JOHNGIBSON
VICTORY OVER BASEMENT RIVALS URGENTLY NEEDED
LET’S be honest, if Newcastle United are to stay up this worrying season then Huddersfield Town and Fulham will probably have to go down.
And, hey, who do the Mags play next?
That’s right, my concerned and bemused hearties – Huddersfield away and Fulham at home!
So it’s now or never isn’t it? Points required as a matter of urgency. No messing about, no excuses or feeling sorry for ourselves.
United have to go to Town on Saturday despite only one away victory in their locker and then bring on Fulham up here with more home defeats on their record (seven from nine) than any other side in the Premier League. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Both those facts have to somehow be reversed because no team is too good to go down.
Now all the hoo-ha over VAR, short-sighted referees, and dastardly luck have subsided we are left with the harsh facts, which are that the Mags are three points off a relegation place.
When Cardiff City are above you then you know you’re in trouble. And when Aleksandar Mitrovic, is coming back to visit, as he will at the business end of Fulham, then apprehension bites deep because it has been that sort of season. However, first things first. Huddersfield Town.
United have a decent away record for their position in the league. They have won only one, but they have lost only two.
Such a thing brings hope when we’re looking for large dollops of that these days.
Just to underline, all is not lost before a ball is kicked and we must remember why the Terriers are one of the few sides beneath the Mags. They have, you see, won just once on home territory so far this season and their goal tally of three is the lowest in the PL.
On the other hand they will be buoyed by what my old pal Chris Waddle said this week
– “Stop Salomon Rondon and you stop Newcastle”. He’s not far wrong. Rondon is the team’s outlet – their biggest asset offensively.
He reminds me a lot of Wyn Davies from the European
Fairs Cup victors. Not particularly in style of play but as a No9 who physically intimidates the opposition without scoring enough goals himself.
However, Big Wyn had Pop Robson alongside him to gobble up the pieces, but Rondon has no goal predator at his shoulder. Rafa ought to have a revolving door on the dressingroom and not just because he’s a little tinker when it comes to team selection. It’s suspensions as well. Matt Ritchie missed out at Everton but came back against Wolves. Fabian Schar missed out against Wolves but comes back at Huddersfield. While DeAndre Yedlin misses out against Huddersfield, Fulham and Liverpool. However, Huddersfield are not without their own selection problems. Aaron Mooy, their most influential player, is set for an extended period on the sidelines after damaging his medial knee ligament during the 1-0 loss at Arsenal. Ta, we’ll accept any help going. Huddersfield away and Fulham at home. We know what we want. What we need. Listening Santa?
United have to go to Town on Saturday despite only one away victory in their locker