in general newcastle are set up as a 433 that's going to have a right go at pressing high up but will sit into 451 quite quickly their team has been fairly predictable Pope tripper schar botman burn this back 5 has been mean as anything all season. very organised. midfield has had longstaff there to help Guimaraes as the no 6 playmaker and then the third man as been joelinton or willock. this midfield will be crucial I feel as out lot will struggle against it. granted on paper it looked worrying against Everton too but it this case there's a but about this lot. up top Wilson is a real threat to us but almiron and Saint maximin add pace and work as well.
they press high. we have struggled badly against Fulham and Brighton who do the same so breaking that and not being stupid like matip will be crucial. ahem yes you Joel. however one under valued aspect of newcastle's set up will be crucial... nick Pope as sweeper has been very good and we have been trying to ping the balls over the top against Everton for example
one other thing is that newcastle focus on getting the "wingers" isolating a target one on one so saint and almiron will be targeting trent imo. if matip starts he will be seriously targeted as well.
Think we’ve got some new training tops being showcased for this game as well. Looking forward to seeing what they’re like. heard we hired new guy to be in charge of design, vlad the tailor
the question has to be asked as to why newcastle have the most draws of all in the prem given their fine start and mean defense. the answer seems to be that they have has dips in forward form and the goals dried up this seems to have particularly dropped post world Cup where players training was eirmther less effective or they sat about world Cup squads like Wilson who's done nothing since. the squad quality in depth is also in question given their key midfielder and a few others have been injured finally there is a thought that just perhaps sides have spotted exactly the same weakness in them that they see in us.... sit back, draw them.on then hit on counter as they push up
what about our changes lately? how did we approach Everton differently and what worked? I saw more directness and speed to go forward as a general approach but a whole.lot of passing about the back not really seeing an option. i feel we need to put a bit more effort in to getting the ball working forward than that and will need to up this game again. I did feel Robertson was enabled by numnez quite a bit but salah rarely tried to take anything on the half turn when receiving passes forward so we were far less effective. gakpo started to enjoy himself against Everton, maybe a weights been lifted. maybe not but he could be important as the guy to break the lines and get in half spaces... or firmino will come in.
I dunno. I just read he was out for our game which I think is important. botman being out will also be important. I didn't see he was injured v Bournemouth but he has been part of it as a big lad. moving burn might help them. targett v salah verses burn
a final bit of spice is an attempt to stoke up the previous game where newcastles blatant time wasting led to some aggro after the final whistle as we celebrated carvalhos late goal. if newcastle need that fair enough but the rest of us usually play for the 3 points and position instead.
