This is the lineup we have predicted for today’s match against Wolves. It has just one forced change from last weekend with Federico Fernandez replacing the injured Fabian Schar.
Despite the murmurs that Dwight Gayle may get a start this afternoon, we still think Bruce will go with a front three of Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Miguel Almiron. We also don’t see him playing around with the formation after the disaster at Leicester City.
On the injury front, it’s another setback with both Andy Carroll and Fabian Schar ruled out with recent knocks. They join Matt Ritchie, Florian Lejeune, and Isaac Hayden (suspension) as being unavailable for selection.
Wolves suffered a massive misfortune as their best defender Willy Boly broke his ankle in training. He will be out indefinitely. They could also be without center-back Ryan Bennett today as well. He will be assessed for fitness before the match.
Newcastle Injuries
Florian Lejeune – knee, Matt Ritchie – ankle, Andy Carroll – groin, Fabian Schar – knee
Wolves Injuries
Willy Boly – ankle, Pedro Neto – Heel, Bruno Jordao – ankle, Meritan Shabani – knee, Ryan Bennett – hip (late fitness test)
The results of the poll show that 43% of voters think that Newcastle will get all three points while 35% are predicting a Wolves win. A win could see us climb a couple of places in the table, depending on what happens with Manchester United at Norwich City.
This a golden opportunity to get three points and also get more than one goal in a game for the first time this season. We think the boys can do just that.
Howay The Lads!
What Will Be The Result Against Wolves At St James Park?
- Win (43%, 494 )
- Loss (35%, 410 )
- Draw (22%, 255 )
Total Voters: 1,159
121 comments so far
SwissSte
Oct 27, 2019 at 2:01 AM
Comment #1So all congrats to Leicester and former Magpie Ayoze for their milestone win. Just look at what a tiny bit of ambition and planning gets you: a decent manager and a fantastic team trying to achieve things.
We should’ve been after Tielemans when we were after Chancel and Mitro. It’s really, really not hard. Would’ve been Cabaye’s proper replacement and would’ve had real resale value, if the resale value was an actual policy the club was pursuing.
Are fans still boycotting? What about the era of ambition scarves?
lukes26
Oct 27, 2019 at 2:13 AM
Comment #2I don’t understand. What point of a boycott?
No one wants to buy. You don’t want somebody buying on the cheap. Ashley’s bad, but there are worse.
SwissSte
Oct 27, 2019 at 2:14 AM
Comment #3A note for Ed (since I’ve only just read the latest health update):
A serious thanks for this blog and forum that you provide for us fans. A one stop shop of everything NUFC that I’ve relied on for almost a decade now. Your dedication is amazing.
I can only wish you and your family the best going forward.
Thank you.
Scythe For Bruce
Oct 27, 2019 at 2:35 AM
Comment #4Well said SwissSte. Ed, Neil and The Wife probably wonder why they bother to provide this wonderful platform for us when it’s used by people arguing like immature children on a daily basis (we all know who the usual suspects are, they’re here all day, every day) but there are plenty of us who just like to read all the latest updates and have a chance to leave an opinion now and again.
Keep up the good work Harrisons. It is very much appreciated! 😀
ilovetoon8788
Oct 27, 2019 at 4:02 AM
Comment #5Carroll is injured? That’s a surprise. Haha
MagpieRanger
Oct 27, 2019 at 4:23 AM
Comment #6Mike Ashley is due some bad luck
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 4:53 AM
Comment #7Does anybody think we have the players to play a high pressing game? In my opinion the Longstaffs are made for that style & Hayden could play a Henderson role. I’d also say Almiron is suited to that style and Joelinton played that way last year. We’d still have the problem of not having goalscorers, but in this style we’d be created twice as many chances which is what you need when you have poor finishers. Creating between 0-2 shots per match is suicidal with poor finishers. If we can pound forward and get 10 chances we might score a couple.
Having said that if I was a Bruce I’d not tinker with Rafa’s ways.
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 5:00 AM
Comment #8I think Bruce will attack Wolves, which will give us the element of surprise and give a morale boost to our attackers, so I’m going for 2-0. Playing counter attack against an away team who will look to do the same will be dire. Whatever he decides to do we won’t have the fullbacks to pull it off effectively. There will be a few in the championship who could do the job, Joe Bryan being the one that springs to mind.
cyprus
Oct 27, 2019 at 5:09 AM
Comment #9The Next,
You wrote a whole big paragraph on a suggestion, then retracted in the next?! 🙂
For what it’s (was) worth, it had merits. We need to mix it up, during the game. And we can’t play entire games in defensive mode, that limits us to a couple of chances. Like you said.
