There are 48 days until the transfer window opens on January 1st, 2024.
So we would expect Newcastle to be linked with multiple players before the winter transfer window opens.
With Newcastle currently having 10 first-teamers out injured and Sandro Tonali banned for the season, it’s obvious the owners will be bringing players in during January – and we hope it’s at least 4 new players – some probably on loan.
But we also know that January is a difficult window to pry players away from their clubs in mid-season.
And we need both quantity but most of all quality.
So let’s start in defense and we need a left back.
That sounds silly even though we just bought Lewis Hall in from Chelsea, but with the experienced Dan Burn and Matt Targett both out, that’s a weakness we have with 19-year-old Hall just getting to know how Eddie Howe wants him to play.
In fact, one way Eddie Howe could get around the situation, short term, is to play Kieran Trippier at left-back and Tino Lavramento at right-back.
The former Saints full-back Lavramento has been awesome this season when he’s played in the first team, and he seems like a versatile player.
So there may be a question as whether we need a left-back if Trippier and Lavramento work well at full-back.
We definitely need a young center-back brought in, and it’s always been talked about bringing in somebody who can replace Fabian Schar long-term.
We were linked with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite today, and he would be an excellent acquisition for us but we wonder if Everton would be willing to sell the player, especially in January.
We also need cover for the suspended Sandro Tonali, but I would like to see us bring someone in during January who would be in our long-term plans, not just a stop-gap for Tonali.
Somebody like Kalvin Phillips would do the job and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said recently that he would be willing to sell Phillips to any club in the Premier League in Jnauary – so that may be a possibility.
It looks like the other Premier League clubs will vote to cut off the possibility of signing Ruben Neves from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.
So that proposed loan deal will not happen.
We also need a couple of goalscoring forwards up front, with Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak both out injured.
Both had injury problems last season too.
We would like to see a goalscoring winger and an out-and-out striker signed – whoever they may be.
So there you have it, we need the following positions strengthened:
Left-Back
Center-Back
Central-Midfield
Goalscoring winger
Striker
And as we said earlier, if we can play Kieran Trippier at left back and Tino Lavramento at right back then we may not need to bring in yet another left back – and why not try Paul Dummett there?
One of the things that worries us right now is how will we fare in the 10 games we have to play before the end of this year.
Eddie Howe and his current players need all the help we can give them this year, and then hopefully the owners will bring four or five new players in during January – hopefully early January if possible.
That’s the hope anyway.
Where do you think we need to strengthen and which players would you like brought in?
Comments welcome.
93 comments so far
ottawageordie2
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Comment #1Yes again!
Not another deJong
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:41 PM
Comment #2All areas and top quality
Not another deJong
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:46 PM
Comment #3Now Eddie has the chance to actually do some training, I wonder if they will practice playing three at the back. With Tino & Hall as Wing-backs. A 352 may be not as attacking, but with the lack of a player capable of playing the lone striker it may be a useful plan B.
Davas
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:47 PM
Comment #4Taco,
Yeah, I could see that. I’d also be concerned how and where Southgate would play them. If Longstaff ever did play it would be a bonus if Trippier was right back as well.
Raj From Bangladesh
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:57 PM
Comment #5Goalscoring winger? Dominico Berardi
Even ED knows we need a centre forward and CDM
The Taco Taker
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Comment #6Davas,
It’s not something we need to worry about for now anyway, and that is fine by me.
Raj From Bangladesh
Nov 13, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Comment #7Dejong,
Howe doesn’t do plan b unfortunately. It’s 433 for this and next season
Not another deJong
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:01 PM
Comment #8Without Isak / Wilson / Trippier:
———Gordon—————Almiron
Hall—Joelinton—Bruno—Willock—Tino
——Botman——Schar——Lascelles
————————Pope
Counter attacking, but hopefully unnecessary.
investinyouthtoon
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:03 PM
Comment #9Imo Kalvin Philips on loan would be a good signing. Unsure if we’d want him on a loan with an agreed fee option, and I’m unsure if city would want to pick him without an obligation to buy.
