For the last three seasons at least, the defense has been Newcastle’s big weakness and in those three seasons we have conceded 190 goals, that’s an average of 63 goals a season and that’s a massive amount of goals to concede for any side.
So you would have thought last summer we would have brought in more defenders but no – Graham Carr brought in only one defender – Chancel Mbemba and he’s played quite well in his first season at the club – but the Newcastle defense is on track to concede 71 goals this season – the worst ever for the Magpies.
Currently we have conceded a massive 58 goals in just 31 games and our poor defense is one reason we look almost certain to be relegated in May.
Alan Shearer – Newcastle defend badly
And it’s not a surprise that we have had no left-back available for too many games this season, with Vurnon Anita and Moussa Sissoko playing there yesterday, but both being exposed.
Both are left backs Paul Dummett and Sadio Haidara are out injured most of the time for one reason or another, with Sadio out for the rest of the season with a knee injury he picked up last October and re-injured last week in trying to come back.
We brought in eight players in the summer and January transfer windows, yet only one was a defender, so we have not strengthened our weak positions and we are not going to mention we still don’t have a proven Premier League striker in the ranks.
It’s damning to those running the club that this has happened.
In yesterday’s game each of the three goals we conceded were preventable and especially Norwich’s third goal which could be the killer blow for Newcastle.
With that late winning goal Norwich gained 3 points on us and left Newcastle 6 points from safety with just 7 games to play.
Alan Shearer has pointed to the defense as being Newcastle’s main weakness as he said this on Radio Five Live last night:
“It’s a hell of a lot to ask to claw back within seven games,” “It was a big ask with 10 games to go but it’s going to be a big, big ask now because that was a killer blow today.”
‘I’m pretty certain if Rafa Benitez had been given more time if it might have been different.” “When you defend as badly as Newcastle do, you’re always going to concede goals.”
“You have to give credit to Norwich for the way they played, but if you were a Newcastle fan like I was it was a bit edgy and disappointing.”
One reason this relegation is going to be so disturbing and very hard to take for the second time in seven years, is that’s it’s been self-inflicted by those running the club.
We wonder when they are going to apologize to the long-suffering fans for their ineptitude in running Newcastle into the ground over the last couple of years?
When we bring players in during the summer those running the club at that time – whoever they are – have to bring in players to fix our weaknesses and they are currently at left back and center-back and at striker.
And maybe at right back too if Janmaat jumps ship.
It’s not exactly rocket science.
Those are just three (four) positions that must be strengthened and depending on the status of Tim Krul and Rob Elliot in recovering from their ACL knee injuries, we may also need to bring in an experienced goalkeeper.
But whether Newcastle can come straight back up again depends on other factors too – like who’s running the club and who the new manager is.
It could be all change at Newcastle this summer assuming we cannot perform the miracle and are relegated.
Comments welcome.
60 comments so far
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:43 PM
Comment #1Everyone knows this except the owner and his lackeys.
Bri
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:50 PM
Comment #2What a genius, Alan is.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #3I know who I would be trying to keep for the Championship:
Elliot, Darlow, Woodman
Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett (good enough for Champs), Mbabu, Anita (good enough),Shelvey, Aarons, Perez, Haidara, Saivet, Townsend (probably will leave), Armstrong, Toney, Satka, Mitrovic (probably will leave). That’s 18 players. Perez and Armstrong would be the core of the attack unless Mitro stays. We would need another 2 CB’s, a decent winger, a DM and another utility forward/AM. This side would be in the top half but that’s about it.
lochinvar
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #4Rafa might be man enough to stay with us and put the ship back on course.
Unless Everton come calling.
Then we end up with,… Martinez or Pearson or Houghton ?
Take your pick
21st Century Schizoid Man
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Comment #5Aye Ken, still full of self importance.
I suppose your self flattery is a bit like self abuse – but then you’ll know all about that.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #6Anybody fancy our chances of getting promoted straight away?
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #7The big challenge is to rebuild the club with an idiot at the top. Villa are trying to do it as well.
Sawbuck
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Comment #8And Leeds. Word is that Cellino is going to take charge of the team himself. Ashley and Cellino .. owners from hell..
