After two weeks of uncertainty and bring linked with every manager you can think of not in a job, Palace went ‘back to the future’ and appointed Neil Warnock as manager of Crystal Palace.
It is his second spell in charge at the club, his first was a three year tenure back in 2007. Coincidentally, Neil Warnock’s last game in charge for the Eagles was a long trip up to the North East to face Tyneside outfit Newcastle United albeit under very different circumstances.
The Magpies have made significant changes to the side that ran out 1-0 winners last time the two sides met in April. A 94th minute Papiss Cisse goal stole the three points which left Palace stunned after it seemed like they would return to SE25 with a point. Nine new faces have been brought in to freshen up a squad that had a very lacklustre finish to last season.
Newcastle have so far picked up a solitary point in their two games but have yet to score a goal. A 2-0 home defeat to champions Manchester City and a goalless draw at Villa Park is a good start for Alan Pardew’s side who will be confident of their first three points of the season on Saturday.
Team News
Newcastle United
Boss Alan Pardew is confident that his new look attack will soon find their shooting boots, and may hand Siem de Jong a Premier League debut to support of Emmanuel Riviere this weekend. A niggling calf injury has prevented the former Ajax captain from starting a top flight match since moving to Tyneside, but there are high hopes for both him and fellow pre-season arrival Remy Cabella.
Papiss Cisse, Vurnon Anita and Cheick Tiote head up a list of six sidelined players for manager Alan Pardew who will all miss Saturday’s game. Davide Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa and Ryan Taylor will also sit out while new signings Daryl Janmaat and Mike Williamson are expected to play after missing Newcastle’s midweek League Cup fixture.
Crystal Palace
Neil Warnock will not be expected to make any major changes to the Palace set up. Midfielder Joe Ledley who was injured in the warm up before the West Ham United game is unlikely to make the trip as he is suffering with a knee injury.
Algerian Adlene Guedioura is expected to deputise ahead of Stuart O’keefe who was underwhelming in the home defeat to West Ham. Scott Dann should make his return to the side after overcoming the hamstring strain that forced him to limp out of our season opener at the Emirates. Returning fan favourite Wilfried Zaha may not start as he is yet to play a game this season so the loanee is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.
Analysis and Predictions
Prediction for Newcastle United – 9th
Last season they started very well, even threatening to challenge for Europe around Christmas time after a series of impressive wins against the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United. They fell away in the second half of the season mainly due to the sale of Frenchman Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint Germain. Despite tenth being a decent finish for Newcastle given the minimal expectations going into the campaign, they will be looking to improved on that after a flurry of decent signings in the summer. They have also managed to hold on to their big name players apart from French defender Mathieu Debuchy.
EPL Index prediction – home win
Who Scored prediction – home win
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson’s prediction – home win
My prediction – away win
