Looking at this Newcastle United team v Manchester United.
Eddie Howe’s side aiming to bounce back from defeat to Everton last weekend.
Newcastle United have won four of their last six matches in all competitions.
However, it is five defeats in the last six Premier League games.
Newcastle United knowing that a win will take them up one place to 12th in the table, unless Brighton win at home tonight.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Everton four days ago:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Ramsey, Elanga, Gordon, Woltemade
In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Eddie Howe saying that he expects Jacob Ramsey to be available after having been forced off during the Everton match due to illness.
However, Nick Woltemade a doubt according to the Head Coach, revealing that as of Tuesday morning the striker hadn’t trained due to illness.
Eddie Howe still without Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley and Emil Krafth. Though both Miley and Livramento expected to return to action shortly.
Taking all of that into consideration…
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Manchester United:
Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Ramsey, Barnes, Gordon, Wissa
If the above ends up as the reality, it would mean four changes for Eddie Howe compared to the team that started against Everton.
With coming in – Ramsdale, Botman, Barnes, Wissa
Dropping out – Pope, Burn, Elanga, Woltemade
My predictions are based on a number of factors.
The relentless schedule of matches, a need to refresh, simply trying something different, plus Big Nick’s illness.
Even if Nick Woltemade is available, I think Yoane Wissa makes sense to start, if fit enough. Introducing Big Nick off the bench potentially more productive than starting him tonight, plus with an eye to him probably starting on Saturday in the FA Cup.
I think Barnes for Elanga is a logical move, sharing the load in attacking positions. Plus of course Harvey Barnes is second only to Anthony Gordon in terms of direct goal involvements (goals and assists) this season.
Whilst at the back, for me it is not so much ‘dropping’ Pope and Burn, more that case of trying something different.
I think probably the time has come when Nick Pope needs to be taken out of the firing line, even if only temporarily. Whilst Botman for Burn is swapping like for like, as opposed to say leaving out Thiaw and playing two left-footed central defenders.
I am not in the mindset that some fans have, whereby everything is a disaster these days. Newcastle have won four of their last six matches (in all competitions) and in one of the two defeats, the team played really well at Man City and deserved something from that Premier League game.
At the same time, NUFC do need to bounce back from the Everton defeat and some kind of refresh needed. Hopefully getting the whole team doing better both defensively and in creative/attacking positions.
As always, interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments section below.
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