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[Albion] Team to face Newcastle



hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
63,244
Chandlers Ford
Don’t think Mitoma will start. Holding his back in pain in the official club twitter vid post match. Hopefully not repeat of last years injury.
Yep - he was holding it, as he walked into the changing room post game (in the 'Unlocked' video), and also about FOUR times in the 'MitomaCam' video they put out :down:
 




GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
51,244
Gloucester
If he's fit, start Veltman. His experience and know how will be vital to deal with Gordon and Isaac if he drifts out wide. Wieffer played pretty well at RB against West Ham but Newcastle have a much more potent attacking threat.

I'd be tempted to have Hinsh and Baleba in midfield with Ayari higher up, dropping O'Riley. If Mitoma is fit he starts. I'd also be tempted to start March as well. Minteh can come on in the second half when we have a glorious one goal lead to defend and his pace can be devastating on the counter.

So ideally:

Ver Bruggen

Veltman
Van Hecke
Dunk
Estupinian

Baleba
Hinsh

March
Ayari
Mitoma

Welbeck

Bench:
O'Riley
Wieffer
Gomez
Minteh
Lamptey
Adingra
Rushworth
Pretty much the same as me, but I tinkered with the full backs a bit.
 












Super Steve Earle

Well-known member
Feb 23, 2009
9,168
North of Brighton
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
Apart from misspelling Wieffer (why do so many get it wrong?) and the Dunk comment not so relevant after the West Ham match, I could have written that myself. Well played sir.
 










Lady Whistledown

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 7, 2003
48,403




WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
29,054
I don't think Veltman or Lamptey will be fit enough to start and I think Lewis and Mitoma are both playing through injuries, so for me

--------------------Verbruggen-------------------
Weiffer -----JPvH--------Baleba-------Estupiñán
--------Hinsh----------------Ayari------------
Minteh---------------Gomez--------------March
---------------------Welbeck----------------------

With those four, + O'Riley, Adingra, Gruda on the bench
 
Last edited:


ROSM

Well-known member
Dec 26, 2005
7,527
Just far enough away from LDC
Will he not? Is he suspended or something?
Yes - got his 3rd yellow card against Ipswich so a one game ban. However says he is mystified as to why Tindall got a card in that game (narrator : nobody else is)
 


Lady Whistledown

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 7, 2003
48,403
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.
Brian Owen has said Joelinton went to see a specialist this week about a knee injury and there are rumours he may miss the rest of the season.

Joelinton, that is, not Brian Owen.
 








Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
8,320
He’s not a no 10…..can’t see that happening
See my post on page 1 of this thread.

I suggested several reasons why Ayari I think could drop in behind Welbz as a MF pivot instead of O’Riley. Think outside the box - Fab isn’t a positional orientated tactician - It doesn’t have to be a traditional 10 role - in fact look at how Hürzeler used Hartel at St Pauli. A central midfielder who moved higher in possession to back up the CF because the CD (Smith) would move into the MF. It was no coincidence that Hartel was SPs highest goal scorer before he transfered.


I’m sure Fab will use O’Riley there because for some reason he really favours him and O’Riley is good at attacking the space - but personally I think Ayari is more proactive, a better ball carrier, makes better decisions and is faster at tracking back. More importantly to make an impact around the edge of 18 yard area, IMO he is a class act on one-touch football in tight spaces.
 










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