Chris Hughton seemed to make four good buys in the January transfer window, and one of those players has been completely outstanding for Newcastle ever since he first played for the Magpies.
Mike Williamson – fit in so well on Tyneside
That’s 26 year-old Mike Williamson, and in his very first game at home to Crystal Palace on 27th January, when he never put a foot wrong in a good 2-0 win, Newcastle fans have thought the lad, at the very least, looks a more than solid center-back.
He’s already formed a great central partnership with Argentine star Fabricio Coloccini, and they have worked up a good understanding and both players seem to complement each other.
Mike has settled in so quickly, it already seems he’s been playing at the club much longer than just 7 weeks, and he seems made to measure for Newcastle United.
And his form has been even more remarkable after not playing a single first team game at Portsmouth, after he signed for them on September 1st, so it looks like this lad has just wanted an opportunity to prove himself.
He’s been given that opportunity at Newcastle United and he’s taken it with both feet.
Chris Hughton talked about Mike this morning:
“I am delighted with how Coloccini and Williamson have gelled as a partnership.”
“In Mike you have a player who did very well for Watford in this division, so he knew it. Coloccini is in his second season here and at times he has been outstanding for me.”
“It is probably both their individual strengths that, at this moment in time, have complemented each other.”
“Mike would probably be the first one to admit that he has come into a good team and your introduction is smoother and easier if you come into a team that is winning and playing well.”
“That has helped him but he is still the one that has to go out there and do his job.”
But Mike must also have been helped by the other Newcastle players who seem to have gone out of their way to welcome the new arrivals and ensure they have settled in well on Tyneside.
Most of the new arrivals have done just that, and we have to hope that each one of them are good enough for the Premiership, if we can get there for next season.
But Hughton has rightly refused to be drawn into the debate on whether Williamson would be able to flourish in England’s top league, although we have to think he’s got everything needed to do just that – including a terrific temperament.
Chris continued:
“We are asked this numerous times about all our players and at the moment none of them are Premier League players because they are playing in the Championship.”
“If we are able to get there then we can make those comments then and not before.”
We even like that Chris will not be drawn on whether his current crop of players are good enough for the PL, because we’re not there yet.
If and when we do get promoted we expect Chris to go about in his usual quiet and efficient way, in further strengthening the side this summer.
And from what we’ve heard in the press, he’s after some decent players, but only those that can be brought in with good buys.
More buys of the caliber of Mike Williamson will certainly be most welcomed on Tyneside.
That makes a change for Newcastle, but we have to think it’s a step in the right direction for the good of the club, and it will hardly lessen the feel of excitement there will be with Newcastle fans this summer if the lads do get promoted.
Comments welcome.
1 comment so far
Bucks mag
Mar 13, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Comment #1Best defender since Woodgate?
Admittedly he’s not playing in the EPL/Champions League/UEFA Cup as Woodgate did for us, but I can’t think of a more recent consistently excellent defender.
Not that there are many standouts.