Who Starts Against Liverpool? Jaissle Faces Some Big Decisions
Newcastle United kick off their Premier League campaign against Liverpool at St James' Park on Sunday, 23 August, and Matthias Jaissle already has some difficult selection decisions to make.
After two defeats and another loss on penalties, and just one win against ten man Valencia in the last four friendlies, Jaissle has a big week ahead of him on the training pitch.
Defensive issues still a concern
It's still early days for Jaissle to address all of the questions that the pre-season games have raised but stopping the glut of goals we conceded last season is right up there.
With Tino injured does he put new signing Dedic straight in or play Shahar who has improved with each game he's played.
Either way it's a big decision because who ever plays there could be up against Cody Gakpo or young Rio Ngumoha who is a flying machine.
Lewis Hall will start at LB and the CH pairing will be Thiaw and either Burn or Botman.
We know who they will be against; Isak.
He will get a ton of stick but I'm not expecting it to have any effect and we can only hope that Isak doesn't have the last laugh.
Midfield decisions
With Jo out Jaissle has major decisions to make and part of that will depend on the system he plays - 4321 or 4231.
Joe Willock has played himself into contention and Ramsey will likely start.
After that Jaissle has Miley, Bamba and Steur to consider and whatever formation MJ plays and whoever he selects they will be against MacAllister, Wirtz and Szoboszlai, that midfield is a challenge to any team, never mind one shorn of Jo, Bruno and Tonali.
Who plays ST and out wide?
My guess is Osula will get the nod as the main ST but I wouldn't be surprised if Wissa plays behind him . I don't see Woltemade getting a start.
Out wide there are pros and cons for Barnes or Toure on the left and Elanga or Murphy on the right.
Barnes is the more likely to score but Toure is the one more likely to produce the wing magic and crosses that could create the better chances.
On the right Murphy's assist yesterday and his all round play have made him a challenger to start instead of Elanga but my money would still be on Elanga to get the nod.
Yes... we need more signings and fast
We are all singing from the same hymn sheet on this one and the truth is our voices are getting more hoarse by the day.
Dedic should be confirmed today but a RB isn't going to give us what an experienced mid or two would. If one of those is Paulinha then Wilson needs to get it done.
Every day we lose now without more signings weakens the squad in preparing for the crucial first ten games of the season when a pattern is usually set for the rest of the campaign.
The longer it takes to bring reinforcements in, the harder that battle will be.
And, for definite, Jaissle needs those reinforcements. And fast.
Last Post: Newcastle v Strasbourg
One Injury From A Crisis
Lochinvar
Long shot I know but it helped me.
Try a stretch exercise called the Psoas lunge for your bad back.
There’s loads of stuff online to show how it’s done.
Last call for Jay B and ROSHAN to re-join Ed Harrison’s FPL H2H Div2.
Blimey
Has everyone gone out into the mountains for a rain dance ?
Bad back's back so back to the 'two sleeps' routine with a tea break and check in on the blog to find no one's in.
Where art thou ye non GMT blogger's ?
Let's hope Dedic has passed his medical and the deal is done.
Next up .....
Galatasry want to pay Fernandes of Salford £18m a year. to play for them.
Sports Washing ?
That's Sports Laundering on a biblical scale. No way is that legit.