It's not Sherwood!

[Drummond]

If we go down it will be everyone's fault, including Sherwood's, Lambert's, Lerner's, Fox's, the players', the tea lady's, the boot polisher's and Hercules the Lion's.

I'm just not taking the blame for this one.

[Monty]

If we go down it will be everyone's fault, including Sherwood's, Lambert's, Lerner's, Fox's, the players', the tea lady's, the boot polisher's and Hercules the Lion's.

I'm just not taking the blame for this one.

Where were you when we needed you Drummond? WHERE WERE YOU??

[PeterWithesShin]

If we did drop I agree that Sherwood would take some of the blame. It's not like he came in when we were 10 points adfrift. 16 points from his 13 games will almost certainly keep us up. Obviously Lambert would get most of the blame and the players deserve some as well.

[Drummond]

We may not be adrift, but our form is so desperately poor that it will take some sort of miracle to turn it around.

[Risso]

Whatever you think about Sherwood, he doesn't strike me as the type to shirk responsibility and I'm sure he'd put his hands up if we do get relegated for his part in it.  Lambert would still be muttering on about how excellent we were.

[Risso]

We may not be adrift, but our form is so desperately poor that it will take some sort of miracle to turn it around.

Agreed Drummond, the big problem is with the forwards.  How do you get three players who are hopelessly out of form to up their game by 100%?  Because that's what's required.

[olaftab]

If we go down it will be everyone's fault, including Sherwood's, Lambert's, Lerner's, Fox's, the players', the tea lady's, the boot polisher's and Hercules the Lion's.

I'm just not taking the blame for this one.

If you were there on Saturday than you have to take the blame.

[ozzjim]

We may not be adrift, but our form is so desperately poor that it will take some sort of miracle to turn it around.

Agreed Drummond, the big problem is with the forwards.  How do you get three players who are hopelessly out of form to up their game by 100%?  Because that's what's required.

You don't start all of them first and foremost. Sinclair and Bacuna could happily do better and create more than Weimann and Gabby. Gil has to be more central too, doesn't look a winger in a 4 to me. Getting midfielders beyond the forwards to give options would also help a lot.

[Monty]

I'd rather see Gil wide on the right of a front three, with Sinclair left and Benteke central, giving Delph a bit of license to break forward.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Whoever we play up front and that's not a bad shout, Monty, can we please have a midfield, Tim?

Much like Stoke last week, Newcastle have a poor defence so providing we don't get bossed again in midfield, we may actually get something out of the game.

[Monty]

Whoever we play up front and that's not a bad shout, Monty, can we please have a midfield, Tim?

Much like Stoke last week, Newcastle have a poor defence so providing we don't get bossed again in midfield, we may actually get something out of the game.

Agreed. I don't actually know what Sanchez and Delph do as a midfield two. What's the balance there? Who does what job? I'm sure there was a plan, but it didn't seem to be executed very well.

[supertom]

Whoever we play up front and that's not a bad shout, Monty, can we please have a midfield, Tim?

Much like Stoke last week, Newcastle have a poor defence so providing we don't get bossed again in midfield, we may actually get something out of the game.

I'd be tempted to put Bacuna in the midfield 3. Westwood at the base, with Delph and Leandro providing energy in the middle. Gil and Sinclair either side of Benteke. Grealish on the bench. Bacuna's not a fantastic player by any means but he does tend to look half decent when he gets in and around the penalty area and he's shown he knows how to finish a chance. The lad just needs to be a bit more confident at taking people on sometimes.

Gabby and Weimann I'd tie up on a boat, point them out toward the Atlantic, yank the chord and set the boat going.

[supertom]

Whoever we play up front and that's not a bad shout, Monty, can we please have a midfield, Tim?

Much like Stoke last week, Newcastle have a poor defence so providing we don't get bossed again in midfield, we may actually get something out of the game.

Agreed. I don't actually know what Sanchez and Delph do as a midfield two. What's the balance there? Who does what job? I'm sure there was a plan, but it didn't seem to be executed very well.

I think this is our weakest area, and indeed this will be the area that will take longest to get right (and short of next summers window, we might be buggered). He's obviously made an instant decision on Westwood and TC. Probably based on reports, any older games he's seen and the Cup tie.
By the same token I think he'll look at Sanchez's display and be deeply concerned about his immobility and struggle with the pace of not just the league but a high tempo game in particular.

It would not surprise me to see him switch to a three for the time being. If anything because he may figure playing a three man with two weak links is better than playing a 2 man with one weak link.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Whoever we play up front and that's not a bad shout, Monty, can we please have a midfield, Tim?

Much like Stoke last week, Newcastle have a poor defence so providing we don't get bossed again in midfield, we may actually get something out of the game.

I'd be tempted to put Bacuna in the midfield 3. Westwood at the base, with Delph and Leandro providing energy in the middle. Gil and Sinclair either side of Benteke. Grealish on the bench. Bacuna's not a fantastic player by any means but he does tend to look half decent when he gets in and around the penalty area and he's shown he knows how to finish a chance. The lad just needs to be a bit more confident at taking people on sometimes.

Gabby and Weimann I'd tie up on a boat, point them out toward the Atlantic, yank the chord and set the boat going.

Can I nominate Delph for the Ice Bucket Challenge? He urgently needs to wake up, he's been a passenger since signing his new contract.

I'd have Sanchez and Westwood defensively with Delph in front to do what he's good at and run with the ball.

[Monty]

Whoever we play up front and that's not a bad shout, Monty, can we please have a midfield, Tim?

Much like Stoke last week, Newcastle have a poor defence so providing we don't get bossed again in midfield, we may actually get something out of the game.

Agreed. I don't actually know what Sanchez and Delph do as a midfield two. What's the balance there? Who does what job? I'm sure there was a plan, but it didn't seem to be executed very well.

I think this is our weakest area, and indeed this will be the area that will take longest to get right (and short of next summers window, we might be buggered). He's obviously made an instant decision on Westwood and TC. Probably based on reports, any older games he's seen and the Cup tie.
By the same token I think he'll look at Sanchez's display and be deeply concerned about his immobility and struggle with the pace of not just the league but a high tempo game in particular.

It would not surprise me to see him switch to a three for the time being. If anything because he may figure playing a three man with two weak links is better than playing a 2 man with one weak link.

That's a rather good way of putting it. Sanchez is slow enough at the moment, but you don't help him out by guaranteeing his being outnumbered and without options, crowded out by the opposition.