Newcastle (A) 8/4/22 - Build-Up & Match Thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

Same team for me bar RAN for Marçal. I know he did ok (no more) vs Villa but it's just not a progressive choice.

We love a 1-1...

2021/22: W 2-1 (H)
2020/21: D 1-1 (H), D 1-1 (A)
2019/20: D 1-1 (H), D 1-1 (A)
2018/19: D 1-1 (H), W 2-1 (A)
2016/17: L 0-1 (H), W 2-0 (A), L 0-2 (A, LC)
2011/12: L 1-2 (H), D 2-2 (A)
2010/11: D 1-1 (H), L 1-4 (A)
2003/4: D 1-1 (H), D 1-1 (A)
2002/3: W 3-2 (H, FAC)

Some honking defending from them on Sunday vs Spurs, hopefully a repeat of that and we can take advantage (same tempo as vs Villa please, no repeat of the first half at Everton).

 

[Tony Towner]

Semedo for Marcal, Jonny moving over
Neto for Trincao

 

[Nando]

Sa

Boly
Coady
Kilman

Semedo
Dendoncker
Moutinho
Jonny

Trincao
Fabio
Neto

Ruddy, Saiss, Toti, Ait Nouri, Marcal, Cundle, Podence, Hwang, Chiquinho

 

[big mean bunny]

Given Jonny's goals and then Semedo's lack of goals, I'd be tempted to just keep Semedo on the left, you'd better from his athleticism and runs with the ball and hopefully not negate too much else, whilst keeping Jonny on his preferred foot.

 

[Lycan]

I think Jonny ends up cutting inside whichever side he's on though, if you end up with Semedo cutting in from the left and Jonny in from the right it might end up being a bit too narrow.

 

[Johnny75]

Given Jonny's goals and then Semedo's lack of goals, I'd be tempted to just keep Semedo on the left, you'd better from his athleticism and runs with the ball and hopefully not negate too much else, whilst keeping Jonny on his preferred foot.

Or just play RAN on the left instead?

Jonny has been outstanding on the right so far, why move him?

Not aimed at you BMB, more a general point.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

Semedo for Marcal, Jonny moving over
Neto for Trincao

NOOOOO!

Keep Jonny on the right

 

[Tony Towner]

NOOOOO!

Keep Jonny on the right

Comes down for me to what's your best combination. Semedo Jonny > Jonny RAN/Marcal even though Jonny is better than Semedo.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

Fair view.

I just think Jonny, after two possible career ending injuries, has come back in brilliant form and has been so instrumental in us playing on the front foot more over the last five or six games. I wasn't on board the Semedo train at all but do agree he's been much improved this season. He doesn't though have anywhere near the end product that Jonny has displayed and with forwards that rarely score even when we're playing well, goals and assists from our wing backs and midfielders are vital.

Can't wait - an away game I can hopefully cheer at!

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Lage seems to favour Marcal at the worst of times, I can't imagine he'll drop him after probably his best game for us.

 

[sycophantia]

I really don't think he was very good on Saturday, his cross for the o.g. was excellent of course and he deserves plaudits for that but 5 or 6 times he scared the shit out of me defensively plus got lucky a few times when he miss hit a pass that ricocheted of a Villa player for a throw.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Lage seems to favour Marcal at the worst of times, I can't imagine he'll drop him after probably his best game for us.

You know my hobby horse on this

Don't pick inferior players because they "played well" (he didn't on Saturday, not really) and wait for them to screw up before you drop them for a clearly better alternative, because in doing so it hurts the team and will probably cost us points.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I said it was his best game of the season for us, i didn't say he was very good.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

I think Marcal is a perfectly serviceable option as our fourth choice FB/WB. He didn't cost a great deal and if the salary info supplied recently is correct, isn't one of our biggest earners. Would I play him ahead of Jonny or RAN though? No

On Saturday he had a decent game and as always finds himself in good positions going forward. In a similar way to Donk against Villa, he was a little braver with the ball and didn't go backwards (as he normally does) when the more obvious option is forward. He got his reward with the assist for Ashley Young's own goal winner [I like typing that].
He does at times though have a terrible tendency to dwell on the ball on the touchline inside his own half and almost invites contact. He got away with it every time on Saturday winning a throw in in our favour, but the ball could have easily fallen/ricocheted in play and lead to him being out of position and our left side totally exposed. It's strange tactic, especially when it seems a deliberate one.

 

[Paul]

Although not a massive Marcal fan, I do think the second half of that post does him a disservice, he was played into trouble a couple of times the other day, the one where he lost the ball twenty yards out was purely down to a poor late pass from, I think Kilman ,and to give him some credit (remember we'd actually lost this game as soon as the team sheet was announced) getting a throw in half way up the pitch, when surrounded, is far more preferential than to lose it, showed a bit of nouse to be honest with you.

 

[Tredman]

(remember we'd actually lost this game as soon as the team sheet was announced)

I was actually going to be agree with one of your post but

 

[Boozad]

showed a bit of nouse to be honest with you.

[pedant]nous[/pedant]

 

[Jinky]

Semedo for Marcal, Jonny moving over
Neto for Trincao

As others have said I would be keeping Jonny on the right for now. Looks superb there.

RAN for Marcal and that’s it for me.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

It wil either be Semedo and Jonny, or Jonny and Marcal.

 

[Tredman]

Nailed on to be Jonny & Marcal imo