Many fans, including ourselves, feel that Federico Fernandez is our best center-back along with Fabian Schar.
But he has hardly played under Eddie Howe, even though the Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has waxed lyrical about the former Argentina international (32 caps 3 goals), who turns 33 next month.
Howe has talked about his professionalism and the example he sets to our younger players.
And Fernandez has loads of Premier League experience, after playing five seasons for Swansea in the Premier League and 118 games for them, before joining August 2108.
In the previous three seasons, he has played 83 times for Newcastle, with two goals.
This season, he has started just five games and come on as a sub in two other games – one being the only win and clean sheet we have had – against Burnley.
That was to shore up the defense in the second half, and it was successful.
So we wonder what the current status of this player is, although Fernandez doesn’t seem to be back in training yet, after the injury he picked up last month.
At the time, it was described by Eddie Howe as the following:
“We have lost Federico Fernandez due to an injury, we’re not sure what the extent of that injury is yet.”
“He is probably going to miss the majority of games over the festive period I think.”
Well, he has missed all of the holiday fixtures, but maybe he can be fit for the game after Leeds – which is at home to Everton on February 8th following warm-weather training in Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Howe could do a lot worse than play Fernandez at center-back in the Newcastle team.
We simnply continue to leak goals, like in yesterday’s game at home to Watford, and we should at least play our best center-backs – like Fernandez – when they are fit.
We don’t think Jamaal Lascelles deserves his place in the team at the moment, based entirely on his recent performances.
What do you think?
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45 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:40 AM
Comment #1I wonder if the new owners and Ashley have a relegation clause? Maybe we get 100 million back if we go down…..
the crown princes nashers
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #2its simple ask jones why fede has not been playing
Assassins Inc
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:45 AM
Comment #3Honestly, going down to another division will cost the club well over 120 Million.
Clearly Eddie and the owners have to just take a hit on some transfers and get them over the line.
Hope for some movement this week, we need at least two in before Leeds match.
Adamn_92
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #4I get the calls for Longstaff and Shelvey to not be played together, as I don’t want them to either. My worry though is who do we realistically have who comes in and makes a big difference?
Our midfield options are so horrendously poor, that Joelinton played 1 game there and instantly became our best midfielder. That’s madness. He is now head and shoulders above all our midfielders and he showed all of them up by having to play there when we went down to 10 against Norwich.
We take Shelvey and Longstaff out, who comes in? Willock? He’s been awful this season and given the ball away super cheaply. Hendrick? We’ve been slating how poor he is ever since he joined. Almiron? People on here slate him for being a headless chicken. Hayden? Well he’s injured for now. Matty Longstaff? He couldn’t even hold down a place for Aberdeen.
So there’s our central midfield options. None have performed well this season except Joelinton. Who if it wasn’t for a sending off against Norwich, we may not even have discovered his ability in that position.
Now I’m not saying Howe shouldn’t be criticised, there’s certainly things you can question. But with those central midfield options available, I’m not really sure what he can do? Any combination is poor and not shown us anything this season. Unless we sign a midfielder or 2, the midfield issue will be ongoing all season as we don’t have players in the squad that can improve it.
WLtoon
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #5I haven`t had time to catch up so don`t know what has been said but i`m in the relegation camp frame of mind now.
Watford were streets ahead of us as far as movement going forward yesterday and deserved at least a point.
I don`t think Howe can stop the rot tbh, If we can`t turn Watford over, who incidentally had lost 6 on the bounce, then i`m afraid we are knackered.
At what point do fans accept that one win out of 21 means only one thing.
Watford play Burnley and Norwich in their next 2 games. after watching them yesterday my bet is they will beat both teams, which will leave us adrift.
After both games have been played we could find ourselves bottom if Burnley manage a draw.
