Sven Botman will be part of Newcastle’s bright future. The 22-year-old has been excellent in his short time at Newcastle. He’s adapted to the Premier League very well and has the qualities to become one of the division’s best.
However, the present belongs to Fabian Schar and Dan Burn as Eddie Howe’s preferred center-back partnership. Burn and Botman had swapped starts during a congested schedule. But when both were fit for Bournemouth, it was the Geordie who got the call.
After the match, Howe revealed that Burn, for the moment, is ahead of the Dutchman in the pecking order. Here is Howe’s explanation for his preference of Burn as published in The Northern Echo:
“We managed their load in the week where we had three games, so (yesterday) was bringing Dan back. I just feel his leadership skills and his experience, we need that in our team at the moment.
“Sven is going to be an outstanding player and will play many, many games for this club. We love him to bits, but Dan just gets the nod at the moment.”
This is very good man management from Howe. Burn has been sensational since his arrival from Brighton last January. He has been a major factor in Howe transforming Newcastle’s defensive liability into a strength.
Botman has a bright future and his time will come. For now, it’s Burn’s moment in the spotlight as he continues to live out his dream of playing for his hometown club.
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122 comments so far
9
Sep 18, 2022 at 3:56 PM
Comment #41I repeat the point, since you seem to ignore it, that comparisons with the WHOLE of last season are nonsensical.
9
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Comment #42Ruddy, I’m confident you and I share 99% of our views on the marvellous impact our new and great manager has achieved. Can I enquire, are you yourself not a teeny bit disappointed at our results so far this season? I’m specifying results (the only thing managers are ever judged on, quite obviously and quite rightly).
DKillers
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Comment #43I wasn’t expecting that we’d suddenly tear up the league. I clearly expected that we’d lose to both Man City and Liverpool handily. To me, it’s understandable that results have slipped without Wilson, ASM, and Bruno. I don’t hold Eddie to unrealistic expectations.
My major complaint, and it’s one I cannot get over, is continuing to use Almiron on the right in the front three. I truly believe that this one decision is having an outsized negative impact on our play. He is better than opposing defenders at stopping our attacks. At this point, he might be the easiest player to defend in the league. I never recall seeing a player who gets possession in the box and immediately seeks to leave the box. The number of times yesterday alone where he stopped a move so he could switch to his left foot was astounding. We are working hard to break down Bournemouth, and inevitably, an Almiron touch would end the forward movement.
Eddie has to realize that this isn’t working.
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:01 PM
Comment #44Howe has managed at every level in the English pyramid system. As we know from his interviews he is a very astute tactician. He has fought for survival in his earliest days and then led free scoring teams to promotion and then back in to survival mode. So he has experienced teams parking the bus and teams going all out attack on him. It’s not a new concept to him. He has clearly stated he wants to play exciting attacking football but we’re not quite there yet. You need quality forwards to unlock teams parking the bus, it’s going to take time to come together.
AnyToon in Indiana
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:02 PM
Comment #45West Ham just not firing either this year with some of the players they have. Bowen has almost gone silent this whole campaign so far after last year. Too early to ask if Lucas has a relegation release clause??? just kidding, just kidding all 🙂
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:03 PM
Comment #469
You’re repeating a point I have not made. I am saying that we overperformed our underlying stats in the SECOND HALF OF LAST SEASON
From January 1st until end of season, our xG was 23.7 – we scored 25. Over the same time frame our xG against was was 24.8, we conceded 20.
From January 1st our xPTS was 27.33 yet the actual points we secured was 38 (a massive 10+ points beyond our expected metrics)
All of this points towards over-performance both in attack and defence which was unsustainable.
A Geordie Mongrel
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:04 PM
Comment #47Ruddy, I agree with most of your posts but not about VAR. Two egregious decisions altered the tone of two games. In the Palace game especially they would have had to move the bus to get back in the game. Thanks to VAR they didn’t have to. Eddie and co will sort it. Of that I have no doubt.
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:04 PM
Comment #48I’m disappointed with a couple of results but nowhere to the point where I’m even considering talking about the owners replacing the manager, let alone suggesting it.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:08 PM
Comment #499
My views on what counts as “progress” this year remains the same as it was in pre-season. I wanted us to become more possession based and to create more chances. Both of which we are doing. Sadly we aren’t ruthless enough in converting those chances which in turn means we aren’t winning as many games as we’d like.
I disagree that this season Howe will be judged on results. I think we could finish 14th and Howe’s job is still safe. For what it’s worth I didn’t think we had enough squad depth to finish in the top 8 and so far that seems to be bearing itself out and that 9th/10th/11th was more realistic and this is a view I still share.
