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Howe Finding Ways To Keep His Defenders Involved



With Emil Krafth out of action for six to nine months, Newcastle potentially face an issue at right-back should Kieran Trippier pick up an injury. The club tried to add West Ham’s Harrison Ashby on deadline day but the Hammers wanted to part with their academy product.

The 20-year-old is in the final year of his contract, and sans a new one, West Ham may be more open to selling the right-back in January. He’s certainly one to watch over the next few months to see if he extends his contract.

While Eddie Howe has a dearth of options on the right with just Trippier and Javier Manquillo in tow, the opposite flank paints a far different picture. In fact, Howe seems to rate Dan Burn so highly that he’s found ways to keep the Geordie on the pitch despite the emergence of Sven Botman.

When Matt Targett suffered a minor hamstring injury after the season’s opening weekend, it was Burn to come in at left-back. The 30-year-old kept remained on the left for the next three matches, even after Targett returned for the Wolves draw.

Targett returned to the starting eleven, in the league, at Liverpool which Burn started at center-back with Jamaal Lascelles. The backline was superb against the Reds leaving everything they had out on the pitch.

Howe went back to what is likely his preferred backline this past weekend. Tripper, Fabian Schar, Botman, and Targett all got the nod and played very well. Though Burn came on late for Targett to keep his league appearance streak intact at 22.

Jamal Lewis was on the bench while Paul Dummett was again a no-show. It seems that Howe is determined to keep Burn involved even though Botman may now be ahead of him in the pecking order.

One thing is clear, this defense has been turned from a nightmarish vulnerability into a strength. Newcastle have excellent defenders in tow, who will at varying times be called on to play their part.


103 comments so far

  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:54 AM

    Comment #41

    Ronway – there are 27 players there. I know Anderson doesn’t need a squad place but all of the others do I think? So perhaps that isn’t the official 25 man squad and just the whole first team squad. Krafth is there and there’s no chance he’ll play before the World Cup, possibly not all season.

    0
  • magicmac54

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:54 AM

    Comment #42

    Sir Peter the Pug and ToonDarnSarf

    I`m partial to a we bet in the bookies, so whats the odds in your big Golf challenge on friday lads 😀 😀

    0
  • snowdone

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:54 AM

    Comment #43

    Thanks, Pug. I’ve sent an email.

    Raj, thanks for the thought. It is annoying, because my friend invited me, but forgot to say he used up his allocation for friends from the USA!
    My first visit to Craven Cottage was in 1965/66. We lost 5-1 and Allan Clarke played for them. Our goalkeeper made right howler for one of the goals!!

    1
  • Ronway

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:54 AM

    Comment #44

    Raj – #39

    It is and from what I understand they are both included in the 25 man squad.

    0
  • Ronway

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:55 AM

    Comment #45

    TDS – #41

    When do Premier League clubs announce their 25-man squads for the season?

    The Premier League do not permit much milling about when it comes to clubs declaring their 25-man squads for the season.

    Within a day of the transfer window closing, each club must have submitted their list of names.

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:56 AM

    Comment #46

    magicmac54 – I think we’re going to keep it friendly as it’s impossibly to play it evenly without using handicaps. Pug claims he once played off +4 (or did he mean just 4?) so that’s far better than I have ever been.

    0
  • Raj of Hailsley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:56 AM

    Comment #47

    Ronway,
    FPL have him listed as 25th of Feb return, deffo not in the first half squad.

    1
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 11:58 AM

    Comment #48

    Ronway – I think they’re submitted very soon after the transfer window closes but from memory I think they’re always announced several days later. Not entirely sure why that is as I’d have thought it would be simple. Maybe to account for final paperwork to go through (like work permits) and any free transfers from players released just before the window closed but signed just after? Just speculation but does make sense. I’d expect there to be an announcement before the weekend based on what I remember has happened before though.

    1
  • Raj of Hailsley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:00 PM

    Comment #49

    Snowdonia,
    I think that new stand being built has massively reduced capacity, they’ve started on 150 points so that tells you the expected demand.

