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Predicted Newcastle Starting 11 v Hull

10 years ago
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Newcastle United v Hull City
Saturday 20 September 3pm

While ‘brave’ is not a word that you would usually associate with Alan Pardew’s team selection or tactics, surely the United manager has little choice today when picking his Newcastle starting 11 v Hull.

The first thing I am confident of when it comes to today’s team selection, is that Pardew will find a place for Steven Taylor.

While it is fair to say he wouldn’t win many popularity polls amongst supporters, the one thing Taylor has got is confidence.

Whether you might call it arrogance, I think it is a no-brainer that the defender is recalled.

Whether that is as a replacement for either of the recently woeful Coloccini and Williamson brings me onto my second belief, in terms of what I think could well happen and what I personally think should occur today.

It is clear, at least to me, that this current available group of players has little chance of regularly scoring goals in the formations so far used.

we can all hope that any or all of Aarons, De Jong and Cisse might make a difference to that ‘fact’ but none are available today.

So how can we provide more of a goal threat with only the same players available as there was against Southampton.

Well ironically, arguably our two most confident players going forward are full-backs Daryl Janmaat and Massadio Haidare.

So I think it’s imperative that they are able to get forward as much as possible, so now is the time to play three/five at the back.

Yes I can hear the groans/moans of many but how else can we get a bit more attacking impetus in the team?

Don’t tell me Gabriel Obertan and/or Sammy Ameobi please, or else we will really be goosed.

Get Steven Taylor in amongst Williamson and Coloccini, then if the Geordie Cockney puffs his chest out and waves his arms around he might just get the two of them focused. More importantly we can then get Haidara and Janmaat pushed up as attacking wing-backs. With a total lack of credible wingers then what other option is there?

Pardew has talked of it being hard for young players and/or those from abroad to deal with the current pressure, so an alternative attacking ploy of throwing in Ayoze Perez alongside Riviere looks a step far too far.

Better to push Cabella up in a free role behind Riviere and encourage him to do what comes naturally, only think about hurting the opposition and not drift/track back towards his own goal.

Then if we have Tiote, Sissoko and Colback holding the middle ground, just maybe we could find a clean sheet AND a goal or two at the other end.

If I see the manager put out the same, or similar, players and formation as he did against Southampton then I will really be convinced Alan Pardew is trying to get out of St.James’ Park. Without changing tactics/players he will be a massive step forward towards that this afternoon.

Krul

Janmaat

Taylor

Coloccini

Williamson

Haidara

Sissoko

Tiote

Colback

Cabella

Riviere

Match Betting – Over 2.5 Goals In 1st Half 7/1Tiote First To Be Carded 10/1 – Cabella 1st NUFC Player To Score 11/2

To view all Newcastle v Hull betting click HERE (Prices can fluctuate up and down)

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