Fans choice of Newcastle team v Watford today
We asked fans the question, which 11 players would you pick in your Newcastle team v Watford?
We put together a list of the 21 players who could potentially be selected for this 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off.
Rafa Benitez having announced that as well as the suspended Islam Slimani, Christian Atsu and Ciaran Clark are out injured.
After four wins in a row, an astonishing 10 selections got 92% or higher support for the match at Everton, then against West Brom there were still nine who got 88% or higher.
However, this time only four player got 88% or higher support.
These are Kenedy (96%), Dubravka (95%), Lascelles (95%), and Yedlin (88%).
However, there were still five others who rated 81% or higher – 84% Jonjo Shelvey, 84% Florian Lejeune, 83% Mohamed Diame, 82% Paul Dummett, and 81% Matt Ritchie.
So not really a mass dropping off of support but maybe just more of an acceptance that it could be worth making a few changes after these two defeats, at least give a few other players some game time.
Rafa Benitez has said this is what he intends to do, without naming any names.
The absence of Islam Slimani obviously took him out of the equation and it would have been interesting to see what Rafa would have played him.
In his absence, the fans have been left with little option but to go with Gayle (71%) and Perez (67%), though not maybe with the greatest of enthusiasm, as both have struggled to show a goal threat in the West Brom and Everton matches.
So who could get called back into the team?
Well, Newcastle fans have actually given Mikel Merino 55% support and if fully fit, he is surely a leading contender to be found a place today.
Jacob Murphy with 42% is easily the next highest and he also must be a very likely starter.
Not much after that to be honest, with Chancel Mbemba next best on 21%, only one in five fans thinking he should get a game.
So this is the fans choice team:
Here is the percentage (rounded up or down to nearest whole number) support for each player from the thousands of votes cast:
96% Kenedy
95% Jamaal Lascelles
95% Martin Dubravka
88% DeAndre Yedlin
84% Jonjo Shelvey
84% Florian Lejeune
83% Mohamed Diame
82% Paul Dummett
81% Matt Ritchie
71% Dwight Gayle
67% Ayoze Perez
54% Mikel Merino
42% Jacob Murphy
21% Chancel Mbemba
17% Joselu
16% Isaac Hayden
11% Javier Manquillo
7% Massadio Haidara
4% Rob Elliot
2% Karl Darlow
2% Jesus Gamez
Watford v Newcastle v Match Betting:
Watford win 29/10 – Draw 23/10 – NUFC win 21/10
Both teams to score in 1st half 7/2 – Ritchie to score first goal 13/1 – NUFC win 1-0 8/1
All Watford v Newcastle betting HERE
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