match

[UPinCarolina]

It'll be like watching West Brom again..,hopefully the result is 3 points, rather than 1.

[kingcarr21]

Im not worried. We play our best football and we will do them. They are awful. We are on course for doing something incredible and no way will our players be half arsed in our remaining fixtures. Kante will be immense tonight.

 

What I would say is for fans not to be bothered if we were to lose. I think 5 more wins could be enough for the title. We can afford some slip ups. Many fans seem to be writing us off in the last 3 fixtures so feel we need the points now. Don't get me wrong I would rather us win now but we can quite easily take points in them final 3 games. Just enjoy the ride (I write this when secretly im shitting myself  )

[Mikey]

We can't let the nervousness of the fans transmit to the players. Even if we don't get an early goal, got to stay behind them all the way throughout the game.

Got to attack then early on, reckon we'll win 2-0. They'll be up for it but think we'll just have too much. Fingers crossed!

[jonathan_ross]

Sick of hearing all theses statistics about never loosing his first game in charge, how he likes to tighten up there defence etc, if we can overcome all the odds of still being top of the premier league after 30 games then surely we can put to bed a stupid little stat like this, I know the team can brush these shower of shite barcodes aside, bring it on I say and so do the team i know!

Another win by two or three clear goals this will be, mark my words.

[MonmoreStef]

These stats about him never losing his first game are fairly irrelevant given the clubs and their quality he's taken over before.

[Dan]

Just had a skim through this thread and had a chuckle about the Newcastle fan trying to convince us that they're a good side and quite literally refers to losing 3-0 at Sunderland as an example.

 

Edit, sorry, to add Arsenal (lost 1-0) and Man City (lost 6-1)

 

Come on