I think it`s time to realise that it`s the champo next season. for us, we are just not good enough, and i am disappointed in Howe, i expected better than what he is dishing out.
i think the job is too big for him, we are not Bournemouth
Tom
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:51 AM
Comment #6Mark …
all i/we know is that we need new players in ASAP , getting the players the club has been after has failed , thats if we have been in for the thousand or so players we have been linked with is true
😆
Tom
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Comment #7anyway im not going down the doom and gloom path …
Toonmadtom
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:53 AM
Comment #8Loans are the way forward now, pay high wages to get the likes of martial, van de beek, lingard, Alli etc. We are not in a position to offer Premier league football next season
hibbit
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:53 AM
Comment #9i’ve thought for a while this wouldn’t end well and we would be relegated,
people have to except that getting the quality players we wanted and needed in the January window was never going to be easy even throwing money at it might not help,
and that the position we find ourselves in isn’t helping to attract the type of players we want and need to fight a relegation battle,
a battle that most of the players we already have aren’t are neither good enough or up for the fight anyway,
would you join under these circumstances ???
the crown princes nashers
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:54 AM
Comment #10wltoon
think thats why howe was brought in to get us out the championship, the old timers know whats written on the wall we all go back decades and have seen it happen time after time
hibbit
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:55 AM
Comment #11Toonmadtom
you need to read the rules about loans within the PL
Rotonda heights
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:56 AM
Comment #12Hasn’t it been well documented that fede is out for 4 months
Moonraker15
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:56 AM
Comment #13Djokovic is another of these “entitled” pr!cks who don’t seem to realise that without the v’s there would be tens of millions dead world wide.
Good on Australia for not accepting him! He can do his own things but has to accept there are consequences, especially when travelling abroad!
the crown princes nashers
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Comment #14hibbit
agreed, they have no bottle nor loyalty to the club and its supporters, the players can give as many excuses as they want us old timers see straight through it, this was on the wall after first 10 games of the season
Ron Knee
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Comment #15Eddie Howe – Good at training players, not so good at team selection and game management.
Is that a fair assessment?
Mund
Jan 16, 2022 at 11:59 AM
Comment #16What can Howe do?
Change it up.
Bruce got a better tune out of the midfield and that’s saying a lot.
Adamn_92
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:01 PM
Comment #17Mund
That’s what I’m saying. He’s not void of criticism and maybe he should change it up. My worry is when you see the players who can come into the midfield instead, I’m not confident we’ll see much change as the quality isn’t there.
We had similar complaints with Bruce, complaining about the gulf in the center of the park.
Moonraker15
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:02 PM
Comment #18Toonmadtom
I agree loans are the way this season.
It’s the only way we’ll get quality in and save us from relegation.
I’d get Jones and vdb in from Man U. Or Lingard if he’ll come.
Tom
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:05 PM
Comment #19we can get 3 domestic loans i dont know how many from abroad pretty sure someone will let me know …
Adamn_92
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:06 PM
Comment #20Also he has changed it up hasn’t he? We saw Willock play for his first few games in charge, we’ve seen Hayden in there, Shelvey, Longstaff and now Joe. The only center mid we haven’t seen is Hendrick isn’t it? Whoever has been played in the center park, Joelinton is always the standout and the rest haven’t been good enough.
WLtoon
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:06 PM
Comment #21crown prince,
Ive watched a few champo games and i`m not sure we would come straight back up.
Fulham would wipe the floor with us atm, as would quite a few teams in that league.
watching Forest last week against Arsenal, they were miles better than we are.
If we go down, which i think we will, is Howe capable of bringing us back up, i don`t think so.
This is turning into a bit of a disaster really, not a happy chappy.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:07 PM
Comment #22Watched the 1st half which was OK, missed the 2nd but saw the MOTD showing , not going to call them highlights, and am wondering what Howe’s instructions were!
There didn’t seem to be any attacking intent, what has happened to his supposed attack minded attitude, where was the fast pass and move stuff he is said to be practicing in training.
