With players like Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden playing so well for Newcastle over the last nine games or so Rafa can’t leave them out of the starting eleven.
And since nearly all our players are now fit there had to be some surprises with who didn’t make the bench on Saturday against Huddersfield.
And there were with Muto, Shelvey, and Diame nowhere to be seen.
It’s a difficult situation for the manager, but Rafa is so strong-willed and will play the best team available in every game through the end of the season.
Newcastle do have an opportunity if we can put a good winning streak together to beat the 44 points we reached last season.
Rafa Benitez with Jonjo Shelvey
Shelvey didn’t make the bench on Saturday
And having won three of our last five league games things are starting to look up.
This is what Rafa has said in the Chronicle on his team selection on Saturday:
“My problem now is that the players who aren’t in the team have put me under pressure to make decisions.”
“It’s a pity but obviously you can pick only 18 players and some have to wait. Jonjo, we’ll see if he’s ready for Tuesday.”
“Obviously the match fitness is an issue at this stage.”
“Longstaff did well. Obviously, against 10 players he has more time on the ball and he was managing this time the ball really well.”
“His shot that hit the bar was a real pity because it was a great effort.”
“He’s (Muto) is doing well and training well.”
“In his case, we needed another one just in case to play as a second-striker but we’re pleased with him, he’s very positive.”
“He’s always working really hard, but he has to keep working hard to get in the team.”
We could see some rotation on the bench for tomorrow night’s game but we still expect the team to be unchanged from Saturday against Burnley tomorrow night.
It’s another vital league game that Rafa and the lads will go all out to win.
Wonder if we can somehow keep Isaac Hayden at the club in the summer, given how terrific he’s played since December?
Just a thought.
Comments welcome.
71 comments so far
jayphoto
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:55 AM
Comment #41Perez seemed to revel in Almiron playing too! Not sure if anyone noticed the movement when we had the ball on saturday but Almiron constantly looked to go in behind, Rondon looked to hold it up and Perez looked to drop into the space in the 10 position as their back four dropped deep to cope with Almiron. Gave Perez alot more time to think on the ball etc and caused Huddersfield havoc…
jayphoto
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:59 AM
Comment #42Also, sorry for multiple comments/Ramblings….but…. On Almiron…i know its early days…. but i told ya’ll! Said back in December he was the best player in world football that we could sign for Newcastle that would actually come… kids a world class player in the making, just suffered because he’s come the path less trodden! (got slated a couple times by people saying the MLS is a micky mouse league too!) Knew his acceleration would see him terrify defences, hes not even that quick he just goes from 0 to top speed faster than any player ive ever seen!
jayphoto
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:59 AM
Comment #43Also…. can we please tie up Sean Longstaff on one of them 8 year deals we used to hand out like they were loose change….
Zele
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:03 PM
Comment #44Lee Charnley Bunga Party,
Yes, I agree that Benetez deserves credit for changing to a 352/343 formation but circumstances almost dictated that formation.
He has a surfeit of central defenders, two of whom can bring the ball out of defence and know how to pass the ball as opposed to hoofing it aimlessly up in the air.
The injury to Dummitt allowed Ritchie to convert to a wingback. He isn’t as good a defender as Dummitt but doesn’t need to be with three mobile central defenders. He is far better going forward than Dummitt and compliments Yedlin on the opposite wing.
The injury to Shelvey, Diame and Ki have given opportunities to Hayden and Longstaff who have grabbed at the chance and are now selected on merit. They have both surprised me. Hayden has shown the talent I thought he had when he first arrived but had since lost his way. Longstaff has been a revelation. So assured and calm with a fine passing range and a tenacious ability to win the ball.
Although it’s only been one game but Perez looks far more effective with Almiron. These two if played higher up the field nearer Rondon will cause problems for defenders with their speed and close ball control.
Benetez is a cautious manager and therefore I would be very surprised if the same team did not start on Tuesday.
Lindisfarne
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:03 PM
Comment #45Martoon
Almiron has already been slated after the game in Spain!
Jib
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Comment #46Slated ?
Do you mean criticised ?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Comment #47@Zele
Yeah I think now Dummett almost becomes a left sided centre back option in the 352 in the future ?
Depending on the opposition if the 4231 came back in Dummett could be the defensive left back for an attacking winger but I don’t really see us having the players to successfully pull off that formation at the moment.
For me personally I think the 3 at the back suits us in so many ways we keep possession better , defend better and attack better when we play the top 6 it makes us hard to break down and when we play other teams we can get greater numbers in support of attacks.
Also the cross field passes to either fullback stretch the opposition so much I remember Chelsea under Conte in his first season were great at it and we seem to have been working on it recently!
If only Kennedy could get his act together he would actually be the ideal attack minded left wing back as he has pace and can cross the ball really well with a great engine for running up and down
awaydays
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Comment #48Didn’t see who commented on Hayden putting himself in the shop window
To be fair to the lad he has never pulled on the shirt and not tried hes always done the best he could do he isn’t a world beater but works pretty damn hard I like the lad. However he will be going in the summer so if he is playing out of his skin so be it because his price right now isn’t huge but is growing game by game
Jib
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:15 PM
Comment #49Cambridge definition
Slated
UK informal:-
To attack by criticizing; to write or say that something is very bad:
e.g.
Her last book was slated by the critics.
Lindisfarne
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:15 PM
Comment #50It is actually a little fascinating to look back through the matches this season on whoscored? The difference in the formation and a settled starting 11 along with the improvement in form is quite distinct. That is not to say that those players outside the starting 11 are really poor, but they would probably be better in different formations to the current one which is being successful and also need matches to bed in and gain confidence. Which requires time which we will not have until after safety has been secured.
