The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has named the starting 11 he’s backing Eddie Howe to go with ahead of our opening games of the season against Nottingham Forest.
The Premier League season kicks off a week tomorrow, as Crystal Palace take on Arsenal at Selhurst Park next Friday night. Our campaign then gets underway the following day as the newly-promoted Reds arrive on Tyneside for a 3pm start on Saturday 6th August.
Waugh’s predicted line up is an interesting one, as he’s backed Ryan Fraser to get the nod over Miguel Almiron – a move I’d be surprised to see given the Paraguayan has been our star man over pre-season, scoring six times.
Here’s the starting 11 he expects to see come 2pm Saturday, with Jonjo Shelvey missing out after a new hamstring complain has left him a ‘doubt’ for our opening game:
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Botman, Burn, Targett – Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Fraser, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
He accepts that Sven Botman may start on the left side – his favoured position – on his Premier League debut, but believes Dan Burn could keep his place as a ‘senior voice’ in the group who played so well over the second half of the 2021/22 season.
How do you see us lining up a week on Saturday? Here’s what I’m expecting to see, providing Jonjo Shelvey does miss out:
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Targett – Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
Swhwaaheyay
K(Quote)
Think Yours is more likely Ollie
see what happens over the last two games
PremAndUp(Quote)
Like most I would be shocked if Dan Burn is not nailed to that left side central defender spot…
BillyTheFish(Quote)
Currently – and deservedly – Miggy has earned the shirt to start against Forest.
Big year for Miggy. He clearly plays better with better players around him and his interacting with Trippier and Bruno speaks for itself.
He’s playing with confidence and it shows, I doubt Eddie would risk damaging that confidence by not rewarding it with a starting place. He’s a better man manager than that.
Miggy plays the game as it should be played – with a smile on his face and totally committed to his teammates. Start counting how many free kicks he wins for us around the box.
Bobbybee(Quote)