{"id":7210,"date":"2023-01-02T21:52:46","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T21:52:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=7210"},"modified":"2023-01-04T08:25:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-04T08:25:09","slug":"time-to-assert-dominance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=7210","title":{"rendered":"Time to Assert Dominance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1244778485\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/1244778485?et=c2G-GjR_R4J9gLH2tIfdmw&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=J2GgkEUvYuDZi4zQhM-faJa2aTgzNA6eP65p9OYyLGk=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Tomorrow we welcome the club that formerly represented the so-called \u2018Geordie Nation\u2019 but now represents the somewhat better-heeled Saudi nation. The takeover by a consortium led by&nbsp;Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund&nbsp;in October 2021 has prompted predictions of transformation from the sickly shadow of a quasi-mythological \u2018local hero\u2019 generating only sympathy for claimed powers lost, to a predatory, footballing superpower. While in truth the club had only intermittent potency formerly, with the assistance of funds of the Saudi Treasury there has been definite progress. They may be seen as less now a magpie scavenging for scraps and more a hawk feeding off titbits while perched on a Sheik\u2019s silk-enrobed arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newcastle United, formed by the amalgamation of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, originally played in red shirts and white shorts. The famous black and white stripes were adopted as their permanent first choice kit only after being forced to change their red shirts in their first ever Football League game. That was away to Woolwich Arsenal on 2 September 1893, they drew 2-2 and Newcastle were clearly so pleased with the result that they subsequently stuck with the stripes as their first-choice shirt.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Barcodes\u2019 heyday was almost in mythological times. They won an FA Cup and three of their four League titles between 1904 and 1910. They won their fourth and to date last title in 1925 and their last domestic silverware way back in 1955 when they beat City in the FA Cup Final, the third time they won the FA Cup in the 1950\u2019s. Their only subsequent and most recent competitive trophy was the 1968-69 Fairs City Cup. Since then they have had two periods of excitement and hope, both unfulfilled. Keegan\u2019s exhilarating team which achieved two second placed finishes in 1995-6 and 1996-7 was the most exciting team that I saw visit Highbury until Wengerball 1 eclipsed everyone else. The Bobby Robson era brought title challenges and three top five finishes between 2001 and 2004 and Champions League participation but the Geordies have had to live with Ashley-imposed mediocrity until Howe\u2019s revolution began in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tomorrow\u2019s game will be our 190<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;competitive meeting with Newcastle United. We hold the advantage with 83 wins against 68 defeats and 38 draws. In the Premier League, at our place, our record is of course even more respectable with 21 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. However, those statistics are of no relevance to a match against this iteration of Newcastle United. The most relevant yardstick is the game at St James\u2019 Park on May 16<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;last year when a weary Arsenal\u2019s drive for a Champions League place was derailed by a ferocious Newcastle performance driven on by an exuberantly hostile crowd that left us flattered by a 0-2 defeat. That game is regarded as a statement performance on Tyneside with Arsenal representing the team they hope to become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the game, Arteta fumed, \u201cThey were 10,000 times better than we were today. It is fucking embarrassing to come here the way we have done it. Embarrassing. What happened today is fucking unacceptable.\u201d&nbsp;Howe observed, \u201cThis game didn\u2019t really have anything on it for us. And the crowd and the feeling was unbelievable. So, you think to yourself, \u2018What if this was for something, what if it was to win something or qualify for something?\u2019 It just showed what the club can be. We set the marker there in that moment, for what we want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can bet your bottom dollar that Arteta will have his team focused on winning this game and rectifying that embarrassment and that Howe will have his players fired up to take our scalp again and put another marker down of Newcastle\u2019s progress to prove that there\u2019s a new stag on the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newcastle\u2019s progress in 2022 has been very impressive. On 1 January 2022 they sat 19<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;with 1 win and 8 draws from 19 games. Today they sit third after playing 17 games with 9 wins (4 away wins), 7 draws (3 away draws) and a respectable 33 goals scored (15 away goals) and 11 conceded (6 conceded away) showing them to have the most secure defence in the league (we are second with 14 conceded). They come to the Emirates having won 6 of their last 7 games, unbeaten in 12 Premier League fixtures since a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on 31 August. 