Eddie Howe was able to field an unchanged squad at Crystal Palace with the miraculous recovery of Bruno Guimaraes. The midfielder made continual progress throughout last week and was able to train on Friday before being inserted into the starting eleven at Selhurst Park.
Howe said the following about Bruno’s quick recovery during this morning’s press conference:
“Bruno said he felt 100% fit to play and the medical team was absolutely convinced he was OK and his performance I think showed that. We’re really pleased that he came through the game fine.”
Guimaraes’s availability took a selection decision out of Howe’s hands. Both Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak have not started in the league since prior to the respective injuries that kept them out of action for lengthy periods.
With Newcastle’s struggles in front of the net, Howe could tweak his starting eleven tomorrow to get more firepower on the pitch. Howe was asked about this attacking duo this morning in their fight for full fitness. This was Howe’s response:
“I’d say they’re both getting there, for sure. I think it’s different situations. With Alex, we’ve had to be mindful of the fact that he hasn’t had a lot of training time.
“With a lot of games, you can’t train the players to the intensity that Alex has probably needed. We’ve backed off his training, and exposed him to the games, but, at some stage, he’ll need that training loan to get back to his very best levels. We’re nursing him in gently.
“Allan’s had more training time. He’s had more fitness work, so I think Allan is in peak physical shape.”
Callum Wilson hasn’t scored since his brace against Aston Villa in late October. The 30-year-old struck a frustrated figure at Selhurst Park over the weekend before being withdrawn for Isak.
Howe recently brushed aside any worries about Wilson’s form. Howe said the following when asked whether he was concerned about Wilson’s goal drought after Saturday’s draw:
“Knowing Callum, no. He’s had very limited training time. He had an illness (after the World Cup).
“With Callum, he’s missed big chunks of training, and I think that always affects your sharpness as a player, regardless of position.
“Callum’s worked really hard for the team, and knowing him as I do the goals are just around the corner.”
Howe has a few different routes he could explore with his team selection tomorrow. He may opt to stay with the same eleven or could insert either Isak, Saint-Maximin, or both into the team and hope their inclusion produces the desired effect of more goals.
Here is Howe’s press conference from this morning in full.
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75 comments so far
Assassins Inc
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:43 PM
Comment #1😉
Ashingtoon62
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:44 PM
Comment #2Second…
Assassins Inc
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:45 PM
Comment #3Thinking Isak may start at Southampton, Wilson needs a rest, impact from the bench if needed, Maxi and Wilson to come on second half, not many clubs will want to see those two getting warmed up.
Wor B
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:51 PM
Comment #4Ap
Too late for me young man, (that should be Cloughie’s voice in your head btw).
I’m a fully paid-up grumpy old man with full moaning rights.
One day, a long time from now, you’ll listen to youngsters giving it large and inwardly smile at their naive stupidity. 🙂
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:55 PM
Comment #5JohnJ
I mean I know I’ll be in the minority here but I don’t mind that stuff, a little of the dark arts. Trippier is often there waving cards at the ref, as is Bruno…he’s actually terrible for it. I think it’s just the modern game as refs don’t clamp down on it when they should. Wilson is even good for exaggerating contact in the box to win penalties.
Novo
https://understat.com/league/EPL
If you look at the above link, it shows the expect goals for an against for all teams, as well as a comparison. We underperform our expected goals for but massively over achieve on our expected goals against.
I think it shows we should have 4 more goals that we do. I know each data company do this slightly different so it may be a little more or less than that. I just think the quality of chance we create isn’t good enough a lot of the time as well. We need to be creating more of the chances you see City create so often, where the ball rolls along to the back post for a simple tap in.
Assassins Inc
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:57 PM
Comment #6Over the weekend I watched the Everton game, DCL is a lot quicker than I first thought. I wasn’t sold on him and am still on the fence, but.
Yes he has had his injuries, but most players have, but watching the game I was thinking with our players around him he would score more goals than he does at Everton.
He makes some really good runs and doesn’t get the ball, as I said not completely sold on him but a few seasons back banged in 16 goals in the premier with an average Everton team.
Gordon or DCL? If rumors are true and we go after one of them, which one works better for the club if they do?
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:06 PM
Comment #7Assassins
I’m a fan of DCL. He’s not as ponderous and slow as some think and he’s certainly more than a static target man.
I think if he could keep fit (and I’d assume we’d do as much due diligence on that as we could if he was an option), then he’d be a decent signing for us.
I would like to see that the club explore other options as well though. There may be other players who are much more suited to what we need but I certainly wouldn’t be unhappy with a fit DCL. I personally rate him higher than Wilson when fit.
Hopefully Isak will be the main man for years to come, so DCL as an alternative/bench player would be fantastic. It would also give genuine competition for places as I imagine he’ll want to keep his international career alive which will be helped with regular games and European football.
DrGloom
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:10 PM
Comment #8DCL and Gordon both have contracts until summer 2025, we’d probably have to offer at least 50 million for each of them and up their wages. DCL
I don’t think the club are even looking at them and are looking for a creative attacking midfielder ( I hope so anyway ).
Gordon has 3 goals and no assists in 16 games he’s played
DCL has one goal in 10 games.
Can someone explain to me why they think they will improve the first team never mind the squad , EH is a great coach but he can’t work miracles
Just my opinion
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:15 PM
Comment #9Gordon
I can see him as a Howe type of player – aggressive got a bit of edge like Ttippier and Big Joe –
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:17 PM
Comment #10…big Joe full of running so fits into the high press closing down and got a eye for goal. Also got Premiership experience
Davas
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:18 PM
Comment #11Lampard sacked
G
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:22 PM
Comment #12Davas, has he? Not on BBC or Sky News yet?
