With the terrific display yesterday at Goodison Park, Newcastle’s summer signings are now looking better than ever.
Chris Hughton – made good start this season
James Perch has so far played in every game at right back, but with his 5th yellow card in his first ever five Premier League games (has to be some kind of record), he will be given a one game suspension.
We saw the full debuts of two more of the five new players yesterday, and both Cheick Tiote and Ben Arfa were absolutely outstanding.
We still haven’t seen Sol Campbell or Dan Gosling in the first team, but Sol will almost certainly get his first start at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening, to show what he can do.
But again it will not be easy for Sol to get a first team starting position right now, with Williamson and Coloccini again outstanding for Newcastle in central defense.
Dan Gosling will not be fit until early January but he too could be a tremendous signing – for nothing from Everton, and he must have enjoyed the victory yesterday against his old club, when Newcastle looked a good and solid side.
So for around £5M in transfer outlays, Newcastle seem to have acquired five good players, and certainly it has significantly strengthened the squad.
Two or three new players in January will be a good way to keep constantly improving the squad, as Newcastle push to get back to being one of the top clubs in the land.
Yesterday’s performance showed they are definitely on the right track, and Chris Hughton is starting to look like a very savvy Newcastle manager.
Comments welcome.
59 comments so far
Phil K
Sep 19, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Comment #1Credit must go to the calm management of Chrissy H.
We seem to certainly be moving in the right direction, and apart from the awful hiccup against Blackpool, things haven’t gone badly at all. I expect us to go out of the League Cup against Chelsea, but it would be a good testing ground.
I’d play Big Sol, and some of the young lads, and also not put Ben Arfa or Tiote at risk.
leedodd
Sep 19, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Comment #2Hand On heart We all knew the Blackpool game was a one off !!!!!!!! So far We are having a Good Season and Chris wont crumble or the lads. Put the Second sting out at Chelsea as we don’t want to loose Carroll or Nolan or a Senior Member on a cup this season . The League comes first !!!!!!!
Ciaran Thomas
Sep 19, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Comment #3Whoever was on bench for the Everton should start against Chelsea in the Carling cup,To keep things happy !
Did you see Jonas after the game ? When Ben Arfa try to high 5 him but just walked past him.
balubas1
Sep 19, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Comment #4A 0-2 loss to Blackpool can count as a slip… But winning away to Everton is very rarely a coincidence.
CH played the right team, and seems to have the tactics in order. Still I belive there is work to do when developing more as a team.. But that is natural as we have some new players and we are just coming for the championship.
balubas1
Sep 19, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Comment #5Ciaran Thomas:
Really? Jonas pouting after “loosing” his place in 1 game? Might be a coincidence though…
Mr Books
Sep 19, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Comment #6HBA’s running with the ball yesterday was fantastic. Enrique’s running and crossing was also superb, he is developing into a superb premiership wing back. Tiote was a class above anything we have seen for a while as a DM. Barton and Nolan very good in the middle and supporting the attack. Colo was good, Wilkinson I thought was OK – a bit lucky to get away with a couple of things. Perch and Routledge again OK, but not looking anywhere neer as accomplished as the left/middle of the team.
Raylor has a chance to strp his game up. His crossing is much better than Perch. I’d quite like to see Jonas played in front of him, because he provides just that bit extra of the pace and industry that I think Raylor needs from his winger. I also think he just has the edge over Routledge in his ability to create/deliver but its a close call.
Looking forward to Jan I think if Saylor doesn’t sign, the priority has to be a CB. Not so much for this season, but for next. Getting them in Jan would give them some time to benefit from Sol’s experience and to start to build an understanding with Willo, Collo and err… Kado.
moonraker
Sep 19, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Comment #7It’s nice to know that Sol can’t get in the team, S. Taylor still to come back and Gosling getting nearer; and we have striker options as well!!
cynicaltoonfan
Sep 19, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Comment #8I have just downloaded the game arfas control is unreal !!
Howay The Lads
Sep 19, 2010 at 2:48 PM
Comment #9It is good that players with the quality of Gutierrez, Guthrie, S. Taylor, Campbell, Lovenkrands and even Gosling can’t get in the team.
On yesterday’s game, I though Tiote and Ben Arfa were class, especially as it can take foreign players time to settle in.
A lot of people had bigged Tiote up before he played saying, ‘his game suits the Prem perfectly.’ And admittedly I thought he couldn’t be so great as he only cost £3.5 million, but I will hold my hands up and say he is class.
Him and Barton ran the show. They both have engines that are more suited to tanks than people! They are gonna be the players that win us games this season. Tiote was so much better going forward than I thought he would be, but he was also a beast at the back.
Sad to see Harper go off with his injury, but we’ll just have to deal with it and hope he’s fit ASAP. He deserves this season as number 1 at least. Next season will be the season Krul/Forster should be challenging.
Carroll won most in the air, but I think we need him to bring it down more rather than flicking it on.
Overall, great game, great atmosphere.
Howay The Lads
Howay The Lads
Sep 19, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Comment #10Oh and Enrique was incredible
Hatem Ben Arfa
Sep 19, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Comment #11Howay The Lads // Sep 19, 2010 at 2:48 PM
It is good that players with the quality of Gutierrez, Guthrie, S. Taylor, Campbell, Lovenkrands and even Gosling can’t get in the team.
