Looking forward to the Carabao Cup Final big time, not nervous at all – Why would I be? | OneFootball

Ahead of Liverpool v Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final, we are looking to gauge the thoughts of Newcastle United fans ahead of that 4.30pm kick-off at Wembley on Sunday.

So we have asked a number of regular and irregular contributors to The Mag a range of questions.

How they think things are looking ahead of this massive match.

Whether or not they have a ticket for this Carabao Cup Final and what they expect to see happen when Newcastle United meet Liverpool.

First up we have Tony Mallabar:

Ticketed or ticketless for Sunday?

Ticketed.

It was Pot 1 for me.

I was actually going to go rogue Monk with this answer, as I also had a ticket for the Wimbledon away game, so in true Monk style I should have definitely been in Pot 1+.

Two years ago for the final we ended up in club Wembley because my mate’s son was in pot three, so we waited till it was his turn and when our pot three options popped up, they had put club Wembley tickets into the pot, so we went for them at £125 a pop. Cracking seats but this year my mate’s son (Junior Numbers, Chrissy Numbers being his dad) met the criteria for Pot 1 and he wanted to go into the safe standing/ singing section behind the goal, so we plumped for them at £97 a pop.

Roll on Sunday and you will be able to hear all the songs that we belt out in the East Stand getting an airing.

What are your plans around the match this weekend?

Well it’s a big thank you to British Rail for planning railworks this weekend, so it’s a drive down to York and then train to King’s Cross, with us returning on the Monday morning.

The old favourite, would you rather win this Cup Final on Sunday or qualify for the Champions League via the Premier League (Obviously bearing in mind the PSR/money side of things as well)?

I never really get this either or question, why simply can we not achieve both?

I’ve seen us play in Europe dozens of times now and if am honest, I wouldn’t mind the Europa Conference League.

Plenty of new grounds and countries to explore, with hopefully some very liberal duty free laws to bring back extra goodies.

Maybe a bit more difficult, would you rather win on Sunday but have no Champions League qualification these next five seasons, or lose on Sunday and have Champions League qualification guaranteed for each of the next five seasons. (Obviously bearing in mind the PSR/money side of things as well)?

I am actually quite relaxed over this whole PSR gubbins.

I think the Newcastle United owners are just biding there time until the Man City thing gets sorted one way or the other, then I think we could see massive changes.

Remember, the Saudis have basically bought golf, boxing and fancy a crack at formula one as well.

So in theory, could just simply buy the Premier League brand. He says with everything crossed.

What would be your starting eleven in the Carabao Cup Final?

Pope playing on Monday was a massive hint that he starts on Sunday, otherwise the team picks it’s self, dependent on what formation nice guy Eddie picks.

What would have been your starting eleven if everybody had been available?

After Pope got sent off two years ago vs Luckypool, I thought well, that’s a mistake we won’t be making in the future….

Wrong, step forward Anthony Gordon. Look, I know it’s done, but how can anyone be so stupid? Yes he’s young but I bet your bottom dollar, the last thing nice guy Eddie said to the players before the Brighton game was “Do not get sent off.”

Although we will miss Lewis Hall, I think Trippier coming in gives us another level of experience that could be vital.

What chance do Newcastle United have of lifting the trophy (rating it between 0 and 10)?

Two years ago vs Man Utd, I genuinely had it as a 50/50 game.

Obviously this year Luckypool go in as massive favourites.

But at some point surely it has got to be our year…..hasn’t it???.

How important was the West Ham match to our chances in the final? Has defeating the Hammers gave us a better (or worse?!!) chance, compared to if NUFC had lost on Monday?

The only thing that came out for me from Monday was I bumped into Monk and had to listen to his usual gubbins, but on the plus side, he did offer me a place on his coach for Brighton away (Is that classed as a good thing? Answers on a postcard).

Similarly, what impact do you think it will have on Newcastle’s chances, what happened at Anfield on Tuesday night against PSG?

The only impact for Luckypool fans after getting beat off PSG was having to listen to the Paris ultras jump up and down singing that o,o,o,o low o,o,o, low song. Just as well when we played them at SJP we showed the Paris ultras a proper atmosphere and support. Not getting some quarter wit to bang a drum for 90mins.

Anything special planned if/when we win this Cup Final?

Nowt really planned for after the game but me and the lads have got a secret venue arranged before the game for our lot.

Do you think if Newcastle United win this trophy it will live up to what you ever hoped it feel like, or do you think maybe a bit of an anti-climax, as in…is that it?

If we win, great.

If we get beat, yes disappointed.

But we already have the biggest victory of all and that means hopefully we can compete regularly for the shiny pots without the FCB holding us back.

How would you describe how you feel ahead of this match – excited, terrified, can’t wait, dreading it…?

Looking forward to it big time, not nervous at all.

Why would I be?

There’s nothing I can say or do that’s going to affect nice guy Eddie’s thinking.

My only job on Sunday is to go and support Newcastle United and hopefully my voice and that of my fellow thousands of Geordies can spur the team on.

Do you think Eddie Howe and his team have got enough recognition for even getting to the final, considering the fact that in this cup run Newcastle have defeated current top four sides Chelsea, Forest and Arsenal (twice!) just to get to Wembley?

Nice guy Eddie doesn’t need any recognition off me or anyone else, empty platitudes don’t win football games and am definitely sick of this our fans sang louder than your fans so can we have a trophy for that competition as well please.

Personally, as a fan I am just fickle as the next lot. It wasn’t long ago I was shouting for nice guy Eddie to be sacked after a 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth (although in hindsight that might have been because I came out the ground starving and the cheeseburger stand behind the East Stand had vanished). Not putting me in the best of moods.

I knew we’d win our shoot out vs Forest and in truth, in the earlier rounds I am more interested in getting a lower level team away that we’d/I’ve never been to.

My personal favourite draw would be Newport County away, simply to go to the match and whilst there use the toilets in all the stands, just to say I’ve pi..ed all over Rodney’s Parade.

How do you feel compared to two years ago before the Man U final?

The Man Utd final showed us they have that winning mentality and we at the moment/ back then don’t have it.

Maybe it’s going to take a backs to the wall 1-0 victory to change it..

So win or lose on Sunday, as a fan I will be there the week after (although not technically, as it’s an international weekend).