With Fabricio Coloccini out injured for about a month with a calf injury, a good question now is what should the back four be against Stoke and in particular who should the two center-backs be.
Chancel Mbemba is still out injured and we have no word from the club as to whether he has any chance to be fit for the game at Stoke – so for the purposes of this discussion let’s assume he is not available.
Jamaal Lascelles – could be big chance for 22 year-old
The obvious choice in that case would be Steven Taylor and Jamaal Lascelles although Daryl Janmaat did play in central defense last season when called upon, but maybe we shouldn’t tinker too much with the back four and just leave Daryl at right back.
We also don’t know if Paul Dummett will be fit for the game at Stoke, but again let’s assume he’s not available with that hamstring problem of his playing up almost all this season.
Again the obvious choice would be to play the experienced Jack Colback there – and one thing you know about Jack is that he will show up for the away games.
So this could be a possible back four with Colo, Mbemba and Dummett all out injured.
Janmaat Taylor Lascelles Colback
Vurnon Anita can also play in either full-back spot and he has played well for Newcastle when he’s played there.
Jamaal doesn’t have the experience and as we saw with Rolando Aarons at Chelsea that can be a potential problem – especially in the big games and the final 12 games are all massive for Newcastle.
But Jamaal has looked good when he’s played in the first team and he’s a threat from set plays so he’s worth a start at Stoke City.
If we are going to survive this season we need some heroes to come through.
An alliterative at left back is young Liam Gibson who played well there on Saturday against Lillestrom but again the 18 year-old is not experienced and it’s asking a lot of the lad to play at Stoke in such a crucial game in our fight against relegation.
And 20 year-old Jamie Sterry is also highly thought of at Newcastle.
What would your back four be for Stoke?
It seems the captain is odds on to be Jonjo Shelvey and he deserves a chance at leading the Newcastle side and he doesn’t remain quiet on the field either – and in our current situation that’s good.
Comments welcome.
8 comments so far
mad-serb
Feb 22, 2016 at 12:56 PM
Comment #1repost from last
Thought I will give you my thoughts regarding captancy to add fuel to the fire.
I played team sports my whole life till I recently stopped.
A captian is the guy that everyone in the dressing room looks up too, that motivates his team when the chips are down or when they just need some advice on anything basicly.
The captain in return creates an enviroment for the rest of the team to fully commit as I would say would die for the cause. He has his assistants around that feeds him info of the guys in the team so he is always knowing whats going on with all his team mates and ensure all info comming to him is processed and if their is someone that needs a talk, advice or whatever he then sorts these things out.
There is only 1 captiain. Its the only way it works as one needs to be the leader. He has his assistants which is what I call the core of the team. They talk for him in his absense or having similar respect within the team. But all of them give their all and if you do not do likewise you knew about.
The problem of rotation is that well when the chips are down you dont need to really listen to him as you know next week someone else might be the captain and then you get into the position where nobody can really enforce discipline or any commitment into a team when things are going wrong.
Nolan for me was a prime example of a true captain in our team. he demanded all you had and knew how to get the best out of the players around him. He worked his socks of and if you did not you were going to get an earfull from him and Barton.
Lets look at Colo ahnd his captincy, I cannot find his core that support him and would die for the cause for him and therein lies the problem. If Shelvey has that trust from players he can have across the pitch then I would change the captain in a heartbeat as I cannot see the fight from any player when things go wrong in Colo leadership.
Sliema
Feb 22, 2016 at 12:56 PM
Comment #2These are fun times.
mad-serb
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:03 PM
Comment #3As for the back 4 crisis at the moment for Stoke. When did we have all availible to make the best selection I actually cannot recall when he had all options availible.
As for Colo injury well I think it gives us 4 game to access other options and we will be more the wiser who should be our best selections for the run in. Would love to see Mbemba and Lascelles together at one point. think they could really make a decent combination.
Wayayman
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:04 PM
Comment #4Mbemba with Lascelles for me. Young but full of potential, one is superb on the ground and the other an absolute beast in the air which is vital in that position. Could be a very good pairing. The alternative is Saylor and Mbemba which could be decent but Saylor is so slow he makes Colo look like Alan Wells.
Wayayman
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Comment #5mad-serb. Great minds think alike, eh?
mad-serb
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:14 PM
Comment #6so true Wayayman 😉
oldbobaycliffe
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:22 PM
Comment #7According to nu official site cabella is a loaned out player I thought we had sold him so it looks like we wil be getting him back as well thauvin at the end of the season
browny1107
Feb 22, 2016 at 6:54 PM
Comment #8oldbobaycliffe
i believe the obligation to buy his is at the end of the loan period. So he will still be an nufc player til end of season then om are obliged to make the agreed upon bid. cabella could always say no and come back here but i doubt he will.