This is the team I think Steve Bruce could go with for tonight’s match at Manchester United. It has three changes from the defeat to Chelsea last week.
Bruce’s injury update during his press conference had some positives with Federico Fernandez returning to training and Javier Manquillo responding well to treatment. However, both won’t be available for today leaving Bruce with few options at the back.
I can see Bruce making one change with his backline with Isaac Hayden coming in at right-back for Emil Krafth, who struggles against pacy forwards. Hayden played there recently in the 2-1 Leeds defeat and will also open up some changes to the midfield.
The glaring one being the return of Matty Longstaff. The youngster plays well against the Red Devils with two goals against them last season. His youthful exuberance and stamina would be very useful tonight.
Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock keep their places though I wouldn’t be surprised if Bruce sat Shelvey for this one and brought back Jeff Hendrick or Sean Longstaff. Newcastle need to make life uncomfortable for Man United as Lascelles said over the weekend. That’s just not Shelvey’s type of game.
The other questionable change that I can envision is Joelinton coming in for Dwight Gayle. Bruce hinted that Gayle will get a run of games during his press conference but he offers little in a wide role and may need to wait for Wolves next weekend
Joelinton is a frustrating player but Bruce may opt to go with him tonight as he looked ok when coming on against Chelsea. He had a few moments and that may warrant another opportunity.
Bruce generally makes a few changes after a poor performance. While the second-half was much-improved, it was because the lads showed more intent. So Bruce’s team selection will have to mirror that type of mindset.
Whoever takes the pitch at Old Trafford tonight will have to play like their lives depend on it. Fulham moved to just three points adrift after their 1-0 win over a very poor Sheffield United. It’s a full-on relegation battle now, which is just sickening.
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140 comments so far
Tackle from behind
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:21 PM
Comment #81EGB
Maitland Niles is on loan at West Brom
Jail for Ashley
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:24 PM
Comment #82WLtoon,
Happy Borthda, that rant about Bruce made me forget about it earlier.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:26 PM
Comment #83Tackle
Oops, you’re correct, I should have said Loftus Cheek! đ
cleveleysbob
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:26 PM
Comment #84Looks like Parkerâs pointing the way forward for teams without megabucks to spend.
Just get half a dozen loans in from the ranks of the top teams youth set up, give them good coaching and allow their natural youth and athleticism + gametime enthusiasm to carry you through.
There doesnât seem to be any restrictions to loanee numbers, only the quantity from each team is restricted.
Better than picking up a load of older âother team offloadsâ and has beens with PL experience and hoping theyâll do the job for you.
magicmac54
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:28 PM
Comment #85WLtoon
I see its your birthday, have a good one lad, and take it easy on the tetley`s tea lol
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:28 PM
Comment #86Cleveleys pointless doing that with Bruce he wouldn’t have a clue about development it would be a disaster of shipwrecked younguns
onmeedsun
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:28 PM
Comment #87EGB
I knew it was close to 30 loans at Chelsea.
The FA and PL have been lax at closing this down. There should be a limit of say 10 you can loan out, and say 3 in.
Chelsea have cornered the market in young talent and control where they go.
And if there were proper limits on numbers these young players would be spread across other clubs, which would be healthy.
Itâs a clever business model and this is what happens when big money is at stake, as clever people come in to exploit whatever they can.
Except at the Toon of course!
ShirebrookToon
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:30 PM
Comment #88The words of Rafa have never been more fitting this season.
âItâs gonna take a miracle to stay on the EPLâ
cleveleysbob
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:32 PM
Comment #89Tsunki, I did say âgood coachingâ, which eliminates Bruce from the conversation.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:32 PM
Comment #90onmeedsun
Especially when you see them sending full English international players out on loan.
It’s only cos they have their ogliarch owner funding them, they’d be nowt without him.
cleveleysbob
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:33 PM
Comment #910-4 would be good tonight. 6 point gap and equal goal goal difference!
How can we ensure weâre only playing against 6 men, that would do it. đ
Australian Pie
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:33 PM
Comment #92Don’t get yourselves twisted tonight though. We are playing second in the table in a very well performing Manchester side. Anything out of tonight’s game is a bonus.
It’s the next few games after tonight that are crucial
hibbit
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:33 PM
Comment #93the loan system is open to everyone we just seem unable to use it to our advantage
Australian Pie
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:34 PM
Comment #94Also not true its either us or Fulham.
Brighton only 1 point ahead, Burnley, Palace, Southampton all within touching distance.
cleveleysbob
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:34 PM
Comment #95Goal goal, wtf!! – Iâm clearly losing it. đ
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:36 PM
Comment #96Never discount us from turning man u over this is our thing remember! We specialise in getting points AND losing them in all the wrong games ha ha
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:40 PM
Comment #97cleveleysbob
Isn’t the game abandoned if a team goes down to 7 men, I’d settle for them going down to 9 then we might get a sneaky draw.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:43 PM
Comment #98Didn’t Watford get a promotion based on foreign loan players?
Optimistic prime
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:44 PM
Comment #99Hibbit
No point loaning players for a manager unable to utilise them.
onmeedsun
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:44 PM
Comment #100Hibbit
Yes it is but Chelsea probably spending ÂŁ10m a year investing in their academy and have top facilities. Ashley hasnât invested ÂŁ1 in NUFC in 14 years except for the initial purchase and paying off the loan on the stadium at the outset. No investment. He will gamble away ÂŁ100m on retail punts, but nothing on his football club.
