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…)
Pancrate: Moving on out.It looks like the Newcastle United squad is already starting to be trimmed down and relieved of the players have failed to make an impact this season.
Fabrice Pancrate, Fitz Hall and possibly Leon Best will be moved on as Hughton looks to free up as much cash as possible to help him in the transfer market. I can’t see them three players leaving freeing up too much to be honest as I’m not so certain that their wages will be massive, or whether we will recoup the majority of money we paid to Coventry City for Leon Best back in January. Either way, Pancrate, Hall and Best appear to have not done enough in their time on Tyneside to warrant being a paasenger in the Premier League.
Fabrice Pancrate was signed as a free transfer back in November, and marked his arrival on Tyneside with a spectacular goal against Watford which left a few fans thinking that we could be seeing something exciting in what was otherwise a non-existant right side of midfield at the time. It didn’t work out that way, and Danny Guthrie found himself played out of position on the wing in preferance to the Frenchman. With the arrival of Wayne Routledge back in January the writing appeared to be on the wall for Fabrice and he found himself eventually struggling to even make the bench towards the climax of the season. (more…)
Put the balls down, Chris!Now the season is over, you could be forgiven for thinking that manager Chris Hughton may be off for a holiday to recharge the batteries after guiding Newcastle through 46 games and, ultimately, to promotion.
We all know that Hughton has demonstrated amazing professionalism and loyalty throughout the season, and that appears to have continued into the summer break as the quiet man has spurned the chance of a quick getaway with family in favour of travelling around football grounds throughout Europe searching for new talent that could help Newcastle survive in the Premier League next season. It makes sense really, and gives Hughton a chance to evaluate players for himself whilst they still play competitively in whichever respective league they are in. (more…)
An indication of what awaits?They are words that will send shivers down the spine of Newcastle United fans worldwide: Mike Ashley is preparing to release a statement!
You can forgive the feeling of worry when words like that are announced, especially when you take into account that previous statements have been followed by massive disruption and uncertainty through all levels of the club. I think this time will be different though as Mike Ashley has looked like he is again enjoying his tenure as owner, albeit from the executive seats and not the stands, and most will be looking for a positive outlook this time around rather than yet another episode involving the ‘for sale’ signs. The official club statement should be in the public domain some time this week, according to The Journal, the contents of which are sure to be the subject of much deliberation until it’s release. (more…)
Iceland international interesting Newcastle?Rumours are abound that Newcastle gaffer Chris Hughton is keeping tabs on Reading’s Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson as he looks to bolster the squad for our return to the Premier League.
Sigurðsson has been one of the stand out performers for Reading in what could be classed as his breakthrough season at the Madejski, scoring 20 goals in 38 appearances from a variety of different positions on the field. Gylfi was one of the stand-out performers of an FA Cup run that saw the Berkshire side reach the Quarter Final, beating the likes of Liverpool, Burnley and West Brom along the way. I have noticed him playing on the right, in the middle and as a second striker in recent weeks and he has done nothing but impress me every time I have happened to see him play. Sigurðsson is undoubtedly a bright talent, and is also attracting interest from Fulham and Bolton Wanderers, although as ever there will be questions surrounding whether the player will be capable of making the step up to the Premier League. (more…)