2022 has proved to be a transformative year for them, with 21 top flight victories in a calendar year for the first time since 1995.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The expenditure of over \u00a3200m by&nbsp;Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund&nbsp;in the two windows since they took over may have been a factor. They have added quality in Pope, Trippier, Botman, Guimar\u00e3es, Wilson and Isak and English steel in Burn and Wood but in addition Sch\u00e4r, Joelinton and Almiron have been coached to produce markedly improved performances. Both Mikel and Pep have publicly acknowledged that Newcastle are title contenders this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unquestionably the appointment of Eddie Howe to replace the hapless Mrs Doubtfire as coach in November 2021 was another significant factor in Newcastle\u2019s transformation, Howe has shown himself to be an excellent coach and he is clearly one of the most talented young English managers to emerge in recent years. However, as Tim recently pointed out in a 7am KO blogpost (https:\/\/7amkickoff.com\/index.php\/2022\/12\/30\/week-15-16-recap\/), Howe is \u2018whitewashing the ownership\u2019s criminal human rights and modern slavery record\u2019 and offers this link as evidence of Saudi\u2019s despicable practices (<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.vn\/ArQNr)\">https:\/\/archive.vn\/ArQNr)<\/a>. Not to mention Jamal Khashoggi!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Howe\u2019s team selection is largely predictable. Since December 2021 he has almost invariably played 4-3-3, and he demands a high-pressing, dynamic performance. Interestingly he has regularly played 5 or 6 English players bucking a Premiership trend in recent years. Pope is an able \u2018keeper. The back line of Trippier, Sch\u00e4r, Botman and Burn have been parsimonious this season; these centre backs will use their height and physical strength to deal with any high balls into the box but if he continues at left back, Burn should be vulnerable to Saka\u2019s speed and ball skills while, although Trippier may match Martinelli for pace, his tendency to join attacks should leave space behind for Gabigol, Zinchenko, Xhaka or Eddie to exploit. It\u2019ll be interesting to see whether Howe sticks with his back four or if the challenge of facing this Arsenal team makes him opt for a back three. It\u2019s conceivable that Howe may bring Burn inside to left centre-back or bring Lascelles back to play a back three against the league leaders though playing as a wing back may challenge Burn.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Howe plays his usual 4-3-3 the midfield is likely to be Longstaff, Guimar\u00e3es and Willock with Joelinton making a fourth on the left when Newcastle lose possession whilst in possession the latter often alternates front-line support with Willock. Guimar\u00e3es is a class act and will need to be marshalled carefully by Thomas Partey. Joe Willock has been playing well and will be up for this game against his former mates from Hale End. The newly invigorated Almiron and the lumbering Wood have been the recent front pair with the former drifting in to great effect from the right but Wilson and Saint-Maximin started from the bench for 30 minutes against Leeds on Saturday and while the Ecuadorean\u2019s place is assured, I expect to see Wilson return to their starting eleven on Tuesday. I would be surprised if Saint-Maximin starts on the left ahead of Joelinton and it would be a huge statement of offensive intent by Howe as the Frenchman\u2019s often match-winning dribbling and unpredictability are offset by his poor pressing and reluctant defensive work. If he plays, expect Saka to get plenty one on ones with Burn. Isak and Shelvey are still crocked though the former may make the bench given this game&#8217;s importance to their growing self-esteem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I caught the last hour or so of the Barcodes\u2019 game against Dirty Leeds. Unsurprisingly after 6 consecutive wins and playing their 12<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;game without defeat, they played with considerable confidence and an expectation of victory. They dominated the second half and spurned several good chances. However, particularly in the last third of the first half, Leeds\u2019 energetic pressing and swift passing and movement opened the Newcastle defence up several times suggesting that \u00d8degaard might be able to find our mobile front three in promising positions. Until he was substituted late on Almiron represented their biggest attacking threat and he crafted several