Will it be an absolutely buzzing CCS or a slightly nervous worried CCS?
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Let the build up commence.
Will it be an absolutely buzzing CCS or a slightly nervous worried CCS?
Nothing to be nervous or worried about this season, everyone is going to beat us according to such giants of the game as Chris Sutton. Knobs like him have in a way put the pressure on every side we play in a sort of ‘What!!!! You drew/got beat by Cardiff, how shit must you be????’. Let the fun commence, two up and singing ‘We’re shit & we know we are’, bring it on I say!!
We've waited an awful long time for this. I've sat through the playoffs, the world cup and pre season, but now it feels like our season is properly starting. Let's get Arter and Zohore (if fit) in there and maybe Murphy if Our Neil decides and we'll be a lot tougher to play against.
I think we'll go with this:
Etheridge
Peltier
Bennett
Morrison
Bamba
Ralls
Arter
Paterson
Murphy
Hoilett
Zohore
Anyone know how likely Zohore is to be fit? Pondering whether to include him in my fantasy first team lineup for this week....
I hope NW goes with:
Etheridge
Richards
Morrison
Manga/Bamba
Bennett
Arter
Casamara
Ralls
Hoilett
Zohore
Murphy
I guess that he will have Casamara on the bench.
Match not sold out yet but a quick check on eticketing suggests around 100 only left, unless club releases more tomorrow.
Not sure whether to be disappointed or pleased.
If Zohore doesn't start, I hope Madine does. We need to find out whether he has what it takes now - and he's taken a squad place which we could have used for Pilkington if we just wanted an occasional striker.
I'll be happy as long as Reid is playing behind Zohore/Ward/Madine. He's wasted as a lone striker. I'll also be happy if we win.
I see we've lost our last 10 league games to Newcastle dating back to a 4-0 defeat at home in 1981, that's a hell of a run without even picking up a point against them.
Cardiff City v Newcastle United
Cardiff City Stadium
Saturday 18th August 2018, ko 12:30pm.
Early team news:
New signing Harry Arter is expected to make his Cardiff bow after being ineligible for last weekend's opener against his parent club, Bournemouth.
Kenneth Zohore (groin) faces a late fitness test after missing the 2-0 defeat but Aron Gunnarsson (knee) is a definite absentee.
Newcastle could hand full debuts to a host of their summer signings in south Wales.
Forwards Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto came off the bench in defeat to Tottenham, while fellow new recruits Fabian Schar, Ki Sung-yueng and Federico Fernandez are all yet to feature.
DeAndre Yedlin will miss out after suffering a minor knee injury against former club Spurs, with Florian Lejeune's knee surgery keeping him sidelined for much longer.
The Managers:
Neil Warnock:
"It’s an exciting time for everyone at the club, it’s going to be a cracking crowd, nearly a full house and it’s what we’ve been striving for. When I came to the club, they’d thought I was in cloud cuckoo land if I’d said we’d be playing in front of a full house in the Premier League. But it's a great feeling.
"Newcastle are a good club to be playing, they’ve got some good players and always have a great following. I remember when they played us at the end of the season they got promotion and they had fabulous support. Rafa’s done a good job and it promises to be a good atmosphere all round."
Rafa Benitez:
"Cardiff are very strong physically, it will be a tough atmosphere, & we have to be both physical & try to play good football to beat them"
Match Stats:
- Cardiff City have lost each of their last 10 league meetings with Newcastle, their longest ever losing run against a single opponent in league history.
- Newcastle's current run of 10 successive league wins against Cardiff is their longest winning run against a single opponent in league history.
- Cardiff's last league victory against Newcastle was back in February 1981 in the old second division, winning 1-0 thanks to a Peter Kitchen strike. However, they have beaten Newcastle as recently as 2014, winning 2-1 at St James' Park in an FA Cup match.
- Cardiff have won eight of their 10 home league games so far in 2018 (D1 L1), though these were all in the Championship last season.
- Newcastle have lost their last three away league games - they've never lost four in a row on the road under current manager Rafael Benitez.
- In all competitions, Cardiff manager Neil Warnock is winless in his last nine matches against Newcastle (W0 D2 L7), since a 1-0 win as Sheffield United boss in November 2006.
- Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has never lost against Neil Warnock in five previous meetings in all competitions, winning each of the last four in a row since 1-1 draw between Sheffield United and Liverpool on the opening day of the 2006-07 Premier League season.
The Officials:
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Eddie Smart, Andy Garratt
Fourth official: Lee Probert
Other banners show Joe Ralls, Bobby Reid and Josh Murphy. Also a big Neil Etheridge Philippines banner as well
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