Some Newcastle United supporters have been discussing on social media a potentially exciting midfield Steve Bruce may deploy in the new season.
The alleged unit fans have been debating includes Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey, and Sean Longstaff on the prevision that neither of the trio leave Tyneside before the Premier League curtain-raiser against Arsenal.
It is looking unlikely now that Hayden or Shelvey will secure moves away from St James’ Park before the August 8 deadline hits, with interest in the pair cooling significantly as the window progressed.
Manchester United are still being credited with an interest in Longstaff, however, leaving Bruce with a potential anxious final week of the market fearing the Red Devils increasing their valuation closer to the Toon’s £50million asking price.
Should all three stay, a Magpies supporter on Reddit has suggested they should be the core unit of Bruce’s plans, as they have the potential and ability to be an exciting line-up in the centre of the field.
Our new head coach has spoken recently about sticking with a three-man defence in the new campaign, who could stand behind three central midfielders if the former Sheffield Wednesday manager is planning on playing with two wide options and two central forwards.
In the Toon fan in question’s suggested configuration, Bruce would be deploying Shelvey in behind Hayden and Longstaff in a quarterback-esque role, as the others have the ability to carry play from box-to-box and offer support defensively.
Bruce would then have Jack Colback, Ki Sung-Yeung and Matt Longstaff as his back-up options, while Miguel Almiron would be supporting Joelinton in the attack.
Fans reacting to the suggestion of a three-man midfield have offered mixed thoughts, with some focusing on the use of Shelvey in the more-defensive role.
Others have pointed out that one of our biggest weaknesses last season was our inability to score goals, as evident by Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez’s combined 23 accounting for 54% of our total strikes, while centre-backs Fabian Schar and Ciaran Clark ended the term as our third and fourth-top ‘scorers with four and three respectively.
Here’s how these fans reacted to the suggestion of Shelvey, Hayden and Longstaff being our midfield in the new Premier League season…
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