Are Newcastle Overachieving?

by Chris


Welcome to the fifth day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.

In times of turmoil and trouble at St. James's Park, Mike Ashley turned to Champions League winner and recent Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez to rescue them from relegation. With a mish-mashed squad of experience, foreign talent and youngsters with no real chemistry, the task was monumental for Rafa. He immediately stripped the captaincy from long-serving Argentine Fabrizio Coloccini and gave it to new signing Jonjo Shelvey. This was done in attempt to galvanise the troops and turn things around. Shelvey eventually lost the captaincy to youngster Jamaal Lascelles later that year. 

Although his did make a rash appointment of captain, he did turn the form of the Magpies around, guiding them to a second half comeback against Liverpool, a first point against Sunderland in 6 games, victories against Swansea, Crystal Palace and Spurs and a credible draw against Manchester City. This was all in vain however as they were relegated at the hands of rivals Sunderland beating Everton by 3 goals to 0. This took Newcastle to the Championship for the first time since 2010. 

Renewed positivity was pumped into the supporters as they saw change in recruitment in the Championship. Considerable coups included Bournemouth's player of the year Matt Ritchie, Crystal Palace's pacy hitman Dwight Gayle, and the Playoff final winner Mohamed Diame. Newcastle were 4/1 favourites to lift the Championship last season, and with challenges from Brighton and Huddersfield swept aside, they eventually lifted the trophy on the final day. They had lost influential players at the beginning of the season, such as Gini Wijnaldum to Liverpool and Moussa Sissoko to Spurs, but both for quite high fees and were easy investable into the squad. 

I still think the fact that Rafa Benitez is still at Newcastle feels like a shock to Newcastle fans. They sing his name more than any other these days, signifying how much of a turnaround this club has gone under during his management tenure. When Steve McClaren was in charge, I feel the players felt they were bigger than the club, especially those attracting interest like Sissoko. But I feel with this current Newcastle team that the players are not good enough for the size of that club. Their recruitment this summer has been quite shocking, signing players with limited Premier League experience and poor quality, except promising young central midfielder Mikel Merino who has impressed for the Geordies so far this season. But the signing of Stoke City's 5th choice striker as your focal point is a recipe for disaster, and Rafa has began to realise this, reinstating Dwight Gayle in the first team. But their lack of attacking flair is forefronted by the fact that Ciaran Clark is their joint-top scorer so far, with 2.

So the squad is one which, barring maybe 4 or 5, wouldn't look out of place in the thick of the Championship. If the take over from Amanda Staveley is imminent, they need investment in January if they are to boost their chances of staying in the League, which I think they will do, but by the system and manager they have rather than quality steeped within the squad. They will need performances from Ritchie, Lascelles and Rob Elliot, in that spine of the team, if they are to succeed.

The result against Chelsea has made me write this because I was very impressed with the performance of Benitez's men but the performance did highlight the lack of quality in the team. The lack of pace, guile and tactical ability was clear to see and if I was Rafa, I'd be tearing the minimal hair I had left out at the squad I was building. In my opinion, if they finish 14th or 15th it will be a massive success for Newcastle, and if this can be seen through the potential takeover, the potential to grow with that club is exceptional.

I hope you enjoyed the fifth edition of the Lowdown's advent calendar edition. If you have any comments or constructive criticism then it is very much appreciated!

Chris :)