From a footballing perspective, this all feels like one unbearably long international break, only there’s absolutely zero games and a growing feeling the 2019/20 Premier League may be deemed null and void as this coronavirus crisis continues.
As a result, it feels like a good time to look back on the season, from player of the year to unsung hero and goal of the season to performance to biggest disappointment.
If it was announced that the season was officially ending tomorrow, here’s my picks..
Player of the season:
- Martin Dubravka
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Federico Fernandez.
The Slovakian has been absolutely outstanding, keeping us in several games, making more saves than any other Premier League and being a constant calming influence at the back. I think it’s safe to say we’d be in the bottom three without him.
Honourable mentions must also go to Allan Saint-Maximin – a player we’ve barely ever won without and an explosive attacker who’s regularly been our biggest threat – and Federico Fernandez (closely followed by Ciaran Clark), who’s been immense in the centre of defence and chipped in with a few big goals too.
Young player of the season:
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Matty Longstaff
- Tom Allan
It has to be ASM. His numbers in terms of goals and assists are far from spectacular, but his influence on the team has been huge, with us winning more, losing less, scoring more and conceding less when he starts.
Matty Longstaff comes in a close second after a brilliant breakthrough year, while Tom Allan also deserves a mention, having bagged an assist on his senior debut vs Rochdale after getting into double figures at U-23 level.
Unsung hero:
- Ciaran Clark
- Jonjo Shelvey
- Javier Manquillo
Clark started the season our SIXTH choice centre-back, yet he’s quickly become arguably Steve Bruce’s most reliable option this season, putting in several heroic displays; putting his body on the line at one end and scoring a few key goals at the other end.
Manquillo also deserves a mention for several assured displays, as does Jonjo Shelvey – the club’s second top scorer on five.
Most improved player:
- Miguel Almiron
- Matty Longstaff
- Javier Manquillo
Matty may be the obvious player given he’s gone from U-23 prospect to securing a place in Bruce’s Premier League squad, but I feel it has to go to Miguel Almiron, with the Paraguayan our current top scorer after adding goals to his game following a difficult start to the season.
As for Javier Manquillo, the Spaniard is arguably our best right-back as things stand and deserves a new deal after several assured displays.
Disappointment of the season:
- Joelinton
- Sean Longstaff
- Andy Carroll
It has to be Joelinton. He was never prolific in Germany and signed as a young prospect, not a proven scorer, but we all expected much more from our £40m man.
Sean Longstaff comes in at second after struggling to fully recover from last year’s serious knee injury and Andy Carroll third given he’s managed to make just 4 starts and hasn’t scored yet.
Moment of the season:
- Matty Longstaff’s debut goal vs Man Utd
- Miguel Almiron breaking his duck at the Gallowgate
- Saint-Maximin’s winner at Oxford / Andy Carroll’s second debut
Goal of the season:
- Saint-Maximin’s FA Cup winner at Oxford
- Jetro Willems’ thunderbolt at Anfield
- Matty Longstaff’s debut goal vs Man Utd
Best team performances of the season:
- Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle
- Newcastle 2-2 Man City
- West Ham 2-3 Newcastle / West Brom 2-3 Newcastle
My winner may surprise a few, but I thought we were outstanding in every area of the pitch that day, executing Bruce’s clear game plan to perfection.
The 2-2 draw against Man City was another superb display, while 3-2 wins at West Ham and West Brom (FA Cup) were the only two occasions we’ve played with swagger and genuinely outplayed the opposition (the scoreline flatters the hosts massively in both!).
Worst team performances of the season:
- Norwich 3-1 Newcastle
- Leicester 5-0 Newcastle
- Newcastle 0-0 Oxford
Our first away game of the season against newly promoted Norwich was a low point. We got absolutely battered without putting up a fight, looking all at sea defensively, anonymous in midfield and like a team of strangers in attack, with Almiron and Joelinton worryingly isolated.
The collapse at Leicester was worrying, while the 0-0 draw at home to Oxford was tough to watch considering the level of opposition and occasion.
Best signings of the season:
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Jetro Willems
- N/A..
