Seven years ago we had four players in the PFA Championship Team of the Year and this year we have close to that – three.
Two are fairly obvious choices goalscorer Dwight Gayle and play-maker Jonjo Shelvey, but the third one is just a little bit of a surprise.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles is also included and maybe some fans would have thought Ciaran Clark deserved one of the center-back spots too, but former Newcastle target Lewis Dunk has had another great season for Brighton.
But Jamaal is still young and inexperienced and certainly Rafa seems to see huge potential in the lad, so it’s a huge accomplishment for him to make the team.
It’s really good to have three players selected – we need a little bit of a pickup from the last three games.
Congratulations to all three players.
Maybe Rafa can look at some of the other players in the team and see if they may be good buys for us in the summer.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Comment #1James
You stitched me up there James lol! Clarke does deserve it as he’s been more consistent but lascelles was never going to offer that consistency, most players only develop consistency with age especially defenders. Think this season will do him good as it did Enrique and coloccini when we were last in the championship.
Bobby
Yeah I agree but that’s been Newcastle fans in general for as long as I can remember! We’re an emotional bunch when it comes to football and it gets the better of us at times. Rafa has done great and I would say it was more of a mess when we got relegated this time than the first. Only saving grace was Rafa stayed and highly doubt we would have came up if he decided to leave. I said after the Ipswich game that it’s not just players feeling the nerves but the fans too! Think we’ll be fine and as long as we make the required signings we’ll do well next year too.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Comment #2James it is lascelles in the team not Clark lol
ronaldo aarons
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:34 PM
Comment #3I don’t know about jenkinson, seems decent but having him and yedlin would block the path for sterry. I’d rather keep Anita for another year or two so we can send sterry on loan to a championship side next year. Think he’s going to be a player and rather it is with us.
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:35 PM
Comment #4Not sure why Rafa would want anybody from this league next season myself. He might, but I think he’ll be looking for better quality personally. Time will tell.
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:42 PM
Comment #5Got to go out again. Got a brand new car there I’d happily put my lad on the insurance if he’d bother to pass his test. Instead he’s just spent 80 quid on a new X-box controller. Must be getting really old because I can’t figure him out one bit lmao! 🙂
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Comment #6bobbybee 4
I personally think Cairney is premier league quality, also been fulham’s captain, his passing is top class, we need another player like shelvey to dictate a game. Been told by a few liverpool fans that if benitez can get that perfect number 10, his system will flourish, i.e. like he had gerrard.
Only other player i’d take from this league is knockaert but there’s no way brighton will sell him to us.
If we could get shawcross and cairney that would only add more leadership, experience and quality to our squad. Would be fantastic signings. Then we’ll need a decent left back, again im not sure who’s available that we could get, shaw looks unlikely, possibly robertson or charlie taylor? if anita and gamez leave then another RB will be needed, definitely need a top quality defensibe midfielder to give hayden competition, a right footed left winger and a pacey striker
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Comment #7bobbybee
80 quid on a controller jeeez
martoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:45 PM
Comment #8Anybody read the article on Skysports asking if NUFC have under achieved? I think it’s pretty unfair claiming we are the highest spenders but surely Villa can’t be far behind and our net spend was negative. It also says we are highly reliant on Gayle & Ritchie but is that not true of most teams – Brighton would have been knackered if the likes of Knockaert had been out for a long time.
martoon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Comment #9Bobbybee @5 Based on experience kid logic is if he buys the controller he still has you to Taxi him around but if spends money on driving lessons he has no controller!
Bobbybee
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:51 PM
Comment #10Whilst he gets ready, James, I get your point, they look good in this league and could easily step up a league, but not sure will be wanting could’s and might’s. He wants to win things and as much as I rate both those players – I was banging Knockeart’s drum before the season started – I get the feeling Rafa might go for proven top players. Time will tell but if we’re going to be going for trophies I just can’t help but think Rafa will have his sights set higher. Anyway, his Lord and Master is ready so I better chauffeur him to his destination. Later mate.
hibbit
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:57 PM
Comment #11the way Rafa sets up i would have Chris Wood from leeds
could Gayle play the no 10 role ????
Nufc-83
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Comment #12Carl jenkinson – No thanks not an upgrade on yedlin and is relatively poor.
Cairney looks good in this league but he runs the risk of being a complete flop at Prem level as I dont think he possesses any stand out attributes apart from posisbly distance shooting.
JamesToon
Apr 20, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Comment #13martoon
Exactly, its just b0llocks to write something about us, people will start taking us seriously when we do something in the prem.
Shelvey, gayle, ritchie, clark, hayden and yedlin are a class above everyone else in this league, the rest have found their standard and rafa has certainly over achieved with the likes of dummett gouffran anita colback diame
ronaldo aarons
Apr 20, 2017 at 1:02 PM
Comment #14Not read that article but yeah it’s a joke, every team is reliant on 2/3 players. We’re not people’s favourite team and most pundits/journalists enjoy us doing poorly. Very rare do we come across a positive report or article.
Apparently were favourites to sign Tommy Abraham. Not sure if it’s genuine and I don’t see it happening in all honesty.