da bet esporte： Newcastle United are a dream for the media, as you can bet your bottom dollar there is inevitably something on the horizon in Tyneside waiting to stun the football world. It may be the shock sacking of popular manager Chris Hughton, the multi million pound sale of prized asset Andy Carroll or a consensus of popularity towards Mike Ashley from the fans. Okay, so the latter is unlikely to ever be the case, but two out of three isn’t bad! The latest rumbling coming from St James’ Park is the pledge from chief scout Graham Carr that the club intend to splash some cash on six new signings in the summer.
da supremo： Newcastle made a promising start to the season with some excellent results in the early part, including the thrashings they gave to Aston Villa and arch rivals Sunderland at St James’ Park, not to mention the resilient away victory at the Emirates. It’s fair to say the results haven’t been as good as the fans would have liked recently, with a crushing defeat to Stoke, the latest disappointment which has put the Toon’s Premiership credentials in doubt.
Creative Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa is soon to be back in first team action and he will add a different dimension to the side and may be the key to survival. So let’s assume Newcastle do avoid the drop and are playing Premiership football again next season. With 35 million at their disposal, would an influx of new players be the answer?
I think we can all agree first and foremost a new striker is imperative, as the void left by Carroll needs to be filled. Lille’s Ivorian striker Gervinho has been touted as a possible replacement and Carr made no secret of the fact he had been in Lille on a scouting mission recently in his interview with Tyneside Weekly. Another new recruit up front could potentially be AZ Alkmaar’s Icelandic powerhouse Kolbeinn Sigthorsson who has been linked with the club.
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If 6 new players are to be the answer for Newcastle, it’s presumably going to mean the end for some of the current squad. There are numerous underachievers at Newcastle who are taking home a tidy wage at the club’s expense – surely they will have to make way. Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith and Xisco could all fall into that category and be surplus to requirements in the summer, therefore opening the door for any new arrivals.
Newcastle United have been guilty of spending large amounts of money on inadequate signings in the past – the likes of Boumsong and Marcelino come to mind. If the club are to bring 6 new faces they need to make sure they find the right men for the job. Furthermore, such an advent of new players will have a major impact on whether or not the squad will gel in time for the new season.
So do Newcastle United need 6 new players? In my opinion the answer is quite simply yes. The squad has been compromised this season when key players have picked up injuries, and the lack of strength in depth has been plain to see. It could be suggested that Joey Barton’s recent injury had an impact on the club’s poor run of form. Barton is the creative spark in the team and when he’s not playing who can the team rely on to take on that mantle? Similarly, in the wake of Carroll’s departure, as well as Leon Best has performed, there is a lack of goals up front.
I believe Newcastle need to take it one step at a time and the priority is unquestionably in the hands of the current squad. It’s their responsibility to ensure the club stays up. Whether they are to be part of the setup next season remains to be seen. Once safety is assured, the club can focus on new players and stabilising this wonderful football club in the Premier league for years to come.
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