ASM is a clear winner here, but a big shoutout must go to Jetro Willems, who’s been impressive at both ends of the pitch, scoring some stunning goals and defending better than most expected too. As for number 3, I think we might be saying Valentino Lazaro if he gets a run in the side out wide.
Worst signing of the season:
- Joelinton
- Emil Krafth
- Nabil Bentaleb
At £40m, Joelinton’s return of 3 goals and 4 assists in all competitions hasn’t been nearly enough, while Krafth has been an utterly bizarre and almost pointless signing, with us now having THREE right wing-backs ahead of him in the pecking order.
Bentaleb’s inclusion may seem harsh, but he’s shown next to nothing since arriving – despite many having high hopes for the former Spurs talent.
Feel free to give us your answers to all the above in the comments section below!
We did have Michael Jordon though 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is fking snowing in Chicago. 15th of April and it is fcking snowing. Never seen this in 30 years. was 80 (27 celcius) degrees last week on Wednesday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ve just seen the woman’s clothing shops Oasis and Warehouse are about to go into administration.
It’s scary to think the businesses and jobs that could be lost through all of this.
That could well be the driving force of fat lad selling up though. He loves a high street bargain buy and COVID will create plenty for someone with £300m in his back pocket.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Michael Jordan was like having Alan Shearer in your team but about double because basketball only has 5 players on their team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The thing that annoys me about Mancs and bindippers is that they make fun of Shearer for coming to Newcastle. We had a brilliant team back then and if things had only worked out shligtly different we could have had 3 titles.
Shearer, Sir Les, Beardsley, Barton, Shay, Tino, Philppe Albere, Ginola. We had a better team than Man U before Ronaldo got there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Allegri is the new fav for the managers job! FFS!
Stuart79(Quote)
Apparently the PL checks usually take 2 weeks. It started last week. Shall we say due to Coronavirus it might take a couple of more weeks? Shall we get a announcement within two weeks?
There will be a degree of sadness that we can’t celebrate and be at the stadium.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – the celebrations in Newcastle when we can get back out there will stop any kind of financial crisis this Country thought they might face coz of COVID ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
My first choice would be Poch but Allegri would do just fine mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nagelsmann, Nagelsmann, Nagelsmann.
Like that Seinfeld episode where they lift the TV. Mendlebaum, Mendelbaum, Mendelbaum.
You lot probably haven’t watched much Seinfeld have you 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Be quite funny.
Here Brucie. Have 3 million and fock off. And thanks for the 9-0-1.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Betting odds for new manager:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bookies-back-steve-bruce-leave-18095441
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sean Dyche. Eddie Howe?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The last comment on the Chronic website was quite funny, telling Brucie to cheer up and imagine all of the steak-bakes he can buy with his pay-off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I know you are only joking mate, but i think we owe Brucey a great deal of thanks.
Whether the season is completed with matches played or some sort of points predictor – we won’t be relegated this season, despite all of the madness at the start of it.
I’m not so sure this takeover would be happening if we were dropping to the Championship.
Ashley dropping the price would have helped too, but PL security would have been essential too I reckon.
I won’t be all sentimental like, but credit where it’s due – and from a personal point of view, what a shame that having got the chance to manage your boyhood team, you get robbed of completing a full season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I never minded Bruce at all in his press conferences. He came across as genuine and likable. Didn’t like the football and did my own sort of boycott by staying away from the pub. Not like I thought it would get rid of Ashley like so many on Eds thought, but because the football was terrible.
BTW they are all cheerleading on Eds like the boycotters had anything to do with Ashley leaving. Morons. Cheerleading a f@ckup on there who wanted to march to Charnley’s house and published his address. Yeah, great idea, scare Charnley’s kids. But that lad is a hero on there now, like he had anything to do with this. MONEY is what made this happen and bad PR.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ryder is being his usual dumb self. Says Bruce will likely stay on for a while. Not if the new owners have a fckn clue Lee!!! He is a total idiot but at least he is not saying that nothing will happen until there is money on the table (for the 400th time). Really Lee, is that how deals are done. Never would have guessed having bought 5 houses and 4 cars in my life.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-news-live-premier-18092178
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sky Sports News reported in January Amanda Staveley’s PCP Partners and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) were in talks to buy Newcastle. It is unclear as to why there is no mention of PIF in any of the Companies House documentation.
