Five Questions Before We Play WBA

By: Daryl | July 13th, 2009

After getting some good input before the game against Chelsea, and then getting a good result, I’m looking forward to hearing who everyone thinks should start for digital Newcastle when we travel to West Brom.

For those unfamiliar with how things work here on FM Offside, the new deal is that before each game I put certain decisions up for debate, and then go with what the majority of FM Offside commenters advise.

For the game against West Brom there’s no question about tactics. It’s an away game, but WBA play a simple 4-4-2 and are – in one word – rubbish. They currently sit 17th in the Prem (we’re third, by the way) and their last five Premier League results read: 0-3, 0-2, 0-1, 0-1, 0-3.

So we’re going 4-1-2-1-2 and we’re going for the jugular. That’s not really up for debate.

But there are decisions to be made about the starting XI. Please take the time to read each question before commenting:

1. Who partners Matts Hummels in central defence – Andriy Rusol or Steven Taylor?
Coloccini is injured, Hummels is the only defender in form. Rusol started the game vs Chelsea and was average before coming off (he’s fit now though). Taylor replaced him and was equally average. Taylor is a little quicker, Rusol is a little better in the air.

2. Who starts at DM – Miguel Veloso or Ignacio Camacho?
Veloso is the man in form. But Camacho needs an easy game to find some form, especially as Veloso is cup-tied for the big Champs League game vs Barcelona. Right now I’m leaning towards giving Camacho a game here rather than in the two tougher Prem games (vs Arsenal and Everton) before the Barca matchup.

3. Right wing – Marquinhos or Jonas?
Battle of the one name wonders. Marquinhos is in horrible form. Geordie fans are literally questioning his place in the team. And Jonas came off the bench to score the equalizer vs Chelsea so deserves the start and should be raring to go. But maybe Marquinhos needs an easy game like this to rediscover his form?

4. Who plays AM – Diego or Per Ciljan Skjelbred?
Diego’s looking good and I want to keep his momentum going, but Skjelbred has been waiting a long time to get back in the starting XI.

5. Who partners Laurito up front – Pog or Lewandowski?
This is tougher. Pog has got got seven goals in his last seven games. But four of those were in the same game, and he was useless vs Chelsea. Lewandowski on the other hand came off the bench to head in a 93rd minute winner in the last game.

Some other factors to bear in mind when answering the above questions:
We played Chelsea four days ago, and we play Arsenal four days after this game. So a little rotation wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Pog is captain while Coloccini is injured. Taylor is next in line after that. Then Camacho. So one of those guys probably needs to play.

Jonas can play left or right. Marquinhos can play up front (and actually prefers to, though he’s never really done the business up there.) John Fleck has been rested, but should make the bench.

What would you do, and why?