It’s matchday and we’re just a few hours away from our final game of the Champions League league phase.
PSG are up next and it’s arguably our toughest test yet, with the Newcastle not only against the holders in a hostile environment, but tasked with stopping the likes of Dembele, Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha and Hakimi.
As we approach kick-off, it’s time to predict which side Eddie Howe will go with. Here is our best guess and reasons why…
Predicted XI
(3-4-3): Pope – Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Murphy, Bruno, Tonali, Hall – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
OUT: Trippier, Joelinton, Miley, Wissa, Barnes.
IN: Burn, Murphy, Bruno, Elanga, Woltemade.
It’s a tough one to call, but I think we might see a formation change and a few surprises from Eddie Howe tonight.
At the back, I’m not sure a 35-year-old Kieran Trippier should be playing four games in 10 days, meaning Jacob Murphy could return at wing-back, taking up a similar role to the one we saw him in at Marseille.
That move to a back five would allow for a fit-again Dan Burn to return, with Bruno Guimaraes in midfield after he appeared to come through last night’s session unscathed. That means no Miley, but he may benefit from a night off after so much football? Alternatively, if it’s more of a 3-5-2 Howe opts for, we could see him or Ramsey join Bruno and Tonali in a midfield three.
Up top, like we saw away to Union SG, the pace of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga either side of Nick Woltemade could give us genuine outlets on the break, allowing Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes to be impact players from the bench.
Agree that 5 at the back is probably the best option but its best to play Miley & Hall as WBs. PSG is a very young & pacy team (Dembele/Doue/Barcola et al) & we need that pace at the back & Murphy just back from injury & never convincing as a defender or Trippier at nearly 36 yrs & having played 3 in a week at RWB will invite trouble. Livramento would’ve been perfect & likely v motivated but alas!
Five at the back with Burn as cover would allow Hall to play a bit further up & provide crosses which are more likely to be big chances or for Thiaw/Botman to press a bit higher up the field. I’d hope for a 3-5-2 with split strikers in 2nd half if we’re chasing the game ie Wolte-Wissa together on the field for <30min – no more (as trip to Anfield in 3 days time) with Ramsey alongside Bruno+Tonali or Miley+Tonali in case Bruno can't play 90 min yet (with Trips coming on alongside Ramsey+Wissa at the hour mark).
Btw not pushing for a 4th goal vs PSV when 3 up after 64min might cost us as we're behind PSG on goals scored. If we'd gotten that goal, a draw would keep us above PSG now its the reverse. Hopefully that won't cost us/be needed.
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Btw we can’t go into 2nd half of the season with Burn as Hall’s backup at LB/LWB. He can play there <30min to give Hall a rest at best. Every team that sees Burn at LB will immediately put the fastest player in their squad on his side in a jiffy. He's still a massive asset at CB, one of the best in the country at 33 yrs but putting him at WB for 90min is inviting trouble. The only way to play him is at LCB in a 3 or 4 at the back in place of or alongside Botman or at best at WB with 3 CBs behind him with a LCB covering for him. We don't have 3 CBs apart from him available right now.
Am seriously surprised we haven't thrown ~£7-8m Bournemouth's way for Senesi who's 28 going on 29 yrs but out of contract in 5 months & still more than decent & also from Howe's former club & played with him & would want to play for him again. Wouldn't take anything out of our summer budget nor add too much to wages for new SCR system & is exactly the kind of smart deal for experienced players for a UCL spot push that Villa have done in getting Abraham for £18m, looked at Gallagher for <£30m & might still get Henrique from Marseille for ~£20m instead. Allyson at £9m also is low risk for a 19 yr old attacker (will hold on counting Luiz on loan in this set as his legs might be gone but a former club star returning on loan is low risk). If Lascelles was to leave this month, Senesi is the best option to replace him in the squad. We can still offer him UCL action given we've made the playoffs at least.
THERE WILL BE MORE INJURIES (as we continue to play midweek games till early March at least)! We have to plan for the worst NOT hope for the best.
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Whatever happened to Dayan Methalie who’s U21 & thus would be eligible to play all 4 competitions & has positional flexibility in playing LB or Left Mid & costing ~£18-20m? Has the quoted price gone higher or we’ve shifted our focus to someone else? That kind of deal’s badly needed in Jan, at least ONE, if for nothing else then to bolster squad spirits.
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I believe he currently has a knee injury. Was meant to be “no more than a month”, but that may now exclude him from a January transfer
David Cresswell(Quote)
Hope E H does not get his hands on Adam Wharton as he will stop him from developing in to a really good player. He takes all the glory of bringing on players when it the most made up clap trap you can read about has no time for the younger players at all he is a complete waste of space just wants to sell the kids so he looks like he is bringing in money for PIF
Keith Richardson(Quote)