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MATCH PREVIEW: Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest

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8 months ago

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Match Preview: Newcastle vs Forest

Newcastle host Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest to kick-off the new 2022/2023 Premier League season.

Newcastle have ended their pre-season friendlies in good form with back-to-back home wins against Atalanta and Athletic Club. The Toon have had some stand-out performers in pre-season with Miguel Almirón netting 6 times and will be hoping to start against Forest on Saturday. Elliot Anderson, a player who was due to leave on loan this campaign, has taken his chance in pre-season with multiple impressive displays convincing Eddie Howe to keep him in the first-team picture.

Everyone associated with Newcastle knew that this summer would be a hectic one, with the new owners looking to improve every aspect of the current squad. So far, they have got three players through the door: Sven Botman, Nick Pope and former loanee Matt Targett. All three signings improve the starting 11 and will be pushing for a competitive debut or second debut in Targett’s case.

Championship Play-Off winners Nottingham Forest have returned to the Premier League after a 23-year absence and will be hoping to cause an upset at St James’ Park on the opening weekend.

Forest have been busy in the transfer market and have not been hesitant in spending their £170m prize for winning the Play-Off final last season. They have currently brought in 12 players and spent £73.6m in the process. Forest have most notably brought in the likes of Jesse Lingard, Neco Williams, Taiwo Awoniyi, Dean Henderson and Moussa Niakhaté.

Players To Watch:

Brennan Johnson

Johnson was one of the best performers in the Championship last campaign, with 16 goals and 9 assists in 46 games. The 21-year-old is predominantly deployed as a second striker or as a number 10 in Steve Cooper’s side.

The academy graduate has recently penned a new four-year deal this summer to fend off Premier League interest from the likes of Spurs and Newcastle.

Taiwo Awoniyi

The summer recruit from German side, Union Berlin will likely partner the previously mentioned Brennan Johnson in a top two for Forest on Saturday.

The Nigerian international arrives at the City Ground with a hefty £18m price tag. He had an impressive season in the Bundesliga last campaign with a 15-goal return from 31 games.

Jesse Lingard

Potentially, one of the more eyebrow-raising transfers that Forest have completed this summer is the capture of free agent, Jesse Lingard. The former Manchester United midfielder has been linked to several Premier League clubs this summer, including Newcastle before moving to the City Ground.

Lingard struggled to get into United’s team last season but has shown in previous seasons that he has got Premier League quality. Think back to the 20/21 season when Lingard moved to West Ham on loan and claimed 9 goals and 5 assists in just 16 Premier League games.

The 29-year-old has only played one pre-season friendly for Forest, meaning he won’t be at his peak fitness level. However, Steve Cooper may opt to start Lingard from the off despite his lack of fitness.

The Gaffer:

Steve Cooper, who took over Forest when they were bottom of the Championship last campaign, turned their season around with a 4th placed finish and earned promotion back to the Premier League.

Forest predominantly play 5-2-1-2 out of possession and a 3-4-1-2 in possession under Cooper, with a big emphasis on the production from the wing-backs. Djed Spence, who was on loan from Middlesbrough last season, was a huge part of the system at Forest in the right-wing-back position, but he opted to join Spurs instead of re-joining Forest this summer. However, the arrival of Nico Williams from Liverpool is a more than capable option to fill the gap left by Spence.

Cooper is a highly rated English coach and has previously managed England U16s and U17s before taking the reigns at Swansea City. During his time at The Swans, Cooper had two successive Play-Off finishes before leaving by mutual content over fears of what direction the club was taking.

Man In The Middle:

Swindon-born, Simon Hooper will be the man in charge of The Toon’s opening day fixture against Nottingham Forest.

The last time Hooper was in charge of a game involving Newcastle was in the 2020/2021 season when The Magpies’ suffered a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Team News:

Newcastle are set to be without central-midfielder Jonjo Shelvey who has a hamstring problem which could see him sidelined for 3-4 weeks.

Summer signings Sven Botman, Matt Targett and Nick Pope could all feature.

Forest will be without left-back Omar Richards, who arrived from Bayern Munich this summer.

Predicted Teams:

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schär, Botman, Targett, Joelinton, Guimarães, Willock, Almirón, Saint-Maximin, Wilson

Nottingham Forest: Henderson, Worrall, Niakhate, McKenna, Williams, Toffolo, Yates, O’Brien, Lingard, Johnson, Awoniyi

Score Prediction:

The opening game of the season is always a tough game to predict, especially with Forest signing so many new players it’s difficult to know how they will all gel together so early on in the season.

That said, I think The Magpies will get off to a winning start and win the game 2-1, with Callum Wilson and Joe Willock getting the goals for The Toon.

Have Your Say

Who are you looking forward to seeing play on Saturday?

What are your score predictions?

Let us know on our Facebook page!

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Newcastle United to Reveal New Shirt Sponsor?

