Key to current form

Yep, VOF, Klich looks to be over the long COVID now.

He was excellent. One thing stuck out in my mind was
he took a heavily struck pass with his back to goal,
around the halfway line. His technique in cushioning
that pass with his instep was a thing of beauty.
Killed the ball's pace to a slow roll, so he was able to
turn and thread a pass through to I think James?
James didn't get on the end of it. But, damn, Klich's
technique through that whole move was something else.

To be honest I thought that about Dallas more than klitch.

The amount of times dallas cleared the ball as a centre back then somehow receive a pass in midfield was mind blowing.

Don't think there was a blade of grass he didn't cover yesterday... at least twice

Dallas and Struijk were the best players for me after Harrison of course!

So if Bamford and Llorente back for Newcastle who do we drop ??

Ayling keeps his place. Assuming firpo out, Dallas goes to left back, replaced in midfield by Rodrigo (or Roberts if fit). Can’t see James or Harrison doing that job.

If Forshaw out maybe Koch go defensive midfield, and the Struijk partners Llorente.

But who out of Harrison and James gets dropped for Bamford? Surely not Harrison, but tough on James.

Meslier
Ayling Struijk Llorente Dallas
Koch
Klich rodrigo
Harrison Bamford Raphina

With Phillips and Cooper still to come back, and Firpo/Forshaw surely not out for long…suddenly it’d be looking much better…..but tough calls to make

comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 29 minutes ago
So if Bamford and Llorente back for Newcastle who do we drop ??

Ayling keeps his place. Assuming firpo out, Dallas goes to left back, replaced in midfield by Rodrigo (or Roberts if fit). Can’t see James or Harrison doing that job.

If Forshaw out maybe Koch go defensive midfield, and the Struijk partners Llorente.

But who out of Harrison and James gets dropped for Bamford? Surely not Harrison, but tough on James.

Meslier
Ayling Struijk Llorente Dallas
Koch
Klich rodrigo
Harrison Bamford Raphina

With Phillips and Cooper still to come back, and Firpo/Forshaw surely not out for long…suddenly it’d be looking much better…..but tough calls to make
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ignore… just seen being discussed on the other thread

Bamford on bench, come on after 60 mins if we need him. James, Harrison and Raph deserve to continue.

Rodrigo needs some match time to get his touch back, Hjelde played really well and could start ahead of Llorente who has looked weak recently.

Biggest concern last time we played Newcastle was St Maximin turning Ayling inside out. Put Struijk on him, Koch on Wood and have Ayling at right back.

We'll be flying.

Agreed, LST. You stop ASM and you stop Newcastle. Koch on Wood sounds like something from Team America World Police. And it would probably upset Otis Redding.

I genuinely don't get this logic.

Llorente regular starte,r in fact, probably our first choice CB and yet you'd start an U23 who came on for 70 mins ahead of him?

Come on. Hjelde played ok, did nothing wrong, but some of the hype we see around the young players is too much I feel.

Llorente comes back in, Hjelde back on the bench

Llorente comes back in, Hjelde back on the bench

------------------------------

Barring injuries in training, then yes, can't see any other thought in MBs mind. Quite rightly too. Hjelde seems to be, on limited viewing admittedly, another good one for the future.

It's clear from posters on this thread that many of our players struck form at the same time, for many different reasons. But perhaps the most significant achievement was the seamless integration of U23's and first teamers. I was astonished at the maturity and confidence of Bate and Hjelde, both playing in key roles. We are also benefiting from Meslier and Struijk, gifted players with time on their side. And there are others in the wings, Sumerville, Cresswell and Gelhardt, waiting for their chances to shine. We remember 'O'Leary's Babes' from 20 years ago, but this crop of youngsters is beginning to match them in terms of ability. Credit must go to Orta and Jackon for bringing them in and bringing them on, but underpinning everything is the resolute purpose of Bielsa. It is almost imaginable that we could sell KP and Raph in the close season and still produce a competitive team. Some progress after just 4 years in charge.