5. How Will Newcastle Cope With Marouane Fellaini?
Though the Belgian has been making headlines for the wrong reasons during the international break, thanks to his apparent desire to move on from Everton sooner rather than later, he has started the season with a bang - especially in the game against Manchester United that he bosses from midfield - and if he has a good game, Everton tend to have a good game. Unfotunately for Newcastle, Cheick Tiote will definitely miss the game against Everton, so the Magpies will miss some bite in centre-midfield, and the sort of player who could possibly cancel out the Belgian. Alan Pardew may well go with fit again James Perch to sure up the defensive midfield options on the pitch at Goodison, and the Englishman does tend to do well in the centre of the park, or the manager could also play Jonas Gutierrez in the middle as part of a 4-3-3 to crowd Fellaini out. Indeed Gutierrez spoke to the Evening Chronicle to confirm that he has been working on adapting to the middle of the park, suggesting that the story might be a pre-cursor to the Argentine's role against Everton:
"I have never played in the centre of midfield before, or maybe I did a long time ago, but not recently. It is something all players may have to do this season with the extra games. My attitude is that I try to play at least 7/10. I try to do the job the manager wants me to do. Maybe I wont be spectacular in that role, but I know that I will do a good job. I try to improve, when I have been given this role I try to watch other players who have played this position. It is the most important thing in football you need to understand where you need to be at certain moments in the game. When I play left-back, central midfield, in the No 10 role, I always try to find the best position to be in. The biggest thing is that you need to know exactly where you should be because when you are in your normal position you do it naturally. So I watch the best players in the world who play in central midfield and look to them. I watch a lot of left-backs and central midfielders to learn about them.
For me, the 4-3-3 is certainly the better option with Perch, Cabaye and Gutierrez taking the central roles behind Ben Arfa, Cisse and Ba, though of course the expected absence of Fabricio Coloccini might mean Perch is given the nod to play next to Steven Taylor in central defence ahead of Mike Williamson.
6. Will The Magpies Miss Pardew On The Touch-Line?
Everton will see Alan Pardew start his two game domestic touch-line ban, and Newcastle may well miss their manager from the touch-line, where he can usually be seen furiously scribbling notes - which themselves have led to improved second half performances in all three of Newcastle's games so far this season. Without Pardew, Newcastle will have to rely on the influence of assistant manager John Carver and coach Steve Stone, and hope that the team don't require the prodding influence of their manager to change anything if the game starts to get away from them. Hopefully extensive planning for multiple outcomes will ensure that Pardew isn't missed too much, but it's always better to see a manager prowling his technical area than shackled up in the crowd. So what do you think Newcastle fans? Will Newcastle have enough to beat Everton? Share your thoughts below.