Newcastle manager Steve McClaren has just announced the side for the game at Watford today and it looks like Jamaal Lascelles will partner Fabricio Coloccini in central defense and Chancel Mbemba will move to left back – in for the injured Paul Dummett.
Teams:
Watford (4-4-2): Heurelho Gomes; Juan Carlos Paredes, Miguel Britos, Craig Cathcart, Nathan Ake; Etienne Capoue, Valon Behrami, Ben Watson, Jose Manuel Jurado; Troy Deeney (c), Odion Igalho
Substitutes: Costel Pantilimon, Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Adlene Guedioura, Almen Abdi, Ikechi Anya, Nordin Amrabat
Newcastle (4-4-1-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Jamaal Lascelles, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Chancel Mbemba; Moussa Sissoko, Henri Saivet, Jonjo Shelvey, Rolando Aarons; Georginio Wijnaldum; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Steven Taylor, Sylvain Marveaux, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez, Emmanuel Riviere
It’s a first start for new signing Henri Saivet and he partners Jonjo Shelvey in a new central midfield for Newcastle.
Perez has been dropped for Rolando Aarons so perhaps Rolando has looked good in training.
That’s not a bad team assuming Lascelles can have a solid game alongside the experienced Newcastle captain.
As expected Florian Thauvin is back on the bench and his loan move to Marseille may not go through if we cannot get Andros Townsend or a suitable alternative through the door this month.
This is what Steve McClaren has said about today’s game:
“We’ve played Watford a couple of times and in the cup we were very unlucky.” “They have got a home game and they will be buoyed and confident because they have beaten us twice, so it is up to us to go there and give a good performance so we can get the right result.
“They haven’t won for a few games and need a win. Everyone has a little dip and they will be looking to come out of it, and we will be looking to go there and make sure they don’t.”
“It’s a difficult game for us. Watford are a very capable team and with their two strikers – Deeney and Ighalo, they are capable of winning any game.”
“They will be determined to turn their form around. They are dangerous opponents – we know that from the last time we played them – but it’s about what we do with our performance.”
“We want quality and we’ve got quality, you saw that against West Ham.” “What we’ve got is a couple of new signings and players who are starting to adapt well to the Premier League.“
“Gini Wijnaldum is a perfect example with his performances, and Chancel Mbemba has also got better as they’ve adapted.” “You’ve seen it with the teams who have come up as well. Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford have adapted to the league and have given it a good go.“
“The quality from top to bottom is close and there is always going to be a fine line between winning and losing in this league.”
Over 70% of fans think we will win this game today.
We need a win today.
Howay The Lads!!
508 comments so far
BandB
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:02 PM
Comment #1HWTL
catchy in norway
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Comment #2Very attack minded
JamesToon
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Comment #3Good lineup from SM, Aarons there to give the width as Mbemba is playing LB. good luck to Lascelles, let’s get 3 points today
AncientC
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:05 PM
Comment #4Vicarage Road, the 8th wonder of the world.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZaO9H-XEAAusNv.png:large
(Get in @Liverpool)
manxpie
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #5Looks like it could be more a 352 even thothe oofficial site says 4411
toonking
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #6glad to see arrons getting his first start 4-2-3-1 formation i guess.
I had us down as a win earlier in the week but changed my mind now we’ve got the 2 extra injuries he fact he’s gone 4-2-3-1 tells you he’s more determined to not concede that score.
predict 1-1 draw.
JAMSHA
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #7If Klop Gets Sacked, Get Him An Put Mc as Coach
NezzaNUFC
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #8Aarons is starting?
Well about bloody time 🙂
AncientC
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #9nufc.co.uk have confimed it is a 4-4-1-1.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #10This setup looks great, goodly to lascelles and Aarons – unlucky Perez.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #11I think this is a very brave move by Mclaren and a welcome one 3 at the back means Aarons can track back but there will be still be adequate cover if he gets caught out
Good to see Lascalles get more game time as well
Width and crossing from both sides should work out well cant wait to watch the game now !!
