Fulham v Newcastle United - 05.08.16 - 7.45pm (SS1)

[Haillay7]

The dust has settled, the post-mortem carried out and regardless of how much I pinch myself, in four days we will play our first game in the championship for 6 years; and we deserve to be here.

After a calamitous season that ended in relegation, the 'Rafalution' has been born. Maybe we'll get tarred with the deluded brush as always, but there is a genuine sense of optimism for the first time in recent memory. With Rafa staying at the helm, and after welcoming a host of smart signings, there is a real purpose to this team, something that has been missing since arguably the Robson era.

Even during our last stint in the second tier, there was never a sense of progression, more of an on the field apology and a making amends style of football from messrs Nolan, Barton, Smith and co.

So much so that I am very much looking forward to Friday and our trip to Fulham. We've just successful navigated our first unbeaten pre-season in 21 years and although the toughest opposition we've played were Doncaster, it's still no mean feat.

Widely predicted as this seasons likely winners, there is a lot of pressure of the Club to start well and I'm genuinely optimistic. With Mccormack likely to have left prior to the game I'm hoping that the performance will throw down the gauntlet for the rest of the weekend.

Likely to start;

Selz

Janmaat
Lascelles
Mbemba
Gamez

Anita
Colback
Shelvey

Ritchie
Gayle
Perez

1-3.

 

[joethegill]

I'm going to this. Better be good.

2-0 Newcastle

 

[G.B]

Hoping to see Lascelles with the armband. He may be relatively young but he proved himself a leader last season. 1-2.

 

[Benji]

Should be a fairly comfortable win for Newcastle. Fulham were fairly poor last year, and have lost Dembele and probably McCormack in the mean time. It'll be interesting to see how Newcastle shape up and play.

So glad football is back.

 

[JoshBCFC]

Likely to start;

Selz

Janmaat
Lascelles
Mbemba
Dummett

Hayden
Colback
Anita

Ritchie
Gayle
Perez

1-3.

Bloody hell, that's a strong team.

 

[Haillay7]

Bloody hell, that's a strong team.

I am happy with how it's taking shape mind. just edited it there as Gamez appears to have played LB in a number of preseason games and it'll be a toss up between Shelvey and Hayden.

There's also Aarons and Diame who we'd need to shoehorn in to but I think it might be too early for the latter.

 

[JoshBCFC]

I am happy with how it's taking shape mind. just edited it there as Gamez appears to have played LB in a number of preseason games and it'll be a toss up between Shelvey and Hayden.

There's also Aarons and Diame who we'd need to shoehorn in to but I think it might be too early for the latter.

Wow, if you don't go up this season that's a massive underachievement. Good luck to you lot for the season.

 

[Haillay7]

Agreed. Can't wait for tomorrow but if there's any team that's been set up for a fall....

You too! I sadly can't make the trip down in August as was slightly too early for me but with all the BC lads on here, I'll be looking out for the results for the rest of the season.

 

[Eski Boi]

Fulham 0 Newcastle 4

Piece of cake.

 

[JimJams]

Just a question for Newcastle fans, aren't you actually kind of happy about being in the Championship now?
Obviously nobody wants to be relegated but you're going into this season with a lot of optimism I'd presume whereas if you were still in the prem you'd probably be a bit more despairing at the season ahead. You kept Rafa, gotta be proper confident.

 

[Woodworm]

Best time to play Newcaslte. Think we will hold on to a draw. Should be much improved defensively but not sure where the goals are coming from

 

[joethegill]

What's the nearest tube to Fulham? Putney Bridge? It's been so long since I went I've totally forgotten...

 

[Woodworm]

Yep

 

[Benji]

I would say Newcastle have a better squad and a better manager now than at the start of last season. I think that would also be true if they had stayed up though, except maybe would have kept Wijnaldum and Sissoko (assuming he goes). I don't think either of them added enough to Newcastle over the course of a season though.

 

[Haillay7]

I would say Newcastle have a better squad and a better manager now than at the start of last season. I think that would also be true if they had stayed up though, except maybe would have kept Wijnaldum and Sissoko (assuming he goes). I don't think either of them added enough to Newcastle over the course of a season though.

