If you’re not excited for an opportunity to win that elusive trophy you’re dead inside | 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.

Next up we have Jamie Smith:

Ticketed or ticketless for Sunday?

I have a ticket.

I was at all of the home cup games and Arsenal away, which meant I was Pot 1 (the criteria being at least 5 of the six games in the cup run). There was a bit of sweating as me and one of my mates were pot 1, another was pot 2 and another one got lucky in the pot 6 ballot. We’re fairly close in the ground but suspect we may not be the only ones exploring the possibility of shuffling seats after the ballot process.

What are your plans around the match this weekend?

Heading down on Saturday morning in the car.

We booked hotels after the first leg of the semi while drunk in a north London pub, which as usual in these circumstances turned out to be the best idea. Driving it and parking on the outskirts as train tickets were just offensive, and heading back in good time on Monday.

I haven’t signed up for any ticketed events as I hate having to commit to being in x place at y time then being locked in regardless of how packed, rubbish and overpriced it is. Might just bumble to Covent Garden for a bit on Saturday and see if there’s a decent atmosphere, then find a canny spot on Sunday morning before heading to Wembley in plenty time.

If we win all bets are off, I’m pulling an all nighter. Lose and I’ll drown a few sorrows then probably eat too much.

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)?

Cup final hands down. I don’t know if I have the appetite for another valiant chase for European places having blown the chance of an actual trophy. Let’s have the cup then chase Europe as winners.

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)?

My answer to their question has still not changed.

IMAGO/Sportsphoto

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

Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Trippier, Joelinton’s, Tonali, Bruno, Isak, Murphy, Barnes.

I’m honestly torn between this and drafting Krafth into 3 at the back. I’ve even considered would Wilson up front with Isak work, but this is almost certainly the team Eddie will go with.

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

Pope, Livramento, Hall, Burn, Botman, Schar, Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Gordon, Isak.

I think 3 at the back would have been effective against a strong Liverpool attack, with Joelinton in a wide role in attack and busting things up in the middle of the field in defence.

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

I think 3 is fair. We’re second favourites and I don’t think anyone would disagree. The losses of Botman, Hall and Gordon have exacerbated the sense of foreboding and while things have looked up slightly this week, it will still take a special performance to beat a strong Liverpool team.

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?

It’s definitely improved matters, as the mood and confidence will be on the up both on the pitch and in the stands. That’s the likely team having a practice run together and hopefully they’ll be better prepared and thoroughly trained up for the big challenge.

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

Undoubtedly helpful. Liverpool having to fight through extra time and penalties, then suffering the blow of elimination is useful enough. However, TAA is one of their most dangerous players, and hopefully his absence will have an effect on Salah on the right hand side. If Konate is also out that’s another boost, albeit you don’t like to rely on people being injured.

Who do you think are the three most important players on Sunday and in what order and why?

Joelinton. – at West Ham he supported Livramento well up against Bowen. This goes double against Liverpool’s main man. Winning the midfield battle is crucial to protect our creaking defence from relentless red waves and Big Joe has a huge role in that.

Isak – we have a world class striker and if he is at his very best we have every chance of beating anyone. If he feels a bit unstoppable we’ll have that cup.

Pope – not only for his shot stopping, or the potential of this going to penalties, but for cutting out the balls over the top and keeping the pressure off. He does that very well, even though most are too daft to notice it.

Looking back at your time supporting Newcastle United, which are the times when you thought NUFC were potentially going to win something?

Whey, this is depressing. 96 is the worst heartbreak, everyone thought we had that won. Thinking about it, the 2 that stand out are the 99 cup final, where I had an inexplicable sense of confidence, and the 2004 UEFA Cup run, where injuries hit us before the semi final with Marseille. Generally speaking the period from 93 to 2005 felt like we were constantly in with a chance of something, until Sir Bobby left then, a couple of years later Mike Ashley rolled in.

Would this automatically be the highlight of your time supporting NUFC if they beat Liverpool on Sunday?

Yes. Hands down.

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

I’m going to find places I can drink in London until yon time, then have a terrible trip home on the Monday. I’ll be keeping an eye out for any celebrations over the next week as Newcastle will be absolutely buzzing. Be great if some of the team can do appearances too.

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?

I will make sure it lives up. Like I said, there’ll be the night in London, followed by celebrations when everyone is back home. You can spend the days reading every article, listening to every podcast and watching every bit of footage. Then I’m sure some of the fan organisations, and the bars of Newcastle will sort events especially in the run up to the weekend. This all feels a bit premature mind, you did see I gave us a 3/10 chance of winning it?

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

I think if you’re not excited for an opportunity to win that elusive trophy you’re dead inside, and that emotion will dominate the weekend. I feel incredibly grounded though compared to other such visits, a definite case of going with hope more than expectation.

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?

If we win it we’ll have had to beat the top four, I doubt that has ever happened in the history of the league cup!

I think the Arsenal wins at least got their due recognition to be fair, but doubtless if we do win there will be loads of intellectual online observations about how the league cup doesn’t count etc.

In your optimistic moments do you think back to our first game in the competition this season, behind in the penalty shootout at Forest, then think maybe this was all meant to be…?

Yeah totally, when doubt started to creep in before the second leg of the semi I reminded myself we were 3-1 down on penalties in our first match. I think I’ll believe it was written in the stars if and when I see Bruno with the cup.

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

Less optimistic, it still stings that we didn’t compete with that poor Man U side and I’d like to think any disappointment on Sunday won’t sting quite so bad.

Having said that, if my fourth cup final returns yet another routine 2-0 win for the more experienced trophy winners in opposition I might feel like it’s getting a bit boring and it’s time we just won one like.