Newcastle United; a squad review

Newcastle United; a squad review

 

Those of you who follow my personal twitter account (@bastie35) will know that I am no Alan Pardew fan. I think his tactics are stuck in the dark ages, and he has an ability to get the best out of his most talented players. However, it seems likely he will be tasked with overhauling the squad this summer, this analysis shows who I would like to keep and who I think is not good enough for the Newcastle squad. I have not included Loic Remy as I know he won’t be signing anyway.

 

Goalkeepers

 

Tim Krul- Keep- Krul has had a poor season apart from a blinding performance away to Tottenham and has made a lot of mistakes. Nevertheless, he is a good goalkeeper and should be kept unless a substantial bid comes Newcastle’s way.

Rob Elliott- Keep- Elliott is a very good backup for a premier league side to have and I see no reason to move the former Charlton keeper on.

 

Defenders

 

Fabricio Coloccini- Keep- Coloccini has been criticised by sections of the fanbase this season and I find that staggering. Whilst he has not enjoyed the best of form in the last 4 or 5 matches, the skipper is far and away Newcastle’s best centre-back and a big effort must be made to retain his services

Davide Santon- Sell- Santon has had an awful season and I still think his best position is at right back where he was our biggest threat against Manchester United. Having said that, Mathieu Debuchy plays in that position so Santon would be an expensive luxury as a backup right back as it is likely we could receive a fee in the region of £6million for the defender. If Debuchy goes to PSG as rumoured however, I would not be averse to keeping Santon as first choice right back and using the money elsewhere.

Mike Williamson- keep- Williamson is not the most talented player in the squad but he is solid. I don’t believe he is good enough to play week in, week out but is a useful squad player for the club to keep.

Mapou Yanga Mbiwa- keep- I think there is a talented player here but he needs to be played at centre back alongside a big strong defender, not with Colo and definitely not as a fullback where he is atrocious. I think he has looked good in the games he’s played at centre back with Mike Williamson.

Ryan Taylor- keep- I have no idea how good he will be after his cruel luck with injuries. At his best he is one of my favourite players in this squad due to the utter contempt I have for some of them and his passion for the team. His ability to play a number of positions, whilst being able to contribute to the team in all of them would be an important ingredient once more if he could return to his best.

Massadio Haidara- keep- I think he is a talented player but he needs to work on his crossing. He’s got a good build for a fullback as he is strong and athletic and is very strong in the tackle as Ashley Young found out 2 weeks ago!

Mathieu Debuchy- keep- An outstanding right back and the only Newcastle player who is in the top 5 in his position in the division. He can do everything you want in a right back he can tackle, head, cross, positionally very sound,  comfortable in possession and has a fantastic engine. Newcastle must do everything in their power to keep hold of him but I think he will reunite with his best friend Yohan Cabaye at PSG.

Steven Taylor- sell- Has been allowed for far too long to get away with too much from the supporters because he is a local lad who fist pumps the fans. The truth is he lacks concentration and anticipation and so should be moved on this summer.

Curtis Good- keep- haven’t seen much of him but as he’s only 20 and getting first team football, its worth having an extended look at him.

James Tavernier- keep- He looked awful in the Newcastle games he played in last season but has had a very successful loan spell at Rotherham this season so it may be worth giving him next season to prove himself.

Paul Dummett- sell- He looks all over the place positionally in defence, offers little in attack. At the age of 22 I think the time has run out for him to prove he’s worthy of playing for Newcastle.

Midfielders

Moussa Sissoko- sell- I honestly think he brings little to the table for Newcastle. He’s quick yes but he lacks end product as both his shooting and crossing are poor. He’s also tall but is scared of challenging for the ball so that doesn’t help him. Whilst he is often defensively disciplined, I expect a bit more from a winger which is where he has been playing and I’ve been far from impressed when he has played infield also. Sissoko is also one of the first to let their heads go down if we fall behind.

Vurnon Anita- keep- I think Anita is a tidy player but his performances have dropped of late. Pardew moving to the flanks in the last 2 games has certainly not helped however, and I think he is technically a very fine player and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Hatem Ben Arfa- KEEP PLEASE- look at the names on this list and think like a defender, which one would you least like to face? He is by far the most talented player in the squad and the fact that he doesn’t start games is ridiculous. I will be heartbroken if as expected, he does leave the Toon this summer.

Yoan Gouffran- keep- His performances have been very poor of late and he needs a kick up the backside. However, I don’t think selling him is a good option as at his best he is very good defensively and scores plenty of important goals.

Dan Gosling- sell- Gosling has actually been one of our better players of late but I think that tells you more about the teams performances than Gosling’s. 2 starts in the last 2 and a half years in the league tells you it’s time for the 24 year old to move on.

Romain Amalfitano- sell- move on, simple as.

Jonas Gutierrez- sell- It breaks my heart to say it, but his best days are a long way behind him. It’s a shame because at his best he was a very effective player for Newcastle he was good defensively and a fine dribbler. Will not be forgotten by me for his services to Newcastle particularly during the promotion winning season.

Gael Bigirimana- keep- Another Newcastle youngster who seems to have faded away after a bright start, really hope he pushes on next season.

Sylvain Marveaux- Keep- Another that I would ideally keep but Pardew has clearly made up his mind here. It’s a shame because he made a few important goals last season, notably for Papiss Cisse in his winners against Stoke and Anzhi. A very talented player who can dribble with an eye for a pass, but is rarely included in the matchday squad these days.

Cheick Tiote- Keep- a warrior for Newcastle, it is essential Newcastle keep hold of him this season, the only other leader in the squad apart from Coloccini who may well leave. Would have no qualms handing him the captaincy should Colo leave.

 

Gabriel Obertan- sell- He has never cut the mustard as a premier league player and his lack of involvement this season shows that he will surely be out of the door come the summer.

Sammy Ameobi- keep- If you’d asked me this question in January of Sammy, I would have wanted him out of the door. However, in February he looked lively in the games I saw and so I would like to see him have one more season to prove himself.

Haris Vuckic- sell- the great big hope who Man Utd and Real Madrid wanted to the Rotherham bench, a sad decline for a player who was clearly talented, but injuries have ruined him.

Shane Ferguson- sell- I have no idea what happened to the this one, he was looking like a potential star of the future in the games he played for Newcastle in the early part of his career but these days he struggles to make the Birmingham bench.

Mehdi Abeid- keep- his loan spell at Panathinaikos looks to have been very successful so it sounds like he is worth integrating into the first team squad next season.  

Strikers

Papiss Cisse- keep- more out of necessity than because I really want to keep him, but he does get in the position to score goals so will every now and again put one of his many chances away. Not the most glowing of reports but this does at least make him a better option than Shola Ameobi and Luuk De Jong.  

Luuk De Jong- don’t sign- offers very little, he rarely gets in the position to score goals and when he does he doesn’t look like he could score in a brothel armed with £5,000. He’s very weak on the ball and spends a high portion of the game on his arse.

Shola Ameobi- sell- Sorry Shola, but you no longer cut it at premier league level. Not scoring in 16 months is not good enough, and whilst a few years ago he did enough to do ok, not anymore. He's immobile and gives away cheap freekicks.

Adam Armstrong- keep- looked lively against Stoke at the weekend, but that is all I’ve seen of the youngster. At 17 and already in the first team squad it would be silly to get rid.

Adam Campbell- keep- I went to a reserve game earlier this season, mainly to see what all the fuss was about with this young kid. He was awful, the young Chelsea centre back Ake won every ball against him. I hope this was just a one off but his lack of appearances for St Mirren is hardly encouraging. However, he’s still very young and so I think he should have at least another season.