Let’s see some front foot, some possession, some confidence.
cyprus
Oct 27, 2019 at 5:11 AM
Comment #10Referring to #7. Agree on post #8, just read it.
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 5:36 AM
Comment #11Cyprus,
I was kind of saying if I was a man of Bruce’s talents I probably wouldn’t risk changing too much. But if I were a Klopp, Biesla or Rodgers I’d be thinking these guys can probably do it. Anyway the players have made it clear to Bruce they want to play 3 at the back so I’m not sure how we’d line-up if we wanted to play high pressing. 3-4-3 front three Joelinton, Gayle, Almiron/ASM??? until we sign a goalscorer.
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 5:40 AM
Comment #12Yeah the front 3 are badly lacking confidence and going into games knowing you will have 30% possession and maybe one shot between the whole team puts you under massive pressure when you do get a chance. You know your next chance might not come along for a few weeks. Attacking will give them the motivation to show Bruce he can attack more often.
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 5:46 AM
Comment #13Sorry for talking football guys,
Grant Thornton out!
cyprus
Oct 27, 2019 at 6:08 AM
Comment #14Those three need to be closer to each other on the pitch. Joellington (and most CFs) can’t be effective when isolated up front. Before we dismiss him as a flop, I’d like to see him miss a bunch of chances! Aguero misses so many, he useless? (Rhetorical question)
Almiron spends a lot of time and energy in the wrong half. I get it. He needs to because he can carry the ball. He shouldn’t.
ASM needs time and to be injury free. He’s hardly featured.
In MF, we still need a commanding presence. I’d make that a priority on January, above CFs. With the right supply, Carroll, Gayle and Joelington have enough.
Apologies, another football comment 🙂
cyprus
Oct 27, 2019 at 6:16 AM
Comment #15Almiron reminds me of that kid -it was me 😉 – in the park who was a forward, was more talented than the rest, so felt it his duty to chase the ball all over the pitch, in order to make things happen.
Nufc-83
Oct 27, 2019 at 6:49 AM
Comment #16When Hayden returns we are ready made to replicate Klopp and Liverpool tactics. Ideally we would need bettter full backs as they are key but we should still go ahead as it really would get the best out of our attacking players. The 433 with the false 9 and the two wide players playing high up the pitch. This would suit ASM and Almiron (Salah and Mane) as they wouldn’t be defending constantly. We then have Joelinton who can drop deeper and link the play which he seems good at (Firminho). Longstaffs can just be box to box workhorse cms (Henderson/Gini and Milne) while Hayden plays the Fabinho role and sits. Does Bruce have the coaching skills to implement this system though is what worries me as it’s completely changing from what Rafa used and at the moment he is just replicating.
Mag52
Oct 27, 2019 at 6:56 AM
Comment #17Cyprus.
You sound like a player who Bruce should be looking at.
Good luck today lads.
HWTL.
kimbo
Oct 27, 2019 at 6:58 AM
Comment #18According to the Chronicle Justin Barnes was sent by Ashley to judge the mood at the club, well the mood of the fans is the football being served up isnot acceptable and without scoring goals we are relegated. Bruce is totally out of his depth in the Premier League and we don’t have the quality to stay up and by Christmas it will be too late to sort out.
So Mick Tait is our main scout, so I would sack him straight away for advising buying Joelinton.
NezzaNUFC
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:29 AM
Comment #19Idiots!
Traitor Bruce had no tactical style not can he replicate any.
Get of your high horse and support relegation, only way to get these clowns out!
Nufc-83
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:32 AM
Comment #20Nezza sorry for being an idiot and as that’s the case could you please explain why relegation would rid us of Ashley as I don’t have the brain power to work that one out?
Jib
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:36 AM
Comment #21Nezza’s just upset cos his team lost to Shrewsbury yesterday
Mad Frog Boom 22
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:38 AM
Comment #22Toon 22 – 0 Wolves
Mad Frog Boom 22
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:38 AM
Comment #23Who makes our first goal?
toon22
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Comment #24Hiya JIB and his many alts
Mad Frog Boom 22
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Comment #25#ashleyout #relegationbattle #frogyouall
Jail for Ashley
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:44 AM
Comment #26I think Jib’s accusations of everyone he doesn’t agree with of being a mackem, the overuse of words like scum and filth to describe our unwashed neighbours is a front to hide his dirty little secret. This rugger loving taxi driver is a former mackem, 100% FACT.
Nufc-83
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:48 AM
Comment #27I thought it was you Jail? Is this the game of I’m not you are?
