Newcastle Line Up

Fully expect that team of carthorses to seriously injure several players this season.

Leeds won't go down this season but will do so soon after if this inane style of playing isn't tempered with common sense. It is very easy to play against, though took everybody except Wolves by surprise last season.

We mastered both games simply by controlling those areas of space that negate the high press. Others have caught up now and the only reason Leeds won't go this season is because there's three clubs that are utter dross.

Norwich, Watford and Brentford - your safety net.

I can't see Bielsa changing tack because I don't think he knows any other way of playing.

We will have a back 3 as Newcastle play 3-5-2.

We normally set up as a 3-5-2 ourselves against this formation. It allows to keep the spare man in defence and have 2 men pressing their 3 centre backs.

Meslier

Ayling Cooper Firpo

Shackleton Klich Phillips Dallas Raphinha

Rodrigo Bamford


Is possibly something we may look to do. Harrison could play instead of Rodrigo or Shackleton.

The players will probably need to be flexible and allow us to go to a back 4 if necessary.

Impossible to predict what Bielsa will do for this. Harrison has played up front in this system before. Costa has been used as a wing back.

Given that it's three at the back would make a huge difference to have Struijk available.

I am looking forward to seeing Klich. He will get room to play and his short, technical game is ideal for unlocking an unsteady Newcastle defence. Both teams have a -7 goal difference and I can see this developing into goal-fest of counter-attacking football. If Rodrigo plays alongside Klich, I expect him to show what he can do.

Struijk ban stands. No surprise there.

Have to say that if this does end up being a form of 3-5-2 and Rodrigo does get to start closer to Bamford. It really is he has no excuses not to perform against a poor Newcastle side.

Whatever side lines up, losing Struijk and the glass
decanters of football, Llorente & Koch, will be massive.

My Sheff Utd relatives are having a bloody field day
right now. Injuries did them in, early part of last season.
And they never recovered. They see us mirroring them.

Right now, sadly, I can't honestly tell them to eff off
with their idiocy. Because, we are mirroring them to
an extent. Not as bad. But our form means they won't shut up about it. Hoping we get the win and I can
shove that in their faces.

comment by Kern (U4664)
posted 21 hours, 25 minutes ago
Whatever side lines up, losing Struijk and the glass
decanters of football, Llorente & Koch, will be massive.

My Sheff Utd relatives are having a bloody field day
right now. Injuries did them in, early part of last season.
And they never recovered. They see us mirroring them.

Right now, sadly, I can't honestly tell them to eff off
with their idiocy. Because, we are mirroring them to
an extent. Not as bad. But our form means they won't shut up about it. Hoping we get the win and I can
shove that in their faces.
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They seem obsessed. Imagine focusing more on someone elses decline as opposed to your side ffs

Norwich, Watford and Brentford - your safety net.

I can't see Bielsa changing tack because I don't think he knows any other way of playing.


Doubt Brentford will go down to be honest. Nothing wrong with our style of play either - our defence was solid towards the end of last season. Its having the correct players in the corredt positions thats the issue.

comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
Norwich, Watford and Brentford - your safety net.

I can't see Bielsa changing tack because I don't think he knows any other way of playing.


Doubt Brentford will go down to be honest. Nothing wrong with our style of play either - our defence was solid towards the end of last season. Its having the correct players in the corredt positions thats the issue.
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It's also much better for us in the long term to play a style of football that's capable of challenging top 6 with better players. Even if it costs us 5-10 points a season now. We will be in a much better position to progress from with better players. If we were to grind out results with the players we have now we could achieve a better points total. But to take the next step would mean a complete rebuild and change of style. Which has often led to relegation when sides have tried before.

Obviously all of the above goes out the window if the points it may cost us leads to relegation. That I cannot see being a worry though.

I also don't think that any other style of play could have achieved a better points total over the season last year. This is evidenced by the fact it was the highest points total by a promoted side for 20 years. A time when football and finances were very different.