Many Newcastle United fans have been calling for changes to be made when we host Manchester City at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Steve Bruce is expected to make alterations to the side that lost 2-0 at Aston Villa on Monday night, where our defending was particularly poor and the errors that gifted Dean Smith’s side crucial set-pieces cannot be replicated at home to the champions.
The boss has already made wholesale changes on the back of negative results this season, having ditched his initially favoured 3-5-2 after losing at Norwich City where our efforts were disjointed and toothless.
A move to a four-man backline did not last long, either, as we were thumped 5-0 at Leicester City at the end of September in the only fixture in all competitions that Bruce has not set the side out to start with a three or five-man defence.
Since the Foxes horror show, we have started each of our top-flight games with a 5-4-1, which has brought about three wins, one draw and three defeats as we moved out of the relegation places.
Bruce will have different options to hand when preparing to face Manchester City at the weekend from the side that lost at Aston Villa, with Sean Longstaff back from his three-game suspension.
Fabian Schar could also make his first appearance after a month out with a sore knee, while Florian Lejeune may be in line for his first outing since April having ruptured his left anterior cruciate ligament in our 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Where do we need to make changes the most?
Goalkeeper
Defence
Midfield
Attack
Here are some of the messages shared online by Toon fans desperate for changes as we prepare to host Manchester City…
After that shocking display 4 or 5
— Nigel Anthony Smith, QI (@toastofworcesta) November 28, 2019
Shelve and Miggy out for starters
— Manic Dave (@scully161280) November 28, 2019
11
— Curt 🤓 (@CurtisDPearson) November 28, 2019
Almiron, Joelinton, Dummett & Shelvey out at least… Replace with Gayle, Carroll, Longstaff & Lejeune? It’s a shame Ritchie is still injured 😩 The team is pretty toothless at the minute though. £40 million for Joelinton? 😳 #AshleyOut
— Cloggsy Goodwin (@cloggsy71) November 28, 2019
4
— thereal andrew young (@temperamentalan) November 28, 2019
Ashley Charley and Bruce all out would be a start
— keith rowell ogle (@oglekeith) November 28, 2019
Owner and Manager!! #BruceOut #AshleyOut
— Anthony Brown (@Anthonybrown83) November 28, 2019
Owner followed by head coach would be the best changes
— scott biffa carlin (@carlinbiffa) November 28, 2019