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
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:08 PM
Comment #81Not being privy to Sissoko’s condition makes it difficult to guess.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:13 PM
Comment #82De Jong when fully fit before he came to us was actually a faster player than Cabaye but because of his injuries he just might not have the energy to play a full 90 at full pelt !
Especially as every other team plays 3 in the middle you need to have your no 10 fighting for the ball high up the pitch not sure if he will be able to do that in this league will be more useful coming off the bench or against weaker teams where we see more of the ball
Would not start him against Arsenal we need all players to have pace and energy to match them in the first half
the broons
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:23 PM
Comment #83I have a feeling a lot of people are dropping Janmaat from their team because of his howler against Swansea.
He was our best defender last season, and i think should be straight back into the side.
Even though we battled well against Man U there was still room for improvement as far as keeping the ball goes, Perez should keep his place and Thauvin should come in for Obertan. Janmaat in and mbemba replaces Taylor in centre back. Simple as that really.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:32 PM
Comment #84the broons,
I’d like to see Mbemba establish himself as a CB otherwise I’d leave out Jaanmat to teach him a lesson.
beermonkey
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:36 PM
Comment #85broons / jail
first clean sheet of the season last week against man u
I would keep the back 4 the same the only change I would do is bring in thauvin
janmatt got sent off he shouldn’t walk straight back into the team neither should sissoko if fit given the last team didn’t get
for to long players would come into the team because of who they are not because they deserved it
the last team didn’t get beat and it was a good away point
Jail for Ashley
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:41 PM
Comment #86Beermonkey,
I think it was a case of not just who they were but the fact that there was no one else to take their place, how many times after a four or five goal hammering was the same team picked for the next game.
Munster Mag
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:45 PM
Comment #87Not for me thanks. I want Mbemba in the centre for his pace. Janmaat is not a great defender ( better going forward ) but he isnt a dutch international for noting. I also think Perez might feature ahead of Sissoko for fitness reasons. If necessary, we simply have to get aarons and thauvin on the pitch together at some stage. The key here is to feed the beast.
scout
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:49 PM
Comment #88Just watched that solano video on youtube. The strike against inter milan was on, they reckon the bars still shaking now. Never seen a harder volley before or since.
Well done digging that one out.
Solano i salute you sir, hope the trumpet playing still going well. Top man
WWSBRD
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:55 PM
Comment #89We kept a clean sheet against Man Utd more due to their inability to work the ball rather than our last ditch defending
the broons
Aug 27, 2015 at 6:57 PM
Comment #90Jail for Ashley/beermonkey
I am a big believer that players should be picked for performance and not reputation. However I generally feel like Janmaat would have learnt his lesson from Swansea.
I know I lay into him and WIilliamson a lot, but I know what good defending is and Taylor isn’t a good defender. He will give you a great game every now and then because he puts his body on the line always.
However as far as reading the game goes the lad hasn’t got a clue.
Mbemba still naive as expected for someone his age, but you can see with him already he does the simple stuff much better than Taylor and has greater atrributes to boot.
the broons
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:00 PM
Comment #91WWSBRD
Partially agree with you. I still think for the game on a whole Krul was actually our best player certainly for the first 20 minutes but seems everyone had forgot about that spell by the time the game had finished.
WWSBRD
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:04 PM
Comment #92broons
Krul was good aye that save for Smallings(?) header was very good
SPRINGY
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:04 PM
Comment #93scout
i like solanos outside of the boot curler about 2.30 in…lovely bit of skill
scout
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:10 PM
Comment #94Yes Spring great technique mate, not many players in the Prem with his ability now.
He pinged the crosses in lovely
Lager_arm
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:10 PM
Comment #95Nobody that knows anything about football would let steven f*****g taylor anywhere near their team, never ever ever
scout
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:12 PM
Comment #967/2 a top 10 finish. Its like lifting pennies off a dead mans eyes
beautifulmind
Aug 27, 2015 at 7:57 PM
Comment #97Team for Weekend
Janmant Colo Mbemba Haidara
Wijnaldum Anita
Toevan De Jong Perez
Mitrovic
Think Sissokos not injured and will be sold to balance books imo
rowly
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:30 PM
Comment #98Toonicle – Perez is playing well at the moment but I still have doubts over his end product. I can’t remember him setting a goal up although I’m sure he will have but sissoko created most chances when he played right wing for the season. He played well v Southampton too. There’s not much in it though and wouldn’t be dissappointed to see Perez. Do you think Perez is a striker or winger?
ITUNDERASHELL
Aug 27, 2015 at 10:10 PM
Comment #99Its a encouraging to see we have options on the field and players fighting to start. I agree De Jong when up to speed will play behind Mitrovic. I also think Perez will take the wide right role and make it his own in the future. Sissoko, for all his power and pace is the square peg in round hole for me and would sell in January and bring in either a CB, LB or DM.
I must say I am impressed by the way things are going and can understand the three window approach.