A data-led preview of the most uncertain and potentially exciting summer of recruitment since the early days of the PIF-led takeover of Newcastle United.
Top, top stuff. It's a nice feeling to be blindly optimistic about us for the first time in months!
If we can sort one or two of these out before the World Cup starts I'd be thrilled. It'd be a statement of intent that we have begun to really change our approach but also hopefully get in before any of these fees bloat.
Also, DR Congo face Uzbekistan, Columbia and Portugal in their group. There's some real potential for Wissa to bag a few goals so I'm hoping it either gives him some confidence or puts himself in the shop window.
Thanks for this Kev. Your transfer posts are one of my post season highlights. Let's hope they get some good business done this summer. It's started well with the Gordon sale, so lets hope they build the squad we need to win another trophy and get back to the UCL.
Brilliant write-up, thanks for spending the time to put this together! Hoping Howe recovers from an awful window and can get the start he needs to keep his job 🤞
Biggest part for me is if (and it looks like it is in place) is proper delegation of authority to DH to pivot faster and make 90% of the big calls this summer without having to go back to PIF - which should make us more agile
Enjoyed this, thanks! Especially the running data, though it makes me wonder if that is exactly where Newcastle have got a little stuck in recent times.
While I understand the need for a fullback to meet the physical demands of the opposition, does every winger really need to match Anthony Gordon’s sprinting output? Take Anthony Elanga, for example. He can certainly sprint, but the other aspects of his game - his first touch, dribbling, shooting and off-the-ball movement, seem far below what you'd expect from a £55 million signing.
Personally, I think the squad needs a bit more balance. It would be great to see wingers who aren't just pure sprinters, but players who can actually dribble and beat a man 1v1 rather than just outrunning them.
If Woltemade is going to be a long term part of the team speed around him is non negotiable. You can carry one player in attack like that in the epl. But not more really.
The only area where I'd disagree, and this is purely wishful thinking rather than insight, is the striker situation. I can't see Wissa coming good now at his age; his legs and his head have gone. I'd cut our losses and try to move him on. If we go into next season with him and Osula as our top choices, we can forget about CL football. Noises from the club suggest that a striker isn't a priority, however, so...
I think Howe considers Gordon as a third striker so we may be in the market for a similar replacement. For me, Osula has some learning to do before being considered our first choice centre forward and I agree that it’s difficult to see Wissa recovering from this season. Maybe a punt on Delap to provide a genuine target man/ focal point for the attack? Whatever, it’s going to be interesting and I’m sure to be referring to Kev’s research on a regular basis over the next three months!
Striker was a difficult decision, but I do think Osula showed enough down the stretch to be kept around. I don't think we'll have a taker for Wissa and Nick W is sticking around too.
I've labelled all but Osula uncertain because it could quite easily go another way, with Wissa finding a new home and Delap/Darwin coming in.
I'd keep Osula as well. Late developer in terms of game intelligence but he's got all the physical tools and apparently the right attitude to learning. Don't want him as our first choice though! Nick W is playing deep or not at all. Wissa is the problem.
Brilliant, fascinating piece! Has sharpened the contrast between Abde v Nusa and MFP v El Mala for me. Would be very interested in seeing analysis on a RW (hopefully Murphy is sold) and a striker target if we sell one of Wissa, Wolt or Osula. I would dearly hope we don't pass up the chance of buying Franculino for the sake of keeping Wissa. There are a couple of players I would have put forward - e.g. Sangare in the CM conversation and perhaps some of Bahoya/Godts/Diao/Koleosho/Monga for LW. Would be very interested in Kev's thoughts on those repeatedly linked in some of these roles and why we shouldn't prioritise them (if this article is meant to imply so), e.g. Mingueza, Bartesaghi, Risser, Acheampong, Gonzalo Garcia, etc. Perhaps a follow-up article in the coming weeks? Please?!
Do you think that one or both of Joelinton and Ramsay could become the Gordon replacement if they switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation? It certainly helps to clear out the large number of central midfielders they have.
Could Miley become the Tino replacement if he goes, given his performances so far? Doesn't Hall have some background as a midfielder?
Top, top stuff. It's a nice feeling to be blindly optimistic about us for the first time in months!
If we can sort one or two of these out before the World Cup starts I'd be thrilled. It'd be a statement of intent that we have begun to really change our approach but also hopefully get in before any of these fees bloat.
