We would expect Rafa to make a few changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Brighton yesterday.
The player most likely to come into the team is Jonjo Shelvey, and we need his creativity against his former club.
Isaac Hayden has been playing quite well, but Rafa may want to start Mikel Merino and Jonjo in central midfield.
It’s something he will be looking at in training this coming week.
Jonjo Shelvey after the game yesterday
This is what Rafa said after the match yesterday when asked about a possible Merino – Shelvey partnership:
“They did well when they were playing together, but it depends on the game. “It depends on the moment during the games.”
“Yesterday was a time when we needed to change something, and it was good for us.”
“But it is a pity that with so much possession at the end, we have to create more chances and better chances and control things better.”
Rafa could keep Hayden and Merino in midfield and put Jonjo in the number 10 position in place of Perez – or even have Mikel Merino in the number 10 position.
Mikel is so talented he can put the ball into the back of the net, and he almost scored a great goal yesterday from outside the box very early in the game.
Joselu again missed chances yesterday, and with Aleksandar Mitrovic fit again we could see him even start the game.
But if he does play he will have to behave himself – we cannot afford to go down to 10 men against a side like Liverpool.
Same goes for Jonjo Shelvey.
And we could see Florian Lejeune pushing hard for a place at center-back, and in preseason, he looked to be Rafa’s first choice until he was injured against Spurs.
It wouldn’t surprise us too much if Rafa brings him back and rests either Lascelles or Clark against The Reds – maybe Clark moves to left-back?
Yesterday was only the 12th time Rafa has kept the same side in a Premier League game in his career – it’s doubtful to be the 13th time next Sunday.
Comments welcome.
107 comments so far
hibbit
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:35 PM
Comment #81RUNAWAY777 stay safe mate
hope you’ve put a BIG lock on that motor !!!
Tsunki
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:37 PM
Comment #82Belfast I’ve no idea what you’re talking about regarding snooping on bobby there’s no way I could track him down and peer through his blue and yellow striped curtains especially now he’s got a new dog..errr… I mean…
Tsunki
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:39 PM
Comment #83I have to stop making cracks about this i keep second guessing things like has he actually got blue and yellow curtains and a new dog? If he has I’m not looking good here..
😐
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:46 PM
Comment #84sing in the corner
Yes, I noticed the Shelvey bench thing. I took it to be him in a sulk at being number 2. Not good if it is. Taking a more positive view, he may find it difficult to understand Rafa’s accent, and just doesn’t bother listening now.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:48 PM
Comment #85lesh…I think you just said what most people are thinking at the moment…Ibiza included!
For what ever it’s worth your comment had an impact that day…but today is a new day and it probably has to be said again.
I like this place, but everyday life is more important. So if this place keep sinking in a hole more and more people just stops posting or at least there will be longer between their posts
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #86A bit like Magspuggy said
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:57 PM
Comment #87On the Hemed incident I suppose with the FA now looking in to it there’s no escaping a 3 days match ban?
jayphoto
Sep 25, 2017 at 2:58 PM
Comment #88On the shelvey rafa thing.. for me theres no way Shelvey understands whatever rafas saying in a stadium with his accent.. also Shelvey is quite stony face all the time…
Really a large combination of why we were successful was Shelvey and Gayles combination last season, Id start both. I like Joselu, but his finishing at stoke was woeful…his finishing in spain was woeful..his finishing so far at Newcastle is woeful… in rafas system we’re just not going to make enough chances to warrant him missing 2-3 a match
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Comment #89In these games (2 teams of similar ability), the first goal is crucial and as such games are often won by small margins of ‘luck’. Had we scored first (Joselu’s turn/shot; Perez’s poke; if Merino shot into the ground at a steeper angle and it looped into the top corner) the match would have looked very different. We could have ended up winning 1-0, but the possession/shot stats would have favoured Brighton no doubt.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 3:16 PM
Comment #90Their goal should have been disallowed, as the foul on Mbemba stopped him from at least blocking the first attempt.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 3:40 PM
Comment #91Players shooting from distance every time they have a sight of goal annoys me. Ritchie is someone I think guilty of this. When you have these kinds of oportunities to shoot, invariably defenders are leaving men/space in order to close the space/block the shot. Usually there are players in a better position for a shot; opportunities to play a through ball. I would say that if 1 in 10 of these shots are a goal, 5 in 10 would create good chances if the idea of passing was in the mind of the player. Maybe greed could be used to train the ‘hero’ out of them, by offering no goal bonuses, but a 100,000 pound assist bonus.
Jib
Sep 25, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Comment #92https://twitter.com/SimonBird_/status/911619827206369280
Some of the comments on this are brilliant
😀
lesh
Sep 25, 2017 at 3:56 PM
Comment #93Mindshaft
MoTD was brakes from the Amex stadium and as the programme was not studio based, there was seemingly no facility for close-quarter examination of the stamp on Yedlin or the seeming push on Mbemba. The programme was transmitted from the Amex pitch so no big screen or slow motion replays.
And, it would’ve been very discourteous of the Beeb to throw their host’s hospitality in its face by leading a discussion that may have led to FA action against one or two,Brighton players.
As an aside, did I see Joselu being stood on in the early stages of the first half? Or maybe I was dreaming!
lesh
Sep 25, 2017 at 3:59 PM
Comment #94Runaway
A few drinks in the VIP lounge eh? Can’t be bad.
