Is Lewis Hall Now England’s First-Choice Left-Back?
Newcastle United may now have England's first-choice left-back.
After being surprisingly left out of this summers World Cup squad by Thomas Tuchel, being touted as a target for Manchester United, and reportedly open to a move, Lewis Hall dismissed those reports and signed a new contract at NUFC.
He has started this season where he left off the last one with a consistent high level of performances capped by his first goal at SJP against Hull City.
That earned a recall to the England squad and after two good games in the opening Nation's League fixtures he now looks the man in charge of the left back spot.
Hall has again looked comfortable at international level and has combined particularly well down England's left with former Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.
With Gordon also hitting top form that combo on the left for England could well be one that goes the distance over the next few years.
Has Hall Taken His Chance?
England have struggled to find a settled left-back for years.
Luke Shaw's injury problems have continually disrupted his international career, while a number of other players have been tried in the position.
Nico O'Reilly's injury, a player selected in place of Lewis for the World Cup, helped open the door for Hall, but getting an opportunity and taking it are two very different things.
Hall has taken his chance, and playing for his club as first choice left back, as opposed to O'Reilly who also plays in midfield and an ageing and injury prone Shaw, should ensure that at the very least he is now a regular in the England squad.
Still Just 22
The young age of many of our signings this summer has been a talking point, but it's easy to forget that Lewis Hall is just 22.
Despite his excellent form and huge talent he isn't yet the finished article.
Eddie Howe was initially concerned about his defensive positioning and that held back his regular appearances until work on the training pitch began to sink in.
But there were still times last season when - despite having a great like Lamal in his pocket - he still had the odd lapse which cost us goals.
Matthias Jaissle and his team will no doubt keep working on Hall's defending and any improvement, combined with his outstanding ability to get forward to start and influence attacks, could well see Lewis reach yet another level.
In short; we've got a gem on our hands and let's hope he continues to sparkle at SJP for many years to come.
Last Post: Sean Steur
Mctoon
Yes without a new stadium its a big ask as we're not talking about other clubs standing still as we grow
As to smart trading It doesn't have to be an exact copy of Brighton or Bournemouth or Brentford. We ought to be aiming to sell on those we want whilst retaining others longer as we fill gaps from within
Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool all do it through academies as well as cheaper purchases
Likes of Steur, Bamba and Toure in first team squad but also Cordero, Diabaté , Park Seung -soo are part of the strategy
In simplest terms we sold 3 big players in summer for big money ( 2 planned and 1 not) but brought in…
Quiz night
If there are six clubs from the same close knit group that some think act like a cartel and one is missing from the bidding, which team is it ?
Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are all interested in 27-year-old Barcelona and France defender Jules Kounde, with the Spanish club willing to listen to significant offers. (Sport - in Spanish)
Nicky no disrespect but willock is a better attacking midfelder than ramsey will ever be and I like both lads, but ramsey is overall the better balaced midfielder
We can catch up, if we are run well, and once the training facility and stadium are finished.
Why not?
Magscar,
I watched the True Faith podcast with Hopkinson a few weeks ago...
I saw that too, he spoke very well.
But how do you square our potential sponsorship against those of the cartel?
Without the trophies to back them up.
In a new world of ‘fair market value’ and ‘non associated parties’ neither of which applied to Man City and yet they still found a need to cheat around them.
As for smarter trading, there’s been none smarter than Brighton… we’ll need to better their average of 8th.
Seems a tough ask if that’s the route we’re taking to be in the trophy mix by 2030, even if in David’s eyes, it’s possible.
I don’t think we’ll be there…