With the last two games producing very good performances from two very different Newcastle sides, against Manchester United and Northampton Town – Steve McClaren will have a difficult job deciding what the team should be for Saturday’s early kick-off game at home to Arsenal.
But we would be surprised if he makes too many changes from the side that drew 0-0 at Old Trafford, and will have to defend well against an always good Arsenal side.
Arsene Wenger – not impressed against Liverpool on Monday night
We assume Moussa Sissoko is fit again from his groin strain, and he will likely come straight back into the side.
And with the great display of Florian Thauvin on Tuesday night, we think he will start in place of Gabby Obertan on Saturday, and he will be told to put those high pinpoint crosses over.
Arsenal will likely again have a makeshift central defense – probably former Saints player Calum Chambers and Brazilian Gabriel, who was signed in January from Villarreal.
It’s going to be interesting to see what defense Steve McClaren starts, but there’s a decent chance it will be the same one that did so well at Old Trafford.
Here’s a likely team for Saturday:
Krul
Mbemba Taylor Coloccini (c) Haidara
Anita Colback
Sissoko Wijnaldum Thauvin
Mitrovic
Subs: Darlow Janmaat Tiote Aarons de Jong Perez Cisse
That is some starting side – and the bench is also extremely strong.
For the subs bench we have left out Gabby Obertan which is probably unfair – but it was between Gabby and Ayoze – and yes – it’s getting hard to even be on the bench these days at Newcastle – always a very good sign.
It may also be tough on Janmaat leaving him out, after he has also just been left out of the Dutch squad.
The alternative defense would be more of what we expect to be Newcastle’s starting defense in the future, with the back four being Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini and Haidara.
In any case, the 18 players above are very good players and the four senior players we have brought in this summer are all in starting positions, and that’s what you want to see.
What would your team be for Saturday?
Comments welcome.
99 comments so far
nightfa11
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:41 PM
Comment #1Perez for sissoko..
SUTTY1978
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:42 PM
Comment #2Think we will see Obertan starting again on Saturday, McClaren rested his favourites against Northampton
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Comment #3Perez is an absolute must. He’s the only player we have who can retain the ball and move with it.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Comment #4If Obertan starts we are already a man down. Offers virtually nothing.
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:44 PM
Comment #5sutty
every chance it will be the same team as man utd
nightfa11
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:46 PM
Comment #6Sissoko is an average midfielder.. Just cos he looks like an all time star doesnt mean he deserves a starting place.. Like hot women..we keep giving them chances, even if they are idiots..But we keep having faith that they will come good..:-D stupid..sell him and buy a world class defensive midfielder..
Charlietoon
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:49 PM
Comment #7Thauvin must start over Obertan and I believe he will having been taken off fairly early in the cup game. I would shift Mbemba back into central defence alongside Collo, and put Tayls on the bench for Janmaat.
Graeme
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:49 PM
Comment #8To me, the weak link in Ed’s line up is Sissoko.
Toe Van can get down the left side and get balls into the box – sissoko can get down the right, but then it stops!!! Unless Mbemba can overlap and put some balls in, then we are almost commited to attacking down one side only.
If the arse play as well as they did against Luckypoo – we are in for a very hard match, against players who love to try and get in behind and through the defence. Collo could be in for a torrid afternoon!!!
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:51 PM
Comment #9Sissoko the enigma. On his day he is unstoppable and can win games almost single handedly. But you can never predict when those games will be and from what position. He would be a loss no doubt but does he fit into a team structure? I don’t think so.
the broons
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:52 PM
Comment #10SPRINGY
Yeah I think you may be right, but thauvin in will give us more attacking potency which surely mcclaren can see for himself.
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:57 PM
Comment #11the broons
if sissoko is’nt a 100% its an easier pick for macca to start that team that started at man utd…personally id want mbemba to cb bring janmaat think at home we need to try and get at them a bit
doggyboi123
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:57 PM
Comment #12I’d play a midfield of wijnaldum on the right, de Jong in the centre and thauvin on the left. I’d play sissoko and colback behind him with colback sitting deep and sissoko pushing forward.
I’d start cisse upfront, I know mitrovic needs a goal for his confidence but I think at the minute he’s do great as a super sub as he’s so combative and would work on tired legs, as would Aarons with his pace
SUTTY1978
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:58 PM
Comment #13http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150827/giroud-my-newcastle-scoring-run?
Jib // Aug 27, 2015 at 8:36 AM
Colo should have no probs with Giroud who I don’t rate (watch him get a hat-trick now)
To paraphrase your previous – people live or die by the crap they post
doggyboi123
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Comment #14I’d maybe even drop colback and drop wijnaldum into centre mid with sissoko and have Perez down the right wing
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Comment #15would start thauvin and perez wide left and right repectively and rain crosses in on there cb’s
Graeme
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:01 PM
Comment #16What about leaving Taylor on the bench, moving Chancer alongside Collo and re-instating Jaanmat at RB. It gives us the benefit of pace down the right and Jaanmat can deliver a ball – Chancer also has the pace and strength to cover at the back.
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:04 PM
Comment #17graeme
agree mate thats what said above…got to have ago not sit back or we’ll never get passed the our 18 yard line!
Frank pingles come sock
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:05 PM
Comment #18I love the way Ed says that’s some side!!
And a strong bench!! compared to who??
We are still 3 short of having a half decent side, maybe enough to finish 10th.
Without them we will be 13th / 14th at best.
We will get injuries as everybody does and our squad is too thin.
You can see that when Janamat got sent off!!
My starting 11
Krul
Janamat Mbemba Coloccini (c) Haidara
Sissoko Colback
Perez Wijnaldum Thauvin
Mitrovic
Subs: Darlow Taylor Tiote Aarons de Jong Toney Cisse
We need a new left back – defo!
