[ad_pod ]Newcastle visit West Ham on Saturday where they will be hoping they can secure a third consecutive win having dispatched Huddersfield last week and then Burnley on Tuesday. Rafa Benitez surely made at least one selection decision with the thicket of fixtures in mind, but one man’s performance will have given him some food for thought.
On the chalkboard
Rafa and his Magpies squad seem to have struck gold with their 5-4-1 approach, with January signing Miguel Almiron already looking like being the final piece in the jigsaw and a perfect balance between defensive solidity and attacking potency having been found.
The key to success with such a formation is often the wing-backs, who are tasked with providing width but also preventing the centre-backs from being exposed.
Fortunately, Rafa has a plethora of options to choose from in that role and, while prior to the Clarets clash this may not have been the case, the Spaniard has been given a tough decision to make on the right for the next game.
Mighty Manquillo
DeAndre Yedlin seems like the perfect fit for the right-wing-back role – perhaps only due to his blinding pace – but Tuesday’s game saw Javier Manquillo deputise for the USA international.
The former Liverpool man recorded some impressive numbers in the win, completing 2 tackles and 2 clearances, as well as an assist – should Rafa give the sometimes suspect Spaniard the nod for a second consecutive game despite what the fans have made of his past performances?
Yedlin offers far more on the front foot and, due to his speed, may be a better match for Hammers danger man Felipe Anderson, although the 58-cap international’s defensive positioning can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. Manquillo’s latest showing, though, may have earned Rafa’s repaid faith and he is far better physically.
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One presumes that Rafa intends to rotate his wing-backs again this weekend to keep his XI fresh but perhaps he should leave 24-year-old Manquillo in after his fine performance in midweek.