opportunities from the right after good interplay with Trippier. That pair should inform our selection at left back in my opinion. They had little threat down their left until Saint Maximin came on and I dare say we will see him come off the bench at some point as I suspect starting him would be too gung-ho for Howe. Their other threats are the long ball from the keeper over the middle for Wood to head on or for Wilson to run onto. They are, of course, also very dangerous from set pieces because of their big target men and Trippier\u2019s accuracy with a dead ball. The right-back is also particularly dangerous from a centrally placed free-kick. Wilson is a talented centre forward and our centre backs will certainly know they\u2019ve been in a game. They will need to be on their toes. Wilson, Almiron, Joelinton and Willock are also enthusiastic practitioners of Howe\u2019s high press. However, given all those positives, a Newcastle vulnerability is the temperament of several of their players, notably Guimar\u00e3es and Joelinton. Their frustration boiled over as the Leeds game wound down. They clearly expected to beat Leeds and undoubtedly they believe that they will challenge for the title. In contrast, we will need to keep our cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Arsenal come into this game sitting 7 points clear at the top of the Premier League after an exemplary first 16 games of the season having picked up where they left off in their first two post-WC games against West Ham and Brighton. Both recent victories showed the flair, technical ability and dynamism of our front three and the vision, ability and sheer brilliance of \u00d8degaard. It was particularly encouraging to see Eddie\u2019s link up play and brace of goals and we must hope he can keep that up. Partey was imperious in both games and is vital to our forward progress and defensive screen. Sadly, the defence proved to be a tad vulnerable against Brighton. I do think this was in part due to the substitution of an impressive Benjamin White by a very rusty Tomiyasu compounding rustiness from Saliba. They should both benefit from several more days of work on the training ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the FA Cup tie coming up next Monday, there is no need to rotate any of our key players and there is only one position where I would suggest there is a decision to be made. Personally, I would start Tierney at left back rather than Zinchenko as the threat down Newcastle\u2019s right side from Trippier and Almiron is significant and the Scotsman is by far the better defender whilst he still offers attacking verve himself. Hopefully Martinelli\u2019s own attacking threat may cramp Trippier\u2019s style and I would back Tierney against Almiron one on one. However, I expect Arteta to start Zinchenko as he greatly believes in the disrupting effect of the Ukrainian in that inverted position between the lines. I hope it works again. In that case Xhaka will be required to be alive to the need to cover our left flank when we lose possession. He will need to have more of a defensive hat on than he has had to wear of late.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hence the team I expect Arteta to start is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Ramsdale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Partey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\u00d8degaard, Xhaka<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This game is another huge test for our young team. It is a test against another contender not just of our abilities \u2013 I believe that we are the better team &#8211; but also of our belief that we can beat the other strong contenders and win this league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both defences are parsimonious, both attacks are talented. I expect both teams to come out with the intention of winning this game. I also expect a low scoring, tight, nerve-jangling contest. I would be delighted with a good old fashioned 1-0 to the Arsenal. 2-0 would send me into orbit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Holic pound? It\u2019s still going to Ukraine along with sundry others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enjoy the game, Holics. If you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Come on you Gunners!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Embed from Getty Images Tomorrow we welcome the club that formerly represented the so-called \u2018Geordie Nation\u2019 but now represents the somewhat better-heeled Saudi nation. The takeover by a consortium led by&nbsp;Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund&nbsp;in October 2021 has prompted predictions of transformation from the sickly shadow of a quasi-mythological \u2018local hero\u2019 generating only sympathy for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7210"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7210"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7251,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7210\/revisions\/7251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}