Also, DR Congo face Uzbekistan, Columbia and Portugal in their group. There's some real potential for Wissa to bag a few goals so I'm hoping it either gives him some confidence or puts himself in the shop window.
Great read! Has been an exhausting season for viewers too. Happy to not think about Newcastle for a month at least.
Also,
I wonder if we have a deal with Aston villa to swap players each window. 🥫🧢
This is superb, Kev. Thanks for the hard work; it's much appreciated.
You've put some hours in there Kev, well done.
Some great food for thought here.
I'm just hoping they can get it right.
We need major change.
Elanga back to Forest as make weight for an Anderson return?
We can dream.
Thanks for this Kev. Your transfer posts are one of my post season highlights. Let's hope they get some good business done this summer. It's started well with the Gordon sale, so lets hope they build the squad we need to win another trophy and get back to the UCL.
Brilliant write-up, thanks for spending the time to put this together! Hoping Howe recovers from an awful window and can get the start he needs to keep his job 🤞
Biggest part for me is if (and it looks like it is in place) is proper delegation of authority to DH to pivot faster and make 90% of the big calls this summer without having to go back to PIF - which should make us more agile
Enjoyed this, thanks! Especially the running data, though it makes me wonder if that is exactly where Newcastle have got a little stuck in recent times.
While I understand the need for a fullback to meet the physical demands of the opposition, does every winger really need to match Anthony Gordon’s sprinting output? Take Anthony Elanga, for example. He can certainly sprint, but the other aspects of his game - his first touch, dribbling, shooting and off-the-ball movement, seem far below what you'd expect from a £55 million signing.
Personally, I think the squad needs a bit more balance. It would be great to see wingers who aren't just pure sprinters, but players who can actually dribble and beat a man 1v1 rather than just outrunning them.
If Woltemade is going to be a long term part of the team speed around him is non negotiable. You can carry one player in attack like that in the epl. But not more really.
The only area where I'd disagree, and this is purely wishful thinking rather than insight, is the striker situation. I can't see Wissa coming good now at his age; his legs and his head have gone. I'd cut our losses and try to move him on. If we go into next season with him and Osula as our top choices, we can forget about CL football. Noises from the club suggest that a striker isn't a priority, however, so...
I think Howe considers Gordon as a third striker so we may be in the market for a similar replacement. For me, Osula has some learning to do before being considered our first choice centre forward and I agree that it’s difficult to see Wissa recovering from this season. Maybe a punt on Delap to provide a genuine target man/ focal point for the attack? Whatever, it’s going to be interesting and I’m sure to be referring to Kev’s research on a regular basis over the next three months!
Striker was a difficult decision, but I do think Osula showed enough down the stretch to be kept around. I don't think we'll have a taker for Wissa and Nick W is sticking around too.
I've labelled all but Osula uncertain because it could quite easily go another way, with Wissa finding a new home and Delap/Darwin coming in.
I'd keep Osula as well. Late developer in terms of game intelligence but he's got all the physical tools and apparently the right attitude to learning. Don't want him as our first choice though! Nick W is playing deep or not at all. Wissa is the problem.
Brilliant, fascinating piece! Has sharpened the contrast between Abde v Nusa and MFP v El Mala for me. Would be very interested in seeing analysis on a RW (hopefully Murphy is sold) and a striker target if we sell one of Wissa, Wolt or Osula. I would dearly hope we don't pass up the chance of buying Franculino for the sake of keeping Wissa. There are a couple of players I would have put forward - e.g. Sangare in the CM conversation and perhaps some of Bahoya/Godts/Diao/Koleosho/Monga for LW. Would be very interested in Kev's thoughts on those repeatedly linked in some of these roles and why we shouldn't prioritise them (if this article is meant to imply so), e.g. Mingueza, Bartesaghi, Risser, Acheampong, Gonzalo Garcia, etc. Perhaps a follow-up article in the coming weeks? Please?!
Do you think that one or both of Joelinton and Ramsay could become the Gordon replacement if they switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation? It certainly helps to clear out the large number of central midfielders they have.
Could Miley become the Tino replacement if he goes, given his performances so far? Doesn't Hall have some background as a midfielder?
Ramsey off the left, sure could easily happen. He's super versatile. Miley should be the third choice RB IMHO, his future is in midfield
Cracking stuff as always Kev, thank you.
Do we have enough money to get 8 players?
It's based on selling Gordon, Tino, Willock, Barnes, Murphy plus the loss of big earners like Trippier should give us the bandwidth