That still doesn’t remove the elephant in the room, we still need a young developing and versatile striker to act as cover for Wilson and Isak. Yes Gordon and Joelinton could step in for the odd game, but in doing so we remove them from their preferred positions. No I don’t have any names, that’s why I’m not a scout, plus any names I’d say people would jump all on it and say the targets are either unrealistic, no interest in signing for nufc or they’d be deemed to be no good.
Davas
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:08 PM
Comment #10It’s a pity Harvey Barnes got that freak injury. He could have been rotating with Gordon and then also playing on the left when Gordon played centrally. Might have also scored a few goals by now.
Maybe that was part of EH’s plan for now, to play on the left anytime Gordon played centrally instead of a dedicated 3rd striker.
Not another deJong
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:15 PM
Comment #11Newcastle wants a Juventus player at all costs, Federico Chiesa continues to be very courted and the Bianconeri team will try to catch him as early as January. As well as Newcastle, other teams such as Arsenal and Chelsea have thought to a greater or lesser extent of launching their respective offers for the engagement of Federico Chiesa who, is considering the future. Juventus wants to armour him with a renewal, or in June they will evaluate the offers so as not to lose him to zero.
https://m.tuttojuve.com/calciomercato/newcastle-ossessionato-da-chiesa-665168
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:16 PM
Comment #12NADJ, I suggested earlier about 5 @ the back. Like you I think it would be a decent plan B. Not Eddie Howe hence why I post on here but I think it would be useful on Champions league away nights and away days in the Premier league when you need something different to get you the points. I do love the way we play but having that extra steeliness to keep a lead would have given us some vital extra points this season.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:27 PM
Comment #13Munster,
Don’t be daft, you are 100% over critical at times, why do you think mctoon said that in the first place, that had nothing to do with me. Nobody is going to start snagging you off because of what I said.
Not another deJong
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:29 PM
Comment #14Mighty Quinn
The excellent training of Howe has given us a squad that can be utilised and perform, to a certain extent, to the same capacity. Physicality, Intensity and Spirit have taken us an extremely long way. However, playing in the echelons of the Champions League has indicated an alternative philosophy is required. A more defensive approach does not necessarily need three at the back, but it is a formation that could allow certain players to perform even better. Plus, give the opposition something different to tackle.
The Taco Taker
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:30 PM
Comment #15Invest,
You are preaching to the converted with me. I was saying this since summer, I would be fine with an U21 CF but someone with the ability to step in when needed.
I was confronted with the same counter arguments, but it wasn’t like I was asking for Osimhen or someone in that bracket.
To me it was obvious that if Isak got injured for any period of time then Wilsons body could not hold up to the number of games he would be asked to play and I said all along we don’t have kid in the U21s ready to step up in the CF position.
Of course you can play Gordon of Big joe there but as you say (and I did) that weakens depth in other positions.
To be fair no one could have predicted the onslaught of injuries we have actually accumulated this season. What I dislike is people saying it is due to how EH expects players to play, lack of rotation earlier in the season etc etc.
It would be fair to say that Barnes injury was just a freak injury, Anderson was not injured when he played. Burn and Murphy fell badly.
I would like a young striker in Jan but not sure we will get one as it will depend on the injury situation then not now and I think our finances are still tight this season.
In summer I would expect us to go after a successor to Wilson.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:30 PM
Comment #16I don’t think there’d be any talk at all about tactical change if everyone was fit, we’d be up around 3rd/4th and top of our CL group. I cant believe how unlucky we’ve been.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:31 PM
Comment #17Didn’t quite manage a 10K there, legs weren’t up for it 😕
Not another deJong
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:37 PM
Comment #18MQ
Sorry I missed your earlier comment
The Mighty Quinn
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:42 PM
Comment #19No need to apologise. My posts aren’t worth reading half the time anyway 😆 .
investinyouthtoon
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:42 PM
Comment #20Taco I agree. I just hope if they decide to not bring in another striker as cover in January, that we aren’t in the same position after window is shut, In saying if only they bought a striker as cover for Isak and Wilson to not leave us short elsewhere.
Munster Mag
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:44 PM
Comment #21You went shouting your mouth off as soon as you thought I made disparaging comments. But I didn’t, you narky little shite. I fully understand that the lads are wrecked and wasn’t hanging them at all. McToon got it wrong but you’re worse because it was your sad anti Munster opportunism at work again. Melt.
