Joe Willock: Toon’s only Summer signing. One thing most Toon fans can agree about is that Joe Willock certainly made a very positive impression during his loan spell last season. If anything, it seemed as if he was almost too good (bear with me). With every performance (and every goal), it seemed as if he was drifting away from us, either Arsenal would see the error of their ways and want him back, or his price would escalate to the point where notoriously tightfisted Toon owner, Mike Ashley, would get the vapours at the sums being mentioned, but it didn’t. Willock was sold for around the price we thought he would be in the first place if the figures being bandied around (£20-25 million) are to be believed. (more…)
Darlow: Staking his claim for a more regular place Then again, maybe not in a season which has so often been about hanging on in defence and hoping for a goal on the break.
Whilst Callum Wilson and Allan St Maximin might be grabbing most of the praise up at the front, it is stand in goalkeeper Karl Darlow who has really given Steve Bruce a ‘selection headache’ (as they say) whenever Martin Dubravka recovers from his heel injury.
Whilst it has been a fairly average season for the Magpies so far, by recent standards anyway with the team currently lying in 13th, same as they finished last season, poor Darlow has received a battering in goal, fending off more shots than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League. His record so far this season being 39 saves and 1 penalty save. He is also currently Newcastle United’s most highly rated player on Whoscored, beating Allan St Maximin and Callum Wilson to the top spot. (more…)
Newcastle United: A long history of great centre forwards. With the long pause in Premier League action, I thought it might be a good time to go down memory lane and look at some of our favourite players from times past, so I have decided to list five of the top strikers in Newcastle United’s history. All the players selected played at least 150 games for the Magpies at the highest level, which means that great, but more fleeting Newcastle centre forwards such as Albert Shepherd, Albert Stubbins, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand etc have not been included. The players are listed in chronological order, starting with the most recent players and going backwards in time. (more…)
Gayle: An excellent season at West Brom. We had almost forgotten about him thanks to his swap with West Brom target man, Salomon Rondon, but he’s back. Much to the chagrin of West Bromwich Albion fans (if the Internet is to be believed), The Throstles decided they couldn’t afford Premier League wages in the Championship and have sent back Dwight Gayle back to St James’ Park. It certainly wasn’t due to poor performances, he had an excellent season, scoring 24 goals. Some even say that the reason West Brom didn’t get to the play-off finals was because Gayle missed out on the second leg of the semi final against local rivals, Aston Villa, who only won on penalties in the end. He scored in the first leg, but also picked up two yellow cards, leaving West Brom bereft of their top hitman when it came to the crunch. (more…)
Lascelles – Taking the reins of the captaincy Since Newcastle United’s previous Premier League relegation, the club were in search of new heroes within their squad and latest Captain and Defender, Jamaal Lascelles, has appeared as just that.
The solid centre back has been superb for the Toon in recent seasons and has become club skipper under the watchful eye of Spanish manager and former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss, Rafael Benitez.
Lascelles was handed the captain’s armband during last season by the experienced Spanish tactician and his performances have improved ever since, becoming a strong leader in the heart of his side’s rearguard in both the Championship and Premier League in recent months. (more…)