Nufc-83
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:49 AM
Comment #28Toon remember I’m a Tony Alt 😉
Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:49 AM
Comment #29Nufc-83, very good post. However the obvious concern for us in setting up 433 is not simply not having the great fullbacks Liverpool do that drives on so much of their attacks, (they really are great going both ways and run all day long), its that we don’t have the quality throughout the 11 period.
Our real quality is the 3 centre backs, in particular Scharr, Lejeune and one of Lascelles or Fernandez between them, and Dubravka behind, after that we are competitive but not brilliant, and no matter how we set up the front 3, they are gonna be goal shy, and that’s a million miles away from Mane, Firmino and Sarah, probably the best attack in World football.
Five at the back and a counterattacking style suits the players we have. We’d need some quality additions and some vast improvement in goals and assists from Almiron, St Max and Joelinton for 433 to work, otherwise the most likely outcome would be an actual worse goal difference and fewer precious points.
Jib
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:50 AM
Comment #30Jail I don’t accuse everyone I don’t agree with of being a mackem
Just you – an ex mackem
and now Nezza
who comes on an NUFC blog and starts
“Idiots!
Traitor Bruce had no tactical style”
The tense he uses is a giveaway
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:51 AM
Comment #31Cyprus,
I feel it’s my duty to chase the ball all over the pitch to make up for my lack of talent
Jail for Ashley
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:54 AM
Comment #32Jiblets,
For the record I’m not a mackem or ever have been. You however are a lying weasel and have accused loads of people of being one, that journo who Lilongwe knew personally and wasn’t. You’re a liar, fraud and a charlatan.
toon22
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:54 AM
Comment #33Hiya Tony
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 27, 2019 at 7:57 AM
Comment #34I would never have employed Mick Tait as chief scout. He’s hardly renowned. But he’s a Geordie so who cares about ability. Probably save a few thousand on wages a year too…. anyway, I thought Nickson was our chief scout? Did he leave?
Imagine we had a scout or a system for identifying players like Leicester. Most their players were obvious choices like Ndidi, Maddison, Perez, Tielemans, McGuire. Most players they’ve signed had exceptional stats (goals, assists, tackles) at their previous clubs. If I remember correctly Ndidi had the highest tackles in Europe at his previous as did Kante etc. Just see who’s performing and send someone to watch them. Then buy them if they fit in the manager’s system if he has one. Hardly rocket science! And don’t buy 5 players who are all in the same mould especially if they are all speedy dribblers with no end product! It’s never worked for the African teams and it won’t work for us. One of these types is enough.
Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 27, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Comment #35Guardian has us..
……………………….Dubravka..
…….Fernandez…..Lascelles…….Clarke.
Yedlin………………………………………….Willems.
……………………….Longstaffs.
St Max……………………………………….Joelinton.
……………………………Gayle.
I know they just make it up like we do, but that’s not a bad 11 out of what we have available, since we are looking for more goals.
I think this might be our best 11 when fully fit.
………………………….Dubravka..
……………Scharr…..Fernandez…….Lejeune.
Manquillo………………………………………….Ritchie.
…………………..Hayden.SLongstaff.
St Max……………………………………….Joelinton.
……………………………Carroll.
If the team gains a bit of momentum and confidence, them perhaps one of Ki and Shelvey for one of Hayden or Longstaff.
Jib
Oct 27, 2019 at 8:01 AM
Comment #36Jail
The journo in question
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2015/7/15/8971231/interview-the-daily-mails-craig-hope-on-safc
He comes across as a mackem
If Lilo (who says he knows him) refutes this – then fair enough
Jib
Oct 27, 2019 at 8:04 AM
Comment #37tnmw
Steve Nickson is head of recruitment
The transfer chief
The scouts find prospects then Nickson has a look
and decides whether to pursue the interest.
Nufc-83
Oct 27, 2019 at 8:06 AM
Comment #38Nicky great point. Lejuerne and Schar are tremendous cbs and are two of the best outside possibly the top 6 (even better than some of them individually). I think they could handle a flat 4 no problem and I like Hayden as a holding player so although concerned about the full backs I think defensively we are not far away. The longstaffs will run all day and offer a goal threat. I think you would see a lot more goals from Almiron, ASM and Joelinton if they played much higher up the pitch and didn’t have to track back all the time. It’s a risk no doubt and maybe one we don’t take against the better sides but I would love if we lined up this way against wolves today.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Oct 27, 2019 at 8:07 AM
Comment #39Nufc83 @20
The blog knows about your lack of brain power, it’s quite obvious.
martoon
Oct 27, 2019 at 8:08 AM
Comment #40It’s match day – here’s a novel idea – we could talk about football!