I was immensely disappointed by yesterday’s result but my view on Howe as being 100% the right man for the job hasn’t changed an inch and find it absurd that some seem to question him.
9
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:09 PM
Comment #50Ruddy, 1 win in 7 matches. I rest my case.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:11 PM
Comment #519
What case is that?
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:13 PM
Comment #52Regarding Willock’s best position, in my opinion he’s either a number 10 but maybe a bit Lampard like or potentially he could be Bruno’s backup as a box to box midfielder. He still seems a bit raw to me and needs some shaping to make the most of his abilities.
A Geordie Mongrel
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:13 PM
Comment #53I would go with one loss in seven. 🙂
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:15 PM
Comment #54DKillers
While I share your frustrations with Almiron at RW who in our current squad is a better option at RW? Jacob Murphy is the next best option at RW and he’s even worse than Almiron.
Let’s call a spade a spade rather than a useful digging utensil: our squad still needs major upgrades.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:16 PM
Comment #55Ruddy – well said. But it’s hard to convince some people that we had a period where we got a bit lucky and acquired more points than our play deserved. In the first half of last season I’m pretty sure that our play deserved more points. Some people are inclined to look at the best things have been and then just assume things will be at least as good as that, then add the new signings and assume things will be better.
It was clear we got lucky a few times in the second half of last season. Not so lucky this season but mostly down to us, not VAR (apart from the obvious Palace goal).
Toonces
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:16 PM
Comment #56Even with the investment in their squad at west ham they are still struggling with the europa league hangover of Thursday games midweek.
RUNAWAY777
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:18 PM
Comment #57Our club knew the dangers with a few player always getting injuries so they knew what we needed in that last transfer window, so now where paying the price for not getting player in , 60 million on one player who at this time is not premium league standed he my come good like Joe has but not now.
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:18 PM
Comment #58A Geordie Mongrel,
That sounds a whole lot better lol
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:21 PM
Comment #59TDS
I remember being roundly slated in pre-season for daring to suggest that it was pie-in-the-sky to suggest we’d finish in the top 6 and that simply being top 10 playing better football, having more possession and creating more chances would be good enough for me.
I wanted to be wrong and have us continue to overperform our underlying metrics but the thing with stats is that eventually they even out over a longer timeframe and this is what we’re seeing. This, coupled with the fact we’ve become more possession based which means weaker teams are choosing to sit in, forcing us to break them down. It’s obvious we need reinforcements in the final third in January to rectify this but in the meantime I’m treating this season as a “free hit” where I’m content to watch us improve in possession even if it means sitting through some frustrating home draws against teams we struggle to break down. It’ll click eventually though.
9
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:22 PM
Comment #60@51
Clearly, as I have stated and you have read, “We have regressed from our earlier 2022 form”.
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:23 PM
Comment #61RUNAWAY777,
What price are we paying. We’re tenth with a positive GD. What’s the problem here?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:24 PM
Comment #62Runaway
You’re suggesting Isak isn’t Premier League standard?! Sorry what?! The guy tormented Liverpool on the counter at Anfield. He struggled yesterday but that’s more to our inability to feed him chances in the box more than anything else. Playing in front of a quality CAM like Maddison, Isak will score a bagful.
DKillers
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:25 PM
Comment #63Ruddy, while Murphy isn’t a clear upgrade, he still might provide a more cohesive attack. In addition, why not try Almiron on the left? Hell, try Almiron on the left in the midfield and try Willock on the right of the front three.
The real issue is that Almiron has been a problem on the right. We had extra time to work on an alternative with the West Ham game being cancelled, and yet we still came out with Almiron in a position that he cannot play.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:27 PM
Comment #649
From a pure factual standpoint, yes we have not maintained the form we demonstrated in the second half of last season. It is worth mentioning that said form was bettered only by Manchester City and Liverpool so anything short of currently being 3rd in the Premier League right now would be “regression” by your definition.
So by implication you’re suggesting you expect us to be 3rd, to which I would reply by saying you may need to temper your expectations otherwise this will be a very long season for you buddy.
Tonyd3b54
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:27 PM
Comment #65Our form is fine compared to last season. The difference is howes style was new last year. The way our team is viewed compared to last year is different too. Last year we were viewed as a bottom half team that was a chance to attack and win. Now were viewed as a good team that anyone below the top 8 has to be very cautious playing. So they sit back and we have to break them down last year was more wide open. Which is why I think we play better against the better teams
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:31 PM
Comment #66Ruddy – I’ve been slated for the same reasons and I think it’s ridiculous. We all WANT to be top 6 or even top 4 this season but it doesn’t make you a lesser fan to suggest that you think 7-10th would mean a good season for us. Some people have been trying to make out that “optimistic” fans are somehow better but I would say they’re more like deluded and are part of the problem creating negativity when reality bites.
