Newcastle fans got their first glimpse of Sven Botman in person during yesterday’s 2-1 win over Athletic Club. The center-back continued his fine pre-season with another composed display in which he showed why Eddie Howe was so keen to get him on board.
Howe has some selection dilemmas ahead of the season opener against Nottingham Forest next weekend. The battle between Dan Burn and Botman to partner Fabian Schar could be the most difficult one.
Newcastle were excellent defensively against both Atalanta on Friday and Athletic Club yesterday. It seems Howe may have had his preferred backline playing against the Italians in Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Burn, and Matt Targett.
However, it could be difficult keeping Botman on the bench after what he’s shown this pre-season. It’s going to be interesting to see who lines up against Forest in six days.
Eddie Howe has been very impressed with his new defender and believes he is ready for the Premier League. Howe said the following about Botman as published in The Northern Echo after yesterday’s win over Athletic Club:
“He’s done very well during pre-season. I’d say today was a snapshot of how he’s been – very composed on the ball, an excellent distributor, short and long. I thought he defended very well.
“He was good aerially and good defending balls in behind. I thought it was a very composed display. He’s showing the characteristics of what he’ll bring to the defense.
“Is he ready? Of course he is. But there’s competition for places, and that’s now probably my biggest dilemma from the two games – trying to pick one eleven.”
Howe will have a general idea of what his preferred eleven is. Though it’s going to be very harsh on a handful of Magpies next weekend. The competition in the midfield, at center-back, and goalkeeper will be one that could go down to the wire.
142 comments so far
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Comment #1Numero uno
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:31 AM
Comment #2Botman is fit, part of the team culture and raring to go.
He’s had pre-season match time.
He came here to play.
We bought him to play.
Shelvey is injured.
We have Forest at home not Liverpool away.
He plays
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:32 AM
Comment #3Three hit
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:32 AM
Comment #4Bloody hell must be coffee time across the land
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Comment #5Famous Five
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Comment #6Slimy six
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Comment #7Secret seven
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #8After Eight
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #9I too would go for Botman against forest. He looked to be one of the fittest players yesterday. A total collosus. Play him.
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #10Nein
How is this posible
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:35 AM
Comment #11Schar looked good on Friday as well. So I’d play him in the right Centreback role.
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #12C’nest poseeb.
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #13Vask
Crafty interloper
I was on a role there
Disrupted my flow
Yep, play Botman, Bruno and Joe
Sets a marker, start as we mean to go on
lochinvar
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:37 AM
Comment #14Discuss.
Dog walking time
The overrated Frenchman
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #15Burn did a job for the team last season at a critical time, but Botman is the future. He has to play.
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #16Oh I’m a disrupter, so I am.
Well I think our best 11 is quite clear judging on preseason. I may be tempted to put Anderson in the misfield 3 with Bruno and Apollinaro. Probly won’t happen but I think Anderson performed better than Lobby and willock in the games I saw over the summer.
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:41 AM
Comment #17I think with Anderson, Joelinton and Bruno in the middle our ball retention in tight situations would be quite good.
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #18All have good dribbling, turning and vision. So quick triangle with a through ball for Miggy ASM and Wilson ? goal!
outside the box
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #19repost
positives and negatives from friendlies ..positive two good keepers dubs and pope
trippier and target with krafth as backup for fbacks
schar and botman with burns as backup
bruno and joe centre midfield ….longstaff/shelvey poss anderson
almiron and maxi…poss anderson /murphy as wide midfield
wilson striker…
negatives …need defensive midfielder to fit in with bruno and joe
need striker as cover for wilson ..cornet?..
need to qualify for europe…to keep bruno and botman (hope a huge release is in their contracts)
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:45 AM
Comment #20The goal to finish the move scored by Anderson obviously.
Zhongguo Geordie
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:46 AM
Comment #21Burn can provide cover at LB which makes you wonder how Dummet will fit in the squad.
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:47 AM
Comment #22I think that Dummet will be 2nd choice LB and burn the covering 3rd if Lewis never becomes fit.
Novocastrian66
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:48 AM
Comment #23I’m in the Div 3 H2H. Looking forward to it. Thanks for sorting WorB and Neil.
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #24I think Lewis has a massive job ahead of him if he wants a future at Newcastle. He has some good attributes but his injury record is becoming alarming.