I'd agree with that. I won't miss either of them to be honest. Same could have been said for Janmaat but he seems to have got his head down in pre-season so ill give him time.

As far as the squad goes with the new additions it's a far more balanced team. Only Coloccini and Taylor have left from the defence (neither of which played for any serious amount of the season due to injury) so as far as I'm concerned we've added not replaced with Clark and Hanley.

I think we could still do with some creativity in midfield as with Colback, Anita and Shelvey there isn't a great deal of running there. I'm really looking forward to tonight and as I've said before it's the most optimistic I've been ahead of a season in a long time.

In all fairness if we had have had Rafa at the start of last year we would never have went down as I honestly believe outside of Mourinho, Pep and Ancelotti, when you look at achievements, Rafa is in the next bracket alongside your Wengers and Contes.

 

[Dirk]

I really like Fulham and especially good old Craven Cottage. Went there a couple of times and always had a great time (and when former HSV Player Felix Magath was their coach I was a bit "ashamed" of it and although my friends there knew that I am a HSV fan they didn't mock me about Felix . Kudos ).

I am hoping for a Fulham win. More realistically is a draw or, worse, even a loss. I'll keep my fingers crossed and, of course, I'll watch the match live via a (Kodi-)stream.

 

[spireite]

Mitrovic injured?

 

[Benji]

Suspended, he was sent off against Spurs.

Bit of a drab affair so far. Newcastle yet to get going, Fulham looking surprisingly solid and organised.

 

[Haillay7]

Suspended, he was sent off against Spurs.

Bit of a drab affair so far. Newcastle yet to get going, Fulham looking surprisingly solid and organised.

Yep. 4 games as it was his second.

 

[TomPNE94]

Aluko is utterly wank.

 

[TomPNE94]

Brilliant header.

 

[BCFC David]

Welcome back Newcastle.

 

[Jockney]

Fulham supporters are never able to muster any sort of passion for their side, so what is the point? They might as well go to Brentford. At least they're excited about going to football.

 

[Benji]

Anita isn't much of a right winger, and we are struggling to get the ball to the strikers. Shame about Mitrovic's ban, I think he would make a big difference against these.

 

[JimJams]

Pretty shit stuff from Newcastle so far. Zhelvey could mae a difference if he gets some time in the second half. There's no real cohesion in the middle. But if he's sulking then there's no point.

 

[Reaper]

Really surprised with the line up Newcastle has gone with, no De Jong, Shelvey, Sissoko, Tiote, Saivet ect just realized Mitrovic is suspended but was expecting all the names above to be playing which is why i thought they would piss league but with the line up they gone with tonight then their gonna struggle to get promoted imo if they intend to go with those players all season.

 

[Benji]

Aarons on for Colback is a good change. Overall, Newcastle look miles away from being potential league winners.

Here comes Armstrong now, should be interesting.

 

[Haillay7]

Really surprised with the line up Newcastle has gone with, no De Jong, Shelvey, Sissoko, Tiote, Saivet ect just realized Mitrovic is suspended but was expecting all the names above to be playing which is why i thought they would piss league but with the line up they gone with tonight then their gonna struggle to get promoted imo if they intend to go with those players all season.

Why? Tiote has played about 2 games in the last 6 months and is about to leave so was never going to play. Saivet made about two match squads and from memory made one appearance off the bench and was/is shocking by all accounts.

You've got Shelvey who Rafa isn't keen on and you seriously thought after everything that's went on over the summer that Sissoko would play?

Oh and De Jong made about 3 appearances all season and remains out with injury so all in all a very strange comment as I don't what you've seen


But yeah we've been shite and Barr the penalty that should have been we've offered nowt.

 

[G.B]

bit of a flat performance that. aside from not getting a nailed on penalty (and arguably another one) we didn't create enough chances. undone by a set piece yet again.

colback is the new steven taylor. the token, and utterly shit, local lad we get stuck with for the next decade.

 

[BCFC David]

Impressed by Fulham. Organised and passed the ball around well. Newcastle never really looked like scoring for all their possession.