This is the team we think Steve Bruce will select for tomorrow’s match at Manchester City. It has six changes from the draw against West Ham.
With so many players injured or in need of a rest, Steve will have to cobble together a side for tomorrow. Though, we don’t really expect to get much from the match if we’re honest.
The formation is a sort of 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, with the wingers sitting deeper. Joelinton plays behind Gayle as a second striker.
Matt Ritchie and Valentino Lazaro are playing as natural wingers. They are both adept defenders, so will be able to do plenty of tracking back.
We don’t see Steve Bruce risking Jonjo Shelvey for a third start in just over a week. So Matty Longstaff comes into the team, and Nabil Bentaleb gets another start. He’ll be determined to impress after playing so well against Bournemouth.
Jamaal Lascelles has an injured foot, so Fabian Schar comes in for the captain to partner with Federico Fernandez.
Danny Rose is back in at left-back while Emil Krafth keeps his place at right-back. Javier Manquillo gets a rest after starting five straight matches.
Bruce hopefully will also shove a few youngsters on the bench because why not?
166 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:25 PM
Comment #1Let’s hope they’re prepared for the Alamo 😮
DaveD1000
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:29 PM
Comment #2That is probably our best team out of what is left.
JohnReese
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:33 PM
Comment #3I have to admit I was unsure of Pulisic when he came to the league. Had been upstaged by Sancho at Dortmund and all of his figures looked to have declined but he’s been really impressive when he’s played. If he can keep fit for the majority of next season, he’s going to be a really dangerous player.
DaveD1000
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:35 PM
Comment #4oof not a fan of Zaha but that was tasty
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:37 PM
Comment #5Is Andy Carroll injured?
Insh'Allah
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:37 PM
Comment #6Isn’t it somewhat hypocritical that you can “joke” about drugs (that kill people), but not about gay folk (that generally don’t).
Funny that.
Re the above team, that’s what I’d have gone with too, hopefully the midfield can prevent us being under the cosh from the outset.
I predict an upset! We’ll get a draw!
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:38 PM
Comment #7Remember when this team won in the League Cup at the Etihad
Pardew couldn’t believe it
Rob Elliot
Paul Dummett
Massadio Haïdara
Daryl Janmaat
Jack Colback
Fabricio Coloccini
Ryan Taylor
Mehdi Abeid
Gabriel Obertan
Rolando Aarons
Adam Armstrong
Just a fan
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:40 PM
Comment #8Just watched a program about Billy the kid.he didn’t seem such a bad lad unless the program was all propaganda.
Vask
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:41 PM
Comment #9This is the team I would like to see:-
—-Dubravka
Krafth–Watts–Fernandez–Rose
–Shar–Shelvey–
Allan–Matty–Joelinton
———-Gayle——–
Pretty much a free hit. Could give the young ones a good reference point to learn from so that’s why I’d go that. I’m not sure where Allan plays but he seemed alright on the wing when he set Joelintons goal up.
Darnik
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:41 PM
Comment #10I was almost certain villa would go down, but I have to say watching this Watford performance it could well be them that go down
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:43 PM
Comment #11Bruce dropped a big hint that Maxi won’t be playing tomorrow
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #12Well nobody’s answering my question, is Andy Carroll injured, jail I think we’re totally spot on Carroll is a waste of a squad number
hibbit
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #13Darnik that would be very disappointing villa staying up.
Anglo Saxon
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #14JAF not a bad lad really.
William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at the age of 21.[3][4] He also fought in New Mexico’s Lincoln County War, during which he allegedly committed three murders.
Good egg EH.
Darnik
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:48 PM
Comment #15Hibbit
Exactly mate, most of us will never forgive them, I’m really plugging for Watford here to send them down
Anglo Saxon
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:49 PM
Comment #16Tonytoon73 @10 let’s say he’s not fit.
Just a fan
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:50 PM
Comment #17Well I did say I may be propaganda.
But ii was a lot more complex than the comics I used to read.
Vask
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:51 PM
Comment #18Tony
There was something earlier today that suggested he had a groin strain I think.
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:51 PM
Comment #19Anglo
He’s not my favourite player and has never been fit mate
jane
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:52 PM
Comment #20big second half for Watford. if they win i think they will stay up.
Kevin Vegan
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:54 PM
Comment #21Vask
Tom Allen generally plays RWF but can also play up top when called on. 7 goals in 13 appearances for the reserves this season. I’d love to see him brought in for a few games towards the end and see if he can do it at the next level.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:54 PM
Comment #22Tony,
Groin strain by all accounts.
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:55 PM
Comment #23A groin strain is no excuse for gunning down 8 men
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:55 PM
Comment #24Vask
I’d rather have Billy Whitehurst up front mate ha
Northumbrian
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:56 PM
Comment #25What’s happened to the main page of the blog? I’m having to post through the newsnow site.
Anglo Saxon
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:58 PM
Comment #26Tonytoon73 Truth be known don’t think he fancies the man city game, bruce keeping him for Watford.
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 6:58 PM
Comment #27Jail
What next injury, back, ankle, splinter in his thumb, waste of a shirt and it gets me fuming
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Comment #28HAPPY BIRTHDAY RINGO
80 years young
geordietom
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Comment #29Paul Smith
@Smudge1962
NUFCTakeover It appears in the absence of failing to find a legitimate reason to stop the takeover, the @premierleague are dragging out their flawed process in the hope someone else can come up with a reason to enable them to stop it #NUFC
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Comment #30Anglo
He would not do anything against Watford mate
Jail for Ashley
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:01 PM
Comment #31Sort of repost. Andy Carroll is a double edged sword. He’s an excellent top, top player on his day and would get in to every team that play with a big CF. However, that is when he is fit and and through regular fitness consistent. But he isn’t, if he was that player in the first description he wouldn’t be here on a pay as you play, West Ham would have kept him on 80K pw or sold him last year for 20M. The reason we have him is because he’s clapped out, he can’t string more than a few games together, might do a job if you’re aiming for forty points. That’s it.
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:02 PM
Comment #32https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YjPfyflyvQ&src=Linkfire&lId=65be35b6-dc48-4ffc-af8d-8274289f278d&cId=d3d58fd7-4c47-11e6-9fd0-066c3e7a8751
Jail for Ashley
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Comment #33Lads,
Shall I watched Palace Chelsea or Watford Norwich, watched first half of Watford and not the best, any thoughts.
Tonytoon73
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Comment #34Jail
Absolutely spot on mate
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Comment #35Jail
Your post looks perfectly reasonable
However
When he has played , he’s looked far from clapped out
onmeedsun
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Comment #36We are now in limbo until the takeover is concluded. The matches are irrelevant except ensuring we don’t suffer any significant injuries. No takeover will mean very few season ticket renewals and top players sold. Takeover means there will be a stampede for tickets, even if we aren’t allowed to turn up, top players retained and we can start to dream. It’s as simple as that.
Vask
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:07 PM
Comment #37keV
I think in this game we’ve nothing to lose. Obviously gd plays a part in final standings but I would say any sort of player that is going to make it should want to play with and against the best. To avoid too much negative gd play them only one half perhaps.
Jib
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Comment #38Ringo’s tribute to his best mate
https://youtu.be/xEKn9jBXibQ
Darnik
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Comment #39I’m sticking with the Watford game, cheerleading for them 🙂
Shoulders knees
Jul 7, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Comment #40Northumbrian
Same here on my iPhone just header, so on iPad strange.