Blaydon-Toon
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #12Norwich Liverpool 3-3 now
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #13Goodluck not goodly*
manxpie
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #14Curse of the winbar is on the cards tho!
JAMSHA
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #15jamal is to slow
Toon Tang
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #16You’re not wrong manx haha. Get voting other way mate
Obertans_on_roids
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #17Judging by that line-up there will be plenty of goals in this one. Hopefully we’re on the right end. Need to take Ighalo out of the game somehow.
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #18Interesting, Schteve, interesting. Was expecting The back four to line-up like that, but Aarons for Perez is quite the call, unless he goes for 3-5-2.
Toon Tang
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #19Come on ya bindipping plums, one more ftw.
Need to keep these Delia smith looking motherchuffers within distance eh
toonbrother
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #20if its a 3-5-1-1 we have hope of taking a point
if its a flat 4-4-2 this will not end well
not with colo at the back
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #21I’m liking that bench, not so much quality, but alot of players that need to prove there worth.
check the toastie
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #22hope Aarons is up to speed, was awful in his last appearance against Northampton, fingers crossed.
concerned about Lascelles but a canny team.
JDdubai
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:15 PM
Comment #23Not a fan of moving Mbemba or of the middle, his pace is crucial for us with Colo there.
Nice to see Aarons out there though, rest for Perez can’t hurt either.
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:15 PM
Comment #24Hoping Liverpool win this. Hoping Swansea lose and Thunlun and Bournemouth draw, likewise Villa and West Brom. All that and a win for us would be the perfect weekend.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:16 PM
Comment #25very interesting line up. its a huge call dropping Perez for Aarons. i really hope Aarons is good enough for this league. it’s a huge game for him.
Blaydon-Toon
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:16 PM
Comment #26Milner 3-4 Liverpool
Jib
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Comment #27Good subs by Klopp
N 3 L4
Ron Knee
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:19 PM
Comment #28What a turnaround.
Toon Tang
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:19 PM
Comment #29Good good. Pool win at 3-1 down woulda been a nice return in-play.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:20 PM
Comment #30there is no way this is a 4-4-2. mclaren has gone with 3 at the back to nullify the power of Deeney and Ighalo. Janmaat and Aarons are wingbacks bombing forward.
3-5-2 it is.
cyprus
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:20 PM
Comment #31Really seemed Norwich, our main rivals, had done it and moved away too much. 3-1 with a terrible Liverpool. Then, they threw it away. They’ll remember this as the game that took them down.
BTW, Liverpool still very poor. 7 shots on goal, 7 goals. I think this has never happened.
Nufc-83
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:21 PM
Comment #32Let’s if Aaron’s proves all his critics like wwsbrd wrong again and proves to be one of the best on the pitch again!!
martoon
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:22 PM
Comment #33Unlucky on Perez to be dropped but a brave selection from McClaren. Only worry is Lawro has predicted a 2 – 0 win for us 😉
LGFUAD21
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:22 PM
Comment #34Good line up IMO given the circumstances.
I still think people put too much on young Aarons. But he’s easily our best winger.
Hope he can stay fit and push on with his development. Would love to see him loaned out next season (provided we hold on to him)
cyprus
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:23 PM
Comment #35Let’s hope he makes 90′
catchy in norway
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:23 PM
Comment #36Liverpool doing us a big favour.
LGFUAD21
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:24 PM
Comment #37Martin
Worrying with lawro’s prediction like.
Agree. Harsh on perez but makes sense. I’m sure he’ll understand the selection. And I’m sure he’ll get a chance in the game.
Thump
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:25 PM
Comment #38Think I’d sooner see Aarons at LB and Mbemba in the middle, but this can work. A lot going forward, so hopefully we’re just hoping to keep the ball in the final third.
santoon
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:25 PM
Comment #39i reckon Lascalles should go lb so that he sits back and lets aarons do his thing without worry too much, shouldnt break up colo and mbemba partnership that been really good for the last couple of games
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:25 PM
Comment #40Would be huge for our teams morale and mentality if we could win today and all the aforementioned results go as I said. These next 3 games are crucial to our season. Need to pick up 6/7 points.