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2 weeks ago

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March 13, 2023

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Newcastle United Kit Idea - NUFC kits

footballinsider247 are reporting that the main shirt sponsor slot for Newcastle United is expected to be filled by airline SAUDI, who sponsored Newcastle’s mid-season tour of their owners’ homeland in December.

They state ‘This site revealed in February that there is frustration at St James’ Park that they have inherited a kit deal with Castore worth just £5m per year with no break clause and several seasons left to run.’

Newcastle’s recently appointed CEO Darren Eales has already previously expressed that the club at looking at all commercial opportunities and fans on Twitter were keen to mock up their expectation for the new shirts, see below and let us know your thoughts and also see our below video on how NUFC can increase commercial avenues..

Eddie Howe’s team are currently in a strong position to achieve a European slot which would increase revenue into the club allowing more spend whilst staying within Financial Fair Play which is something Howe has spoken about on several occasions as they look to stay within. If the club do reach a European slot it should help significantly with recruitment in the summer by making it a more attractive proposition to any incoming targets.

What do you think of the kits – let us know on our facebook page and join in on the conversation.

You can also download our FREE app – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates

Newcastle United Kit Idea - NUFC kits
Newcastle United Kit Idea - NUFC kits
Newcastle United Kit Idea - NUFC kits
NUFC Concept Kits Designs
NUFC Concept Kits Designs
Credit: NUFC kit concept – twitter

 

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Featured

Amazon filming Newcastle United for “All or Nothing” style documentary

Published

2 months ago

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February 8, 2023

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Amazon Prime are currently filming behind-the-scenes footage at Newcastle United for a new documentary.

The docu-series will provide an insight into the club and its efforts to secure a top-four finish and a piece of silverware in the 2022-23 season.

Reports today revealed that camera crews have been filming a four-part documentary for their All or Nothing series. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie confirmed that the series will cover the club and the new owners as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy.

The All or Nothing series has previously documented other Premier League Clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Spurs as well as the Brazilian national team, Juventus, and the All Blacks of rugby.

Newcastle face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on February 26 at Wembley.

The Magpies have featured three times in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Most recently in the 2003-04 season as they reached the third qualifying round, eventually losing on penalties to Serbian side FK Partizan.

The season before the Toon finished third in the 2002-03 Champions League group stages, winning twice against Bayer Leverkusen and drawing with Inter Milan 2-2 at the San Siro. The lineup that night; Given, Solano, O’Brien, Dyer, Shearer (C), Bellamy, Speed,  Griffin, Hughes, Dabizas and Viana.

The series is expected to air later this year and will be available on Amazon Prime.

Based on previous seasons, you can expect exclusive access to training sessions, team meetings and match days, giving fans an in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis at Newcastle United.

It is set to be an incredible storyline and one that should provide fans with some real insight into what it takes to compete at the top level of professional football.

What do you think Newcastle fans?

Does this excite you or do you stand more with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who once said the cameras could be intrusive to the dressing room when he turned down the offer from Amazon In 2018?

 

Join the conversation on our Facebook page…

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Newcastle target rejects Everton move following £45m bid.

Published

2 months ago

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January 30, 2023

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Newcastle united - St James Park

Everton have made a £40million bid with £5m in add-ons to sign Connor Gallagher from Chelsea.

This comes after Newcastle completed the signing of Anthony Gordon, the club’s second most expensive transfer behind Alexander Isak.

Everton received an initial fee of £40m plus add-ons that could increase the deal to £45m.

The Toffees currently sit 19th in the Premier League and are looking to reinvest the money from the Gordon deal to sign much-needed players under newly appointed manager Sean Dyche. 

But, multiple sources have reported today that Gallagher is not actively pushing for a move and has no intention of going to Goodison Park. However, with Chelsea having met the record-breaking €120m release clause for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, Gallagher may be forced to leave the club if the transfer is complete.

This leaves Newcastle an option as the player would prefer a move to a top-six club.

This morning, Eddie Howe said, “We’ll see what we can do to try & bring a player in. There’s no guarantees. In terms of permanent signings, it will be very difficult. We’ll look at a potential loan. But it’s got to be the right player & not one for the sake of it”.

Due to financial fair play, the only way Newcastle could sign the player is through a loan, with an obligation to buy the player for at least £45m, the same price they paid for Anthony Gordon.

Gallagher has been playing regular Premier League football over the last two seasons. Since returning to his parent club Chelsea, the 22-year-old has been linked with a move away to numerous Premier League clubs.

Last season he was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Season by their fans. He also won the Player of the Month award twice, Goal of the Month once, and was awarded the Young Player of Year at the 2022 London Football Awards.

In the same season, he made 36 appearances scoring eight goals and registering three assists that earned Palace a 12th-place finish, one point behind Newcastle.

Have Your Say!

Would you want Newcastle to sign Conor Gallagher?

Does he start?

Let us know on our Facebook page!

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