So here we are people, one day out from a monumental day for Newcastle United fans the world over, ! At 4:30pm on Sunday 26th 2023 Newcastle will kick off our first cup final since the 1998/99 FA Cup final at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. Yes, I know what you are thinking...that's a long time ago! To make things worse the last time we won a major competition came back in the 1954/55 season when The Magpies lifted the FA Cup after triumphing over Manchester City under captain and local hero, Jackie Milburn.
A Nervous Wait & Flirting with Disaster.😩
To give a bit of pretext to the big day, I'd like to briefly run back the events of the last few game weeks since our semi-final victory over Southampton. If you didn't watch that match then I'll make the highlights available below to help you build a picture of the story so far.
The 3 weeks following have been much the same for most of the Toon Army, it's consisted of a lot of nail biting as well as feverishly hoping that the squad would make it through 3 tough Premier League games healthy and largely unscathed. I think I likely speak for us all when I say that it has been a horrible few weeks!
For a lot of us the fear has been that the mantra of manager Eddie Howe that appears in large print around the training ground...'INTENSITY IS OUR IDENTITY', could very likely mean that not all of our regular playing squad would make it through. Don't get me wrong, I know that this has what has made us the team so successful since Eddie took the reigns last season. He has managed the impossible in taking the club from 19th place with 0 wins after 11 league outings to our current position of 5th place!
As it stands we have for the most part survived the period with a couple of big exceptions...
- Nick Pope Saw Red - The loss of our exceptional goalkeeper and England international Nick Pope has been the most bitter pill to swallow. Unfortunately for Nick, his unbelievable form this season has seen a bump in the road at the worst possible time, resulting in a straight red card against Liverpool last week after mistakenly handling the ball outside of the box after a missed diving header. He has been a big part of our success this season and will be gutted to be missing out.
- Shelvey Moves On While Willock Becomes Crocked - The departure of Jonjo Shelvey during the January transfer window has come at a bad time with regular midfield workhorse Joe Willock being out for a number of weeks due to injury. Many fans look back at his time at the club fondly and think he still had more to give under Eddie Howe, however Shelvey being in the twilight of his career understandably needed a guaranteed contract to see out his last couple of years on the pitch.
Predicted Lineup & Key Players
This is the likely starting 11 that Eddie Howe will deploy on Sunday. The only possible exception being that depending on the fitness of Joe Willock, it could well end up that Joelinton is pushed back in to his role as midfield enforcer with dribbling virtuoso Allain St. Maximin coming in on the left wing.
The Potential Difference Makers
Bruno Guimarães
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Newcastle's beloved Brazilian Bruno is truly the brain of Eddie Howe's Magpies. With league topping stats in almost every metric, his ability to dictate the flow of the game as well as picking out the runs of South American compatriot Miguel Almiron will be crucial in this match!Miguel Almiron
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In form winger and Paraguayan international Miguel Almiron will be looking to add to his total of 10 league goals this season with his pace and ridiculous work rate being a threat to any defence. The partnership forged with England stalwart RB Kieran Trippier & Bruno has seen Miggy's 'never say die' attitude bear fruit in recent times.The Local Lads - Sean Longstaff & Big Dan Burn
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One thing that Manchester United would be foolish to underestimate in this final is the passion of our local lads CB Dan Burn & Midfielder Sean Longstaff. Under the guidance of the coaching staff the somewhat stagnating career of Longstaff (largely due to the previous manager) has been revitalised. Sean has earned his spot in the starting 11 this season by being tireless and giving everything for his boyhood club each time he takes to the grass. His run of appearances peaking when he scored the two goals that sealed Newcastle's place in the final. Much of the same can be said of 6ft 6" colossus Big Dan Burn. After finally realising his dream of playing for his local club, Burn has regularly put his body on the line, which is reflected in the team having conceded the least amount of goals this season. A major feat in a league that is often described as the world's best.
In Conclusion
So this is the part where I make a prediction. I would be lying if I said I had a clue. All I can tell you is that my heart says Newcastle will win and the city that has waited so long will explode in to celebration, my head is undecided! 😆 All I ask is that the squad gives it their all as they always do. If we can't get it done then there's always next year and for the first time since I was a kid, Newcastle United is in the ascendancy! I'll leave you with an amazing fan made video explaining our recent history as a club and what it means to us as fans. (Don't worry, less than 3mins)
All support of this post is greatly appreciated as this one means a lot to me and as we say up here 'HOWAY THE LADS!'
