This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Newcastle put in one of their most convincing performances of the Steve Bruce era last Saturday afternoon.
They showed tremendous resilience and concentration to halt Manchester City in their tracks as they drew 2-2.
Twice they came from a goal down to level proceedings and it said an awful lot about the type of character the players have at St James’ Park.
However, going into their clash with Sheffield United on Thursday, Steve Bruce would be wise to replicate a bold decision he made last weekend.
On the chalkboard
Perhaps rather surprisingly, Bruce decided to keep Fabian Schar among the substitutes against the Citizens.
The Switzerland international has recently just returned from injury but has regularly been one of the Magpies’ most consistent and cultured defenders.
Last term, he scored four goals and claimed a solitary assist for his troubles while he’s played nine times in 2019/20, instilling himself as a regular under the new management.
However, the man who replaced him when he was sidelined, Federico Fernandez, was in superb form on Saturday to justify exactly why Bruce’s call was right.
The Argentine was a colossal figure at the back and made ten clearances along the way. Before the game, there may have been a debate between both him and the £10.8m-rated Schar but the latter wasn’t favoured.
Perhaps fearing the possibility of aggravating the knee issue he had before, it was a decision that more than paid off.
Fernandez was strong in the tackle, winning two challenges, while there was also room for an impressive five interceptions. The 30-year-old’s reading of the play was eye-catching and against a City side possessing the creative hubs of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, this was vital.
When Bruce’s men take on the Blades, it wouldn’t be a great surprise if Schar was again kept on the bench.
After all, his replacement in the side has done little wrong and deserves a bigger run in the side.
In other news, check out what Newcastle fans had to say about Alan Shearer’s TOTW…