Kids, want-aways and has-beens!
Today’s game in China just shows how far Newcastle are away from anything like a Premier League squad for the new season.
Since last season United have lost Rondon, Perez, Joselu, Diame and Kenedy. Whilst even some ‘worst case’ bench cover in Barreca has also departed.
With want away Hayden still tied to the club, no doubt against his will, and the like of Dubravka and Longstaff both being touted as in line for lucrative moves away, it leaves little in the way of quality when it comes to a squad.
This is the first team squad that United are currently hurtling towards a new season with:
Goalkeeper
Dubravka
Elliot
Woodman
Darlow
Defenders
Clark
Dummett
Schar
Lascelles
Fernandez
Manquillo
Lejeune
Yedlin
Sterry
Midfielders
Ki
Shelvey
Ritchie
Hayden
Almiron
Atsu
Longstaff
Murphy
Aarons
Colback
Saivet
Forwards
Muto
Gayle
What is left is kids, such as Sorensen. And it hardly seems fair to throwing them to the Premier League lions den.
Of those listed you’d think Newcastle should be ok at the back, assuming Bruce can build on the rigorous organisation and the talents of a Premier League standard Goalkeeper and some good defensive options.
From there on in it’s a mess. Only Ritchie, Hayden, Longstaff, Almiron and Hayden looked consistently top flight standard last campaign in our view. You can probably add Ki, Shelvey and Atsu into the next bracket of decent players. NOT enough to see you through a season long 5-a-side tournament is that!
And as for up front. It beggers belief….
Unless the new manager works some kind of miracle in getting the club to part with some serious cash, something that Rafa couldn’t manage to do by the way, AND somehow manages to exploit the loan market at this late stage of the window, then all the signs are Newcastle will fail this season. And fail in a big way.
What a mess!
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