[Albion] Team to face Newcastle

[Bozza]

I'm assuming van Hecke will be able to return, pushing Baleba back into midfield.

If Joel Veltman is able to start, there's a real quandary in midfield, isn't there?

Ayari, Hinshelwood and Wieffer all have strong claims to sit alongside Baleba, and I'm not sure you can rule out Diego Gomez either. One of those nice problems to have, I guess.

I'd have Mitoma back in for Adingra, and I'd like to see March start again if he's abe to.

 

[Hotchilidog]

That would give Fabian a nice problem to have, and between Hinsh, Wieffer and Ayari there really is no wrong answer.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I'm only going to whisper it but I still don't think Lewis is 100%, so JPVH, Baleba at CB and Hinsh and Ayari in midfield again

 

[Insel affe]

That would give Fabian a nice problem to have, and between Hinsh, Wieffer and Ayari there really is no wrong answer.

I thought Wieffer was excellent on Saturday and just about sneaks in to the starting 11 above Hinsh and Ayari.

 

[dazzer6666]

Suspect he’ll stick with Wieffer at RB and Hinsh/Baleba in midfield to start, and Mitoma and Minteh on the wings. O’Riley behind Danny.

 

[macbeth]

I thought Wieffer was excellent on Saturday and just about sneaks in to the starting 11 above Hinsh and Ayari.

Harsh on Ayari after his wonder goal

 

[amexer]

I'm only going to whisper it but I still don't think Lewis is 100%, so JPVH, Baleba at CB and Hinsh and Ayari in midfield again

Dunk will be ok as long as he stays in box and doesnt get involved in any one on ones outside

 

[trueblue]

Mitoma looked like he was really struggling with his back at the final whistle on Saturday. Still appeared to be in pain after the celebrations. Nasty feeling he won’t be available to start.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

My selection thoughts

I doubt Veltman or Lamptey will start. I expect to see them get significant minutes from the bench first

I also think Solly will be back on the bench

Hinsh I think will be rested. He's played a lot of minutes

Dunk. Fab needs to have a proper chat with him. To what extent is he playing through the pain. Baleba and Van Hecke is an option, but Dunky will want to play and I guess he will

Once again, we chuck Pervis on there and hope as we have no realistic LB alternative

Front 4 is pretty uncontroversial

---------Verbruggen
Weiffer Van Hecke Dunk Estupinan
---------Baleba Ayari
--Minteh-- O'Riley --Mitoma
----------Welbeck

Steele / Lamptey / Veltman / Cashin / Adingra / Gomez / Hinshelwood / Gruda / March

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Dunk will be ok as long as he stays in box and doesnt get involved in any one on ones outside

Which should be the instruction for the rest of his career right? Don't step into midfield, don't get dragged out wide.

Defend your box and only leave the centre half position for attacking corners

 

[aolstudios]

I thought Wieffer was excellent on Saturday and just about sneaks in to the starting 11 above Hinsh and Ayari.

Me too. Fabian's ideal midfield is big & physical.
Close though

 

[Stuart Munday]

Whatever team is picked something has to be done about our left side, the space there on Saturday was awful.

 

[aolstudios]

Whatever team is picked something has to be done about our left side, the space there on Saturday was awful.

Been an issue for the whole season

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Been an issue for the whole season

It has and the easy conclusion to daw is that Pervis has been caught out of position and we've seen this on the other side of the pitch as well depending on personnel. Is this just a FH pushing one of the full backs towards midfield, which looks great when we dominate midfield, but not great when they are continually in behind us?

Maybe just a flat back 4, would make our goals against column look a little less ugly

 

[Zeberdi]

With Veltman and VH back in, I’d be tempted to rotate Hinsch and Weiffer over the 90 to play alongside Baleba and try Ayari higher up deep behind Welbeck (dropping O’Riley) to see how he performs in that position. Ayari’s footwork and mobility on the ball is really impressive, I think he’d make a good pivot at the edge of the 18 yard box to stretch the central defenders (and of course he can shoot!) as well as being a workhorse in tracking back.

 

[Jovis]

I think we are asking for trouble playing Newcastle without Baleba in midfield.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

It has and the easy conclusion to daw is that Pervis has been caught out of position and we've seen this on the other side of the pitch as well depending on personnel. Is this just a FH pushing one of the full backs towards midfield, which looks great when we dominate midfield, but not great when they are continually in behind us?

Maybe just a flat back 4, would make our goals against column look a little less ugly

I think it is exactly this. Pervis gets a lot of the ball in attacking areas and is pretty direct. I believe this is to compensate for a lack of such an attacking threat from right back.

We will miss Pervis when he is not there.

 

[Marshy]

I would also put Veltman in at right back. And JPVH comes back in. You just have to imo

Baleba i would partner with Weiffer and O'Reilly for this game, we have to try and match the physicality of Bruno, Joelinton and Tonali.

Bring Mitoma and Minteh back in as its Newcastle too.

Equally i wouldnt be annoyed or upset in anyway if Jack, Diego or Ayari partnered Baleba in there.

 

[aolstudios]

I would also put Veltman in at right back. And JPVH comes back in. You just have to imo

Baleba i would partner with Weiffer and O'Reilly for this game, we have to try and match the physicality of Bruno, Joelinton and Tonali.

Bring Mitoma and Minteh back in as its Newcastle too.

Equally i wouldnt be annoyed or upset in anyway if Jack, Diego or Ayari partnered Baleba in there.

Pretty much all of that ^

 

[GT49er]

With Veltman and VH back in, I’d be tempted to rotate Hinsch and Weiffer over the 90 to play alongside Baleba and try Ayari higher up deep behind Welbeck (dropping O’Riley) to see how he performs in that position. Ayari’s footwork and mobility on the ball is really impressive, I think he’d make a good pivot at the edge of the 18 yard box to stretch the central defenders (and of course he can shoot!) as well as being a workhorse in tracking back.

Agree on Ayari - so my front six would be:

Baleba-Hinshelwood
March-Ayari-Mitoma
Welbeck​

Van Hecke and Dunk at CB, obviously. Verbruggen in goal - or is it time to give Rushworth a go? A couple of matches to demonstrate his capability in the PL would increase his value (unless his contract ends in June and transfer fees become irrelevant anyway).
Full back - surely if Veltman and Lamptey are fit, they could do 45 each (Lamptey on the left - he's done OK there before)? Pervis can come on at HT, and on the right either give Tasker his debut when Veltman is shot, or use Wieffer as a makeshift RB again.
Alternatively, of course, FH can ignore anything suggested on NSC and do whatever the hell he likes!