Wor B
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:26 PM
Comment #13Plenty time for Dyche to keep them up for next season’s relegation battle.
DrGloom
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:26 PM
Comment #14Lampard sacked according to Daily Fail
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Comment #15What I do worry about us right now is only having Isak and Wilson as strikers!
Wilson for me could do with even a weeks rest as I feel with him you can only push him so far
Thought he was really good against Fulham but looked out of it for Palace which if he does have some kind of covid lingering on can take ages to shake that kind of thing off
Although with Isak also have to be careful as it was a muscular thing
DrGloom
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Comment #16Leighton Baines to take charge whilst they find a new manager
DrGloom
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:28 PM
Comment #17SkySports also now reporting it
Dean0
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:29 PM
Comment #18Still no signings and not long to go until the window slams shut, if we don’t sign some new players we will massively regret it.
Ashingtoon62
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:29 PM
Comment #19Aye Lampard deffo sacked..
Assassins Inc
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:31 PM
Comment #20Link: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/12779347/frank-lampard-sacked-by-everton-after-defeat-at-west-ham-leaves-club-19th-in-premier-league-table
dazzler
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Comment #21It’s mad how two managers the media were touting to us and laughing that we didn’t appoint (Gerrard and Lampard) both spectacularly failed at the clubs they did go to and we’re in the top 4.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Comment #22Wonder how the Everton fans are taking it?
JohnJ
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Comment #23Not really surprising re Lampard!
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:36 PM
Comment #24Christ I pray we don’t get Gordon or any Everton. Player
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Comment #25What they need is a young smart manager that can take them from the relegation zone right up the table.
I believe he already has a good job though!
Toon_Barmy
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Comment #26The Athletic claim Newcastle have dropped out of the race for Fresneda. Maybe he prefers Arsenal or Dortmund. Shame
A Geordie Mongrel
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:39 PM
Comment #27Afternoon all, I keep promising myself that I’ll skip the matchday posts. Then I realise I’m too nebby. 😆
DrGloom
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:40 PM
Comment #28Surely they’ll give Steve Bruce the job till end of season 😀
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:42 PM
Comment #29TS; A cross that does not result in an attempt will not be factored in to any xg metric.
I wonder where understat get their data as it is significantly different to fbref, who use opta stats. As you state there will be a variance but the xg is significantly different .
Ultimately we need to improve our shooting as the data suggests we are under performing.
Pat Mania
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Comment #30I don’t think Eddie will change what’s been a successful XI up until now. Particularly not for a game of this magnitude. Some possibly are looking a bit leggy and I think you’ll see some tweaks post semi finals.
scott
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #31Iv just had a look on the Everton forum to see what they make of the Gordon rumours & they are all desperate to see the back of him!
Even at £30m they are just gutted they didn’t take the Chelsea offer!
That’s a huge red flag if your hometown fans can’t stand you!
Assassins Inc
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #32Wayne Rooney: 11-8
Sean Dyche: 5-1
David Moyes: 6-1
Roberto Martinez: 7-1
Marcelo Bielsa: 12-1
Ange Postecoglou: 14-1
Duncan Ferguson: 16-1
Mauricio Pochettino, Brendan Rodgers: 20-1
John Terry, Kjetil Knutsen: 25-1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Kasper Hjulmand, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gary Rowett: 33-1
Wonder who they will go after, can’t imagine they wouldn’t get someone full time.
lochinvar
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:47 PM
Comment #33Bye bye Frank
Police in Liverpool have clamped a large green tractor parked on double yellow lines outside Goodison Park with the personalised registration CABB 1GE
lochinvar
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:49 PM
Comment #34dazzler @21
quiet smile on reading that
lochinvar
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:51 PM
Comment #35Assassins Inc
You left out
Sam Allardyce
Jose Mourino
That Poncho fellow
Duncan Ferguson ?
Toon fans bad
Jan 23, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Comment #36Eddie saying goals are just around the corner for Wilson, so he’s starting the morn then.
Reckon Everton will get Rooney over from USA. He knows his way round the Champo if they don’t stay up.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 23, 2023 at 4:00 PM
Comment #37Transfer Sage – I do totally agree that a ballot would me a much fairer way to distribute any tickets rather than just first come first served. It’s not easy for many people to sit in a queue online or on the phone when they also have jobs to do. Allow everyone 24 hours to apply to the ballot and then run it overnight. People have that day to complete the purchase of the ticket and any not purchased go through another ballot process the following night. Repeat the process until they’re all sold.
But I don’t have an opinion on how many extra tickets should be available to ST holders rather than go to members/general sale to be honest. I’d have thought most fans would be able to explore different routes of getting a ticket.
Adamn_92
Jan 23, 2023 at 4:01 PM
Comment #38Scott
It’s hard to imagine that Everton fans are impressed with any of their players at the moment though in fairness haha
Toonarmy of Frogs
Jan 23, 2023 at 4:09 PM
Comment #39Scott – hes so out of form to warrant a transfer (regardless of me not wanting Gordon). He’s had a terrible season.
Even if Everton would sell for £30m I’d not even pay half that.
Everton are imploding quick.
Gordon is not the right fit for our team (my opinion). Nightmare of a link.
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Comment #40I remember Gordon Lee leaving us to join Everton. Couldn’t understand that then, still don’t now.