This is what I’m wondering. If it’s the Saudi Royal family then we can probably look forward to great times. But if it’s just a piecedtogether consortium then will there be significant investments or will it be something far less ambitious?
Shamrock(Quote)
Today at Chronicle Live we have Lee Ryder, Chief Sports Writer for NUFC doing a Q & A:
Q: how’s it going Lee, my man? How’s are you liking it working from home?
A: Same as it was. Just do my 200 words a day then get back on the bar stool, except it is in my kitchen rather than doon the pub. Wor Lass is getting rather peeved getting my beers form the fridge though.
Q: Is this deal going to go through?
A: It is not over until there is money on the table.
Q: Who is this Amanda Stavely chick anyway. And will she really get her t!ts oot for the lads since that seems to be the only picture you show of her at that black tie event. You know the one.
A: Aye, I know the one but doubt she will get her t!ts oot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Q: is John Gibson unwell or has he always looked like that?
A: He’s always looked like that. Same with Alan Oliver. When I first started working at The Chronic I couldn’t believe they were only 30. Night of the Living Dead is what called them. They taught me everything I know though, including that you have to stop writing when you get to 200 words.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Q: Do you miss little Chrissy Waugh? He seems to be getting all of the scoops at the Athletic?
A: two faced fcn b@stard. Yes, I miss Chrissy a lot. I taught him all he knows although he seems to have forgotten that no article can be more than 200 words.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Q: is Mick (Micky) Quinn a NUFC legend or just a mouthy fat fck?
A: Legend
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Q: If you had to do one of Cheryl Cole or Ant and Dec which would it be?
A: Ant and Dec threesome, obvs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah, same here Sham.
Then again it’s what happened with City deal, PCP did the deal and 3 months later monsour bought up the shares from PCP i think.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Jabba’s silence is making me nervous. I’m still convinced he can **** this up
Stuart79(Quote)
Q: do you really get paid for writing 200 words of nonsense a day?
A: Yes. And I get to go to all of the games for free as well. Even pre-season. I saw that Eric Sykes once when I was staying at the most expensive Hotel in Milwaukee on The Chronic’s dime. The Pfister. $300 a night. Where the players stayed. The Chronic got their 200 words that night I can tell you. I scooped that Jamaal Lascelles had bruised his big toe.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He is always silent.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham – Saudi’s have set up a company called NCUK Investments Limited. Directors are chairman of PIF and also a guy called Vincent Cheshire who works for a company called TMF Ltd. TMF look after companies on behalf of overseas investors. I imagine somewhere along the line they buy shares in a single company.
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s an interesting thought Kim. Either way it would feel fantastic just to be rid of the parasite.
Shamrock(Quote)
Interesting stuff Stu. Like you, I’m still waiting for Ashley to **** it up. We have been down this road before and it’s almost cruel! Wouldn’t it be nice to have ambitious owners, investment in the facilities and a team that plays football for a change…. ?
Shamrock(Quote)
Well, if Ashley fails to see this through now, the vast majority of fans will be in uproar and many will walk away i think. It would be unbelievably cruel by him to pull the plug on it now.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Jamie Redknapp just told Sky Sports that Jamie Reuben told him that “it’s just a matter of time” and they will invest and buy big players as they want to get NUFC back to where they should be…
I’ve got a cracking bottle of red lined up when this is done. After a bottle of fizz
Stuart79(Quote)
Sadly i can’t get too drunk as looking after Lew, but will defo raise a glass or two to celebrate once it’s confirmed.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sham – great to see you back on lad ??.
Well I’m convince that all this is really real now, but I’m still scared Ashley could f@ck this up in the 11th hour like.
I keep finding myself daring to dream and thinking of some of the players we could get in.
Genuinely though, what excites me most is just seeing SJP full again and the noise and atmosphere that I experienced in the first Keegan era.