Munster Mag
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:46 PM
Comment #22Ledge this week is trans awareness week in the UK leading to a trans day of remenbrance. Which is nice.
Davas
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:47 PM
Comment #23My earlier post was just musings and I hadn’t read invest’s post before posting mine
To carry it on it may not be a case of either or but needs must. We may still sign a young striker but in the summer thought that getting a premier league proven goal scoring winger and thus allowing Gordon to cover centrally, if needed, was better use of limited resources.
The Taco Taker
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:48 PM
Comment #24Raj,
As I am sure you know tactical changes do not require formation changes. These days a formation is just how you write down a team sheet. It is not how a team necessarily plays during a 90 min game.
A simple and obvious example of how formation differs from tactics in our case is the role of Trips and Burn. We spend more time playing a 343/334 than we actually do as a 433.
The “lack of a plan B” is a made up thing by people who don’t understand modern football and/or want to find a reason to say Howe is not good enough should we dare to not win a game.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:50 PM
Comment #25Munster,
:smileypoo: emoji
Mister Tuff
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:51 PM
Comment #26Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:31 PM
Comment #17
Didn’t quite manage a 10K there, legs weren’t up for it ?
Gail get some proper running shoes and discard your high heels ( keep them for strutting down Ocean Road though).
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:56 PM
Comment #27Mr Tough,
I use Hoka Bondi for long distance and a pair of Hoka Clifton 8’s for under 7.5K
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 8:59 PM
Comment #28TTT,
Aye, the way we could turn to a back three in attack was/is quite sleek.
A Geordie Mongrel
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:12 PM
Comment #29Does any team play 3-5-2? I thought it was all 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 these days.
north east lincs toon
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:21 PM
Comment #30Just watch Netflix documentary beckham,I bet posh really does take it up the arse
The Taco Taker
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:22 PM
Comment #31AGM,
Years ago when I used to play Football Manager I always had 3 CB at the back. That way I needed less versatile cover for defensive positions. Beyond that I varied between 3-5-2 and 3-4-3.
As a complete aside Brazils new manager (Diniz) is an interesting character. I have posted this before…for those into footy tactics it is very interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IevycgbLct0
The video was done before he got the Brazil job.
Munster Mag
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:23 PM
Comment #32Lincs you really do have an anal obsession 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:33 PM
Comment #33TTT,
I started as Scarborough so would play 5-4-1 in the cup and 4-3-3 in the league. The 3-3 was a DM and two wingers and three forwards, it would get absolutely annihilated in the real world, I’m sure it’s moved on from the 2002 version 😀
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:33 PM
Comment #34I thought Anceloti was pencilled in for the Brazil job.
north east lincs toon
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:38 PM
Comment #35Munster ,only with posh ?
north east lincs toon
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:44 PM
Comment #36Like us to go for demarco at inter best LB in Europe
Certain Toon
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:44 PM
Comment #37Comment #17
Those fishnet tights must have been really tight and those killer stilettos.. less said the better
north east lincs toon
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:50 PM
Comment #38Papiss cisse ,now training with non league side what a player he is was for us
The Taco Taker
Nov 13, 2023 at 9:51 PM
Comment #39Raj,
I used to go with York City.
As for Brazil it will be interesting to see what Diniz does. He is an interesting Coach for sure. I think the problem he will have is that Brazils best players move to Europe and get used to how many European teams tend to play.
I think there is a key point in the link I sent – the best Brazil teams in the past never played like European teams do. There was just an abundance of raw ability and instinct.
I miss that kind of Brazil team. We haven’t seen that for a long time.
I would love if Diniz could find a way to bring that style back one way or another. Not sure he can but it will be interesting to watch.
The Taco Taker
Nov 13, 2023 at 10:01 PM
Comment #40North east lincs toon,
He was very good for us at the time along with Demba Ba (that was the highlight of the Ashley and Pardew era)
The goals dried up when Pardew decided to play Ba central and Cisse on the right IMO. Ba could play either position but Cisse could not play wide right.