My team against the Mags

Read somewhere that Colback was this weekend's top tackler according to the stats.

 

Danny Simpson was the leagues best right back over a full season last year according to "the stats".

 

I prefer Gardner through the middle in an advanced position. He would in my opinion help the midfield more than Sess' he also has a better shot.

Sess' has not been good in this role this year an so for me should be moved or dropped.

 

So the feeling seems to be....leave Fletcher alone up front. Hardly a positive move. He has been our brightest player, surely we should play to our strengths and put someone up front alongside him and at least have a chance of holding the ball in the oppositions half.

 

Don't think the derby is the time for a whole system change. It'll be Fletcher with Sessegnon behind him

 

Agree, the thing about Sess is although not at his best at the minute he is still quality and that one moment of brilliance could be the swinging point.

 

Playing the formation that we have been just invites pressure, we cannot hold the ball. In every game we have allowed 20+ attempts on target....surely we cannot continue to do that. If we invite the scum to attack by being negative, they have the tools to attack and we will get are asses handed to us. They are vulnerable at the back...as seen yesterday but we have to be positive and play in their half....I say lets play Saha up top with Fletcher and at least give it a go.
Furthermore, our back four have been half decent and I think that a 4 man midfield should be able to offer enough protection, especially if McClean is benched, as it appears more and more that he is not cutting it.

 

Mig

Bardsley J O'S Bramble Rose

Vaughan

Larsson Johnson

Gardner

Sess Fletcher

Colback has offered very little support to his back 4 since Catts got banned, he can't play that role and certainly not in this game, Vaughan is more natural there and for me has better passing ability anyway.

McClean needs to learn that he isn't the finished article and get his head out of his own arse, bring him on as an impact sub if needed.

Larsson hasn't had the best of seasons so far and if we had better on the bench i would drop him as well however, his dead ball prowess is the only reason i have him on and i think he performs better out wide anyway.

Gardner will give us some drive and add that bit of steel. We need to win the modfield battle and to be honest i don't think we have the players to do it (even with Catts) Defensively we're better, up front we're pretty much even, the game will be won or lost in the middle of the park.

 

This hits the nail right on the head. Vaughn has more composure, although close call with Meyler who is much more combative and could be what we need in absence of Catts. Alternatively, dropp Sess to the front of the diamond with Saha and Fletcher ahead of him, moving Gardner to deep c. Mid.

Our midfield is my biggest concern full stop - we,re very light in that area even with Catts and only 6 or 7 teams have a weaker centre mid choice pairing in this league. Unless we change tactically and/or bring in a new c.mid recruit, we'll struggle to get above 13th this year and our best possible position with everyone playing and plugging in would be 9th. We need another striker too.

 

I like Meyler, for me he is better than Catts but i think he needs a run of games to get his fitness and confidence right, the derby isn't the game for taking chances and
i would risk him.
I'd also be tempted to put McFadden on at some point if we get him, at least he'd be hungry to impress which looks sadly missing from the current midfield.

 

It does not matter who you pick.... You will probably beat us anyway.

 

I;d go this if available

......................Mignolet.................... ..
Bardo...oshea.....Cuellar......Rose
...............Gardner....colback...............
Johnson.................................sessegnon
...............Saha........Fletcher................... ......

 

Qwop, I have no confidence in a victory one this one. We look woeful. Got draw written all over it.

 

I missed the Man Utd match however 3-0 does not seem to have convinced me we played anywhere near half decent. You are more solid than us. With Perch and Williamson in defence, it would take another Shola masterclass to get a point sadly. I don't think it will happen.

 

Krul, Saylor and Colo should all be back

 

I hope so. We are screwed big time without them.

 

We look half the team without the holy trinity

 

Agghhh **** off qwop (not meant in a nasty way - just in a "shut the **** up will ya" way!!)!!!!

 

If we have Colo and Saylor back, I think we'll win.

But if we have the same defence that played yesterday, I see it being a really scrappy day.

 

One thing your manager has to do is set up your side to attack Newcastle, from the first whistle.

Your fans will not forgive him if he sets up the team to contain Newcastle and try to nick the game on the break, because if you lose the game it will be the same stories: negative tactics, we sat back and let them beat us. If you set up to attack and you lose, then it's easier to stomach as you'll know your manager set you up to give it a go. If Saha is fit, then why not go with two strikers, it's not like he's a rookie, he's got quality in abundance and can certainly hurt Newcastle.

O'Neill's got a couple of weeks to study Newcastle's start to the season, where he thinks they can be beaten and how your side can exploit any weaknesses they have in their side. If he can't do that then he shouldn't be in top flight management.