Bowen has surprised me. When we were linked before thought was a very meh one. But he’s been quality this year and has taken his game to another level. Wouldn’t be an awful signing. Doesn’t have real pace which is only thing, when you see how our wide players normally play but if we were seriously interested we could do worse.
I dunno. We need to be seeing more than pressing players like jota, we need the pace and we need the finish. Bowen has finished a few, missed a fee and as you have said is hard mane or salah prime rapid.
Bobby doesn't have pace, never did. I don't think Jota is the quickest either. Obviously pace would be a benefit but it's not essential imo
Not essential for everyone I agree, but having Bobby or Jota alongside mane and Salah is fine as you’ve got pace either side. I think the way we play with Salah and mane running in behind the defence then we do need players with something out wide. It’s why I think Klopp has played both Jones and Elliott centrally rather than out wide where they both generally played before because neither have great pace so don’t cover mane/Salah well.
I was the same but it's further evidence that our scouting is top notch. It's a shame we don't actually buy enough and invest in the squad though. Wasting the prime years of our world class players.
but jota/firmino is only one element of the front line. The central pressing/ linking/get into the box role. the wide forwards have to have the pace, we need pace to play the game in the modern era imo
Newcastle formally sign wood (fee marked undisclosed, but we know its north of 20mil) I suppose if we take the view of the player its like winning the lottery for a 30 year old who was starting down the barrel of relegation and lower wages etc with Burnley. he now has a deal til 2024 = 2.5 years at whatever prem wage it is and a signing on fee. for me its a straight fight between 4 clubs right now unless leeds collapse, newcastle need to catch watford. end of. Dubravka Trippier Schaar (one of 10 seeming targets) Lewis Longstaff Shelvey Almiron Willock Saint maximin Wood Right now i think that CM area is an issue (if they resolve the CB thing they seem to be chasing). I note wood is half injured as it stands so it'd be hilarious if he rips his groin now. Is this team "good enough" with howe in charge to win 5 or 5 games and get away from danger?
Yeah I'm not sure how they will play together tbh, especially with neither of Salah or Mané to play their normal position. Wouldn't be surprised to see us change formation slightly
IMo we will play in fonrt of teams til one of those two come back. Only jota runs behind teams. minamino spends most of his time running away from goal and wide even though the rare occasion he gets it in the box he has demonstrated an ability to finish. Bobby has never been about getting into the 6 yard zone. He will float about. I was thinking a quasi 442 might suit us but can't see klopp changing system if he has not yet. we have Ox and jones for example to play wide-ish
One thing about this Newcastle buy... when things get tight in march and april and may they could throw Wilson and Wood up front with saint Maximin left wing and fraser right wing and go all out i suppose
Whereas Burnley currently have Rodriguez, Barnes and Vydra up front, with Cornet, Lennon and McNeil as attacking MFs. That's less of a go all out option.
