Have any of our Euro stars done enough to warrant a shot at the Premier League?

Pushing for the first team?
The Europa League has been both a blessing and a curse so far this season.

It’s well documented that it can have an impact on the season, not just in terms of tiredness but also league schedule. Like today for example, we are playing on a Sunday again after being in action just two days previously.

Fortunately it hasn’t been a real issue for us, yet, as Alan Pardew has managed to use the competition to give players who, with the greatest of respect, probably wouldn’t get much of a look in during a regular Premier League season. However this is where the problem kicks in, as some player shave shown a real spark in Europe which means that they should, in theory anyway, be knocking on the first team door for our Premier League games.

Like Gabriel Obertan for example. It’s like watching two different players. Domestically we see a player who regularly frustrates with his lack of any real contribution, but in Europe we see a player who knows when and where to use his pace to beat a man and, as we saw on Thursday, knows how to strike a ball.

Shane Ferguson is another. I’ve always rated the lad and he’s rarely disappointed when he’s been called upon in any competition, but by being given more chances in Europe he is also showing that he can contribute on a consistent basis and can offer the team and extra dimension with his crossing (some of which is superb by the way) if he is drafted into the first team for any Premier League match.

How about Samy Ameobi, who showed some neat play on Thursday? Or Gael Bigirimana, who continues to impress whenever he is called upon, whether it be in the Premier League, Europa League or cup competitions?

The question I’m asking is whether any of them have done enough to feel aggrieved if they get left out today? We know we are likely to revert to our “strongest” side today and that most of our senior players will return to action for the visit of West Brom, but are there any players that have played themselves into contention for a place on the pitch today?

Over to you on that one…

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.

37 thoughts on “Have any of our Euro stars done enough to warrant a shot at the Premier League?

  1. It’s a great chance for the young ones but unfortunately I think the ones who have impressed have players playing in their position who have improved in the first team.

    Fergie deserves his chance but with Santon improving imeasurably this season he can’t get in at left back. I think Sinpson has also improved this year so moving Santon to right back to have Fergie at left back would be harsh on Simpson.

    Bigi has looked a good player but he’s still inexperienced and we do have a fair few decent midfielders. Although he is the one I would play in the next three games to replace Tiote, although I think Perch will play.

    Sammy Ameobi could be anything he wants to be, great dribbler, quick and has a canny left foot – but where does he fit in at the moment? Maybe next season for him.

    All in all next season will be a breakthrough year or them to really push for a sustained place in the first team – providing they continue to improve.

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  2. Conundrum indeed 😕 , but Fergy and Bigi have been the most eye catching, i dont by into Gabriel Obertan MOTM in the last 2 Europas.
    How much and how long does :Pardew need to keep bigging up Gabriel Obertan IMO he has not produced a performance in the EPL to warrant an automatic start.

    Gael Bigirimana and Shane Ferguson have certainly have given Pardew a headache he will love . Fergy nearest 2 first team , as he offers much more in attack !!!? 😛 😛

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  3. Bigi looks good & consistent, but all of the fringe players are gaining valuable experience, the squad need to be battling to get on the team sheet and the only purples who may be on the bench today are Saylor (due to Willo current form) & Cissie for obvious reasons. I do think we need a bit of luck to take 3pts today even though we have a team worthy of the top six.

    Krul
    Simpson
    Collo
    Willo
    Santon
    Jonas
    Perch
    Cabaye
    Ben Arfa
    S Ameobi
    Ba

    Bench
    Harper
    Saylor
    Ferguson
    Anita
    Bigi
    Oba
    Cissie

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  4. Young Fergy deserves to start in place of the hopeless Jonas.
    But I am confident he wont get a sniff.
    All the younguns can do is keep plugging away when they get their chance and wait and see. Their time will come for sure.
    Howay the Lads

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  5. Nice article Toonsy. The nearest to being a regular 1st teamer is Fergie but as a LW not a FB for me. I’m not saying he couldn’t be a good FB in time but for me he’s a little too lightweight at PL level. Anyway it’s a waste to stick a winger with a good cross at FB in my opinion. Bigi looks to have a great future ahead of him and no surprise to me that he won that young apprentice award ,this season is maybe one too soon to be considered a regular purple player though. As for Obatan ,he’s a real enigma to me ,bags of pace but little football brain it would seem 🙄 yet he excells in the Europa league for some reason I can’t quite fathom,maybe it’s the -dare I say it lesser opposition 😕 .Anita also has me perplexed as he has looked a better RB than the supposed MF he’s supposed to be but maybe he needs time to adapt to the PL ,time will tell I suppose.

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  6. I think Pardew is doing an excellent job of integrating the fringe players into the blend with experience.

    I think the players will have been told that it’s their platform to determine whether they can force their way into regular first team action but knowing that to compete at the top over a season, it has to be on a rotational aspect and nobody is guaranteed their place.

    With the squad we have, admittedly it did appear lacking in numbers, yet it doesn’t seem as lacking right now with squad players actually stepping up to the mark.

    The way Pardew plays his hand in resting key players, gives us a better than average fighting chance on all cup competitions whilst also preserving our premiership push.

