We need to start playing with confidence or we're going down

Some of the teams around us are showing resilience

I understand why we've been playing more experienced players up front recently, but we need to start playing more football on the deck and with Perez and Mitro up front. There's no way they'll be staying long term if they are only impact subs.

We look infinitely better with them on it, especially Perez.

I don't mind long balls to a certain degree, as long as it's mixed with some good football also. We don't have the players to dominate possession and play beautiful football throughout the game, but we do have the players to put together great counter attacks and short pass and moves.

Everton are a good team, but they can be vulnerable at the back, we should go after them, because there's no way we'll be keeping a clean sheet vs that side.

--------------Mitrovic---------------
---------------Perez----------------
Wijnaldum--Colback-Anita--Sissoko
Dummett---Colo---Mbemba---Janmaat
-------------------Krul----------------

 

De Jong won't start next game after that miss vs Villa and Cisse injured so that line up is pretty much all we are left with haha!

 

Mitro and Perez are the way forward for me...

 

--------------Mitrovic---------------
---------------Wijnaldum----------------
Thauvin--Colback-Anita--Sissoko
Dummett---Colo---Mbemba---Janmaat
-------------------Krul----------------

Bring Perez on when they tire a bit, his freshness will give them someting to think about. Mbabu has to be in with a shout at some point too!

We also make subs very late on in games, I could see it during Villa, players were tiring and the by the time we brought players on there wasnt enough time for them to get into the game.

 

Cisse being injured is a blessing in disguise. Hopefully we won't see that useless **** in a Newcastle shirt again!

 

I think Villa are pretty much sunk but from what I saw on Saturday, we'll be lucky to avoid going with them.

Newcastle United are simply not good enough. There are 4 or 5 players who do well enough, but we need 6 or 7 in the window - never going to happen - as is the chance of McClaren actually getting to pick the players he wants to bring in.

I can see Villa, Toon and the Mackems going down the Championship dumper...

 

I think De Jong must start. He has transformed us. He missed a sitter but then so did Ayoze. Just stick with the same team, it is getting us points. Obviously if Cisse is injured Mitro will have to start.

 

I'm with you on this mate, De Jong is getting much sharper game by game. Ok he should have put that chance away, but he is clearly having a positive influence on us and our build up play. Also, bringing De Jong on as an impact sub wouldn't be as effective as bringing Ayoze on.

 

Ayoze is never going to accept being an impact sub long term. I think it's our approach to games that has seen us improve our results, not really De Jong. He has not scored goals, provided assists, contributed to good build up play and hasn't really done anything spectacular.

I think who we starts really depends on how we play. If we're playing hoofball then you might as well drop Perez because he'll be anonymous

However, if we want to play direct, why not start like this -

-------------------Mitro--------------
Thauvin---Wijnaldum----Sissoko
--------Colback---Anita/Tiote----
Dummett--Colo--Mbemba--Janmaat
---------------Elliot-----------------

We need to get crosses into the box if Mitro is going to play. He has shown potential in the air, and Wijnaldum's natural position is CAM. He makes some decent runs in from the left, but he's useless as a left winger. He can't cross for ****, and he's not great defensively.

Some people say De Jong is good at holding up the ball, but Wijnaldum has good feet and the ability to hold the ball pretty well, and add some flair.

I'd also consider Thauvin because Mitro is going to be useless without service in the box. Thauvin caused Villa all sorts of problems.

Get Thauvin in more space on the left side, and get him to whip balls in and see what happens. It can't hurt.

 

I agree with pretty much all you've put here with the exception of being fed up with playing 2 mediocre holding midfielders With that in mind, I see your formation and raise you this

-------------------Mitro--------------
Thauvin------------------------Sissoko
--------Wijnaldum----De Jong-------
----------------Colback----------
Dummett--Colo--Mbemba--Janmaat
------------------Elliot-----------------

De Jong will play further up and link play Wij has the energy to run passed him and get in the box to help Mitro out and can swap out with Sissoko should they wish. Bring Perez on for De Jong as the impact sub then he and Thauvin can swap around at will.

Of course this will likely put more pressure on our back 4 but I'd hope that we'd manage to retain the ball a bit more further up the field and maybe Colo has a good game?

 

----------Mitro-------------Perez----------
------------------DeJong-------------------
----------Gini---------------Sissoko-------
--------------------Tiote--------------------
Dummett--Colo--Mbemba--Janmaat
--------------------Elliot--------------------

This has to be worth a go IMO, It's the only was I can see to get all of our "best" players on the pitch at the same time. It also gives us the option of bringing on Thauvin and changing the shape

 

This I am also ok with

 

De Jong is a leader and doesn't allow players to slack.

It's no coincidence that Moussa has upped his level since De Jong has been starting, Siem isn't afraid to TELL players what to do.

 

It's simply coincidence IMO. Our approach as a team has changed, and we've had different opportunities in the sorts of games we've been playing.

Siem is the closest thing to a leader we could get, but he's still not good enough. He doesn't score regularly enough or assist, and he doesn't have great technical ability.

 

Exactly. You have to be blind to not see his influence on a team absolutely devoid of top level experience and leadership. The guy has done it at the highest level. Perez will want to start of course.

The big mistake mcclaren made on Saturday was his lack of balls to play all three. Sometimes I wish he'd show a bit of adventure he seems scared to lose.

 

There is no way on Earth thauvin has earnt a start either - completely the wrong message. Be ****e and you get a start? Just bizarre

 

He's only started three premier league games in 12 months, I don't see how you can say "he doesn't score regularly enough" based on three starts, all of which he's been subbed off.

 

De Jong is not only getting chances for himself, he is creating space all over the shop with his intelligence. He has nous and drags players around. All of sudden cisse and mitro look a threat.

 

Come on Tash, when me and Mitro agree you know we're right. It simply never happens

 

This is true the force has aligned