With no injuries following the wonderful victory over Chelsea David Moyes is looking at the opportunity of playing the same team against Newcastle at the weekend.
And he needs to decide whether he finds room for Andriy Yarmolenko from the start – an unlikely option, however, given the fine two goal performance of Jarrod Bowen.
Yarmo fills the impact role which was once perhaps assigned to Michail Antonio – man of the match against the Blues on Wednesday evening.
His other issue is that Jack Wilshere looked in pretty decent touch when he appeared against Lampard’s lot and all but put Mikey in for a goal near the end.
There may be question marks at the back over Ryan Fredericks and Issa Diop and whilst we believe the manager may be looking hard at young Ben Johnson is seems unlikely that he will prefer Fabian Balbuena to the young French defender.
We understand Mark Noble remains injured and with that midfield of Rice, Soucek, Fornasl and Bowen looking serious business – the team will be looking to take advantage of a game in which Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is reporting one of two injuries.
COYI
CandH team: Fabianski; Johnson, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Lanzini,Antpnio
Sadly Lanzini still offers nothing. I would start with Wilshere in midfield.
We know they are really pacy up front, and they murdered us at home when Zabba got roasted, so I think Fredericks has to start.
They love to play on the break now so think we have to sit deep( again) to negate their pace up top and hopefully the big man Carol keeps on the bench.
I would like the same team, I think the only one I would think was under pressure would be Lanzini, he just looks at of sorts, but we know Moyes doesn’t like changing a team much.
If we keep it tight we will get chances.
I agree Dave, Fredericks is a must for his pace.
I actually thought Lanzini looked a little better against Chelsea than he has done for a while so I’d keep him in.
Only reason I’d change the team away from the same starting 11 is if there is any clear fatigue there but hopefully not.
Yarmolenko did great but starting a game and coming on as a sub when the game has opened up and there is loads of space are two very different things!
Surely has to start with the same starting 11 as confidence will be high now and continuity is vital although difficult when playing 2/3 matches a week.Its nice to have options as we have now and Newcastle have quite a few injury worries but we must shackle Saint Maximin.