I’ve seen a lot of comments on social media criticising Newcastle’s interest in Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Wolves centre-back Max Kilman and Burnley stopper James Trafford following the free agent arrival of Lloyd Kelly.
It’s important to look at things objectively, rather than how we want to see them. In this piece, I will attempt to break down why these signings might make sense.
Firstly, Newcastle’s lack of squad depth was the reason we suffered badly during our injury crisis. We gave minutes to the likes of Dummett, Ritchie and White, as well as significant minutes to Krafth, Lascelles, Murphy and Dubravka. Although a couple of them did a competent job for us. the reality is that they’re well short of the quality of depth you need to be competing for the top four.
It was in those spells, without key players, where we dropped points, which then led to us missing out on Europe. And hence, the club are taking the required steps to improve our squad depth by targeting the likes of Kelly, Calvert-Lewin and Trafford (Kilman is excellent, he’d be a starter). It seems to me like the club are addressing a clear area of weakness in the squad.
In regards to the players themselves, of course there are higher upside, more exciting versions outside of the Premier League (which in some cases, I’d prefer), but perhaps the club are going risk averse with domestic signings. And given the value of Premier League experience, and the restrictive PSR rules, I don’t blame them.
As for our starting XI – it’s already very good. It was enough to beat pretty much all of the top teams in the league this past season. It’s not perfect though. There’s probably only one, maybe two areas of weakness. Right wing, and arguably right-sided CB too given Schär’s age.
And guess which two positions we’re most heavily linked with starting quality players? Right wing and RCB. We’ve been linked to a whole clutch of top RWs, including Michael Olise.
It’s still June – relax. The big signings will likely come towards the end of the window. It’s so clear that we’ll go big on a RW, as we were clearly in the conversation for Olise until Bayern won the race last week.
In the meantime, we’re improving our squad depth, and waiting for the right deals to arrive for those starting quality players. We’re heading in the right direction. There’s no need to kick up a fuss just for the sake of it.
Be patient – and judge the transfer window when it closes, and judge the footballers once they’ve kicked a ball for #NUFC.
Agree with a lot you said there olly judge the window when it closes and we will be linked with god knows how many players between now and the end of the window my own preference is buy british and just add couple from abroad like we have done with Bruno Isak Botman Tonali some fans will think im old school thou with that
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Good article, I remember watching something on either 442 or the Athletic about the squad building process we are going through a couple of months back. Comparing it to City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Some windows we will need to focus on improving the 11 or lifting the ceiling, then other windows are more about raising the floor. They made the point that we have raised the ceiling a lot, but the floor is still low. Last season the drop off in quality was massive, the gap needs to close up if we want to compete on multiple fronts.
JP(Quote)
Perfect analysis, the starting 11 is 80% there but the bench significantly lowers the quality, we need to be looking at better quality than the lads mentioned in the article and bring in a few up and coming good players and a few great players to replace Miggy and stand in as a quick CB to deal with any counters.
Daws82(Quote)
So you think that Calvert-Lewin would improve the squad, thank goodness someone at Newcastle disagrees with you, 15 goals in 3 seasons, majority of the time he is injured, not as good as Wilson! Apparently Newcastle have had a change of opinion about him!
TigerMax(Quote)
I agree with the sentiment in this article about raising the floor, but I also agree with TigerMax about Calvin-Lewin.
Given his injury record, he’s more of a liability than Wilson, and his goalscoring record is considerably poorer!
We’re supposed to be placated that he played 33 times in the Prem last season, so “his injury woes are behind him”, yeah but he only scored 7 times! When fit!
Callum scored 9 in 20!
No thanks!
Smood(Quote)
If DCL replaced Wilson I think we’d also get a versatile young forward that gives us another option up top.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Joe White got 12 minutes through all of last season, do not mention him in the same sentence with Dummet and Ritchie, since he never got a single chance from Howe to prove himself, even when Longstaff was playing like a blind old lady of the ripe age of 157, which was most of last season.
When it comes to transfer there is no need to sorry like you Said until the window is over. Right now most rumours are just that, people wanting attention trying to predict things they are mostly clueless about and agents/clubs pushing they moneygrabbing greedy fecking heads about to try and stir up ****.
If we would get DLC for 10-20 at very very max i wouldnt mind it, but close to 40 is just Everton having a feverdream heh
Lars(Quote)
Lars think your being harsh on Longstaff considering he was our midfields top scorer while not 100% fit with his ankle not bad for a blind old lady of the ripe age of 157 some fans have shockingly targeted him this season but do agree with you on DCL 10 to 20 million yes 40 million no way
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Mostly agree here but I wouldnt be building longstaff up too much, yeh he did score a few, but missed a lot more and thats noy even the problem. His passes were always either misplaced or backwards, proper momentum killer and his athleticism and gane reading (his unquestioned strengths) were sorely missing for most of last season. Either not reading play correctly or not being able to make it where he was needed, when he was needed.
Yes he’s been scapegoated to a degree, I’ll agree with that, but his level was fairly low and not that of a player who regularly starts on a champions league game.
Maybe a lot of that was the injury, but the passing, for me, is so limited that it genuinely kills so many attacking moves.
Toonali87(Quote)
Tonali87 I’m not really building longstaff up yes I’m defending him because some fans made him a scapegoat when certain favourites eg Jolinton got away with it when they played badly or missed sitters like Dortmund away
Darren Bebb(Quote)
I read an article saying that clubs such as us were getting round PSR with deals for youth. Sy Us and Everton have a couple kids valued at say £8m and £10m. By selling to each other at say £28 and £30m, still only £2m chnges hands, but the seller gets their profit in the books now, and the buyer spreads the ‘accounted’ cost over five years. Do this between the clubs needing money urgently and PSR gets bat and nobody loses.
PremAndUp(Quote)
DCL is not the forward we want. Hes a sick note with a poor goals return – but further more, his attempts at goal are way down for a CF too.
Everything you’ve said makes sense – but replace DCL with Abraham & you win me round.
The only sicknote we’ve been linked to is want to take the risk with is Neto from Wolves. When fit that boy would improve us without question – its just the fitness thing again with him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’d rather have Abraham than DCL. But we need to remember than signing a back-up option to compete with Isak won’t be easy. We’re not in Europe to share the minutes an he’s first choice when fit.
Agree with Neto. Mbeumo is someone I’d love now Olise is off to Bayern, but Neto would be so exciting.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Sky sports report Calvert letwin deal ended .. neverton wanted £40 million for a donkey .. minteh not going either .. good news !!
Mike(Quote)
Olly – but if the reported fee for DCL was £40m that’s hardly back up money either.
I’ve read anything between £20-30m for Tammy. He’s on slightly less wages at Roma than Wilson with us, so that would be almost like for like.
Anyway, enough of this back up nonsense – whoever we bring in should be competition for Isak. If his form drops the next lad gets a chance.
Bowen would be my number 1 choice for RWF. I wanted him at Newcastle when he went to WH. If not him then Neto for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh yeh there’s no chance we should be paying anything like £40m for DCL. He’s out of contract next summer too.
As for the ‘back up nonsense’, I honestly think it’s tougher than you realise in terms of squad dynamic (and costs!) to bring in another top striker who’ll compete with Isak.
Isak starts when fit, so you’re not going to bring in a £50-60m star who knows he’ll be on the bench most week, especially with no Europe. The majority of the budget will be spent on a RW, then perhaps a top RCB. Abraham would be ideal, but even he may have concerns over game time when Isak is our main man and we only play one up top.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)