Newcastle are six matches into the campaign and in decent shape in the league. The Magpies have suffered from numerous baffling refereeing decisions that have cost them some potentially critical points.
Newcastle are still primed for a run into the top half of the table currently positioned in 11th on 7 points. They’ve also been without some key stars over the past few hectic weeks in which the schedule was very congested.
One player has consistently risen to the occasion early in this campaign. That is goalkeeper Nick Pope. The 30-year-old was again in fine form in the 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace making some crucial saves.
Pope and his stingy defense picked up the third clean sheet of the season on Saturday. For his performance, Nick has topped another poll as Newcastle’s best player as he collected 30% of the votes.
Loading ...The England international could be the league’s signings of the season if he can keep up his performances. If you take into consideration that he cost just £10m, his addition has to be one of the summer’s steals.
Joelinton and Kieran Trippier round out the top three with their performances. The pair have featured heavily over the past couple of weeks. They’ll be glad the schedule returns to one match a week until the latter half of October.
221 comments so far
dazzler
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:04 AM
Comment #161Jail,
I agree, I think his initial work was phenomenal and should be recognised by the club. It’s actually quite sad to see how things have panned out.
I guess it’s a case of the attention and adoration was addictive and he’s trying to keep the high going.
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:07 AM
Comment #162Tend to agree Hibbitt
We all hoped we wud get a chelsea loanee because Amanda knows the boys at Chelsea but that didnt happen. In fairness, I dont think they wanted to join us
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:07 AM
Comment #163Raj – I agree. No point in spending big on an attacking midfielder and blocking Anderson’s progress. If he develops into a starter this season or next season, we’d just have a £50m player sitting on the bench. Much more sensible to spend that money in another position, even if it means waiting a window or two.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:07 AM
Comment #164dazzler,
He obviously knows a lot more about the way they tried to block the TO but saying things like VAR was installed because of them is getting beyond ridiculous. Aye, it must be hard to be in the limelight and then go back to being Joe Bloggs. As I say, he should be in those directors seats every home game.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:08 AM
Comment #165Munster – how many Chelsea players left on loan though? CHO went to Germany but Pulisic, Broja, and Gallagher all stayed put. I’m sure if Chelsea wanted to loan them out, then they would have.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:09 AM
Comment #166TDSarf,
I’m only assuming withat theory but it kind of makes sense, for £50M it was worth blocking but anymore, then not.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:09 AM
Comment #167*with that
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:10 AM
Comment #168Agree that Patterson deserves huge recognition. He fought a long war on our behalf. I didnt lie when he was pissed ( or seemed it) on the show and got all radgie with that Leicester journalist but he deserves a season ticket etc for life
lochinvar
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:10 AM
Comment #169BBC doesn’t seem to be reporting Lee Masons derisory one match ban. Last night they couldn’t be arsed to report correctly on the Boro game.
Joke, woke, broke.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:10 AM
Comment #170Of course the big 6 clubs will have done what they could to block the takeover. When someone threatens your position, you do what you can to maintain it. Would anyone expect anything less from people at our club if we’re in the top 4 in a few years and someone comes in with mega money to buy Villa (for example)?
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:11 AM
Comment #171I think Dummett and Ritchie are only still around because we are careful in the transfer market. They really are just essentially making up the 25 now and almost certainly won’t play much and are in their last year with us, and for sure are good pros, so no problem.
Murphy though is a bit different. He is more central but is underperforming, and while capable of being a more useful part of the squad will I’m sure need to find better form if he is to stay in the 25 next term.
My guess is if we’d got the centre mid we were after, then Ritchie would almost certainly have been moved on, like Fede, for example. It’s just a matter of time, as we steadily improve and reshape the squad.
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:11 AM
Comment #172TDS/Jail, Anderson turning into a Maddison is pushing the ticket a bit ? Much as I like what i have seen.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:13 AM
Comment #173Got a 2800 ticket allocation, hopefully tickets in the Gallowgate, I’ve been getting tickets for a mate and haven’t managed the Gallowgate since that Forest game.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:14 AM
Comment #174Munster Mag,
Why is it, he’s only 19.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:16 AM
Comment #175Nbtb,
When do we have to submit the completed squad.
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:16 AM
Comment #176Take you point Jail, but its a hell of a level to get to , in say a 3 year period.
Hope for best – nice player – good touch, strong, confident.
dazzler
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:16 AM
Comment #177Nicky,
Richie and Dummett are known leaders in the dressing room too so keeping them around will be a boost to morale when things aren’t going our way.
Personally, don’t see Dummett leaving. I think he’ll become our ageing pro working in the U23s as a coach/player/mentor before doing his badges and moving into the academy.
Ritchie will be gone at the end of this season I am guessing.
Murphy seems a decent kid, but he’s not up to the standard. The last two games he seems to have lost his fearlessness to run at (and passed) people, he pulls out of challenges almost exclusively, so he offers us very little. It’s a shame as he’s always been a solid impact sub.
Bills Son Is Back
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:18 AM
Comment #178I know we’ve had injuries…
I know we’ve had bad ref decisions…
I know we’ve played City and Lpool…
But who would have predicted that the last 5 games are Eddie’s longest run without a win since he arrived.
If we don’t beat WH, that’ll be six without a win, and the only win against a promoted team bedding in 17 new signings.
I’m not doubting Eddie at all…
But we need to win again, and add a string of wins, ASAP.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:20 AM
Comment #179I’ve tried to keep on liking Murphy given he was a young kid supporting the toon in London but he’s just not good enough. I doubt he will go to another PL club unless promoted with one.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:20 AM
Comment #180Munster – well, if Anderson can’t get to that level, he won’t be starting for us in a few years. If he hasn’t been loaned out this season, it’s got to be that he’s either needed to pad out the squad or the staff have hopes that he could turn into a seriously good player.