I plan to enjoy this season and hope that we get somewhere between 7th and 10th with no genuine relegation worries whatsoever. I can be a bit disappointed at a few dropped points so far but I’m not going to get carried away, just as I wouldn’t have got carried away if we’d have beaten Man City or Liverpool either.
I think we just have to accept the fact that some people are more zero or 10, things are either terrible or amazing to them.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:35 PM
Comment #67DKillers
In a straight shootout between Almiron or Murphy at RW I’m choosing Almiron every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Murphy is just awful.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:39 PM
Comment #68TDS
I’d love to be wrong and have us finish top 8 (which I still think is a remote possibility) but I reckon 9th/10th is more realistic. That and a cup run will do me.
Anyone who’d been hoping for a top 6 finish this season will sadly be very disappointed this season I reckon.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:42 PM
Comment #69Ruddy – I predicted 8th and I’m going to stick with that for now. I’ve always said that I think the big 6 will be the top 6 and I think simple probability means at least 1 other team will finish above us. We don’t have a superior squad to the likes of West Ham, Leicester or Wolves for example. Leicester’s morale must be shot after losing some key players because they didn’t become a bad team overnight, Rodgers has been sold an absolute kipper this season.
9
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:42 PM
Comment #70@64 You have your first paragraph precisely correct.
I also have to agree your comment in the 2nd para: I am definitely having to temper my expectations!
I may add, no I wasn’t expecting to be 3rd, despite your literal translation. My expectation was we would be in top 6 and, possibly (here I do admit to getting carried away) an outside chance of top 4.
9
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:45 PM
Comment #71TDS@69
I refer your comments about Leicester/Wolves/West Ham to the current league table, if I may.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:48 PM
Comment #729
Well given how I have outlined how our second half of the season form was statistically unsustainable I would suggest that yes, you very much need to temper your expectations. The traditional “top 6” have squads infinitely better than ours so we’d have essentially needed a flawless season and zero injuries, which given the injury problems Wilson and Maxi suffer from was always going to be unlikely.
DKillers
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:49 PM
Comment #73Ruddy and TDS, my thought was that anywhere between 7th and 9th would be a success. It’s still possible, but if ASM and Wilson continue to nurse their injuries, it becomes more and more unlikely.
And it doesn’t even need to be a straight shootout between Murphy and Almiron, but if so, at this point I give Murphy an opportunity. But I believe there are other options if Eddie is just willing to change things up a bit.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:51 PM
Comment #74TDS
Annoyingly I actually think had we improved further in the summer window we were gifted a golden opportunity to crack the top 8 as I think West Ham, Leicester and Wolves are there for the taking. I wouldn’t write off sides like Brighton (though remains to be seen post-Potter), Palace and maybe even Brentford or Leeds as competitors to ours. I still think injuries and lack of depth will be our undoing in that respect and we’ll finish outside top 8
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:55 PM
Comment #75DKillers
We’re a 4-3-3 side, that’s the way Howe has us playing since he’s taken over. I can’t look beyond either Almiron or Murphy at RW and that’s an example of the limits Howe is working within. He’s making the best with the still rather limited squad we have.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 18, 2022 at 4:59 PM
Comment #769 – doesn’t matter where teams are in the table now though does it? Considering that Brighton and Fulham are top 6…
I’m not changing my opinion back and forth based on a few games, I still believe what I say that those squads are equal to or better than ours. Doesn’t mean they’ll finish above us but also doesn’t mean that we’ll finish above Brighton or Fulham just because I think our squad is better than theirs…
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 18, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Comment #77Izak will be our top scorer this season!
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 18, 2022 at 5:01 PM
Comment #78We’re talking about displacing one of the traditional big six. No need to even mention Man City and their bench. Liverpool can now have players like Nunez, Jota, Firminio and Robertson coming off their bench. Spurs are using a £25M DM as a sub and rotating Son and Richarlson. Chelsea’s squad is immense and Arsenal have a guy that cost £27M this summer just bedding in. We are turning to Wood and Murphy to change things up.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 18, 2022 at 5:02 PM
Comment #79DKillers – Almiron creates space and some pressure on defences due to his pace but his final ball is poor. Murphy is just a solid player, no more than that really. I don’t see the point in replacing a slightly above average PL player with a below average PL player. Howe can see the output of those players in matches and in training, he doesn’t need to start Murphy for a few games to “give him a chance”.
Nijmegen-toon
Sep 18, 2022 at 5:02 PM
Comment #80Not to mention Sancho and Ronaldo warming Man Uniteds bench.