Ahead of tonight’s clash with Sam Allardyce’s Everton side, NUFC fans have been voting for the team they’d like to see start Rafa start in an online – and the results are very interesting.
We’ve been running some polls with our friends on Twitter ‘Black & White Barmy’ (@Blackwhitebarmy) and the results from the series of questions has delivered the following team – showing SIX changes from the side that lost to Leicester on Saturday.
(4-2-3-1): Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba – Merino, Shelvey – Atsu, Perez, Murphy – Gayle
(OUT – Darlow, Lejeune, Manquillo, Hayden, Ritchie, Joselu / IN – Elliot, Lascelles, Mbemba, Shelvey, Atsu, Perez)
Here’s the series of questions that were posed to NUFC fans:
Close, but Elliot a worthy of a recall for me. Darlow didn’t fill me with confidence on Saturday and Elliot’s experience could be just what the team currently lacks.
Now he’s fit, Lascelles’ inclusion was a given. Interesting to see fans narrowly preferring Clark to partner him over Lejeune – who has been anything but convincing recently in fairness.
Totally agree with this. Mbemba has looked our best option at left-back with Dummett out, and despite his poor run of form, Yedlin is still rated as our best right-back option.
Merino and Shelvey were the most voted for option in all of these polls and it’s easy to see why. They are without doubt our two most talented central midfielders and it’s time for Rafa to figure out a way of getting them in the same team.
A tight one, but it seems the majority are keen to see Ritchie dropped, bringing back Atsu at his expense and keeping Jacob Murphy in the side.
An interesting result. Several people had called for 4-4-2 to be trialled, however it’s not gone too well has it? Perez and a 4-2-3-1 system had often been criticised by fans, but it seems the majority are keen to see Rafa go back to his trusted formation that gave us our solid start to the season.
With the return of 4-2-3-1 in mind, NUFC fans opted for Gayle to start up top, with him getting almost two thirds of the vote. Well deserved after 3 goals in his last 5 league games.
Joselu and Gayle both scored on Saturday, but fans calls to see Mitrovic start just won’t go away.
Based on this and all of the other selection above, this would be the team fans want to see tonight IF Rafa stuck with 4-4-2:
In fairness, I’d be happy to see either of these teams start, with both representing some bold but much needed changes from Rafa ahead of this must win game.
Let us know your thoughts folks – is this the team you’d like to see start?!
