The fact you think I'm wumming shows you're way off in your judgement of Newcastles performances and the other sides in the league this season. Who are Newcastle better than? Wolves Fulham Forest at home are the only wins mate. I've also already said Newcastle will pull away after Christmas
I only just realised a river in Egypt means in denial, so that's actually exactly what I'm not. We're in trouble guys.
Could we play a 3-5-2 Hall and Murphy / tripps out wide. Get Barnes up next to big Nick? . Get Ramsey in Joe's place, ideally you would have Burn but maybe could shift Botman out to LCB, Thiaw in the middle and Krafth RCB. Happy to be shot down but we need to change something.
I'd have Burn LCB, Botman in the middle and Thiaw as RCB. Schar would be next in line. If we are playing that formation I'd be looking at a long term RCB with Botman being LCB and Thiaw being the middle CB
Just meant instead of Krafthy at RCB, surely Schar is the go-to option. For me Thiaw should be CCB whoever else we have - physically big, strong and fast and can play technically as well. Love to see Scalvini come in as the RCB long term as well.
We’ve played with a back 3 a few times and it’s worked once. I don’t think the manager understands how to make it effective, attacking wise, we end up sitting deep and 0-0 is the best we can hope for. Howe has spent all the money getting two identical players per position in a 433, so trying to then make it a 532, 343, 4231 will be square pegs in round holes unfortunately. 541 is what we’ve tried and it just doesn’t work as midfield gets exposed and the wings are just too overcrowded. I fully expect us to try it again against a big team but I just think it continues to nullify what limited attacking threat we have. Wissa won’t do any better isolated than Nick does. Tell you what would be hilarious - if we suddenly get in an Eddie Howe Time Machine and line up 442 to bring back the glory Bournemouth days. That won’t end well!!
I'm pretty sure the 5-4-1 formation worked against Arsenal in the semi finals last year... think we need to a) definitely change it up against City and try and be defensively compact to double up on Haaland b) get the best players on the pitch and currently Elanga, Barnes, Murphy and Gordon are not in that group on current form. I'd play it as a diamond or a "3-4-2-1" to get Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Ramsey/Miley on the pitch and get some support around Big Nick up top with Hall and Trippier/Murphy at WB's.
That was indeed the time I meant, but I will correct myself as it worked against Man U earlier in the season as well. I agree I think the formation needs to come first then put the right players on the pitch, this is something Howe has lost sight of and weirdly is the thing I most laud about Tuchel (had to mention him in the Intl break). He needed a 10, Rogers style of play worked for him so he picked him, as one example. For me I’d be looking at 532/352: Nick, Wissa/Gordon/Osula Ramsey, Tonali, Bruno Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Schar, Tino/Murphy Ramsdale Whether fit or not the players who need to be dropped are Pope, Joelinton, Barnes, Elanga, Burn. Trippier hasn’t been awful but needs resting and isn’t a RWB anyway. It’s about time Miley was joined by other youth though I haven’t seen them enough to comment, but Murphy, Neave, Shahar, Harrison, Sanusi, someone must be showing glimpses just to put pressure on those who are getting an easy ride.
Murphy was good on loan and in last u21 performance was motm and put in plenty of lovely crosses from left back. Neave, a couple of weeks ago, got a hat trick. What two positions are we short in?!