    0
  • Raj of Hailsley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:00 PM

    Comment #50

    Snowdonia that’s a new one 😀

    1
  • Ronway

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:03 PM

    Comment #51

    Raj – #47 & TDS #48

    The devil is in the detail I guess.

    Probably the squad has been submitted but the Premier League haven’t released them for public consumption.

    I originally thought Elliot Anderson and Alexander Isak were both under 21 years old and therefore didn’t count towards the 25 man squad.

    My bad!

    🙂

    1
  • magicmac54

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:07 PM

    Comment #52

    ToonDarnSarf

    No doubt a whistleblower will let us know who is vistorious on friday 😀 😀

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:10 PM

    Comment #53

    Ronway – yeah, I suspect the squad has already been submitted and we’re just waiting for the Premier League to announce it too. It’s possibly that we’ve submitted just 24 names to leave one free to add later perhaps? If we’ve submitted 25 then it’s got to be Shelvey and not Krafth.

    Actually…Isak definitely doesn’t count as an U21 player but Botman might. I think they count as U21 if they’re 21 or under on 1st January of the same year the season commences. Botman was born on 12th January.

    So it’s possible we have 23 + Anderson & Botman + 2 spots for Shelvey/Kraft/free transfer(s)

    1
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:16 PM

    Comment #54

    magicmac54 – in order for there to be a victory, we’d have to decide on the rules of the competition!

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:18 PM

    Comment #55

    Magic, John will win and I will trail in. No Knee, No Back and No Hope.

    John and Mark look matched. one shot either way

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:20 PM

    Comment #56

    TDS is was a h/c of 4. never made par

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:22 PM

    Comment #57

    There is no way on earth I will make all 18 holes, hence buggies. But…. even it it means forget the driver and just hit onto green and putt. The whole 18 will be done.

    0
  • Dubai Micky

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:23 PM

    Comment #58

    Craig Pawson will be the referee for #NUFC’s Premier League game at West Ham United on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off).

    Wonder who is on VAR.

    1
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:24 PM

    Comment #59

    Pug – you did once say +4, so ok if that was a mistake. A mate of mine made the same mistake recently too. I’m currently 19.7 so that’s still basically 16 shots better than my very best.

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:24 PM

    Comment #60

    Dubai Micky – not Lee Mason that’s for sure…

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:26 PM

    Comment #61

    Jail, Hi, I missed your comment ref. getting (trying) for Fulham tickets.Thank you.

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:27 PM

    Comment #62

    I have too much on today, missing posts everywhere so apologies in advance.

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:30 PM

    Comment #63

    Rules of competition.

    THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE lol

    You and John will bat it out. I will limp in.

    0
  • Asi Fish

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:30 PM

    Comment #64

    Dubai – Steve Bruce and Paolo Di Canio are sharing the VAR objections / rejections for this weekend.

    2
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:31 PM

    Comment #65

    TDS, and it is coming down at a rate. John will give you a game, I will make a cameo

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:36 PM

    Comment #66

    Pug – come down to 19.7 from 29.2 in just over 2 months, so I’m happy with that. Shot a 97 yesterday though so wasn’t happy with that but had the round of my life the day before with an 88 in a medal (strokeplay) competition.

    I’m happy just to get out on the course, have some fun, and have a good chat.

    Could score anywhere from 86 to 99 I reckon.

    1
  • jimiley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:38 PM

    Comment #67

    I wanted Gerrard over Howe who I did not think had enough big club experience.
    I will willingly admit when I am totally wrong.
    Who sold Mitro and Toney for peanuts and they are now worth 100 million. Would that be the person who then nearly relegated a Chinese club ( big bucks salary) and Everton and now cannot get a job? Shame that he never succeeded at Everton as they sacked him too soon.
    Howe or Rafa. No brainer but we must move on to the title in a few years

    4
  • magicmac54

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:38 PM

    Comment #68

    The VAR Shenanigans rumbles on Talk Sport

    https://youtu.be/ClIuyBHJYMU

    1
  • dazzler

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:38 PM

    Comment #69

    Asi Fish,

    That would still be an improvement on Lee Mason! Unless there is a Jewish player on the pitch, as Di Canio will give them nowt!

