Our Newcastle fans here in the Transfer Tavern are hoping for a little upset against the form book today, as they bid to take the three points against a Man United side who need the win themselves!
Newcastle have been on a steady slide for a few months now, and Rafa Benitez has been doing everything in his managerial locker to stop the rot. Still, the Magpies have won only one of their last five Premier League matches and sit just outside the relegation zone by one point.
It will be a tough ask today to turn over United, even at home. However, Benitez needs to chop some of the players who are not performing as well as they should be, given the circumstances. Newcastle have struggled for goals this season and it’s one of the main factors in their poor form, but some recent additions in the winter market will hopefully have our local toon army happy again.
With that in mind, our landlord takes a look at what two players, the Spaniard should drop today…
Jonjo Shelvey
With Man United’s attacking prowess the Magpies need a disciplined and controlled performance. Without doubt, Jonjo Shelvey is not the player to be picked for such a role.
At times he can be brilliant, but when you need him the most he does something stupid and nine times out of ten will get punished for it. Unlikely to get on the ball much, this really isn’t the match for the England international.
If Benitez wants to match United with a full team, he’s better off benching Shelvey for this one. in many of our regulars’ opinions.
Ayoze Perez
The Newcastle man has failed to find the back of the net regularly enough for the Toon Army to warm to him this season. Many a time he becomes invisible and in the current situation, every player has to up their game and be counted for.
Perez may be the one to fall further down the pecking order with the recent arrival of Islam Slimani, and the local fans here in the pub won’t be missing him anytime soon. You can see why Benitez rates Perez, but there’s not much chance of him causing United’s backline a problem.
