A very different kind of rotation facing Eddie Howe now at Newcastle United | OneFootball

The third round of the Carabao Cup saw Eddie Howe facing rotation dilemmas 12 months ago.

Saturday 28 October 2024 there was Newcastle United v Manchester City in the Premier League, with Everton v Newcastle to follow on Saturday 5 October 2024.

In between, the third round ‘away’ tie against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 1 October 2024, to be played at St James’ Park after the enforced switch of venues.

Eddie Howe’s team were very good against Manchester City, coming back to draw 1-1 thanks to an Anthony Gordon penalty.

When it came to rotation, Eddie Howe feeling the need to make eight changes for the Carabao Cup third round game.

Newcastle United team v AFC Wimbledon:

Dubravka, Livramento, Krafth, Schar, Kelly, Joelinton, Willock, Longstaff, Barnes, Osula, Almiron

So eight changes made to the starting eleven that had drawn against Man City.

Dubravka, Tino, Krafth, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, Osula, and Almiron coming in.

Pope, Trippier, Burn, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Gordon and Jacob Murphy dropping out.

Only Fabian Schar, Joelinton and Harvey Barnes starting both of those matches.

A very different kind of rotation for Eddie Howe now…

This was the Newcastle team that got a very credible goalless draw away to Bournemouth:

Pope, Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Miley, Willock, Woltemade, Murphy

That saw serious rotation, with seven changes from the starting eleven against Barcelona. That Champions League match had concluded only around 64 hours before the Bournemouth match kicked off.

Coming in for the Bournemouth match:

Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Miley, Willock, Woltemade, Murphy

Dropping out from the eleven that started against Barcelona:

Trippier, Schar, Bruno, Joelinton, Barnes, Gordon, Elanga

Rotation is simply a fact of life with where Newcastle United now find themselves and fans need to accept that.

Newcastle supporters have to respect the NUFC Head Coach when it comes to the decisions he feels he has to make for the good of the team, squad and individual players.

This is what Eddie Howe had to say this (Tuesday 23 September 2025) morning about squad rotation ahead of facing Bradford:

“There’ll be an element of rotation again. The guys that have played three times last week we might look to give them a rest. We want to pick a strong team and we want to try and progress so you have to get the balance right. You don’t want players to lose rhythm – that’s really important.”

The great news now is that compared to a year ago, the rotation dilemmas surrounding the Newcastle United team selection against Bradford, are very different to those when we played AFC Wimbledon in the third round last season.

Despite the fact that Wissa, Ramsey and Schar are all ruled out, Eddie Howe could rotate the entire starting eleven against Bournemouth and put this team out against Bradford on Wednesday night…

Ramsdale, Trippier, Krafth, Lascelles, Alex Murphy, Bruno, Joelinton, Barnes, Gordon, Elanga, Osula

Not a bad midfield and attack, plus bringing in the likes of England internationals Ramsdale and Trippier in at the back.

Nobody is pretending that Newcastle United