Zhongguo Geordie
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #25Man Utd linked with Sesko. He’s got 2/2 thisvseason for Salzburg. If he keeps that up he’ll be worth double. If we can buy him now and leave him there a year.
scott
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #26Martoon
My bash at this
Final League Position = 8th
No of Points = 59
Goals Scored =60
League Cup Entry 5th round
FA Cup Entry 5 = 6th Round
Player of the Season = Bruno
Top Goal Scorer = Wilson
Number of Goals scored by TGS = 16
Great White Hunter
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:51 AM
Comment #27Morning all, Enjoyed the match first time a St James for over 12 year, especially the first half, second half ran out of steam. Quite disappointed with ground, walked around the whole ground as got there at 1.00, grandson got a photo with Calum Wilson standing in the players entrance awaiting his wife and daughters coming up the stairs etc….. The ground definitely, IMO, needs loads of work to be done, even inside the concourse, it just seen a lick of paint, that’s in the East stand. Can’t think PIF will be happy as it stands for this to be their show piece stadium etc…. we were only 2 rows from the front, all the players warmed up a few yards from us, some good photos taken. Close up we,ve got some big,big lads playing for us, we should,not be letting in set pieces, corners ,IMO. We definitely look 100% fitter than previously and I love the quick passing especially out of defence, just seems to break down when it goes up front, but we all know that. Cheers. GWH
Vask
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Comment #28Zhon
Sounds like a plan to secure his services for the future. It all depends if Howe thinks he can slot him in/train him up to his system.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:56 AM
Comment #29See they have the standing room area ready for away supporters – still up in the Gods
Davas
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Comment #30Didn’t think it was a bad thing that Bilbao were on top after they brought on fresh players. It would have helped the players overall fitness and good practice for holding on to a lead
Mund
Jul 31, 2022 at 11:59 AM
Comment #31Sir Bobby Robson nostalgia
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fk114FpzJ4
Remember to grab the tissues…
The GOAT! Never to be seen again
snowdone
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:07 PM
Comment #32Dubravka over Pope, Botman plus Schar, the Brazilians plus Willock, Almiron, Wilson and ASM. 5 main subs : Burn, Kraft, Anderson, Fraser and Murphy.
Tripper and Targett at fullback. Use of subs will be interesting early in the season, as we were certainly tiring in second half. I do know we were up against fresher legs in the friendlies.
ChicoUSA
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:09 PM
Comment #33martoon
Here are my 2022/23 predictions
Final League Position = 7th?
No of Points = 58
Goals Scored = 59?
League Cup = Semi Final
?FA Cup = Qtr Final?
Player of the Season = Bruno?
Top Goal Scorer = Wilson?
Number of Goals scored by TGS = 15
ChicoUSA
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:10 PM
Comment #34Hmmm, don’t know where the question marks came from….some residue of cut and paste…
Moonraker15
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:13 PM
Comment #35Lots of very interesting players being considered. The difference this season however, is that Dan Ashworth and his team are working hard behind the scenes to actually sign some of them! It’s not just blowing hot air as in previous seasons!
ToonDarnSarf
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:17 PM
Comment #36If they’re fit, I’d be very surprised if Tripper, Targett, Botman, Bruno, Joelinton, ASM and Wilson don’t start. I think the places at GK, CB, CM and RW are up for grabs though. Suspect Almiron has done enough in pre-season at RW and Schar is the best option alongside Botman but not sure about GK or the 3rd option in midfield.
Nice to be talking about the Forest game finally.
cyprus
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Comment #37Have the twin towers played alongside?
That’s probably the best with Targett and Trip FBS
MF Willock, Joel Bruno.
Attack Almiron, Wilson, ASM.
Still, remember, five subs, this isn’t about best 11 anymore.
Three points registered.
Davas
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Comment #38Martoon
Here are my predictions for this season:
Final League Position – 6th
Final no. of points – 60
Goals Scored (Premiership) – 61
League Cup round (2 = Entry, 7 = Final) – 7
FA Cup round (3 = Entry, 8 = Final) – 6
Player of the Season (Blog) – Anderson
Top goal scorer (TGS) – Miggy
No. of goals scored by TGS – 15
Many thanks.
cyprus
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Comment #39Keeper not a given anymore. Pope.
Zhongguo Geordie
Jul 31, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #40If all else fails would anybody consider a dirt cheap bid for Ayoze Perez?He’s only got a year left on contract. In the equivalent of 5 league games last season he got 2 goals and 3 assists. He’d be cheap which would mean we could keep money for a top younger striker in January or next season, rather that p*ss all our money up the wall on some average plodder just because we are desperate for backup for Wilson. Cornet is just a half-decent left winger who isn’t a patch on ASM so would likely be a waste of 20m.
Personally I prefer to go for a loan, plus buy either Sesko, Gabidol, or another youngish one. Even Broja on loan would do.