Güle güle. :-\
AncientC
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:00 PM
Comment #95Dennis Skinner tore into Mike Ashley – giving a rousing speech at the Labour conference.
https://youtu.be/VplY-KF2IHs?t=2m9s For anybody interested.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:02 PM
Comment #96Most managers, when chasing a game at the end, will throw on some big fellas and lump it towards the box. To play the devil’s advocate, Rafa seems to prefer to keep the shape and tactics the same; don’t mind losing the match, but heaven forbid we should lose our shape and footballing dignity.. What does Perez offer, when a side are sitting deep and you need to score (he did get the winner last year at Brighton when we came behind lol). Frustrates me that Rafa takes off the big forward, why not try Gayle and a big man….just give it a go…..just once….pleeaase
AncientC
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:12 PM
Comment #97I am not sure where people are getting a disagreement from; in regards to Benitez speaking to Shelvey. It looked to me like Benitez was pointing out an issue on the left flank prior to Shelvey coming on.
AncientC
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:16 PM
Comment #98Brighton’s goal seemed flukey to me. Although I do believe they looked more likely to score – their goal came from a downwards header that bounced through Clark’s legs. It doesn’t get much more lucky than that.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:17 PM
Comment #99Ancient
I would prefer it if the nations ‘corporate rage’ was not focused soley on the barrow boy made good, at the expense of questioning the endemic levels of corporate control and abuse on our lives. Be brave enough to condemn the actions of the big corporations. Mikey is our’s to hate for footballing reasons, if the rest of the nation need someone to hate, because taxes are being avoided and workers are being exploited, there are much better (worse) examples.
Not having a go at you Ancient, it’s this use of Ashley and sports direct, as the focus of corporate rage, manipulated by the media. It’s a common tactic. The proles are screaming for blood, so let’s throw them some scaps.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:17 PM
Comment #100Chancel
been banging on about the same thing – frustrates the arse off me
Thtas why this game reminded me very much of a lot of games last season and especially the Huddersfiled game this season.
They played in the same colours – we adopted the same tactics – gave them the same space – seem to sit back and let them attack us. Both teams scored in around the same time giving us at least 35 to forty minutes to get something out of the game.
Kept the same shape played one up front – same substitutions – kept one up front.
Arghhhhhh RAFA just give it a go with two up front for the remainder of the game you never know we might get something out of the game!!
Jail for Ashley
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Comment #101Tsunki,
I’ve just gone and bought a Chromecast thingy. Downloaded the Google home app and away you go, but it looks like only certain apps can be used ie Netflix, how do I get all content on there.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:21 PM
Comment #102Ancient,
There was a time during the match when the cameras cut to the bench and Rafa was turned around talking to Shelvey. Shelvey had a blank expression and hardly acknowledged Rafa. Make of this what you will.
gonufc (Newcastle United Sports Direct Advertising Club)
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:21 PM
Comment #103Joselu is a funny one. He seems to miss the easy chances but do okay with the difficult ones- like that beautiful glancing header in the Swansea game which Fabianski pulled off a brilliant save to.
Saw it mentioned- I also thought the interaction between Shelvey and Rafa on the bench looked a little odd, I thought it seemed like rafa was replying to something Shelvey said but we may have only seen the last 5 seconds of a conversation about him coming on.
The biggest disappointment for me was the tempo of passing. Just mind numbingly slow at times without even thinking about trying to go forwards.
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:22 PM
Comment #104I’ve just sent an email to the Refs association with the following message.
‘I have seen it suggested that there is a section in the referees rule book that under no circumstances should a penalty ever be awarded to the Newcastle United Premier league team.
Is this correct?
I only ask ask a supporter of this club and must admit I find this speculation somewhat surprising but as the season progresses this increasingly seems to be actually the case.
Can you please clarify the situation for me?’
Probably a complete waste of time but at least it gives me a scrap of satisfaction. 🙂
hibbit
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:26 PM
Comment #105don’t know if many on here have actually seen Shelvey around the town but believe me that’s his normal look always looks pan faced and miserable
AncientC
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:31 PM
Comment #106Chancel, yes, I watched Benitez speaking to Shelvey. I am unsure if it was shown differently over different streams, but the one that I watched it on showed Benitez gesturing with his hands to Shelvey – something that was tactical in nature. Shelvey came on not long after that.
Chancel be a fine thing
Sep 25, 2017 at 4:52 PM
Comment #107Charlie
Yes, totally. I can understand, because we played that way all last season, But why is it some games we sit off them (like this one) when we are defending deep in the last third, and other times we harry and press in these areas. There is clever defending deep and there is Pardew defending deep. In the latter the team is to stand in it’s shape, Steven Taylor used to put a coin down on the pitch so he knew where to stand, regardless of the other team’s position or movement. Used to boil my fluids watching us defend under Pardew; an opposition player could stand inbetween everyone, be available for a simple forward pass and still not be picked up. Is it better to leave your post and mark a man in a dangerous area and leave some space to be exploited, or keep the shape and leave a man in a dangerous area free to receive a simple pass. Grrrrrrrrrrr. Anyway, it was this kind of defending I was seeing yesterday.
I did notice that on the few times we tried to press them high, they moved and passed through us pretty easy and created more dangerous looking ‘counter attacks’ from this. Otherwise it was mostly percentage balls into the box from out wide. Some scares, but not many clear cut chances.
Seem to remember last season, most of our losses came against the ‘lesser teams’ we were supposed to beat easily, and this season is following the same pattern. I think the gap is closing between top championship and bottom premier teams though, will be interesting to see how us three teams do this season, as we have all kept the same style and added a bit more quality to the squad.