I think it’s fair to say that Newcastle fans already have plenty of cause for concern at this point in their season. The club has shown a blatant lack of ambition this summer and that’s just not becoming of a club with such a grand, all-encompassing history.
Newcastle should be competing towards the top of the Premier League and they should be able to complete for the top players. Unfortunately, that just hasn’t been the case for a number of years now. The Magpies are slap-band in the middle of an almighty slump.
A summer of stagnation is unlikely to help. It’s difficult to see where the Magpies go from here. Alan Pardew faces a massive challenge to steady this sinking ship.
After last season’s string of disappointments, fans were hoping that their club would take action in the transfer market. It’s clear this squad isn’t strong enough to challenge for a place in Europe. The only way to rectify this is to add to their squad.
But deal after deal has fallen through. At one stage the club looked likely to sign Bafetimbi Gomis and Darren Bent, put neither signing materialised. Indeed, the club made no long-term signings this summer.
Joe Kinnear did bring Loic Remy in on loan, but I’d classify this as something of a gamble. He’s a good player, but given the allegations that have been leveled against him, it wouldn’t surprise me if he cut a distracted, somber figure this year.
The Toon’s biggest victory this summer has been keeping hold of Yohan Cabaye. Newcastle United managed to fight off significant interest from Arsenal and PSG and I expect the Frenchman to have a big impact this season.
Pardew’s comments since the transfer window slammed shut could strike one as being damage control: “With the strong squad we have we should all approach the season in a positive, optimistic frame of mind. We did the majority of our business in the January window, signing five excellent first team players. We are delighted to have brought Loic Remy to the club in this window and we believe he will form an exciting and effective partnership with Papiss Cisse.” (Source: The Mirror)
Given Cisse’s form and Newcastle’s lack of cut and thrust, I wouldn’t be surprised if these words provided little solace for fans.
The proof will be in the pudding for the Magpies, but things don’t bode well.
What’s your take? What can Newcastle achieve this year?
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It is almost obvious that the defence will let us down. Kinnear’s cancellation of Douglas will come to haunt us as Pardew will play the better centre back at right and keep Staylor in centre just for the gungo ho factor. Pardew doesnt know what he wants. Clean sheet, Headers from set pieces, attacking runs by the wings…he wants a bit of everything, but gets nothing as they are rather rudderless. Midfield can still be ok if Tiote, Cabaye and Sissoko plays to their potential, With Remy and Cisse upfront. 4-3-2 formation should be played with the missing 1 i.e. HBA allowed to pick up passes in the midfield. Marveaux and Anita can be brought in for HBA (to keep him fresh) and Tiote (after the first inevitable yellow). Sammy and Gouffran would be good subs or occasional starters.
But of course, Pardew is Pardew…Jonas will start, MYM on the right, Sissoko as no. 10, HBA stuck in the wing, lone striker and all that. Assuming two managers will be fired for bad performance and another two teams will just fail to show up, we should finish 16th this season too.