I’m not expecting that he does but I certainly have hope that he does. Gotta give him the chance and see anyway.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:21 AM
Comment #181“I’m not doubting Eddie at all…”
Why the trailing full stops then Bill’s?
clinath@ed
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:22 AM
Comment #182I agree with giving young Anderson a year to develop into something special.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:22 AM
Comment #183I didn’t agree with people saying Fernández should have been made a coach and I don’t get it with Ritchie and Dummett either. Who knows if they even want to be coaches or have the temperament to become coaches. It’s good to have senior players around the squad who can still play a bit when needed but they may keep playing for years to come and then disappear from football.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:23 AM
Comment #184Anderson has everything and every chance of becoming a great attacking midfielder.
Looks well good.
geordie157
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:23 AM
Comment #185Howe must be very close to starting Anderson, it’s difficult to see him starting instead of Joelinton in midfield but out on the left, he’s shown enough to show that given a chance he can have an influence on a game.
If Saint-Maximin is back, he could either come off the bench or start on the right with Almiron on the bench.
dazzler
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:23 AM
Comment #186Munster,
He has 6 years to get to Maddison’s level (going purely off their ages), and I don’t know much about Maddison at 19 but it appears he was on loan at Aberdeen and the spend the next season in the championship with Norwich.
If Howe thinks Anderson is ready (and based on his increasing game time I think he does), then surely that puts him at least slightly ahead of Maddison in terms of development (comparing like for like).
He’s already offered more than Willock in the games he’s featured IMO, so I think it makes sense that the club felt we had a player with the potential of doing the job we wanted Maddison to do, so why spend £50m.
They always have January if Anderson doesn’t step up the way they hope he will.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:24 AM
Comment #187I doubt we’ll beat W Ham, a draw there should be considered a decent result, we’re playing well enough to win games as the manager said. We’re well on course for a top eight finish which, imo we should all be delighted with. I think those that might be disappointed are those that set too much stock in that top four form and that we might upset the top six.
geordie157
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:26 AM
Comment #188On Pope, saw a lot of him at Burnley and thought he was a good keeper but now seeing him week in week out, he’s really impressed me.
As with most keepers he has his moments, flaps at a cross, poor kick/clearance but early signs are he is a nice upgrade on Dubravka
Pickford will no doubt be England’s no.1 but Pope must be a close 2nd, with Henderson 3rd choice.
dazzler
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:28 AM
Comment #189West Ham are going to be well up for this given how they were shafted at the weekend (as we were).
I think the match will be similar to Palace and Wolves, however if Bruno and Maxi are back I think we should be just about edging it and winning. If they start on the bench or don’t feature at all I expect another scrappy draw.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:28 AM
Comment #190I’ll be satisfied with top 10, happy with top 8 (my prediction), delighted with top 6, and over the moon with top 4. 🙂
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:29 AM
Comment #191@Jail
You were off the other week but we had a chat about Pacqueta
Maybe Eddie didn’t fancy him and Bruno being absolute besties on and off the pitch all the time? Like it seems like it should be a good idea but maybe our recruitment team didn’t think so
Either way hoping Bruno and Joelinton go through him with a big crunching tackle on Sunday
dazzler
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:29 AM
Comment #192Geordie157,
I think you might be forgetting Ramsdale in that mix of goalies. I don’t think Henderson will make the cut for the WC, personally.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:30 AM
Comment #193I believe……. Martin Luther King Junior.
We are a far…..far better team this September than last September. Evolution not Revolution.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:32 AM
Comment #194Can’t see why Pope can’t dislodge trex.
Temperament wise, he wins too.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:34 AM
Comment #195See what happens… I spend a few years in Prague and become Kafkaesque. Sorry young ones, you will have to look it up.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:35 AM
Comment #196I reckon Pope will be the starting #1 in that hot place
Romford mag
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Comment #197Souptik
Good luck in our H2H match this coming week mate 🙂
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Comment #198OK feeling generous.
Kafkaesque Literature
Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a Czech-born German-language writer whose surreal fiction vividly expressed the anxiety, alienation, and powerlessness of the individual in the 20th century. Kafka’s work is characterized by nightmarish settings in which characters are crushed by nonsensical, blind authority. Thus, the word Kafkaesque is often applied to bizarre and impersonal administrative situations where the individual feels powerless to understand or control what is happening.
VAR anybody???
Munster Mag
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Comment #199Dazzler, we were fully in for Maddison though, and it seemed that Eddie wanted him 100% . Maybe we are waiting to knock another year off his contract but I dont think we’d have chased him so hard if Eddie thought Anderson was the answer in the next 1-2 years ? Good point re Aberdeen . But it depends how fast we want to get there , in terms of allowing EH to grow into a Maddison.
Maddison is a brilliant footballer with huge stats for goals and assists. It might take EH 4-5 years to get there. Im happy to wait if Eddie is, but not getting Paqueta or Maddison , and losing Paqueta to West Ham. Not a great one I think.
Put iot thos wasy, if you had said in May that Paqueta wud go to West Ham and we wouldnt bid, you’d have been mocked on here big style. I thought he might go to a Juve , not our likely biggest rival ( along with Brighton)
CLINT FLICK
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:38 AM
Comment #200https://www.themag.co.uk/2022/09/expected-goals-stats-tell-the-real-story-after-newcastle-0-crystal-palace-0-newcastle-united/
Tsk!