An early view of Metalist.....

Taken from nufc.com

I think I may just pop along to see them.....

Northern League side Whitley Bay confirm that they are to host a special friendly match at Hillheads this coming Sunday night, when the opposition will be Newcastle's next Europa League opponents, Metalist Kharkiv.

Kickoff is at 7pm and the game is open to the public, with admission by paying at the gate: £10 adults and £5 concessions. The increased admission charges reflect additional costs of the required stewarding.

As a courtesy to the visitors, Whitley Bay have requested that spectators don't turn up with Newcastle flags, shirts and black & white scarves etc.

Metalist sit fourth in the Ukraine Premier League but remain on a mid-season break that sees them without a league fixture between December 2nd and March 1st.

Having not played a competitive game since losing 0-1 to Rapid Vienna on December 6th, Kharkiv are ticking over with friendly games, beating Russian side CSKA Moscow 4-2 recently at a Spanish training camp. They also staged a similar training camp in Dubai earlier in the year.

The January transfer window saw them make a trio of signings, with a goalkeeper and a midfielder joining from rival Ukrainian sides, while a Brazilian striker was acquired - becoming the fifth squad member of that nationality.

However they did sell highly-rated midfielder Taison to Shaktar Donetsk for an initial £12m fee, dashing the hopes of Chelsea of acquiring him.

PS: For those going to Kharkiv, predicted temperatures this week are up to 6 degrees C, far more tolerable than the -14 that was recorded back in January.

 

Bay coming up in the world.

Good luck to them, I hope a lot of our guys go for a quick preview of our opposition.

 

Have read the 2 teams are playing in a friendly on Sunday. Can anyone shed any light on why no one is allowed to wear black and white? Seems a strange request from the away team.

 

Sorry ACS, didn't see this thread.

 

I think its fair that people don't wear Newcastle strips tbh. Its a Whitley Bay match (its where I'm from incidentally, well Monkseaton...) and a big one for them. Wrap up tight and if you really want to get involved then get a WB scarf on!

 

Anyone go to this?

 

This

 

Question for you lads...

Looking at the teams left in the competition do you prefer that you just throw this Europa League competition? United got a lot of stick last year for limping out of the competition as did City but ultimately it probably made for the best finish to the Premier League since it began. You lot are obviously in a different position, but equally as important for your club. Realistically, the last 8 on paper looking at the draw could include Chelsea, Napoli, Atletico and Inter just to mention a few big names - I'm not suggesting you throw in the towel because these are big European nights that you never forget but surely the EL can't be amongst your priorities.

Would you be happy to see a line up featuring Cabaye, Coloccini, Cisse, Ben Arfa for example with your future still uncertain and you relying on these players domestically?

Personally if it was United, I'd want to see Fergie coming out on TV and telling the truth...the competition is not our priority and I will field kids who do not feature in our domestic campaign so there is absolutely no risk involved.

 

Premiereship survival is the first priority. I would be happy to see the Europa league the second priority.

The only way we can get into Europe this year is to win this competition. There are some big names, to be sure, but we have recently beaten Chelsea and don't think any of these clubs are too good for us on a good day. I would field a strong team against Metalist as we have a free wekend. If we beat Southamption and are on 30 points with 11 games left, then I would give the cup run everything we've got. i'd rather finish 16th and be in a cup final that grind out 10th with nothing to shout about

 

Survival in the prem is the main thing for me... above all else...