    3
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:41 PM

    Comment #70

    jimiley – to be fair, Toney had multiple loans and didn’t really show anything to make people believe he was close to being a PL striker. It’s taken him 2 or 3 more years after being sold to make it and he was basically at the age where he needed to make a permanent move for the sake of his own career. He wasn’t good enough to play for us then so it’s just one of those things.

    Mitro likes to be the main man too. He is a big confidence player so he’s great when he’s in the team and scoring but wait and see what happens if he goes on a run without scoring…

    I think we had to sell them both, although obviously Toney was sold for very little. I think we got good money for Mitro though?

    1
  • Sav

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:41 PM

    Comment #71

    Dropping Lee Mason from VAR for 1 week is described as ‘punishment’ by the unregulated, unaccountable PGMOL. Strikes me its more a measure calculated to keep him out of the firing line while the current hoohah dies down rather than any significant punishment for the blunderer. And of course, still no explanation for the incident and why only some camera angles displayed to the referee.

    8
  • Tinos Vino

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:44 PM

    Comment #72

    Afternoon all. the “b” team as everyone is calling it is not good enough i agree. However with most of the PL teams not willing to do business with us that gives us a right dilemma.

    Do we carry on looking abroad and pick out the gems like Bruno, Botman , Isak? That will take time and many windows to get to where we want ( 1-2 a window) and we are bound to buy a duff at some stage for quite a chunk of change.

    Do we sort the academy out and be patient that in 3-4 years it will start producing?

    Do we double down on team spirit and try and constantly get more out of the team than the sum of its parts?

    I think if we all reflect we can see the club is trying hard and exploring all the avenues. It won’t be overnight and it won’t be over one season.

    Sparky re Bruno’s mate. Next time i see you let’s discuss. There is something not quite right here. They would have bought him if they wanted him so something has put the club off in the background.

    2
  • Asi Fish

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:46 PM

    Comment #73

    Lee Mason slaps blind people like the Tango Man.

    0
  • jimiley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:51 PM

    Comment #74

    Toon darn south
    We got reasonable money for Mitro but both were young. Mitro always looked overweight. He seems at least a stone lighter now and 50 million striker.
    We have dropped some bollicks over the years both buying and selling.
    All clubs make mistakes. Manure and Chelsea have spent a fortune and bought some rubbish. Even pep paid 100 million for 40 million player who cannot get a game.
    Eddie will also get some signings wrong. That’s why I do not agree that we should assume every signing will be a success. The greater the fee the greater the risk. An expensive player guarantees nothing. (Not alluding to Isak who will be success but needs more quality around him. Still waiting for a Miggy or Murphy or Fraser assist)

    2
  • magicmac54

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:55 PM

    Comment #75

    Sir Peter the Pug & ToonDarnSarf

    I sincerely hope you two chaps haven`t signed an Non Disclosure Agreement as possibly the whole blog would like to know the result of the big Golf Challenge on friday, also some brief highlights on YouTube would be very desirable

    1
  • Raj of Hailsley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:57 PM

    Comment #76

    jimiley,
    Selling Mitro and Toney earlier have set us back years, I mean just look at Brenfmtfor and Fulham 🙄

    1
  • snowdone

    Sep 6, 2022 at 12:58 PM

    Comment #77

    I see the club are looking for a Spanish speaking soft tissue masseur.
    I speak good Spanish and I regularly rub my wife’s feet and back!

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 1:01 PM

    Comment #78

    jimiley – Agreed. By the way, I don’t think any club can do worse with selling players than Chelsea…sold KDB and Salah for starters…then there’s Lukaku and several others I can’t remember.

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Sep 6, 2022 at 1:02 PM

    Comment #79

    On that note…I need to get ready for more golf practice! 🙂

    0
  • jimiley

    Sep 6, 2022 at 1:05 PM

    Comment #80

    Raj
    Spot on.
    It just gets conveniently forgotten or some excuses made. Simebody yesterday justified the selling of Toney because we needed to raise capital. Aye, half a mil of capital. See what I mean about making excuses
    For whatever reason we have chucked away 100 million. We sold the club for 300!!

    2


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