Guthrie will ignore the critics.Danny Guthrie has turned tubthumper today as he and his team-mates prepare to defy the pre-season critics who are drooling over the prospect of failure for Newcastle next season.
I have no doubts that this season won’t be the cakewalk the last season ended up being, but I do believe we have what it takes to survive, whilst not pulling up any trees so to speak.
Danny Guthrie believes the same, and has today sent out a message to those who are knocking the team before they have even kicked a ball in the new season. That message is “we’ll just ignore them”. A good message then, although everyone is aware that they will need to step up their game if we are to survive and thrive in the Premier League. (more…)
Has been a key player for us.Having already taken a look at our goalkeepers and defenders, the focus for the next edition of our player review moves up the pitch again to see how our midfield have performed throughout the season.
It’s been a strange position for us this year. On one hand, some say the midfield has been our achilles heel, it lacks mobility and creativity. On the other hand though, it has been a position that has yielded a return of 30 goals from the season. Without checking, that is probably a damn sight more than what we have had in return from the past few seasons. Of course 17 of them have come from Kevin Nolan which has helped improve that figure, but despite the criticism that has been aimed at them from time to time they have chipped in with their fair share of assists aswell. After all, strikers need service from somewhere, right? (more…)
Routledge: Key man since his arrival.Now the job of promotion has been achieved we can pick start to pick through it and have a look at what we have done right and wrong throughout the season.
The very fact we have won the title would indicate that the right outweighs the wrong through the course of the season, but it’s January that held the key to promotion for me. In the first half of the season we tended to wear opposition down and never really looked like a balanced team, with most of our play coming down the left side with Jonas Gutierrez and Jose Enrique whilst virtually nothing coming down right through Danny Guthrie. That sounds harsh on Danny G, but it wasn’t meant to be. What I was trying to say is that Danny Guthrie is not a winger, although he did get his fair share of assists from crosses and free-kicks out wide. Guthrie is a central midfielder, that is his favoured position which meant he tended to be drawn into the middle of the pitch, forcing us to look more lopsided as a team. Anyway, he was just doing as he was told and it was a case of needs must, so credit must go to him for giving it a go and playing where he is needed, Kieron Dyer should take note! (more…)
We're back, better, and with a point to prove!Danny Guthrie appeared in defiant mood whilst talking to the press today, insisting that Newcastle United will be going back into the big time with a point to prove after last seasons disappointing relegation.
Guthrie has been improving steadily this season and that has become more evident since he moved into his favoured central midfield position. At only 22 years old, a season in the Championship could be just what the doctor ordered in an effort to improve his all round game. The Shrewsbury born midfielder has had to deal with competition for places from more senior players such as Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith but has sparkled at times when given the nod to play, creating 11 goals and scoring 4 for himself in his 33 league appearances this term. (more…)
Irons into the fire?This evening will see two United’s meet on the field at St James’ Park, with both United’s having their own very different reasons for taking the points with them.
Newcastle will be looking to extend their unbeaten home run and will want three points for themselves as they continue their push for the Premier League. In contrast, Scunthorpe will want the points to help them in an effort to avoid relegation back to League 1.
I’m sure I don’t need to remind any fans about what happened when we played at Scunthorpe’s Glanford Park back in October, but just in case I do have to remind anyone, we lost 2-1 that night and serious questions started to be asked of our credentials for playing in the Championship. Danny Guthrie, who started the game that night, remembers it well and claims that despite the loss it was the game that shaped our season.
“The Scunthorpe game at their place was a defining moment for us,” said Guthrie, “It proved to be a turning point.”(more…)
