Normally a tough fixture for CFC though thinking the new attacking Chelsea will have too much for the Magpies.

Would be nice to keep a clean sheet and get the 3 points. 

Last 5 matches at SGP - one draw, 4 loses, 12 conceded goals, 5 scored. this is the toughest opponent for us statistically. If we manage to steal the three points we'll be in right to claim Sarri's system is working or at least surprising the League. 

Boogey ground for the past years, however we haven't faced them this early in the season for a long time. Newcastle looks very poor overall, Sarri attacked every team we played against so if we perform attacking wise like in our last two we could easily get the points.

4 hours ago, TrueBlueBIH said:

Boogey ground for the past years, however we haven't faced them this early in the season for a long time. Newcastle looks very poor overall, Sarri attacked every team we played against so if we perform attacking wise like in our last two we could easily get the points.

I see us winning comfortably this time especially now Kovacic has been introduced. 

Agree historically a tough ground for us yet occasionally we do get a result there and think this will be one of those occasions.

Newcastle looked pretty average against Cardiff but that was away. I don't care about history, we can beat them. I think Sarri may well start the same team. Clearly Kovacic and Hazard will come into the first 11 over time.

I think Sarri wants the distribution that Luiz brings, in Conte's winning season Luiz's long range passing to switch play was important. Two years on you could argue its now outweighed by defensive weakness. Is Cahill injured?

I fear this fixture more than most given we're always sh*te up north.

Newcastle  were dreadful at the weekend away t Cardiff but should have taken a point from Spurs at St. James so its hard to guess what to expect.

Kenedy isnt eligible to play but I reckon they'll play Rondon from the start and trey to exploit us in the air and his hold up play bringing others into dangerous areas.

If we can leave Newcastle with 3 points, given Utd v Spurs is on Monday, we're going to be a good few points ahead of 2 of our top 4 rivals already.

I'm excited and nervous for this game and after Saturday, I think Kovacic and Hazard must be close to being ready, that being said, I'd start both against Newcastle and go with

Kepa

Azp Rudiger Luiz Alonso

Kante Jorgingo Kovacic

Pedro Morata Hazard

 

Luiz and Rudiger terrifies me as a partnership, if Luiz has another poor game, I'd like to see Christensen in there ASAP.

Newcastle 1 - 3 Chelsea

I think we are in a fortunate position of having quite a competitive squad of players who offer us something different. Just by changing personnel we could potentially play the same system but within a completely different dynamic, for example just by bringing in Christensen & Emersen on the left we become a lot more compact defensively and it's a similar scenario in midfield. I think Sarri is in a position where he has identified his core 13/14 players who he will be using extensively, I reckon the challenge will be whether he will change personnel when we play against opposition who could potentially expose some of the more ill disciplined individuals in the team, will he play Luiz & Alonso against Liverpool/City? I don't believe that decision will have bearing on whether we make top 4 or not but moving forward that decision will show us whether Sarri will be winning the League or not.

Personally for Newcastle I would keep Alonso and Luiz in the team and maybe integrate Hazard or Kovacic into the starting 11 depending on who is closer to 100% match fitness.

 

Tough fixture for us usually. Going with a 3-1 Chelsea win.

Kepa

Azpi Rudiger Luiz Alonso

Kante Jorginho Kovacic

Pedro Morata Hazard

Bench: Willy, Zappacosta, Christensen, Barkley, Hudson Odoi, Willian, Giroud.

 

Absolutely hate watching us play here. No matter how well we're playing or how completely abject they are (which they have been so far) they will always turn into 1970s Brazil when we come to town. Hopefully we get an early goal and the crowd will turn, then we can really put them to the sword

Really think Christensen should play with Rudiger... think he could help cover in our back 4. Luiz seems to really struggle in a back 4. Would also like to see Emerson play as LB. Other than that, I don't know if Kova?i? will be ready for a full 90, but Hazard should be ready to start. Can't wait to see what this team is around Christmas, if we sure up the defensive side, should challenge for the title.

9 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I see us winning comfortably this time especially now Kovacic has been introduced. 

Agree historically a tough ground for us yet occasionally we do get a result there and think this will be one of those occasions.

Probably our most attacking style in years, so yes agree we should have a real go at them. 

I'd go for a 0-2 win for us.

I think 3-0.

