Who is the weakest link in the NUFC first XI?

Goodbye!
With no football about and very little news around to float my writing boat I’ve had to think about subjects to write about a bit more than what I would have to do normally.

So with that I’ve really been thinking about our team, our fortunes, and what we need to improve to progress in the future.

Of course we covered that the other day in this article, but that one essentially takes a look at what we need to do in the transfer market. With that particular market closed for the time being, we must make do with what we’ve got.

So what have we got? I’m pretty sure that most will agree that we have some cracking players. I’m also pretty sure that most will agree that we have some players who are, well, shall we say not so cracking? Yes the squad has holes in it which have been discussed to death, but what about the first team? Where would you improve as a priority? Who is the weakest link?

To establish that I think it’s important to try and work out our best team when everyone is fit. To me that probably means something like; Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, S.Taylor, Santon, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Jonas, Demba Ba, Cisse.

Now I know people will scoff with the inclusion of Obertan, but the fact is I really struggled with who to put on the right. Obertan is there solely because he was part of the team that went unbeaten at the start of the season although it could just as easily be Hatem Ben Arfa in truth.

Now assuming I’ve pretty much touched on what our strongest team is, the next question has to be where do we improve it? It’s all to easy to say all over, which ultimately is the goal, but in one transfer window that just isn’t going to happen. Small steps and all that…

So look at that team and work out who is the weakest link?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

81 thoughts on “Who is the weakest link in the NUFC first XI?

  1. JJ, i like that diamond formation and the 4-3-3 but can’t see us playing 4-3-3 because pards wants to play HBA in the middle. and i agree simmo is weakest link, im not one to sing obertans praises but maybe simmo is holding him back a bit with oba having to think about covering him where as jonas and santon just go up the wing whenever they can, i dont want to see a talent like ben arfa go to waste at NUFC

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  2. In my opion steve taylor is the weakest link for me never plays.TOONSY liked the ann robinson link class mate 😆

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  3. my team with current available squad: Krul, simmo, willo, collo, santon, raylor, guthrie, tiotè, cabaye, ben arfa, ba. Guthrie or Cabaye free to attack with the other holding back. HBA to the left, but with freedom to move across mid. main focus is attack. Raylor is vital to us, with his willingness to take the deep runs behind opp. defence. Full backs free to attack one at the time. Key is movement up front with midf. and full backs willing to attack, and voilla; we will see the true genius of Hatem Ben Arfa. He is the key for us to succeed in the run-in. The next thing we must learn is to win the ball back as high as possible. We dont seem able to counter with the tactics pardew puts out, often being pushed too far back. Simpson is the weakest link in the team, or the right-back position. Cisse is unproven in PL and may need time to settle. I don’t think we should expect too much of him yet.

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