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The Chronicle ran a preview of the Newcastle United v. Bournemouth match earlier this week. It included extensive quoting from one of the Bournemouth beat reporters, and it was somewhat striking. Just for fun, read the following quotes and try to determine if they were written about NUFC or Bournemouth:
In all honesty I think [they] started well in the Premier League and they were playing some nice stuff; they weren’t really getting the points their form deserved though by squandering leads.
"In recent games though they have suffered a couple of big defeats and that has really impacted on their confidence."
or, regarding the manager
He is not someone who shrinks at the challenge - despite it being the biggest of his career - and, in fact, he relishes it. "It seems Howe has taken it in his stride and hasn’t seen it as a mountain to climb
or
"They have come in for criticism because the club are conceding far too many goals and that is the area [they] need to address quickly."
The match sees the 17th and 18th place teams in the Premier League facing off. One point separates them in the standings. They boast the second (Bournemouth) and fourth (NUFC) worst defenses in the league. They are tied for third-worst goal scoring record in the league. Like it or not, based on the on-pitch results, Newcastle United, the once mighty and proud Toon, are essentially analagous to one of last year's promoted sides.
On paper, Newcastle should win the match. Unfortunately, we've learned over the last several years that internationals and paper players don't equate to wins. Steve McClaren is going to have to turn "positive developments" into "points earned" and the time has got to be now. It's harder and harder to make it up for these 4:45 am kickoffs, the Toon Army have made their longest trip of the year... it needs to start paying off. Here's hoping.
LINEUPS
To be added when announced
TEAM NEWS: Here is how Newcastle United line up at @afcbournemouth this lunchtime. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/QWdapdt88G
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 7, 2015
Cherries XI: Federici, Smith, Francis, Distin, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Stanislas, King. #afcb #BOUNEW
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) November 7, 2015
MATCH INFORMATION
Date & Time: November 7, 2015 1245 GMT (0445 PST, 0745 EST)
Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Dorset
Players to watch: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Giorginio Wijnaldum, Daryl Janmaat, Rob Elliot
TV Information: NBC Sports Network (USA), BT Sports HD (UK)
Stream Information: NBC Sports Live Extra (USA), TSN4 (Canada), Other countries and links can be found here.