That would be as good as any trophy we could win imo. (maybe not, but it would be great to see again).
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree, Sharpy.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – can you imagine if we could see nights like Tino v Barca back at SJP man?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Cheers Sharpy, love you too ?
Surely it’s for real this time? I’m excited by the thought of the facilities finally getting upgraded and just hopefully seeing the team play football for a change! Clearly it would take years to get back to CL etc but challenge for the top 6 in the next 2 or 3 years? Why not. manure, Chelsea, Arsenal, now Spurs have all dropped a level and the likes of Wolves and Leicester are nipping at their heels. Bit of smart investment and bit of ambition and there is no reason we could not as well.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well just look at the article above. A few of our highlights of the season have involved a win against bloody Oxford. Embarrassing. Can only get better surely.
Shamrock(Quote)
Apparently (BBC) if the deal goes through, Staveley will be in the board – but chairman will be this guy:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasir_Al-Rumayyan
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham – I’m sure there will be sections of the media (that dislike us Geordies) that will claim we will expect to win leagues and CLs and our expectations will be outrageous now.
Not for me though. I just want to be in amongst it again – completing and mixing it with the giants of Europe again. If we can go on and become one ourselves then I’m up for that, but if our new owners can get the entertainers days back I’d be more than happy with that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Same here Sharpy, lets not run before we can walk .
Fat get better go through with it now like.
KIMTOON(Quote)
You sure you haven’t been drinking Kimtoon 🙂
“Fat get better go through with it now like”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, Eh 😕
KIMTOON(Quote)
Looked at again Kimtoon and I still have no idea what that means.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
“fat get better go through with it now like”.
I have no clue what that means.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It means Ashley better go through with it the deal now.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric – we use get as an alternative to g!t mate ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Doesn’t bare thinking about. What I am very happy about is that a lot of fans who are 14 years old and down and never known anything other than Jabba and his shocking ownership.
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s likely that they will keep Bruce in the short term but that will bring its own problems. I reckon the fans won’t be happy and we will be wanting somebody better. That is an awkward position…
Stuart79(Quote)
Thanks Sharpy. Now I know what Kimtoon was saying.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is anybody else a bit concerned that all the info is coming from The Staveley side? I’m pretty sure they were this bullish in 2017 too…and it was also reported.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy: you know I am from Newcastle, right? The avatar is Seahouses looking at Bamburgh Castle.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Feel very uneasy about this takeover, starting to think it’s another dud tbh.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I know mate, but I had to read it twice too ?.
And your avatar is one of my favourite views in Northumberland mate. That and stood at the top of the hill at Newton-by-the-Sea looking across to Dunstanburgh Castle.
I think Northumberland is my favourite place – I hope to retire up there one day.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – it will go quite for a week or 2 while it’s with the PL. It may take longer than that whilst the PL focus on how they conclude this season.
I think the crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s is all that’s left now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m really shocked to read as many people say they would rather stick with Bruce than take Rafa back.
Comments like he left for money so leave him there, and Bruce has done just as well as Rafa – give him a chance.
I for one don’t want Rafa back, but I thought the vast majority would – and those who don’t want Bruce to stay (of which there are a great many) are saying other names than Rafas. I’m not sure he’d be as popular a choice as Staveley may think ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t want Rafa back.
The football was boring and he took us down when he could have kept us up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce is boring as well.
He can take the 9-0-1 system and shove it up his ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shame Rafa left, but Jabba left him with little choice. Would love to see what Rafa could do with decent investment. We were just starting to click with Rondon up front , then bang Rafa, Perez and Rondon both gone.
When Steve first arrived the players looked like they had never met one another let alone played together. We have had luck along the way and against all odds look safe this season .
Not gonna speculate over new manager when we are not even sold yet, pointless .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Check out the shirt at top of thread. Very good ?
https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/mags-new-home-shirt-looks-canny.1513944/
Shamrock(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/04/17/where-does-a-saudi-backed-takeover-leave-steve-bruce/
A piece by Charlie on where a Saudi takeover could leave Steve Bruce..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)