Steve Bruce has to fit Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jetro Willems, Emil Krafth and Andy Carroll into a new system at Premier League outfit Newcastle United.
How times have changed.
Just a few weeks ago, the more pessimistic factions of the Newcastle United support were preparing themselves for life in the Championship and arduous trips to Barsnley, QPR and Reading.
But while it will take more than a few new signings to dispel the anti-Ashley feeling on Tyneside, there is suddenly a hint of quiet optimism around St James’ Park. By the 5pm transfer deadline on Thursday, £61 million was invested in Newcastle’s playing staff with The Magpies enjoying arguably their most exciting transfer window of the Mike Ashley reign.
The question now, however, is how the much-maligned yet criminally underrated Steve Bruce harnesses Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jetro Willems, Emil Krafth and Andy Carroll in his new-look 3-5-2 system.
New look Newcastle
The formation has worked wonders in pre-season, combining defensive solidity with freedom in attack. Joelinton has impressed, scoring against Preston and Hibernian, as part of a front two with Miguel Almiron, the club’s recent record signing who struggled to influence games in a wider area last season.
Willems, meanwhile, should thrive in a left-wing back role with his pace and ability to provide pinpoint deliveries from out wide. He shone in an attacking role at PSV though questions remain about whether the more defensively minded Krafth can offer balance on the opposite flank.
Carroll, meanwhile, will be an impact sub and what an impact he could make. Fitness permitting, Carroll is arguably still the most fearsome aerial presence in English football and he should form a formidable partnership with Willems, who set up so many goals for another targetman, Luuk de Jong, in Holland.
In short, Bruce’s new formation is hardly an exercise of forcing square pegs into round holes – anything but. Jamaal Lascelles, Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden already look more than comfortable in a new system while Jonjo Shelvey, strangely out of the team under Rafa Benitez, should have a new lease of life as the man who makes things tick.
Perhaps the only question is how Bruce gets the best out of Saint-Maximin, his enigmatic winger with the skill of a freestyle YouTube sensation. The former Nice flyer isn’t a natural fit at wing-back but could Bruce hand him a free role in behind Joelinton or Carroll?
If there’s one thing Saint-Maximin needs, it’s freedom to strut his stuff. You can imagine him flopping spectacularly under Steve McClaren or Alan Pardew but, with Bruce fully focused on a free-flowing style, expect goals, assists, and step-overs aplenty. For now, however, he might have to make do with game-changing cameos off the bench.
But that is hardly a negative. These days, Newcastle have strength in depth and the players to fit into a variety of positions all over the pitch. Maybe it’s too early to book a Megabus to Loftus Road.
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