It’s easy to blame the players but frankly none of them, including Jonjo looked to be trying to get forward to attack. Where does the blame lie for that?
If I was a gambler I’d be getting some money onto the quick return of a certain Spaniard in the next few weeks, the new owners cannot be happy with the present state of the club.
The Dyslexic God
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:07 PM
Comment #23Well, just caught up. I am surprised at all the optimism (yes, I am being sarcastic). Still only a win off safety.
The Dyslexic God
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:08 PM
Comment #24EGB, it is a good job you do not gamble!
Mund
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:09 PM
Comment #25Adam
If it’s not working you don’t continue in the same way.
Play two defensive minded midfielders to sit in front of the back line and play a high press with the forward line. We have nobody who can break up play and retain possession. Having Shelvey and Lobby in CM is asking for trouble every time.
It’s like Shelvey has once again a guaranteed spot under the management, which blows my mind.
WLtoon
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:09 PM
Comment #26Talk is cheap by the way, we have agreed contracts for this player and that one.
Really, where are they then.?
Gosens has agreed to join us hasn`t he. No doubt he will be jetting over for his medical tomorrow right ?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:09 PM
Comment #27It’s all well saying get this player off Man utd on loan or get this guy off another top 6 team
Well if there really is a conspiracy against us by other teams why will they loan us anyone?
Or if they do you would imagine it will be the very last days of the window so no use for Leeds
The Dyslexic God
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:10 PM
Comment #28We won’t get relegated, take a deep breath…..hold it……. and relax
Adamn_92
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:11 PM
Comment #29Mund
I’m not disagreeing with you. I’m just pointing out that I don’t think we have any central midfielders currently in the squad who can play that will fix our midfield issue. Yes he should be changing it, I just don’t think it will magically fix our midfield issue. The only way that will happen is signing a center mid or 2.
the crown princes nashers
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:11 PM
Comment #30Essex Geordie Bill
you might be right but it will cost them a few million in compen, this is football after all anything can happen when money talks
The Dyslexic God
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:11 PM
Comment #31WLToon, Gosens, will be limping over
Mund
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:11 PM
Comment #32WL
There’s agreeing to join us but then there’s the little fact of the transfer fee agreement.
Tyran21
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:11 PM
Comment #33Main problem is not having a ball-winning DM, effectively restricting 3 of the midfielders stressing about defensive duties. A assuring DM protecting the backline will give much confident to the other midfielders going forward.
Moonraker15
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:13 PM
Comment #34The 2 signings we’ve got are good, for obviously different reasons.
Now we need the ones that will save us from relegation.
Trouble is I’m not even sure Eddie recognises how poor we are!
We’ve had a crap midfield for years and badly need a DM and then we can play Willock in an attacking role.
WLtoon
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:14 PM
Comment #35Can`t believe some fans want RB back, is that a wind up.
Everton are just as bad,if not worse than us under his coaching.
Try telling the Toffee`s fans he is doing a good job haha.
Absolute dinosaur he is, past it.
Having said that, Howe looks like he is referring to hoofball, so might as well bring another hoofball specialist in to give him a hand.
Tyran21
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:14 PM
Comment #36Bruce just instruct the entire midfielder to sit back………
Mund
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:14 PM
Comment #37Adam
We’ve had the opportunities to change it up but Howe has stuck with Shelvey and even bigged him up since he came in.
With the injuries right now I’d play Schar and Big Joe in the middle and add that bite.
If we can’t become better at retaining possession in the middle then nothing will change. We need a Kamara or a Haidara or and I can’t believe I’m going to say this but even a Choudury right now would help.
The Dyslexic God
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Comment #38WL, don’t worry that is just the WUP’s and dunderland people on the blog
Moonraker15
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Comment #39Tyran21
Totally agree a ball winning midfielder would free up the attacking players and help protect the weak defenders!
Tom
Jan 16, 2022 at 12:16 PM
Comment #40sorry should have said two domestic loans …