Thoughts on Newcastle victory, pre-Wolves predictions and how we should approach the game!

My take on our last and next fixture

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gents,

A combination article here, my thoughts and ratings from last nights win as well as my predictions and how I would approach the Wolves game.

Firstly, how good was it to see Christopher Nkunku in a Chelsea shirt for the first time in a competitive fixture!

Thoughts on Newcastle Win:

I was really pleased with our overall performance and how we approached the game for the most part, there are a couple of things I would have changed to the lineup but I will get onto that below. There was an obvious error (multiple really) for the Newcastle goal that was frustrating, BUT that was one of only two negatives I take away from our performance, the other being our lack of ruthlessness in front of goal as per usual.

I thought we was very intense with the ball for the most part, especially from 20th Min to half time and then from half time until 75th minute, we moved it a lot quicker than I remember us doing for a while and we tried quite a few different avenues to break them down, we created a couple of good chances that should/could have been taken.

Overall in my opinion we deserved to come out of this cup tie with progression to the next round.

The way I would have lined up for this game is slightly different to what Poch did, BUT I do understand why he continued the 4 centre-back, back 4. In my opinion he used this because Newcastle are a physically dominating side, they get A LOT of joy from set pieces and we needed to nullify that threat, it left us fairly solid defensively (apart from the goal) but lacking in attack. The way I would have approached it can be seen below in my pre-Wolves lineup.

Match Ratings:

Djordje Petrovic - 7/10

Didn’t have too much to do in normal time, looked a little shaky on the ball to start with but grew into it slowly, came into his own during the Shootout. Had no idea he was a pen expert!

Axel Disasi - 6.5/10

Limited capabilities going forward, handled Gordon well and defended solidly throughout. Needs to be Centre-Back or on the bench going forward, through no fault of his own.

Thiago Silva - 7/10

Cool. Calm. Collected. as usual, made a couple of great covering challenges, especially one on Livramento. Only slight frustration which I am noticing more and more is he holds on to the ball for a little bit too long, sometimes for good reason.

Benoit Badiashile - 5/10

Error for the goal when initially came across to cover and tidy up really well, looked out of sorts, later found out he was unwell. Lets give him the BENefit of the doubt (excuse the pun 😁)

Levi Colwill - 5.5/10

Another that looked a little out of sorts, playing in an unnatural position, but has played their for the majority of the season now so not fully down to that in my view. He still passed the ball well for the most part, a couple of loose passes with one falling to Wilson and we all know what happened after that.

Moises Caicedo - 7.5/10

I thought he was excellent again last night, followed up his weekend performance with another good performance, obviously not at his optimum best yet, but the signs are there that he is settling. His discipline was incredible, after being booked in the 2nd minute to go virtually the whole game and be on that tight rope in his position shows brilliant maturity and discipline in my view.

Conor Gallagher - 8/10

Again he was everywhere, really front footed and aggressive. Him and Caicedo are building an excellent partnership and compliment each other really well. I was slightly frustrated with his decision making at times, but he makes up for that in so many different ways.

Enzo Fernandez - N/A

Clearly unwell/injured, not at his best although I thought he was very dogged and determined whilst he was on.

Cole Palmer - 6.5/10

A couple of moments of quality but other than that a fairly quiet game from him, for the high standards he set himself. His celebration was hilarious after his penalty in the shootout!

Nicolas Jackson - 6/10

Not bad but not massively involved, thought he looked more lively and comfortable when he moved out to the left! played a good pass for Sterling when his low drive was saved by Dubravka

Raheem Sterling - 6.5/10

Maybe the most hot/cold footballer ever in terms of performances and moments in game. He looked really lively at times and caused some chaos in the Newcastle defence but then had moments of pure stupidity and decision making terrible. Summed up by that pass for Nkunku, which did look worse because Nkunku tried to control with the outside of his right boot rather than his left foot which would have enabled him an extra stride to control the ball.

Subs:

Armando Broja - 6/10

Took him a while to get up to speed, a few loose passes early on. He was quite lively after that, making some excellent runs in behind and also pulling out wide to get the ball and drive at defenders, I still maintain he needs a run of games as the main striker to fully get his confidence up.

Malo Gusto - 8/10

The game changer for me, he came on and took the game by the scruff of the neck, he drove us forward from his unnatural left side initially and then when he moved over to the right it was his cross that lead to the equaliser. Must start at Right Back v Wolves

Christopher Nkunku - 6.5/10

Looked a little rusty in moments, but also could see his quality with a couple of passes and movements he made, will take him 4/5 games to get up to speed I think.

Ian Maatsen - 6/10

Hard to rate as he wasn’t on the field for long, but he bought some natural width and attacking threat from the left, finally in his favoured position, would love to see him start there v Wolves.

Mykhailo Mudryk - 7.5/10

He looked lively when he came on, did make one awful cross and his end product at times is very hit and miss, BUT he came up with the all important goal, read the situation well and slotted it in nicely. There was a cross about 90 seconds before that where he didn’t drift in to the far post like the opposite winger should and that annoyed me, luckily he did it the next time and we scored.

Love the way he backed Maatsen up after that awful kick from Guimaraes.

WOLVES (A);

Predictions:

I think we win this game, I think last night will give the group a lot of confidence and in the celebrations after you could see the togetherness of the group, that only leads to good things going forward.

It won’t be easy going to Molineux, especially as Wolves have been on a poor run over the last 5 games, they will be DESPERATE for a result.

It isn’t as easy as this but we should be expecting 18 from our next 21 available PL points in my view. We are still a team in transition and there will be inconsistencies. I would accept 15 from 21.

My Lineup v Poch Predicted Lineup

I would lineup like this because I think it gives us a lot of attacking threat and there are ways where we can dull it down to defend if needs be. I would like to see us take the game to Wolves and try and push for an early goal or two.

It is harsh on Disasi who hasn’t really put a foot wrong and the same with Badiashile, ALTHOUGH I am assuming he is still unwell/ a little off the pace.

For me Broja needs a run of games as the no.9 and obviously Nkunku is nowhere near ready for a start. Palmer will invert when we defend and help out defensively and Sterling will stay wide, similar to how we finished v Sheff United but in possession Palmer will be wide with Sterling in the inside channels.

HOWEVER, I think Poch will lineup slightly different with a slightly more defensive team, and a few changes to mine. I think he may rest Thiago Silva and play Disasi or Badiashile, but I’m 50/50 on that. I am certain Levi will be at Left Back again but the CB partnership could be 2 of the following Disasi, Badiashile and Silva.

He will probably continue to play Jackson as the no.9 but I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing him play as the left forward.

Let me know what you all think?

Which lineup would you play?

Thank you all for reading

Luke Rushbrook