The Mag
·13 December 2024
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·13 December 2024
Leicester fans return to St James’ Park after a gap of 19 months.
That May 2023 match saw Newcastle United heading for top four and Champions League football, whilst the Foxes were heading into the Championship.
One of the most one-sided goalless draws ever seen, the away team’s goal leading a charmed life and then Nick Pope needing to make a very late save that ensured United would finish the season in the top four.
Leicester fans have seen three changes of manager since that May 2023 visit to St James’ Park, plus former NUFC coach Ben Dawson taking temporary charge.
Ruud van Nisterooy the new (latest) boss, a mini new manager bounce so far in two home matches, beating West Ham and then a late great escape to grab a point last weekend, having been 2-0 down until Jamie Vardy started a comeback with a goal on 86 minutes and the Foxes then grabbing a second in added time.
Leicester fans commenting on this upcoming Newcastle United match via their Foxes Talk message board:
‘Worrying with no Wilf and Bouba. Needs to just be an all out attack. I can see this one being a bit of a battering, but if we can then go on and beat Wolves the following week it’s not too bad.
4-2 Newcastle. Vardy to bag again.’
‘Newcastle are a mess defensively, but the potential thought of Barnes running at JJ makes me violently s… my pants.
They’re beatable…. But at the same time they can be deadly. Depends which Newcastle turns up.’
‘Don’t worry, Barnes might not start. Might be Gordon instead!’
‘These aren’t great.’
‘They are a hot and cold team. You won’t know what you get with them but they have some very good players, especially going forward, which could be a lot for our defence to deal with! If they’re on it, there’s little chance for us I’d reckon.’
‘Newcastle are dangerous, but beatable.
Just start Daka and Mavididi and go for it.’
‘Start Daka AND Vardy I hope you mean. He has a record to break, after all!’
‘It’s a tough ask, even with all our players present.
With our injury / suspension issues, you’d be happy to come away with anything.’
‘Go full Dean Smith and grind out a 0-0 by playing anti-football.’
‘Another draw here to keep the points ticking would be superb. They’re a good side but not as good as Brighton albeit they’ll have the home advantage.
Guaranteed a Harvey goal though.’
‘Attack. We can’t defend so we’ll need to try and outscore teams ala Keegan’s Newcastle.’
‘It’s going to sting if Harvey scores.’
‘Here’s hoping we keep up the RVN positive vibes and performances be great to bring home all 3 points COYF !!’
‘Cannot see anything other than an Okoli start tomorrow with the amount of pace Newcastle have.
Gordon, Barnes, Isak and Almiron are all absolutely rapid.’
‘I fancy us in this, and I think it’ll be a Vardy brace 2-1. Nervy finish.’
‘Reckon will win this.
They seem a bit fragile at the moment.’
‘Play narrow, force them wide, defend the shooting areas. I can’t see any other viable tactic.’
‘Force them wide where they’re strongest and we are at our weakest?’
‘Son went to uni in Newcastle. Check out the Jesmond area stones throw from the centre metro links. Lots of student bars and clubs etc top night out. Quayside is good but for Newcastle expensive.
(for Newcastle lol).’
‘Went on a stag a few years back with a group of 40 ish and stayed at the Travelodge in Quayside.
Everyone drinking on the way up from Bedford, but one bloke got properly blotto by the time we arrived.
We went to a pub around the corner, which was great, but after about 1 hour he was so wasted , he decided to go back to the hotel.
Instead of walking the 100 yards , he jumped in a taxi to take him back , but the driver thought it must be the Travelodge in Gateshead, so took him there.
His key card worked on the same room number as the Quayside one, so he went to bed.
About 6 hours later , 2 blokes walked into his room and started shouting at him to get the f out of their room , and he responded in the same way.
It was like a scene from Goldilocks and the 3 bears at 3 in the morning and security was called to sort it out.
Another cab was called and he got back to our one in a bit of a state.
Great weekend in a fantastic city though.’
‘Not sure we can really expect anything from this being so short in the middle. Not the end of the world. Just make sure that those on 4 yellows aren’t suspended against Wolves please.’
‘Going up for this for my birthday weekend and visiting my daughter who’s at Newcastle Uni.
Would love to be in smug mode after, whilst out in the Toon but doubt it.
You never know though and it’s always a great night out anyway
Will defo go to the Quayside wetherspoons on Saturday, as its really nice.
Probably go for a couple in the Strawberry on Sunday when it’ll be quieter, as its a nice pub with lots of footy memorabilia.
But mainly , I’ll go where daughter suggests and I bet I’ll be paying.’
‘Get yourself to the Free Trade Inn if you have time. A short walk along the Tyne from the Quayside but worth it for the view alone.’
‘Don’t think I can stomach losing to Geordie Arabia.’
‘Newcastle are a bit hit and miss lately, so I’m fairly confident we can get something.
It feels great having more hope again!’
‘I am not sure what to make of Newcastle really.
There was such hype about their takeover, but seem to be struggling a bit currently.
The midfield might be an interesting battle with Guimaries, Joelinton and Tonali.
Really need a strong start in this one with an early goal or two.’
‘Get anything here at all and I’ll start to think the 3rd great escape is on after 90/91 and 2014/2015.’
‘Sacking cooper is the biggest Great escape.’
‘Live up in the North East now and all the Mags love Barnes!Think it’ll be a bit of a Ruud awaking for us on Saturday.’
‘If Hamza is playing, he’ll do a job as he normally does. Probably a good game to have him in as well, with their physicality in midfield.
‘Last time I went was the League Cup fixture under Rodgers. My train ended up being stuck for ages so I ended up getting to the ground around half an hour in. They whizzed us up to the away end in one of the lifts. Only time I’ve ever been there without having to do the full flight of stairs.
Still looking forward to this Saturday though. Albeit they are a team I hate losing to.’
‘If it wasn’t Newcastle and their hoard of 6ft midfielders I could see him going BEK and Skipp in the middle.
Think Hamza comes in though. Certainly a few slide challenges in that partnership!’
‘They love Hamza up there, don’t they? Almost as much as they ‘love their football’…’
‘Newcastle away last time was the most anti-football performance I’ve ever seen from a Leicester team in the PL.
It was almost comical, but we got the draw!’
‘Newcastle are very inconsistent, so you never know, but Isak is a scary prospect with the amount of shots we give up. Lad can score from anywhere.’
‘Another game where the opposition will create lots of chances against us.’
‘Can see Hamza the plonker getting minutes in this one with Papa Bouba Diop and Wilf out.
Newcastle really aren’t as good or unlucky as they’ve been made out to be this year. In the table they are exactly where they deserve to be.
I don’t think it will be a tight game however, even just to draw it we’ll likely have to score 2 or 3.