All depends on attitude. You talk about history and our failures over recent years there. 

Why has it been? They have never had a better team than us. Is all down to attitude. Players not linking the long trip and the cold north.

Newcastle raise their game and we lower ours. So the results are not a surprise. If we maintain our commitment as the first two games, minus the awful period of defending, we will win. If not then we come away unhappy again.

Seems to be a place where we struggle to get maximum points.

Not sure if hazard is ready yet to play the full 90mins. So I would give him at least 60-70 mins of playing time. Would like to see Kovacic get another 30mins at least again.

kepa 

azbi rudi luiz alonso 

kante jorginho Barkley 

pedro morata hazard 

subs caballero, christensen, willian, giroud, Kovacic, zappacosta, Emerson 

Anytime we can get one over the Fat Waiter should be grasped with both hands.

I'd take a nervous 1-0 right now but would love if we spanked them for 3 or 4.

We could have put some serious gloss on the Arsenal game at the end with 2 big chances missed/saved so I think we've a way to go yet before we come super clinical, at least we're making chances now this year and still playing to attack, even at 3-2 up against Arsenal with  a few minutes to go, we never retreated into our own half like we did under Conte or Jose, that was refreshing to watch.

On 20/08/2018 at 06:10, Giordano_Bruno said:

Last 5 matches at SGP - one draw, 4 loses, 12 conceded goals, 5 scored. this is the toughest opponent for us statistically. If we manage to steal the three points we'll be in right to claim Sarri's system is working or at least surprising the League. 

St Games' Park?

Kepa

Azpi  Rudiger  D.Luiz  Alonso

Jorginho

Kante        Barkley

Pedro      Morata      Hazard

Bench:  Willy, Emerson, Christensen, Kovacic, RLC, Willian, Tammy

Can't imagine Newcastle will be able to attack us much so keep D.Luiz and Alonso in to attack. Start Barkley and can always bring RLC/Kovacic on later if we're struggling. Hazard should be ready to start, drop Willian as Pedro looks the better player of the two. Tammy on the bench instead of Giroud.

Edited August 21, 20187 yr by RIP Mourinho

                  Arrizpilicueta
Azpibalaga - Rudiger - Luiz - Alonso
     Kante - Jorginho - Kovacic
      Willian - Morata - Hazard

Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Barkley, Pedro, Giroud, Drinkwater

never seem to do well vs the barcodes up there, and if any manager can exploit the current issues in defending its Fatty, they were unlucky to lose

vs Spuds on opening day, so people licking their lips on here may be let down, its my 55th birthday so am hoping for an upturn in fortune and a win to Sarri's Blues

On August 20, 2018 at 06:10, Giordano_Bruno said:

Last 5 matches at SGP - one draw, 4 loses, 12 conceded goals, 5 scored. this is the toughest opponent for us statistically. If we manage to steal the three points we'll be in right to claim Sarri's system is working or at least surprising the League. 

Our recent record up there is horrible but we also need to look at it with context. Last season we were in abysmal form and Conte threw in the towel by playing an out of sorts Christensen with Bakayoko and an unfit Barkley in midfield, the time before that we were deep in that full blown 15/16 crisis and the two times before that it was Pardew vs Jose and for some strange reason Pardew had the measure of Mou mark 2 tactically in one off games.

Unless our recent record at SJP has caused a mental block with some of our players, we should have far too much for Newcastle this time.

Really tricky fixture this one, but I'm confident we can win this.

Kepa

Azpi-Rudi-Luiz-Alonso

Kante-Jorginho-Kovacic

Willian-Morata-Hazard

Kovacic and Hazard need to start, they were way too impressive last game. Keep playing the same formation until the players get used too it, we are still very sloppy defensively but we can improve it will just take time, each fixture is a learning curve this is only Sarri's first season. I expect Newcastle to give us a really hard game and be up for this one, but we have all the tools to beat them and stop that from happening, hopefully with Kovacic in the side pushing more forward, we can have Kante being more defensive and providing cover with Jorginho. 

Easy win 3-0 

Morata, Hazard and Pedro

Bloody hell, we haven't won at St James' Park since 2011...

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

Bloody hell, we haven't won at St James' Park since 2011...

Two years of them out of the premier league, and at least a couple of dead rubbers towards the end of the season as well, looks worse than it is.