Gosling is injured mate 😉
GvFalkirk
Sep 19, 2010 at 4:09 PM
Comment #12Off topic, but this Ricky van Wonswinkel scored another 2 goals today. Could be a good player for us
GeordieGerman
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:01 PM
Comment #13Does anyone know how long Harper will be out for? If he is out for awhile will we be recalling Forster or will Soderberg be second goalie?
slazberger
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:05 PM
Comment #14GeordieGerman – we can’t recall forster
harper will of had a scan either today or tomorrow, hughton said they think its ligament damage in his shoulder so it could be a couple of months. we will have to wait until he has had treatment to find out more
Bucks mag
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:11 PM
Comment #15Personally I don’t think we need to recall Forster, even if we could. Put faith in Soderberg as a back up, FF needs as much time as possible playing instead of sitting on the bench.
slazberger
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:17 PM
Comment #16i agree Bucks mag. i also think both krul and forster see them selves as the future goalkeeper so we could have had problems if both we’re at the club with one starting and the other on the bench. far better just let forster get a load of games in and then choose out of the two after a season or two, depending on how long until harper retires.
Howay The Lads
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:18 PM
Comment #17GeordieGerman, if it’s ligament damage then it could be anything from 4 weeks to 8/9 weeks depending on how bad it is.
If it’s a dislocated shoulder then probably 8 weeks before he’s ready to play again.
We could always ask for an emergency loan from the F.A. They granted one to Man City in very similar circumstances (injured keeper and un-recallable loan) so it would stink of double standards if they didn’t allow it.
Obviously though we’d only get someone pretty bad, but probably better than Soderberg
Harley.
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:23 PM
Comment #18Anyone else like to see collo shifted out to right back with campbell coming in at centre back? Personally i see perch as a liability and i reckon collo would be a huge improvement.
slazberger
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:26 PM
Comment #19Harley. – not for me, i know people have lost faith in perch already but i don’t think the answer is to take other players out of there best position.
arcarius
Sep 19, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Comment #20Perch will serve his suspension against Chelsea according to
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100919/james-knocked-off-his-perch_2281670_2159026
@slazberger
you’re right. Morever Colo is more inclined towards his left foot
Harley.
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Comment #21I agree to some extent but colo’s quality and versatility i think he could cope. Could be worth a try against chelsea?
GeordieGerman
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:07 PM
Comment #22Thank you all for explaining.
WesJameson
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Comment #23Lads,don’t think Collo is the man for right back, more likely a role for Steven Taylor????
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:21 PM
Comment #24Credit to Chris Hughton and Mike Ashley. The 2 of them certainly know what they are doing. Buying cheap right now, buying youngsters for the future. Its certainly what i would be doing. Chris Hughton has done an excellent job in the Transfer Market. Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote is like buying Ronaldo and Essien for 150 million. But we have an option to make Ben Arfa 5.5 million and Tiote is already ours for 3-4 million.
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Comment #25My team for Chelsea
————————-Soderberg———————
Tavernier—-Campbell———Kadar—-Enrique
——————-Tiote————–Smith———–
Routledge—————Vuckic—————Jonas
—————————–Ranger———————
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:42 PM
Comment #26Team for Chelsea
————————–Soderberg——————-
Tavernier—-Campbell——Kadar——-Enrique
—————————Tiote————————-
Routledge————-Vuckic—————–Jonas
—————Ranger————Ben Arfa————
I think we have a really dangerous attacking side, with every single player with speed in this lineup. Defense we have Enrique and Tiote, and Sol Campbell.
rknufc
Sep 19, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Comment #27we cant play 2 teams baro;-)
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Comment #28rknufc
I know LoL! But we have more than one choice! 🙂
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 7:02 PM
Comment #29I have to say this…
I know Joey Barton is a great free kick taker, but on direct free kicks why doesn’t Hatem Ben Arfa take them. He has a brilliant curve, and everybody knows his power. He has made some free kicks in his career too.
toonster88
Sep 19, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Comment #30is raylor the replacement for perch.well i consider him(raylor) much better player.more premier experience too
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Comment #31http://footyroom.com/everton-0-1-newcastle-united-2010-09/
I can watch this video billion times without getting tired!
rknufc
Sep 19, 2010 at 7:47 PM
Comment #32good point baro @28
Howay The Lads
Sep 19, 2010 at 7:51 PM
Comment #33baro, it’s because Ben Arfa is not very good at free-kicks. He used to take them all for Marseilles and he scored one.
Toon_fan83
Sep 19, 2010 at 8:12 PM
Comment #34Bartons fk on goal are pretty good but his delivery from cks and fks into the box were terrible at goodison. They were all aimed at the back post but overhit so even if anyone got there head to it impossible to score. If raylor plays he defo shud take.
murvar
Sep 19, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Comment #35My only thought on yesterday is that I was surprised Jonas rather than Routledge made way for King Arfa. He is better suited to play on the right, cutting in to get on his better foot the way managers usually like it these days. Rout was hopeless against Blackpool, and whilst Jonas was;’t much better, he does have a really good understanding with the wonderful Jose. Tiote looked very assured and gets forward better than Smith now can manage.
nicolnj
Sep 19, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Comment #36cynicaltoonfan // Sep 19, 2010 at 2:38 PM
I have just downloaded the game arfas control is unreal !!
hey can you send me the link where i can download it? thanks
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 8:54 PM
Comment #37Wonderful KING ARFA!
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=hatem+ben+arfa&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&suggested_categories=17%2C22&uni=3
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 8:55 PM
Comment #38nicolnj
Link to watch the game over?
http://mysoccerplace.net/
baro
Sep 19, 2010 at 8:58 PM
Comment #39Another wonderful King Arfa video. I love the music to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWoMTblp9-M
Howay The Lads
Sep 19, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Comment #40murvar, Jonas has been our worst player this season (bar Perch).
Routledge is only seen as a worse player by some because his name isn’t as foreign