Pre-season 2023/24

[brontebilly]

Anyone willing to predict a starting line up for Newcastle yet?

------- Martinez --------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
------ Luiz-  Kamara----
Diaby -- McGinn -- Buendia
------- Watkins -----------

That might be the team but it's not the setup! Don't think I've ever seen us line up in a straight 4-2-3-1 under Emery; it's an asymmetric 4-4-2, McGinn starts from the right, Buendia inside left, and Diaby will play in the Bailey second-striker role.

When Buendia played there last season he tended to leave the left back behind him high and dry. Think he will move into a 10 spot next to Watkins and hold Diaby in reserve. Has Aaron Ramsey made much impression so far in pre season? Wouldn't be surprised if Emery fudged it a bit to get Tielemans into the team.

[Richard]

Anyone willing to predict a starting line up for Newcastle yet?

Martinez

Cash
Digne
Konsa
Mings

Luiz
Kamara

McGinn
Tielemans
Diaby

Watkins

Subs Olsen, Costa, Torres, Buendia, Bailey, Archer, Coutinho, Bidace, Chambers

Costa?

Oops corrected 😬 ó

[OCD]

Watching the way we move the ball, it reminds me of what one of the posters on here said. Basically that his friend was a Celtic fan and when Emery's PSG went there in the Champions League, the quality of play was incredible.

[Clampy]

It's hard to judge on pre season games though. Players are getting use to a system the manager wants, players who haven't played over here before are getting used to the pace of the game etc. I'm sure Torres for example will be fine. I bet Kamara found the pace of our game a bit much at first, it happens.

[Risso]

If Philogene-Bidace keeps this pre-season form up he'll be hard to ignore. I thought he had absolutely no chance whatsoever of making it with us, but has looked very good indeed. Full of attacking intent and puts a decent amount of hard work in as well. I can well see him taking Ramsey's spot until JJ is fit again.

[paul_e]

If Philogene-Bidace keeps this pre-season form up he'll be hard to ignore. I thought he had absolutely no chance whatsoever of making it with us, but has looked very good indeed. Full of attacking intent and puts a decent amount of hard work in as well. I can well see him taking Ramsey's spot until JJ is fit again.

I'd agree with that, he's a better fit to replace what JJ offers than Buendia is.

[Clark W Griswold]

I’d go with;
Martinez
Cash
Digne
Konsa
Mings
Luiz
Kamara
McGinn
Tielemans
Diaby
Watkins

Konsa and Mings should not be messed about with at this point as they’re doing well but I do see a potentially better player in Torres than both and Diego Carlos can’t be ruled out either so they’ll have to keep playing at least as well as they did second half of the season. It’s a good position to be in, and it’s also good to have Ramsey who can come in for McGinn or Tielemans with no real drop in quality. I’m still wondering if he need another forward of some sort as for me, the only ones without question marks at the moment are Watkins and Diaby.

[PaulWinch again]

People are entitled to their opinions. Personally I think it’s premature to be raising questions on capability of new players. But if other people want to that’s their call.

[Clampy]

I've blocked him. Have you?

I'm also not  finding fault with a player after his second game, in a freindly.

You're unpleasantly weird and obsessed with criticising other posters, and it's why so many people have called you out on it over the years. I'll leave it there before I get told off.

I've heard worse about you but yes, let's leave it there.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If Philogene-Bidace keeps this pre-season form up he'll be hard to ignore. I thought he had absolutely no chance whatsoever of making it with us, but has looked very good indeed. Full of attacking intent and puts a decent amount of hard work in as well. I can well see him taking Ramsey's spot until JJ is fit again.

I'd agree with that, he's a better fit to replace what JJ offers than Buendia is.

Yup, Buendia is much better in the centre ideally playing a deep 10 where he has more space to thread balls through.

[Risso]

People are entitled to their opinions. Personally I think it’s premature to be raising questions on capability of new players. But if other people want to that’s their call.

I don't think anybody has though.

[Smithy]

What I like about the "who will start our first league game" conversations, is that the possible permutations are about as wide as I can ever remember them being?  Two people could pick their strongest 11, and the overlap might only be four or five players.  The relative strengths of those two elevens won't be wildly different.  We have as much strength in depth as we've had in a long time, and if we did manage to bring in genuine competition for Watkins and Cash, our squad would be as healthy as anyone in the top 6.

[Sexual Ealing]

Short of an injury, I don't think there's any way Unai doesn't start Torres in the first game.

[VILLA MOLE]

I wouldn’t like to try and pick the 11 at the moment .

[AV84]

The midfield, for me, has to be McGinn, Luiz, and Diaby. The fact we can then chose from Tielemans, Buendia, Bailey, Kamara, Ramsey, Philogene, maybe even Coutinhio for the other 1/2 spots in the starting 11 seems like really healthy shape to be in.