    We may not have started as brightly as last season, yet we have only lost 2 games and both against the potential champions in Chelsea (away) and Man Utd (home)

    The player throughout the squad look hungry and are by and large all stepping up to the mark and will feel they deserve a starting spot in the team for prem games, yet Pardew will use experience first and bring those players in as cover , as and when needed, whilst also more or less guaranteeing them a start in the cup and Europa campaigns, so either way, it’s a win win win situation where progress of the players is concerned and hopefully that can be further strengthened by a strong cup run in those competitions (hopefully nicking one).

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  7. Bigi has looked good, and will get better, cos the lad is still growing into the role. He seems to have sen off Anita, a 6 mill signing as the Tiote replacement which says a lot about the lad, and perhaps a bit about Anita too.. : 🙄

    Fergie looks a great young prospect, his time will also come. The clue to how to play Fergie is who sits in front or alongside him on the left side of midfield…

    I’m most excited about young Sammy, because for a tall guy he has footwork skills which are immense. He needs to be given games to help him develop, time will show what he can achieve, but he looks a great prospect.

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  8. Just a thought with Oba……. ? Maybe his mindset in the Euro games is to show what he really can do with the view to impress Pardz. And when he comes on as a sub he doesn’t have the same mental attitude as he is only filling a gap for 20 or so minutes..

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  9. Yep-Ferguson for me. He’s shown he should be battling Jonas for a start in 4-4-2 out on the wing.

    The others are showing that they could be good subbies, but that’s about it for now I think…

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  10. Young Fergie is a great prospect and in time he will be a total asset to this club in full.
    As yet, he needs to be nurtured through and not pushed into too many games too soon or we could end up with a burnt out crock.

    He looks great going forward and no doubt will get stronger in left back duties, yet he needs a baby sitter to aid him in that role as well.

    He looks definitely more of a left winger than any left back though but as time goes on and with a few extra weetabix and beef medallions into him, he can be a regular for years to come if he’s nurtured through another year.

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  11. Wolfie-To be honest though given his age and, hopefully his fitness levels, he should be among the most comfortable playing more often 😉 I’m not saying he should be playing every match though, but if he shows good signs in the PL then that leaves Jonas to battle in the cup and the odd PL match for his spot back…

    I’d have him on the wing as personally I think our full backs are doing a fine job, particularly Santon, nee chance of taking his spot. I’d say Jonas has been under-performing but often picks himself up after a challenge on his spot-so give him one in Fergie.

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  12. Aye Newkie, you have a point there. I mean I trust Pardew in what he does and if he decides Fergie is up to it then I certainly have no complaints as the lad looks dangerous offensively .

    The problem is, it’s a horses for courses job with Jonas and Fergie because Jonas can help kill off a potential game where we are on the back foot whereas Fergie might be found wanting in that area, especially against the top sides.

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  13. People never learn. Anita came from the Dutch league, so naturally he is struggling with the pace and power of the Premier League. Give him time. He is a good player and will prove this over time. Our best central midfield will be Tiote – Anita – Cabaye.

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  14. The KID@13 ,Agree on Anita ,I suggested it could be about adapting to PL @5 .If the worst came to the worst and he didn’t cut it in MF he does look an able RB 😉 .

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  15. Griff, I would always find room for Jonas ,he is one of our most hard working players, always shouting at his teammates geeing them on like. I was really impressed with his workrate when I watched them live recently ,his off the ball work ethic is commendable.

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  16. Kim = I agree that Jonas works hard and has a great attitude and his experience is vital. Just the fact he is wasted on the left wing imo.

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  17. The Kid-Aye, you’d think people would learn that after a bit of playing time did to players like Colo and Enrique but it seems like if players don’t hit the ground running the knives come out.

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  18. Just watching the liverpool/everton game… Moyes stated in the press the Suarez was a diver… Suarez scores via a deflection and runs over to the everton bech and dives on the ground in celebration.. the guy has zero class….

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  19. Ferguson anywhere down the left. Get it done, preferably on the wing purely because he has the best cross at the club and Santon is coming on well. I dont buy the lightweight argument at full back. He’s tenacious and fast. He’s big enough to beat fellow wingers and full backs in advanced positions so why cant he do a job at full back too? He’s a good tackler. In fact he’s bloody excellent and should be 1st team now.

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  20. talk down liverpool is that ba is heading that way in jan with carroll coming back to toon. who would you rather have? as for today, step up ben arfa and yohan cabaye 2-1

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  21. Bazza- I’d rather have Ba, but if we are going to lose him, and I think we will, I wouldn’t mind Carroll coming back in return.

    Gave on at Merseyside…..

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  22. Bazza – A proven PL goalscorer vs a player who has had half a decent season, over two years ago….

    Ba for me 🙂

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  23. MDS – Suarez aside, cracking game for the neutral viewer.. rather BA than Carroll….

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  24. Yeah Aussie, love to watch the rest of it but need to run to the store to get provisions for the latest Storm of the Century 😯

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  25. Bazza-Ba every day of the week, but if it was a straight swap I’d take that 😉

    Aussie-course he doesn’t! Good game though.

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  26. Wow ,what a Mersey Derby this is. I will be gutted if the racist gets a hattie though.

    I would rather have Ba AND Carroll ,just to be an awkard cow 😉

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  27. MDS-Saw something on the news yesterday about that, isn’t it big enough to cover 13 states at the moment or something? 😕 No expert on weather systems but that sounds big 😕

    Aaaand my streams down, ****, maybe its only for half time..

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