Sam Allardyce successfully utilized a five-man back line in their game at Crystal Palace early last week and it worked well and they kept a clean sheet.
They also got a big bonus when Jermain Defoe scored a late goal after 80 minutes to take all 3 points from Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace.
After we were slaughtered 5-1 at Selhurst Park last Saturday, Steve McClaren was asked why he didn’t play a five man back line like Allardyce had used so successfully five days previously.
He said we were planning that until Massadio Haidara picked up that knee injury in training which now has him out for over four months.
Jurgen Klopp celebrates with two of his players
The Frenchman is having an operation on the knee this week in France and that’s more and more injuries for Newcastle again this season – it doesn’t help.
We suppose Sadio would have come in at left back and Paul Dummett would have gone into one of the middle three with Coloccini and Mbemba.
But why couldn’t Steve have used Lascelles there and kept Dummett at left-back and still played five at the back?
It didn’t happen and we looked far too porous once again in defense at Selhurst Park.
And there’s news in the Northern Echo today that McClaren is looking at using a back three against Liverpool on Sunday.
We have to hope the team practices that formation a lot this week because if there is any hesitancy on how we play against the Reds we’ll be taken apart again.
With Mike Williamson being recalled from his successful loan spell earlier this week, Mike could start the game and the back three could be Mbemba Coloccini and Williamson.
Lascelles is unavailable with a groin strain he picked up in the game last Saturday.
Fit again Kevin Mbabu could also start this game – in place of the struggling Paul Dummett.
We have to admit to being very worried about this Newcastle team right now – and if Liverpool get an early goal then heaven knows what may happen.
The last thing we want to see is another shellacking – this time from a rejuvenated Liverpool side under their impressive new manager Jurgen Klopp.
How Will Newcastle Fare Against Liverpool?
- Lose (90%, 5,410 )
- Win (6%, 355 )
- Draw (4%, 214 )
Total Voters: 5,979
17 comments so far
toon kk
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:07 PM
Comment #1Macca can change what ever he likes, but it won’t change the results. You can’t give players more pace, quality they haven’t got or make someone do something they obviously don’t want to do.
As for MA, anyone with half a brain watching there club fall to bits would at least change things, why stick with a flawed regime, Charnless who knows f all and Carr who doesn’t know what hes looking for. Then there’s Macca that isn’t working either. Time for massive change before we become a championship club for the foreseeable future.
banjax
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:07 PM
Comment #2One radical change would be 2 goal keepers or even better a new manager !
Rotonda heights
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:08 PM
Comment #3Quinn has it nailed about Ashley.
Either start running it properly or sell.
Why do we always get linked with redknapp, moyes etc when we are screaming out for a Klopp / Pochetinno type coach.
Rotonda heights
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:10 PM
Comment #4toon kk
ash is man who employed JFK , a man with vascular dementia, not once, but twice. That’s what you’re dealing with here. brilliant businessman yes. Good football club owner. . . . . . . .er no !!!!
BandB
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:10 PM
Comment #5Owing to the late arrival of Geordie Two…….
I expected we’d park the bus against CP and sneak it with our only attack.
I hoped Palace would be patient and wait for gaps.
But to Pardew’s credit, he gave them exactly the right message…”pressure these guys and they’ll fold.”
I’m hoping Liverpool will “do a Chelsea’ and turn up off the boil and expecting a routine win. That they’ll be patient and try to play through us and we’ll hold our lines.
That’s what I’m hoping……….
Graeme
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:11 PM
Comment #6On current performances, it’s not a question of “Will we Lose” its more a case of by how many?
If ever there was a time for some radical thinking at NUFC – now is the time to show it!!!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:11 PM
Comment #73 at the back could be the way forward for us if we had a decent left back Dummett just does not have the energy to get up and down the flank he would be better at centre half
It also means the middle 3 have to work like beasts with possibly Siem De Jong finally getting put into the no 10 position
will die for the toon army
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:13 PM
Comment #8…………Darlow
……Mbemba…Willo…Colo
………Tiote….Colback
Janmatt……Wijnaldum……Sissoko
…….Perez……….Mitrovic
BandB
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:15 PM
Comment #9Look at Bolton.
Eight years ago they were playing Bayern Munich.
Look at Blackpool.
I hope our owner doesn’t think he is too lucky for that.
toon kk
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:22 PM
Comment #10A good question, how well would we actually do atm if we were playing in the championship?
I honestly think we’d still be struggling.
we are so poor!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:22 PM
Comment #11@BandB
That will probably be Ashleys last kick in the teeth for us when he does actually leave us it will be messy and we will have to suffer for a few years
SPRINGY
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:25 PM
Comment #12afternoon all
if three at the back is to be tried i like to see this…
——————————elliott——————————-
———–mbemba———colo———dummett———–
———————–tiote———–gini————————
janmaat————————————————colback
——————————de jong—————————–
—————–perez——————–mitro——————
BandB
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:27 PM
Comment #13Lee
Eddie Davies has offered to pay off £179m worth of debt and sell Bolton for £20m.
If they go down, he can forget even that.
I worry that Ashley’s mind has been on getting his leg back across Rangers for the last few months.
Clearly he’s not going to take being run out of town lying down.
SPRINGY
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:27 PM
Comment #14toon kk
agree with you mate…we would be mid table at best….poor side
toon kk
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:31 PM
Comment #15Springy
we can’t handle pace, it won’t matter what formation we play. The team isn’t good enough for the premier league.
simple!
BandB
Dec 2, 2015 at 5:31 PM
Comment #16Look at Blackburn.
Look at Leeds.
Every year they talk about a play-offs campaign that’s dead by Christmas.
BeeGuy
Dec 2, 2015 at 6:36 PM
Comment #17MA left the three stooges to run the club and it shows.