Newcastle (0-0-0) vs Tottenham (0-0-0) Premier League Sunday, August 13, 1:30PM St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne Injured: Yedlin (NUFC), Rose, Lamela, and Trippier (THFC) Referee: Andre Marriner TV: SKY Sports 12:30PM GMT NBCSN 8:25AM EST, 5:25AM PST Back in the Premier League. No high profile players in, sadly, but our latest signings all look capable: Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy, Javier Manquillo, and Mikel Merillo. Anyone's guess who starts. Gayle is questionable for this match. Make your predictions below. Let's get excited about this!!
So yeah, the lads are back up. Yay! Is this gonna be another "we're just gonna hover here around the middle to bottom and make the owner some money without really doing anything" year though?
I was hoping we'd be setting the foundation for a team that intends to compete, but given our transfer performance, it looks like survival this year. Our income will get a big boost next year and spending can increase, but if Rafa gets frustrated with management and leaves, I doubt it would bring us the same benefit. We also have Krul, Haidara, and Riviere on wages until 2018, so that's another reason to hope for more next year - if we stay up! Meanwhile, we want a unified, tenacious squad who stays mentally strong and punches above their weight. I'm really hoping for a great year from Gayle, because it's all on him if we don't get Perez.
It could hardly be a worse start. Two injuries and a suspension. We were never going to last with 10 men for most of a half. We looked to be holding up before that, and not allowing many chances. This is life in the Prem. Have to shake it off and get a result next week.