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Comment #9G2
depends how quickly they can get organised,players out ,players in…manager,staff…theres a lot needs doing and with villa and possibly the mackems in that division it wont be easy.
toon22
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Comment #10The one thing that might sway Raffa to stay,apart from the pile of cash,is you would think he would have total control and free reign over the club.
I doubt he will ever have that offered to him ever again.
You would think the challenge might tempt him.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:15 PM
Comment #11The best we can hope for is a complete clearout of the board. Get those idiots out of there. They all have to go to give us a chance. Has Ashley got the nads to do it? I doubt it. Surely he sees they have been a complete disaster by now. What does Charnley know about football? Get him out. Carr has been terrible for years now. Get him out. Moncur is a butt licker. Get him out. Beardsley is a butt licker. Get him out.
beermonkey
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #12G2
elliot and hadiara can get lost as well to injury prone
if we go down no more sick notes waste of wages and fees we need players we can rely on
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #13G2
can see carr leaving but thats it,moncur will probs go back to a club ambassador role…charnley will not be going anywhere and absolutely no chance ashley will be unless someone comes in with a substancial bid…and since we are struggling,bad press,hostility enviroment all around the place it would take a brave man to step in with a huge offer.
beermonkey
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #14if we go down
my only hope is that if rafa dont fancy the championship he points charnly in the direction of a man good enough
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #15Yes, it’s a proper mess lads. I would keep Elliot beermonkey mate but you could be right about Haidara. Not sure about Aarons as well as far as being a sick note. We’ll need scrappers to get out of the Championship. I don’t see too many in the current squad. Mitro would be good. He would get stuck in but may leave. Perez and Armstrong should be good down there as well. I wonder what it would take to get Ashley to give up, sell the club and take a huge loss? We may yet find out lads.
toon kk
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #16One thing I will point out is do a lot of fans know anymore than MA??
In most polls before games people are on here posting and voting saying we’ll win and we have enough quality to win.
Have we? I say look at the table it doesn’t lie.
21st Century Schizoid Man
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #17Springy
I’d think Carr retiring is a pretty fair bet – our player recruitment has come in for a lot of criticism and clearly hasn’t sorted out the shortcomings in the team. But what will happen to Charmless ? He seems too thick skinned to fall on his sword but he is MD and for day to day club management failures the buck stops with him.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #18Springy you’re probably right, but I think it’s a must to get rid of Charnley. What a tool. Get a proper football man in there Ashley. Hire somebody hungry from an up and coming club.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Comment #19I have voted for a win recently toon kk. Not because I was sure we would win but just to give myself a lift. I’m sure many others did the same. We are absolutely dismal thanks to our executives. The numbers don’t lie.
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:33 PM
Comment #20G2
charnley is a good buffer for ashley,he takes a lot of flak aimed at him and i honestly dont think they would know who to bring in
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:35 PM
Comment #21I don’t think we’ll get a current Premier League manager when we go down. It will have to be someone hungry from the Championship I would think. But please don’t make it one of your clown friends Ashley. Or somebody recommended by one of your clown friends. Drop the losers that give you advice.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:36 PM
Comment #22Springy if we keep Charnley there is no hope. He is a buffoon working for a buffoon. Man up Ashley. There are decent football people out there.
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:37 PM
Comment #2321st
charnley will move heaven and earth to keep rafa if the club can afford him that will deflect a lot of pressure away from him…coz he would be clueless if carr leaves ask he will have no one to give him guidance.
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:40 PM
Comment #24G2
i said the this morning if rafa walks…i wondered if charnley would get colo to step up as he knows him,easy option….might seem doolally but this nufc…crazy shit happens here!!
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Comment #25Lee Charnley. Classic Ashley clueless flunky. We’ve seen them all. Dennis Wise, Joe Kinnear. And now Lee Charnley.
posada
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:49 PM
Comment #26Ashley will not change. He never has despite all the mistakes over the years he just keeps doing the same things over and again.
Stooge manager and stooge board.
Some of the signings have been dreadful. You can plan all you like about overhauling the squad, but the biggest problem will be getting rid of no hopers on big wages.
Thauvin will be back for sure. Who else would have him.