As well as being technically good, not brilliant yet, and fast, he creates the space for others to play at a higher level as well.
awaydays
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:19 PM
Comment #51Charnley bunga party
Agree on kenedy if he gets his act together he could be another game changer… I rate him highly but if i remember correctly isn’t his girlfriend still in London ?? Much like Hayden . I’d still like to see him sign I think his stock has fallen marginally if he were to move here permanently and settle with family it could be a different situation as he seems to enjoy it always happy in training photos I’ve seen
Genjikai
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:20 PM
Comment #52Personally i think Rafa will stay. Hes got his new stevie g in our own sean longstaff.
Hes proved if you sign him a star player that he actually wants they will do the business.
Ashley let the man build properly like he wants.
20 mill for Almiron is going to be a snip and should be used as an example for future recruitment.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:20 PM
Comment #53So who can Hayden realistically go for if its South Wales that is his destination?
West Brom , Villa , Bristol or could he go to Cardiff or Swansea?
If he keeps playing the way he is at the moment he suddenly belongs in a decent price bracket when Championship midfielders are going for like 10 million ?
Lindisfarne
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:23 PM
Comment #54Jib
There was a short article in the Sun(?) and the usual culprits on here being negative about Almirons performance against CSK in relation to his purchase price. However you wish to describe that negativity is up to you but I do not think I am mistaken, or have dropped a ‘clanger’. Although I do sometimes not write the best of sentences, which is mainly because writing on the phone at work is not easy and I am trying to short cut what I mean.
Genjikai
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:26 PM
Comment #55Lindisfarne a think people forget we are not writing a novel for publication, we are putting our opinions across on a toon blog.
Lindisfarne
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:27 PM
Comment #56Do you think Chelsea would swap Hayden for Drinkwater?
Jib
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:29 PM
Comment #57Lindy
sorry I read as
After the game on Saturday – Almiron was slated in Spain
jayphoto
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:29 PM
Comment #58isn’t Drinkwater on circa £120k a week or something…
Got a feeling that lad is happy living it out in London and picking up the wages.. Probably hoping to get a chance when Chelsea change managers next and have a transfer ban in force…
Genjikai
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:31 PM
Comment #59And Jib that wasnt directed at you just in general.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:31 PM
Comment #60@Jayphoto
Might be a lot of Chelsea players thinking that!!
awaydays
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:33 PM
Comment #61I’d say anywhere within 90 minutes of the area so but looking at the map South Wales Bristol … he may have to venture into Birmingham way … I’m sure he will have suitors
Lindisfarne
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:38 PM
Comment #62Hayden will probably end up at West Brom with all our other rejects!
awaydays
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:41 PM
Comment #63I have thought about that.. weren’t villa in for him not too long ago?
jayphoto
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:43 PM
Comment #64The funny thing is with Hayden, he’s probably playing his way out of a move in all honesty…He’d be a fine signing for Warnocks Cardiff, but he’s showing himself to really a really good, english defensive midfielder once hes had a run of game! With every 7 or 8/10 performance he logs hes probably outpricing himself from teams that could afford him in decent distance to south wales… At a push I could see him maybe halving the distance and signing for Everton or Bournemouth, maybe southampton… can’t see Wolves being interested and can’t see Villa or West Brom being promoted so having the cash to buy him.
My mystic meg prediction is I could see him being involved in a loan swap next season like the Gayle/Rondon switch with either Villa or West Brom….
jayphoto
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:44 PM
Comment #65Hayden be a great signing for Bristol City….
Lindisfarne
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:47 PM
Comment #66I hope Joselu can find his level in the Championship next season, with a better understudy to Rondon coming in. However, I think we have been demanding a #10 for the past 5 seasons so not much hope.
On the whole the squad is not too bad for a ‘championship’ squad and could be good with a little refinement. I think the Tweet from JJ yesterday was in reference to the underfunded squad rather than a dig at the current players.
awaydays
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #67Jay
Good point I can’t see Everton in for him. And he’s probably better than Bristol villa and West Brom for me possibly Cardiff or Swansea although they’re poor too. I like Hayden a loan maybe ideal because if he stays in the side he may stay because we are the best option team wise he has for quality. So circumstances could change yet. And I think most of us are dreaming about the departure of the mighty jos
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 25, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #68Last season Rafa was calling for Shelvey’s inclusion in the WC squad, along with plenty of other respected voices and every poster on this blog. He was that good, and on form probably should have been taken. This year he was unfortunate to get injured just as the side began to build momentum. His absence isn’t the reason we’ve been playing better. We’ve been playing better because Rondon, Schar, Lejeune, Ki, Longstaff, Hayden and Almiron all have emerged after the horror run of opening games. Shelvey will get his chance, whether through injury or rotation, and he’ll shine.
martoon
Feb 25, 2019 at 1:14 PM
Comment #69Genjikai @55 – I know this is just a blog but could you please use ‘I’ rather than ‘a’ – this is not a dig just one of those things that does my nut in!
magpie0722
Feb 25, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #70Two players that shouldn’t be anywhere near the bench, are Kennedy and Joselu. Kennedy has been rubbish all season and he isn’t our player, Joselu is just rubbish full stop, how these two keep the likes of Shelvey or Muto out is unbelievable.
Munster Mag
Feb 25, 2019 at 2:13 PM
Comment #71Ben afri ill take credit for that. I had said almiron would not replace perez but more likely atsu, and lift Perez. The language link was always a possible reason too. As people know here I like Perez a lot and almiron and him will bounce off each other well