That's Rafa's bog standard line up atm which I hope he changes - Mitro CANNOT start, it's got to be Murphy! And Diame's looked like a complete oaf recently, Atsu or Perez in for him. Unfortunately the fact we have no substitute for that ginge in midfield is likely to be our undoing again.
Personally I'm very happy with Mitro starting. I want him to have this run of games he has been craving. There are improvements to be made but that is what game time is for. I like Atsu a lot for the home games. We need his drive and pace. However I understand why the industry of Gouffran is preferred wide. In terms of Perez or Diame, I prefer Perez but again I find it difficult to argue with Rafa's away tactics when I look at the results and type of classic away performances we have delivered under him. Basically I don't think our poor home form means we need to make wholesale changes away - its working. I think its throwing baby out with the bath water to be honest.
It's simple really - Murphy regularly scores goals, Mitro doesn't. Mitro can't play the lone striker role Gayle did because he doesn't score anywhere near as many and we can't rely on him to, Mitro's ideal position is as a support striker. We're unlikely to get many chances against Brighton and Murphy is far more likely to put them away.
Like Mitrovic, Murphy hasn't had many opportunities. Like Mitrovic he has done fairly well with what he has had. They have both suffered as a result of Rafa's insistence on playing one up top home or away, and also Gayles excellent form. I don't think there is a lot in it on form to be honest. Personally I think Mitrovic is a far superior player, also younger with potential to stretch the ability gap between the two further. I'd rather work on that in the Championship than hope something clicks in the PL (where Murphy will be of no use to us at all). I'm pretty confident Mitrovic will get the goals. Like Murphy he has a history of scoring a lot of goals below the top level when playing regular football (Murphy at Ipswich, Mitrovic at Anderlecht) I prefer Gayle away from home though where we sit deeper and don't get bodies around the front man. Gayle is Johnny on the spot and can run in behind. Neither Murphy or Mitrovic is suited to the role really. Both have a lack of pace and need bodies around them. Having said that Mitrovic has a very good away record this season with 3 goals in 4 starts.
Mitro has good and bad games, Bad against wolves yet scored, then he was class against Aston Villa did nothing stupid connected the play well, didn't score but was did everything a target man should. Bristol, poor, was that his fault? Seemed isolated but not a great performance. For me he has to start, when ever he goes a run of games without playing, he comes back looking lethargic and not fit, Let him have the run of games he craves and if the sharpness fitness doesn't come by summer, we know what to do. For anyone saying Daryl Murphy is more energetic or mobile, re-watch the QPR game Anyway tonights going to be a joke, Brighton have the majority of the crowd on their side along with Bobby Madley (ref is a Huddersfield fan so get bets on a pen and a red card plus a yellow for colback and Ritchie so they miss the Huddersfield Game!) plus anyone watching it on sky, be prepared for 2 hours of "expert pundits" telling the world what a sh!t club Newcastle are!
You missed a very obvious one here, the game may get postponed. Or you could say a result (aka Mourinho) where we actually lose in numbers, but actually not lose in the mindset.... To much mind fooking here I need to sit down!
If we must persevere with Mitrovic, so be it. One thing I always thought we should try is Perez up front. He's just not good enough for the no 10 but is a deft finisher and runs the channels. He takes the game to people so can attack from the front, as it were - it means if he loses it we're not necessarily on the back foot straight away. I always felt that he'd be the replacement for Gayle, and to stop putting him in the no 10 or left wing where he just doesn't click. The line up tonight is absolutely nailed on: 4-2-3-1 - Darlow / Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett / Shelvey, Coback / Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran / Mitrovic Can't argue with it. Just seems a shame we never got Lazaar properly involved (two left backs might have been a good idea vs. Knockaert) nor have we taken a chance on Perez up top enough. A nice alternative formation might have been: 4-1-4-1 - Elliot / Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett / Shelvey / Ritchie, Diame, Colback, Lazaar / Perez. Probably not counter-attacking enough for tonight.
Where exactly did you find this information from? It's a pretty bog standard team of carthorses and grafters, lacks the flair that Gayle, Atsu etc would give it.
People are saying Brighton's centre backs are like tanks so I'm not so sure he'd do that well up front against them on his own.
3-0 to Brighton. We'll have somebody sent off, concede a penalty and give away another embarrassingly bad goal. right, that's the reverse psychology in play, now HOWAY THE LADS!
Gouffran is leading the line: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Ritchie, Diame, Atsu; Gouffran Subs: Elliot, Hanley, Anita, Gamez, Perez, Murphy, Mitrovic.
Gouffran upfront as CF. Lets see how many high balls get lobbed up to him from Dummett and Lascelles. For me set up is playing for a draw.
