05-31-2023, 10:49 AM
Morale around Stoke City Football Club has, since last Saturdays first ever Premier League away win at West Brom made top flight survival look likely, been very high. This is in stark contrast to the emotions of fans of this weekends opponent Newcastle for the most part of this season however, as the club, which six years ago was playing in the Champions League has been in turmoil. After being abandoned by so-called saviour Kevin Keegan Justin Grimm Jersey back in September, the side was coached by the potty-mouthed Joe Kinnear toward the bottom three of the Premier League, where they currently lie, six points and five places behind Stoke. After they had finished booing and criticising their own players,Newcastles self-proclaimed best fans in the country found time to be disgusted by the club, both on and off the pitch, with many saying they had given up hope for this season, and the future of the club with Mike Ashley as owner. All this changed a week ago however, withthe shock appointment of former Magpies hero Alan Shearer as manager until the end of the season. So, with a wave of newfound optimism, and blinkered from the fact that many of their players simply havent been up to the task this season, the Toon Army went forward, facing Chelsea at home in their first game under Shearer, who is reportedly receiving five million pounds for his services over the next six weeks. Even the Shearer factor was powerle s to halt the slide of the team however, so while Stoke were beating West Brom 2-0, Newcastle were getting beaten by Chelsea by the same scoreline.Shearers motivation for accepting the 5 million job offer remains a mystery The appointment of Shearer by the Newcastle board is, without doubt, a desperate move. But, Newcastle are in a dreadful situation at the moment, and desperate times call for desperate Alex Gordon Jersey measures, and the move to appoint Shearer may just pay off, if the hype surrounding his return to the club is enough to keep them up. Personally, I feel that the appointment was made a week too early. Much of the boost following Shearers return was di sipated in that defeatby Chelsea. If the move had been made this week instead of last, all that positivity could have been channelled into the theoretically easier trip to Stoke, increasing the likelihood of a result from Saturdays game, which could well see the Magpies kick on towards survival. As a Stoke fan, Im not complaining. I feel that the reverse fixture, at St James Park in December epitomises the seasons that bothNewcastle and Stoke have enjoyed. 2-0 up at half time, both goals coming from their one bright spark on the pitch, Michael Owen, Newcastle proceeded to capitulate, allowing Stoke to battle back into the game, and eventually earn Lucas Duda Jersey a 2-2 draw thanks to a late equaliser from former Newcastle man AbdoulayeFaye, who I must say, they were absolutely mad to sell to Stoke for just 2.25 million, then replace him with the clearly inferior Fabricio Coloccini for three times the fee. That forty five minutes of football sums up for me why, despite having a squad that is on paper better than Stokes, Newcastle are currently so much worse off that the Potters. Where Stoke are a tough team of battlers, Newcastle are a team without a spine, all too often rolling over when faced with superior cla s or graft. It is for this reason, that I am confident that, backed by the crowd in the Britannia Stadium, where we go in search of our ninth home win in the Premier League this season, Stoke should be able to earn the three points that will make relegation seem very unlikely.Faye, representing the toughne s Newcastle lack, struck against his former employers back in December. If he tells you to be quiet, you be quiet! Despite a rumour flying round earlier in the week that he had broken his leg, which caused much unnece sary concern, James Beattie, who has scored six times in his first ten games for Stoke should be fit to partner Ricardo Fuller, who today escaped major punishment after pleading guilty to a charge of driving without a UK license, in the Stoke attack. A doubt lies over the condition of regular left-back Danny Higginbotham for the Potters though, after he twisted and strained his back at West Brom. The most recent reports suggest he will be available to play, but should he fail his fitne s test, one of either Danny Pugh, Stephen Kelly or Carl Dickinson will play in his absence. Malian forward Mamady Sidibe remains sidelined for Stoke after opting to undergo surgery on a knee ligament injury that could keep him out for as much as nine months, and his fellow Africans, the Senegalese midfield duo of Salif Diao and Amdy Faye may also mi s out through injury.Higginbotham is a doubt for Stoke The visitors also have several injury worries ahead of the match, with Danny Guthrie, Sebastien Ba song, Habib Beye, Peter Lovenkrands and Steven Taylor doubts with shin, groin, knee, back and ankle injuries respectively. Meanwhile, Austrailian forward Mark Viduka and human scumball Joey Barton will definitely mi s the game.Key Battles:Ricardo Kansas City Royals Jersey Fuller v Fabricio ColocciniIn the return fixture, Fuller made an instant impact after coming on as a second half substitute, absolutely skinning Coloccini before setting up Stokes first goal, and continuing to give the Argentine problems for the remainder of the match. There was some talk of Coloccini being dropped for the match after a poor showing against Chelsea, but with Ba song and Steven Taylor both carrying injuries, it seems likely he will play. If he does, there will Kelvin Herrera Jersey be a chance for Fuller to use his pace and strength to good effect again. Abdoulaye Faye v Michael OwenIn the circumstances, it seems very likely that Owen will play for Newcastle even if he is not fully fit. His former teammate Faye will be tasked with keeping him quiet, as, seeming destined for a summer move, Owen tries to impre s potential suitors. Rory Delap v Steve HarperDelaps long throws have been right back on form in the last few matches, one resulting in the winning goal for Stoke against Middlesbrough in the last game at the Britannia Stadium. Finally in po se sion of the number oneshirt at Newcastle, following the departure of Shay Given to Manchester City, Harper will have his work cut out to deal with this definite threat.Newcastle Squad: Goalkeepers: Steve Harper (34), Tim Krul (21), Fraser Forster (21), Ole Soderberg (18)Defenders: Fabricio Coloccini (27), Sebastien Ba song (22), Jose Enrique (23), Habib Beye (31), Steven Taylor (23), Claudio Cacapa (32), Ben Tozer (19), Tamas Kadar (19), Callum Morris (19), Darren Lough (19), Brad Inman (17)Midfielders: Jonas Guitierrez (25), Nicky Butt (34), Kevin Nolan (26), Danny Guthrie (21), Ryan Taylor (24), Peter L