Newcastle signed seven good players in the summer transfer window – but they were not all the players Rafa Benitez wanted.
However, we suppose it could have been worse, and at least it was five new players through the door, and we would guess about four of those will become starters this season at some time.
We also managed to sign Martin Dubravka (permanently) and Kenedy (season-loan) after they were on a loan spell earlier this year.
So of the seven new players as many as six could turn out to be starters this season.
They are Dubravka, Kenedy, Fernandez, Ki Sung-yueng, Muto, and Rondon.
If that happens, it means that only Fabian Schar will not become a starter, but we’ll have to wait and find that out.
Ki Sung-yueng – could become a starter this season
So by that reasoning, we do have a better squad and a better starting team than last season at this time – but that assumes the seven new men are as good as we think they are.
The advantage Rafa has this year is that all the players he signed, apart from Kenedy, are older and more experienced players, and they could well be turned into better players at Newcastle – which is what Rafa wants to do.
Certainly, we lacked experience in the Premier League last season and in that nine-game run with only one point we were unlucky in a number of the games and more experience would have helped us.
Players like Rondon, Fernandez, and Ki Sung-yueng have that Premier League experience.
But the proof of the pudding is in the eating so we should know by about Christmas how good the summer transfer window was for Newcastle.
In the first 19 games last season we took only 18 points, won only 5 games and had a goal difference of -10.
We were in 15th place halfway through the season – just 2 points above the drop zone.
So we will hopefully do a lot better this season.
What do you think?
Loading ...Comments welcome.
23 comments so far
jane
Aug 25, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Comment #1“So by that reasoning, we do have a better squad and a better starting team than last season”
took a while Ed but you got there! 😉
AncientC
Aug 25, 2018 at 12:43 PM
Comment #2Wolves playing a 3-4-2-1 against Man City… bold strategy.
kimbo
Aug 25, 2018 at 12:43 PM
Comment #3I agree we have a better squad than last year but all other team have strengthened with more quality than us, so we are actually weaker than last year.
The overrated Frenchman
Aug 25, 2018 at 12:45 PM
Comment #4I like how Ed got “pudding” and “Christmas” in the same sentence
jane
Aug 25, 2018 at 12:49 PM
Comment #5“but all other team have strengthened with more quality than us”
that’s a myth most teams didn’t strengthen more than us, actually very few did.
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 12:49 PM
Comment #6Ed also mentioned starters several times
He’s obviously thinking of the Xmas day menu
kimbo
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:02 PM
Comment #7Jane ,
Our signings did not strengthen the first 11.
All our signings were for players no other PL team wanted apart from Kenedy.
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:08 PM
Comment #8The team that beat Chelsea 3 – 0
last game of last season
Dubravka
Yedlin
Lascelles
Lejeune
Dummett
Ritchie
Diame
Shelvey
Murphy
Perez
Gayle
I think the team the team tomorrow will be stronger
especially the subs bench
Substitutes:
(48) Joselu for Gayle
(72) Hayden for Ritchie
(87) Haidara for Diame
Subs not used:
Darlow
Manquillo
Gamez
Merino
kimbo
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:17 PM
Comment #9Jane
Yes I agree but Chelsea signed 2 players worth more the Rafa has spent in 3 years. We will not beat Chelsea tomorrow.
geordietom
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:22 PM
Comment #10with christmas just round the corner what would everyone on here want for christmas … my pick would be a new owner … but we an all wish cant we ?
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #11Last Xmas I got a cat that would never
get its round in and an emu.
I wished for a bird with long legs and a tight pussy
Munster Mag
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:29 PM
Comment #12The attitude wolves have against City is a massive contrast to our effort at home last season where we took a pot shot and retreated behind the half way line. Better players than us but sometimes the disposition needs to be more assertive and a little more ambitious and aggressive on the pitch. Certainly one of the weirdest games I’ve ever see newcastle at St james’
geordietom
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:30 PM
Comment #13and a soap box to stand on eh jib so you can knee tremble her pmsl
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:35 PM
Comment #14Munster
We’ll see who has lost the 3 points and a dent in their gd
after 90 minutes
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 2:22 PM
Comment #15Munster
Good draw – credit to Nuno Santos
They got lucky with the penalty shout
of David Silva – that’s Martin Atkinson for you
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 2:23 PM
Comment #16I see young Cathro was there
bettyswallocks
Aug 25, 2018 at 2:31 PM
Comment #17Traore looked good there, pace and skill, beat his man every time and put a good delivery in. Proper winger him like. Why couldn’t we have signed him? Ah yes I remember now, silly me.
chicousa
Aug 25, 2018 at 2:51 PM
Comment #18Well now City, victimized by a couple of poor calls, will be in an awnry mood when they play us next Saturday…
🙁
Munster Mag
Aug 25, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #19That’s what I meant about our attitude v wolves attitude and approach. It was incredibly sterile from Rafa. There are ways of defending and a disposition difference.
Jib
Aug 25, 2018 at 2:56 PM
Comment #20betty
With Ritchie and Murphy I can see why
we didn’t pay £16M for Adama Traore
DubaiMicky
Aug 25, 2018 at 3:06 PM
Comment #21Well that’s my acca down the netty after just one game.
bettyswallocks
Aug 25, 2018 at 3:11 PM
Comment #22Jib……… He’s better than them two put together and 16 m in today’s market is a fair price for someone with his quality . He will be worth double that if he maintains that form. I hope you’re not shilling for Ashley again defending his lack of investment in the squad.
BenArfa the magician
Aug 25, 2018 at 3:17 PM
Comment #23Traore has finally added an end product to his game, Wolves last game he came on and created 5/6 very good chances that they failed to finish and again today with a couple.
He is better than any winger we have including kenedy and when he cost not much more than Murphy you feel we dropped a bo$$ock with that one.