We need a new centre half – defo
We need a new centre midfielder as Anita/Colback are not good enough
By the way the new centre half Lascelles was/Is not the answer he couldnt jump and cwas ponderous on the ball.Ran like an iron robot (super stiff) looks hopeless
JamesToon
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:07 PM
Comment #19Thauvin needs to start of the right and Pérez on the left with Mbemba and Haidara overlapping them. Wijnaldum through the middle. Need to overload the flanks, create 2 v 1 or 3 v 2 situations. it’s so hard to defend against.
SUTTY1978
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:07 PM
Comment #20With the lack of exp. CB’s for Arsenal, as other have said we should be firing crosses in from both sides. If we are doing this then the one man you want on the pitch is De Jong at no.10. It may take both Arsenals CB’s to mark Mitro and none of Arsenals midfielders (defensive or otherwise!) will be able to match De Jong in the air. Wijnaldum still needs to play, he can drop in alongside Anita in CM.
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:11 PM
Comment #21sutty
keeper=krul
def=janmaat mbemba colo haidara
def/mid=anita gini
att/mid=perez dejong thauvin
for= mitrovic
something like that?
phoonck
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:16 PM
Comment #22Just for discussion, what do you guys think of this formation (3-4-2-1):
—–Krul
Mbemba–Coloccini–Taylor
Janmaat-Anita-Sissoko-Aarons
—Thauvin—Wijnaldum
—–Mitrovic
or
—–Krul
Mbemba—Coloccini—Taylor
Janmaat-Anita-Wijnaldum-Sissoko
—Thauvin—Perez
—–Mitrovic
HWTL
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:20 PM
Comment #23phoonck
looks solid enough.. but looks more of a counter-attacking side with the front 3 pace
Take a Chancel on me
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:20 PM
Comment #24https://amp.twimg.com/v/3223f7be-0327-414b-b727-7ef0a291da40
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:22 PM
Comment #25phoonck
dont think aarons will get a start anytime soon still looks a little off the pace due to his injuries last year.. needs time
Harry in Kosovo
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:22 PM
Comment #26The start to this season has brought back my excitement for the Premier League again!!!
I truly think we actually have a chance in most games we will play this season. The vast amount of negativity has gone from most of the fans. My mates were at the game on Tuesday night and said the atmosphere is improving with every game ( I’ve not been since we got a hammering from Manure 2 seasons ago).
Looking forward to a win this weekend!! HWTL
SUTTY1978
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Comment #27Springy, yeah something like that, not sure about Perez’s crossing ability, doesnt really seem to do it much, Sissoko tends to cross on the deck, usually pulling it back. It would probably have to be Janmaat supplying the bullets from the right
SUTTY1978
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:27 PM
Comment #28Phoonck, thats some packed midfield! If your going to play 3 at the back one of the usual attacking benefits is that it allows you to play 2 up top without being outnumbered in midfield. That formation would certainly stop a team like Arsenal playing as they tend to play through the middle and not go wide. Might work a treat or might fail spectacularly!
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:29 PM
Comment #29sutty
tbh i prefer players to be natural footed in the wide area’s….thats why i put perez there…never like players having to cut inside or stop and switch it on to there better foot…..probs coz watchin solano whipping balls in for shearer spoilt me!!!lol
hibbit
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:31 PM
Comment #30any news sissoko fitness chronicle still saying he’s a big doubt
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:33 PM
Comment #31not heard nowt hibbit mate
phoonck
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:34 PM
Comment #32I know teams haven’t been getting gd performances when using 3 center backs, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for us! Since we all think Haidara isn’t the best left back, why not try with 3 center backs and push Janmaat and maybe Sissoko to wingbacks, since Sissoko has the pace and power to drive down that channel.
Then how about this:
—–Krul
Mbemba–Coloccini–Taylor
Janmaat-Anita-Wijnaldum-Sissoko
Thauvin—de Jong
—–Mitrovic
HWTL
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:35 PM
Comment #33apparantly he was close to bein fit for man utd so unless he’s re-injured himself might be a bit of gamesmanship….keep the arse guessing!
SUTTY1978
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:37 PM
Comment #34Springy, all depends who you have up front in my opinion, theres no point having a beast in the air like Mitro and then playing inverted wingers, as you say nothing better to see than a Solano or Robert cross being nutted home.
On the other hand if your playing someone like Perez up top theres no point firing high balls into the box and its usually better to have wingers on their wrong side who come inside and thread balls through the defensive line.
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:41 PM
Comment #35sutty
true but im thinking mitro is goin to be a permanent fixture so width for crosses and midfielders running in support probs best option with him..can always switch it……but i do like old school!!lol
lesh
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:42 PM
Comment #36Maybe Carver, an Englishman who’s managed at a high level, might be wise to take heed of Wenger and work abroad for a while.
You never know, he might even learn what humility’s all about at the very least.
Come to think of it, maybe Pardew might even benefit from such an experience.
toon kk
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:44 PM
Comment #37When you look at our defence, we know we could be stronger, but it’s not necessarily quality that’s lacking but pace in defence, we get cut apart against fast forwards.
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:44 PM
Comment #38speaking of solano
https://youtu.be/pNujRL_oVuc
toonicle
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:44 PM
Comment #39Sissoko does seem to be getting squeezed out of the team a bit. Thauvin or Perez should play over him on the right, he’s never going to get ahead of Gini or even De Jong in the No. 10 role, and seems to go missing too often when played CM even though he should be a great box to box asset. I’d say that’s the best place for him now, i’d like to see us try Gini and him at CM with De Jong ahead of them picking out the perfect pass for their overlapping runs.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:47 PM
Comment #40lesh…I think they are both lost courses!
…Carver has even been to Canada to no effect what so ever 😉