What a result from the Magpies to get a point away at AC Milan. A fantastic start to the “group of death”. But could it have gone better for us? If you could have changed just one player that might have changed the game who would it have been? Who Eddie Howe should have started? Well, I am going to give you my player and who I would have changed them for.
Before that though, I would like to talk about some players who played well. Tripper had a fantastic game against a very talented winger in Leão and Nick Pope played out of his skin, one of the main reasons for us staying in the game.
Now, let’s tuck into which player should not have set foot on that field today. I mentioned before the game on X (Twitter) that I thought Dan Burn was going to struggle in this game. I was right. He did not have a good game by any means. The first half was probably the worst I have ever seen him play.
In the first half alone he couldn’t help himself at all. Misplaced passes galore, constantly out of position, easily beat and not able to keep up with Chukwueze off the ball either. I do not mind Dan Burn… until he steps in as left-back. Then everything goes peak tong. He doesn’t have the pace to keep up with most modern-day wingers.
Who Eddie Howe should have started
So who Eddie Howe should have started in his place? Lewis Hall. As simple as that. No conversation is needed. Start the youngster, you’re going to be spending, at minimum, £28m on the lad. He has to start soon. It helps he can actually play left-back too. His passing and crossing ability are amazing for his age, he has the pace to keep up and beat players and his ability to attack the opponent without looking like a child lost in a sweet shop would be a blessing.
I see the point that he hasn’t played much and hasn’t even set foot on the field for us. Starting him in the Champions League may not be the best thing to do. But when is it? Is it in the Carabao Cup? Surely not because that means he starts against a very good team in Man City. No time is better than the present, once he starts I think we will find it difficult to replace him.
I hope we see some of Hall against Sheffield United as these lads need a bit of a break before getting stuck into more games. That is a discussion for Saturday. For now, we will stick with our fantastic result of 0-0 away to AC Milan and prepare ourselves for Sheffield United at away.