Eddie Howe has reminded his squad that he “won’t be overly loyal to players that don’t perform.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Brentford, the boss insists he’ll pick his team based on those performing now – refusing to select his 11 based on displays last season.
That said, Howe has all but confirmed there won’t be “wholesale changes” following three straight defeats, feeling we don’t need to suddenly fix “something that’s not broken.”
Asked about team selection ahead of Saturday night’s game at St James’ Park, the 45-year-old had this to say during Friday’s press conference:
“I’m judging things on this year — not last. I’ve got to be very careful making wholesale changes to something that’s not broken.
“But I won’t be overly loyal to players that don’t perform — that would be foolish. So I’ll judge it from what I’ve seen.”
Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miguel Almiron benched tomorrow, as Harvey Barnes could come in down the left and Anthony Gordon or Jacob Murphy down the right. Elsewhere, I expect Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff to make their first starts of the season.
Howe has also commented on the midfield dynamic that was criticised after our 3-1 defeat to Brighton, insisting it wasn’t long ago Joelinton-Bruno-Tonali looked a “thing of beauty” as we beat Villa 5-1:
“If you’d looked at the midfield after the Villa game, you’d say there’s no time needed for them to gel. It was a thing of beauty really.”
“Fast forward a few weeks later and people have a different opinion. I don’t fall into that trap. There will be an adapting period for Sandro, like there was for Bruno. It’s a natural process.”
