This Newcastle United team and formation looks the answer | OneFootball

Right, I fully understand that what I’m about to say will divide opinion.

That’s the wonderful nature of football debate. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong.

The only difference between one man’s opinion and the others, is that you can sometimes pick more faults with one opinion, more than you can with some others.

None more so with your suggested Newcastle United team selection, formation and personnel.

So, with that in mind, here in my hand is a piece of paper and on it is a Newcastle United team sheet.

Will it offer a solution to our current perceived predicament? Who knows?

I’m not the man in charge of such matters and neither are you lot either. Sometimes that’s for the best because, and I include myself in this, we don’t see the players day to day and despite our best efforts to avoid doing so, we often have the blinkers on with some players. We all have favourites and players we don’t particularly favour over others.

I won’t speak for everyone but I’m fairly certain if you had to pick one area of the team that isn’t working properly, you’d all unanimously pick the midfield.

It’s been like that for months, in fact, I seem to remember having this very conversation, this time last year.

We haven’t signed anyone new. The choices are still the same. The only exception to that is that we now have a free-from-suspension Sandro Tonali.

I’ve read opinions that Bruno Guimaraes can’t play with Tonali. “It won’t work” they say. Evidence on the pitch seems to suggest this to a point. The results over Chelsea (Cup), Arsenal and Nottingham Forest back this up considerably, where for long periods, it was either one or the other playing, until later on in the game when changes were made.

Then there’s “fan favourite” Sean Longstaff. I jest. He started all three of those good wins. Mind you, he started against West Ham as well. Although I put our defeat to the Hammers more down to the missing Dan Burn.

I had conversations with some fans this (Tuesday) morning about playing 4-4-2. Personally, I can’t see Eddie Howe doing so. I’m not a fan of it either these days. Howe tends to play 4-3-3, adapting as the game goes on.

Now one man’s 4-3-3, is another man’s 4-5-1, but that’s by the by.

Personally, I’ve always favoured 5-3-2, but some may see that as too negative or defensive. It’s a valid point. For those around while Kenny Dalglish was our manager, I seem to remember some right disasters using it.

That said, I’ll stick my neck on the line and go with what I’m thinking as an ideal Newcastle United team. Brace yourselves as there are a few problems with it but not ones that should be much of a deal breaker.

Let the criticism commence. No, seriously. It’s going to divide opinion but I honestly feel that this is a decent solution to our Newcastle United team predicament.

The back three picks itself, with the only catch being that we can’t pick it for a few weeks yet, with Sven Botman still out. Could it be done with Kelly in there? I’m not a fan but being in a back three might protect him a bit.

The sound reasoning continues, with the fact that Lewis Hall and Tino Livramnto are our (and England’s) full-backs for the next ten years if they continue to develop. They are certainly great at going forward down the flanks.

Up front, we obviously have Alexander Isak, with Anthony Gordon playing just off him. He doesn’t have to stay there, he can drift out wide and do his cut-in and shoot whenever he pleases.

Now, we have the problematic central midfield.

I feel Joelinton has to be in there for physicality. Not a tough tackling defensive midfielder, as that would result in more cards than Clintons, but more a cover for when Hall bombs forward. My choice of Sean Longstaff will stoke some but you can have your own preference of Joe Willock if you like.

Then we have Bruno. He’s our most creative central player and Captain. Pick Tonali if you wish but I remain of the school of thought that they indeed don’t work effectively enough together, so another problem solved.

This also eliminates the fans’ least favourites in Miggy Almiron and Jacob Murphy, as there’s no position for them. It’s still harsh on Harvey Barnes but he struggles to start games anyway. You can swap out Isak and play Callum Wilson when he’s fit, OR you can drop/substitute Gordon and go two up top.

Failing that, you can re-jig it mid-game and use two out-and-out wingers if things dictate.

Based on that Newcastle United team I’ve picked, a very strong bench of Martin Dubravka, Lloyd Kelly, Kieran Trippier, Sandro Tonali, Callum Wilson, Miggy Almiron, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and William Osula, only makes it look even more attractive to me.

The more and more I look at it the more and more I like it.

It won’t happen. I doubt Eddie Howe will do anything as radical and to be honest, changing mid-season is NOT the time to do it and, as I’ve pointed out, it can only be really done when Botman returns. However, like I’ve also explained, hopefully with some sensible rhyme or reason, it seems to me like the most balanced and creative use of what we have in this Newcastle United first team squad.