Forest, meanwhile, are enjoying their best season in a generation, success founded on a pair of monstrous centre-backs; a good, honest, old-fashioned, traditional, retro, English number nine, except he’s a New Zealander who wears number 11; and in between them, a midfield of presence and pace, primed to streak forward the moment opportunity presents itself.
They may play well, they may play badly; they may win, they may lose; but no side takes anything away from St James’ Park without enduring intense pain and suffering.
The standard of technical ability among footballers has never been higher: the defenders have feet, the destroyers have feet and goodness us, even some of the keepers have feet.
Otherwise, the Premier League is difficult and Newcastle are good; you always need to look at what your opponent brings to the table and set up accordingly, hence the change from 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1.
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Miley, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
