Looking at this Newcastle United team v Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe’s side aiming to get United back into winning form.
Excellent Premier League victories over Man U and Chelsea, followed by losses to the Mackems and Palace. This despite Newcastle United scoring first in both defeats.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Crystal Palace:
Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy (c), Osula, Gordon
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Eddie Howe saying that he hopes to now finally have Bruno Guimaraes back in his matchday squad, depending on how training went ahead of Saturday.
Emil Krafth and Fabian Schar remain unavailable. Whilst Joelinton starts a two match suspension.
Taking all of that into consideration…
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Bournemouth:
Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Ramsey; Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes
If the above ends up as the reality, it would mean four changes for Eddie Howe compared to the team that started against Crystal Palace.
With coming in – Trippier, Ramsey, Woltemade, Barnes
Dropping out – Livramento, Joelinton, Murphy, Osula
I don’t go along with this idea from some Newcastle United fans that Tino Livramento is suddenly not giving his all. He hasn’t long been back after a lengthy injury absence and he was excellent against Chelsea, indeed his superb pass for Willock was key to Gordon’s winning goal. I just think Tino has struggled a bit for consistency in what is a team that is low in morale at the moment.
Eddie Howe has been alternating between the pair and I think Trippier will be back in this time. His experience AND ability, hopefully helping to get United more solid at the back.
I can’t imagine any chance of Bruno being able to start after such a long absence. Plus I think it makes more sense anyway to see him used as an impact sub late on, to have the best impact, if he makes the matchday squad.
Miley was good last weekend and Tonali did okay, Ramsey unlucky to be left out I thought and bringing him back in today looks a certainty to me.
Looking to get more goal threat is a necessity after only a single goal scored in each of the last three Newcastle games in the Premier League.
I thought Osula did well to improvise when scoring at Bournemouth but I remain unconvinced that he can play through the middle, far better suited cutting inside off the right. Last weekend I thought he struggled to hold the ball up, which didn’t help in terms of building any kind of attacking momentum. Nick Woltemade getting a return to that position surely has to be worth a go at this stage of the season.
Anthony Gordon will start, just a case of where? I think him and Barnes on the wings gives us the best chance of working as a trio with Big Nick today.
A difficult one to predict generally today, this starting eleven.
Whatever the team selection, they definitely need the backing of the crowd from the first whistle today.
Let’s do this together, get the all important win.