High-flying Newcastle still an unknown quantity
Let’s put the breaks on the Newcastle love-in that’s running wild in the media.
Let me prefix this by saying that I’m a big fan of the the type of players that have been brought to St James Park, but the rush to judgement is premature.
Alan Pardew’s side have started well – better than those with an anti-Ashley agenda would have hoped – but it’s still very early in the season, and that side hasn’t really faced a proper examination yet.
This is not an attempt to be negative, it’s just caution in the face of past precedents. It’s always the way at the beginning of the season, we feel the need to brand teams with an identity as soon as possible. There’s a fresh feeling to Newcastle at the moment, a novelty, a lot of young foreign players will tend to do that – but we’re six games in.
If there’s one criticism of this new look Newcastle, it’s that the squad looks surface-deep. Factor in the inevitable dips in form that occur over a season, the injuries, the inexperience within the club, and there’s still cause for concern at St James Park.
Players like Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan may have been high-earners, and while that’s clearly against Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias’ financial philosophy, those are players that would have given this team more security, more backbone. While this looks like a leaner and fitter Newcastle and while Ashley looks to have gotten away with his Summer penny-pinching at the moment, it would only take a couple of negative results to change the atmosphere in the North East.
As mentioned, I like a lot of the players in this team at the moment – Yohan Cabaye is an elegant footballer, Hatem Ben Arfa has too much flair not to be liked, and Cheik Tiote is one of the most unheralded players in the league – but there’s not enough security in numbers.
In November, Newcastle play Everton, both Manchester clubs, and Chelsea – if those results don’t go well, it will be interesting to see how this team handles the long Winter period that will follow.
Posted on September 25, 2011, in General and tagged Alan Pardew, Mike Ashley, Newcastle, The Premier League Owl. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
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Toon are doing just fine at the moment and have another month prior to those games in Nov. I expect the side to be even better by then. Its possible we wont get any points in Nov. However we tend to do ok against Chelsea and Everton. Man U & Man City will probably be beyond our capabilities. So we may end up with zero points in Nov, but perhaps 6 also. I don’t think the premiership table lies when it comes to the teams ability.
The thing is is that the team scrapped through a few games (qpr, arsenal, scumderland) and got.the points and only recently.has.the team started to play the classy pacey football pardew wants and the team is capable of.
Players like cabaye and obertan have been able to find their form.whilst not loosing and add that to.the return of.ben arfa, marveaux returning to fitness and best and ba looking to be on the same page…things are gettig better not worse.
Bareing injuries to.a few.defenders and a january sale, top 7-8 looks a real possibility.
Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan would have added security and backbone? Really? When? They wouldnt start when everyone fit, and the idea thar they would be happy to sit on the bench until somone got injured is naive to say the least. Add to that the days of £60k per week benchwarmers is, thankfully, behind us. November is going to be a tough month for us agreed, and my expectation this season is we will get beaten by the 2 Manchesters and Chelsea so these will not be negative results. Most teams in the premiership will get beaten by these 3. So I really hope that the fans don’t get on the back of the players if we don’t beat the top 3 sides because right now we are not that good. But, we need to remember we are better that we were and with the right support and forward vision, there is no reason we shouldn’t be pushing top 6. Forget about the players that left, they are history and support the obviously exciting young talent we have at the club now
I don’t hold the same view. I think Newcastle have a very strong squad. I rate highly, Shane Ferguson, the new french lad (abeid?) who looks a great player, marveaux, Santon, Ben arfa, sammy ameobi, all of whom there’s no room for them in a starting 11 that’s got newcastle to 4th so far. There looking a little light up front and in central defence but still have a great number of very decent players. I feel there on a par with tottenham, and I’m betting on them finishing abover liverpool this season.
i,m glad we,re not playing the top 3 until november as it gives the lads more playing time together, (is everton a big team ? ) lets just be real, if we walk away with a point out of them 3 games then we,ve done ok (man city man u and chelsea), another 28 points and we,re safe thats first and formost
Can you please direct me to the “Newcastle love-in”. As a toon fan I’d love to see it.
It’s a query Tony, not a prophecy of doom. Relax, nobody here wants Newcastle to fail – if Newcastle do well then it’ll be written accordingly here. No agendas.
“Let’s put the breaks on the Newcastle love-in that’s running wild in the media.” – So where would that love-in be then as I can’t say that I’ve noticed it anywhere. On the contrary, what I have been aware of is cynicism, much like you write here. I can understand this to an extent though as Newcastle have flattered to deceive far too often. However you also say – “In November, Newcastle play Everton, both Manchester clubs, and Chelsea – if those results don’t go well, it will be interesting to see how this team handles the long Winter period that will follow.” I will find it interesting to read your reaction if these results are less negative than you obviously expect.