Xcisco mark 2.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:49 PM
Comment #27I could see Charnley hiring Colo as a coach. Probably a terrible coach as he has no leadership qualities. Another round of idiots running things. Just what we need.
posada
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:50 PM
Comment #28If we are relegated, it will be worth it if Ashley sells up.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:52 PM
Comment #29I see Thauvin as more of a Luque mark 2 posada mate. Horrific choices by the head scout (if you can still call him that) lately. Thauvin looks far too weak to ever make it in the Championship. We’ll need some hard men to get us back up, not softies prancing about with their latest hairdos.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:59 PM
Comment #30Just looked at my crystal balls and saw that St James Park is a Sports Direct warehouse in ten years time.
Gateshead has been reformed as the new NUFC and are pushing for promotion to the Championship.
The club is owned by the fans with the seeds of the new club being inspired by a blog ran by an American based Geordie billionaire who gained his fortune through the aforesaid blog.
You heard it here first.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:01 PM
Comment #31Come on Carr, find us some more softies to prance about with their latest hairdos. It’s what you do best.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #32Ashley is going to lose tens of millions on us in the end. He’s such a fool he will destroy the club completely and then try to sell up. That’s when he’ll take a beating. 150 M pound loss.
nufcursed
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #33as we’ll be playing championship football next season WITHOUT A DOUBT, this should be our team:
DARLOW
MBABU/LASCELLES/NEW CB/HAIDARA
BIGIRIMANA
NEW RM/NEW AM/AARONS
TONEY/ARMSTRONG
subs:
woodman/gibson/taylor/sterry/colback/smith
we’ll need a whole bunch of new players as over 15 will leave for sure!
can’t see these players playing in the championship:
– krul (5M)
– janmaat (1M)
– mbemba (2M)
– shelvey (3M)
– townsend (5M)
– tiote (2M)
– sissoko (500k)
– wijnaldum (8M)
– de jong (3M)
– marveaux (1M)
– obertan (1pound)
– perez (5M)
– cissé (1M)
– mitrovic (10M)
– riviere (500k)
in brackets the price i think they’re worth or we should accept to sell these useless bunch (apart from mitrovic, but he doesn’t deserve to be in the championship)
only positives of our relegation:
– ashley could leave
– we’ll gain a lot of money from selling players
negatives:
– we’ll lose benitez and need a new upcoming talented manager
– we won’t be able to attract quality players
– we’ll be in the championship for a few years i fear
FKN BOARD!SHOULD’VE GONE FOR A DECENT MANAGER IN THE SUMMER!
look at how tuchel, bilic, howe,.. are doing!
sorry for us fans but ashley gets exactly what he deserves!
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND…
even though we COULD still avoid relegation, we’ll benefit from a lot of not-interested players leaving..
we’ll need to rebuild from the bottom and have a vision for the future. WITHOUT ASHLEY THAT IS!
toon kk
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #34I wouldn’t be surprised if Rafa walked if mathematically we couldn’t stay up, he’ll probably not want the manager of a relegated team on his cv.
toon kk
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:12 PM
Comment #35G2
Tbh had we scouted the championship for quality instead of wasting money on French flops we’d probably have a decent hard working mid table premier league side.
GeordieTwo
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:18 PM
Comment #36Probably right toon kk mate. At least some of our players could have come from there. If we had gotten a solid, experienced striker, a good experienced CB, a hard nosed DM and a fit AM we would be nowhere near the relegation zone. But we didn’t do that did we Ashley, Charnley, Carr etc.? No because we’re too clever for that aren’t we?
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:29 PM
Comment #37i think if we go down and rafa walks i believe it’ll be pearson they’ll be after….cant really think who else will fancy it tbh.
nufcursed
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:40 PM
Comment #38pearson will be fine
it’s so clear that our problems are down to the players, not the manager!
Janmaat: not good enough
mbemba: still a lot to learn
lascelles: same
colback: championship player
townsend: good enough but not worth his fee
shelvey: there’s a reason he’s at a club like us: NOT GOOD ENOUGH
sissoko: waaaay overrated
mitrovic: too good for us
perez: decent
wijnaldum: great skills but that’s all (so not enough)
that shows we just lack quality to be in the premier league…
we need about a whole new first 11 for that
SPRINGY
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:43 PM
Comment #39nufcursed
aye we would need a overhaul, and if pearson was to come in he may get them at least working harder.
Toon Tang
Apr 3, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Comment #40Hahaah belly laughs at obertan being shipped out for a quid and sissoko for 500k.
Maybe we should sort them a bogof deal the useless bell shafts.