Matias Fernandez-Pardo decision & the three changes Newcastle United must make v Crystal Palace
The Newcastle United selection dilemmas facing Matthias Jaissle ahead of the trip to Crystal Palace.
Newcastle United are looking to bounce back from successive Premier League defeats and ease the scrutiny on Matthias Jaissle’s tactics when they travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Jaissle may opt for changes to his starting XI – and here’s a look at the key dilemmas facing the German.
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Recall your captain
It’s a sorry state of affairs that Sven Botman – a central defender – has been Newcastle’s biggest goal threat in the last two matches. To be fair, he was far from the worst performer at the weekend, but whether the Dutchman should be starting ahead of Dan Burn shouldn’t even be a debate right now.
Burn is the club’s captain, and the team is crying out for some leadership and experience after what swiftly turned into a low point of the season. If the 34-year-old is fit enough to play after his rather jarring recent cameos as an emergency striker, then he should.
You could even make an argument for Malick Thiaw to make way, but a left-footer for a left-footer makes more sense. If Thiaw doesn’t improve alongside Burn, however, Fabian Schar, you’re up next. Burn and Schar... now that’s a bit of a throwback.
Find a role for Sean Steur
Jaissle told The Gazette that Nico Gonzalez and Sean Steur can play together, so let’s see it! It shouldn’t be a case of one or the other because, on the evidence so far, the pair are Newcastle’s two best midfielders.
To see a player of Steur’s quality left on the bench for the last two matches hasn’t felt fair. Of Newcastle’s eight summer signings, the 18-year-old is the one who sparked the most excitement.
Jaissle admitted they are similar players because they like to occupy the same spaces, but in the same breath, he said the system was flexible enough to accommodate both. After recent performances, Joe Willock should be the one to make way for Steur.
Persist with Matias Fernandez-Pardo out wide
Newcastle have badly lacked an outlet down the right when Jacob Murphy has played there, but Matias Fernandez-Pardo did well to plug that gap, at least for the opening 20 minutes or so against Villa.
Anthony Elanga can’t come back quick enough, and suggestions are that he is close to returning. In the meantime, it’s worth having another look at Fernandez-Pardo out wide.
This is not to write him off as a central striker, which is where the 21-year-old sees his future, but his speed and agility make him look more suited to playing on the wing.
Recall Will Osula
Whether Osula will ever become the player he looks capable of being remains to be seen, but, at least in the short term, the 23-year-old appears best suited to the way Jaissle wants to play.
“Vertical football” is about getting the ball forward as quickly as possible, and Osula’s ability to press the opposition defence, play on the shoulder and chase down what may seem like lost causes adds a different dimension.
That promises a whole lot more than what Yoane Wissa is offering currently. As a No.10 against Coventry, he was anonymous, while his finishing and decision-making as a No.9 against Villa were very poor.
Jordan’s team v Crystal Palace: Hornicek, Dedic (in for Miley), Thiaw, Burn (in for Botman), Hall, Gonzalez, Steur (in for Willock), Joelinton, Barnes, Fernandez-Pardo, Osula (in for Wissa).