Newcastle United v Spurs: Will AVB get off to a flyer at Newcastle?
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur both had phenomenal seasons last year, but there are fears over their chances this time round. Can the Mags remain hard to beat and deadly up front with Ba and Cisse, and what will happen to Spurs with the imminent departure of Modric and the arrival of AVB?
Spurs haven't won in the north east for eight years and Newcastle will be looking for revenge following their 5-0 demolition at the Lane in February. But this clash poses more questions than answers. Has AVB learned from his defensive mistakes at Chelsea? Has Bale learned how to cope with the extra attention from the opposition? Can Cisse stay in amongst the goals?
The visitors haven't won away on the opening day of the season since beating Portsmouth 2-0 at Fratton Park in 2005. Meanwhile Newcastle haven't won their opening fixture since Sam Allardyce led them to a 3-1 win over Bolton in 2007.
This is one of the hardest games of the opening weekend to pick a winner from, but our panel is just edging towards the hosts.
Newcastle United v Spurs; Kick Off 5.30pm August 18 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Shub Chaterjee |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Alex Richert |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hossiennia |
4 |
V |
3 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Newcastle are expected to just shade it.
Home: 16; Draw: 10; Away: 7. TBA 1.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