I think he decided years ago that he would never recover any further investment and could never compete with clubs with much bigger income streams.
Clubs like Leicester have proven him short sighted and plain wrong.
But he wonât change now.
We just need a proper strategic plan instead of constantly winging it.
Jarra
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:47 PM
Comment #101The problem with trying to pick a team is based on being blind as we have no idea who is performing in training and what tactics he will set up with.
The team that was set up for the Chelsea match I thought ok they are gonna hard press and break with speed.
In reality we played with ten men as Gayle was neither sharp enough or just confused about what he was supposed to be doing, leaving Kraft who I don’t rate always against two players.
So picking my team blind from what capabilities I know they have on a good day.
I’m gonna play 3 4 3 with the ethos being about fitness none stop running hard pressing defending as a team attacking with a fast flowing interacting movement and passing.
Most importantly when we have the ball keep it, in effect the midfield and forwards play as one go forward together and defender even harder.
Hayden focused more on mopping up supporting the back three.
That is my plan and with the No 1 Gaolie between the sticks.
Then tomorrow I want to read Bruce has been handed his P45.
Dubvraka
Dummett Lascells Clark
Murphy Willock Hayden Richie
Almiron
Saint-Maximin Fraser
hibbit
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:48 PM
Comment #102not looking for a row here, but is int what chelsea have what were all craving a very rich owner who’s prepared to spend ???
Jail for Ashley
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:49 PM
Comment #103If Everton had of chased away Ancelotti last season and paid ÂŁ4M pounds for Bruce, what do you think the media reaction would have been?
Jarra
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Comment #104However I expect Bruce to Pick a back five as he will try for a goaless draw.
I think he will play
Darlow
Kraft Clark Lascells Dummett Lewis
Hayden shelvey Willock
Almaron ASM
Reilly
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Comment #105Hibbit.Im not arsed about being like Chelsea,i would settle for being like Everton.
Just want an owner who will take us forward.
SiOliver
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:55 PM
Comment #106Anyone remember a long long time when Wet Spam were rubbish and we were heading for Europe. Seems like it was only yesterday – how fortunes change eh.
SiOliver
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:55 PM
Comment #107*ago
onmeedsun
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:56 PM
Comment #108Hibbit
I want PIF but I donât want us abusing the loan market like Chelsea. I think itâs wrong for any club to be allowed to do what they do. I just want a plan and reasonable investment, and yes want to see more players come through a state of the art academy.
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:57 PM
Comment #109That’s what happens when you try and just float in a river. You get washed downstream. Hiring Bruce was like putting waterwings on our ankles.
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:58 PM
Comment #110Onmeedsun – I recall someone else wanting that. đ
onmeedsun
Feb 21, 2021 at 1:59 PM
Comment #111West Ham
Great recruitment and a solid coaching team.
I despise them for stealing the stadium from taxpayers, but you canât fault the mgt team for the football decisions theyâve made. Every player theyâve bought is top drawer.
Sav
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM
Comment #112So, we only pick Matty Longstaff against ManU because ‘He plays well against ManU’…? That’s a load of tosh. Almost as daft as when Bruce praised the lad last season after scoring and playing well against them and then promptly dropped him instead of any attempt to nurture whatever talent the lad has. For all we know, he plays well against a host of sides but I’d say his youthful confidence which was so refreshing last year, to quote the Norwegian media, has taken a hell of a beating. Thanks, Bruce.
hibbit
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:01 PM
Comment #113Reilly totally agree with that mate,
evertons owner is spending big , new ground , new training facilitys , a top manager who’s being fully backing, now look at us , i would take a set up like Everton over Ashley,
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:01 PM
Comment #114Torture isn’t it waiting all day Sunday to watch what happens and which nufc will turn up. đ
Carson80
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:02 PM
Comment #115Tsunki have to say you were spot on in your comments this morning in regards to fans and relegation, nice to have someone else’s insight.
Happy Birthday WLtoon, you could always have a port and lemonade if you didn’t fancy a full on alcoholic drink.
In regards to Bruce and young lads, I think his idea of development would be to gather them all round and tell them about the birds and the bees.
Going for a 1-1 draw today.
đ
onmeedsun
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:02 PM
Comment #116And by the way, West Ham owners only changed tack following the scenes at their stadium when directors were intimidated. I know that is all wrong, but they got their message across and the board changed tack. I suspect we would have to have a full SJP turning on the team on the pitch and manager. It needs to be so bad that the status quo becomes untenable.
Reilly
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:03 PM
Comment #117The reubens and amanda could make us a 10 club.
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:04 PM
Comment #118Thanks Carson – trying to see another point of view instead of just smashing it down seemed to draw me accusations of trying to start an argument, irony lives and breathes here doesn’t it? đ
toon22
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:05 PM
Comment #119Sav
Yeh lets ignore how they play
How we play
What players usually have a good game against teams
How other teams got points
Just hoy out the same team as last time and just hope for the best as per usual
You related to cabbage hhed by any chance >?
Tsunki
Feb 21, 2021 at 2:06 PM
Comment #120It does sound reactionary to a lot of people who just don’t want the boat rocked even though it’s sinking anyway, but if we as Ashley’s customers had just boycotted his business full stop yrars ago he probably would have put a lot more effort into moving out. Hindsight is 20/20 though. đ