#15 - NUFC 19/20 Season Review

Chris Heron · #15 - NUFC 19.20 Season Review

Keegan's Corner

Approximately a month on from writing an article aboot Liverpool and why we should maybe respect them as worthy champions of England, I sat here festering in me Dad's auld '96/'97 'Entertainers' Toon top awaiting a nothing fixture that I felt would dee nowt to excite or empower - a notion symbolic of an era of Ashley.

Kick off was at 16:00, and had I managed to complete this in time it'd have been released prior to that. But yi kna how I like to waffle...

No doubt some of you will be questioning why I began writing an end of season review and was willing to release it prior to kick off. Understandably so. Normal circumstances would dictate that every game is worth winning, and every point matters, but they didn't today - the reasons why I'll explain in a future edition.

For now, I'll provide a brief season rating for each player that's featured and a comment as to why they've got the score I've given them.

(For clarity's sake I'll be rating from 0-10 with 0 being shite and 10 being belter.)

So without further ado...

#1 Martin Dubravka - 7

Occasional slip ups that he too would be disappointed with, yet with 11 clean sheets and top of the goalkeeping charts with 140 saves (around 4 per game), I feel he has been one of our better performers. This also suggests we haven't been doing enough to protect him.

#26 Karl Darlow - 5

With around half a dozen cup appearances being the only ones to his name, and largely against lesser opposition, our secondary goalkeeper hasn't had much chance to prove his worth this time out and when he has, he's not done much of note (either way).

#2 Ciaran Clark - 5

14 appearances, 4 clean sheets and 2 goals - Clark has been one of our steady performers, especially in the earlier parts of the season. To give a bit of additional perspective, that's a clean sheet in every 3.5 games which based on our league position, isn't all that bad.

#3 Paul Dummett - 5

Like Clark and others - Dummett has a very similar record and hasn't featured as often as he maybe could have done as a result of injury.

#5 Fabian Schar - 4

A poor season for Fabian.

Defensively not as good as his colleagues at the back and a few personal errors that have proven costly, albeit it not too costly overall. At times looks to be lacking concentration and/or focus.

#6 Jamaal Lascelles - 6

Not his best season for The Magpies but there is a noticeable void when he doesn't feature. Across 24 appearances Lascelles has emulated the performance of his colleagues albeit not in goals scored, which aren't of as much concern for a centre half. Jamaal has featured in 7 clean sheets for Newcastle and I feel his leadership and communication is central to that feat.

#18 Federico Fernandez - 7

Our rock for the season, with 32 appearances and 8 clean sheets. Limited in his ball-playing qualities but very much a good, no-nonsense defender for us (this season). This was proven even today when he made one or two vital blocks, despite picking up a needless booking.

#19 Javier Manquillo - 6

Well ahead of competitors in his position, Manquillo appears to have developed into a more reliable right back for the Toon in my opinion. He's been more robust as a defender and has occasionally offered a threat going forward with 1 goal and 5 assists.

#20 Florian Lejuene - 5

For me he is a natural choice to accompany the likes of Lascelles and/or Fernandez. The better of the three as a ball-playing centre half, whilst they do the no-nonsense stuff. Unfortunately though, Lejuene hasn't been fit for the most part of the season. 

#22 DeAndre Yedlin - 5

Unsurprisingly, Yedlin has done more in attack than in defence this season. This has supported my thought that he was more of an attacking wing-back/winger than he was a defender. Often out of position defensively, but capable of getting back to where he should be quickly. He's been poor defensively but has contributed to a total of 7 goals either directly or indirectly.

#17 Emil Krafth - 5

A tough first season and at 25 he needs to be learning quick. Next season will be make or break for this lad. Often not tight enough to his man and seemingly lacking confidence and assertion in his play. Hopefully, this year has been a steep learning curve and next year he comes back stronger, but I'm of the view he isn't the man to progress us as a team or significantly bolster our squad.

#28 Danny Rose - 4

Largely disappointing for me. Poor distribution, unfit, very much looking like a player that knows his best days are passed him. I expected more from him especially as it's not like he's being asked to play in positions that are alien to him. That being said, today made a few good headers back to the keeper. I reckon he'll be off to Leeds to be honest, and I won't be upset if he goes.

#15 Jetro Willems - 5

With a lovely effort at Anfield that most people will remember him for, Willems didn't really get the chance to make the role his own as a result of long term injury. Subsequently, he was sent back to his parent club Eintracht Frankfurt to recover. During his time here, Jetro looked a healthy addition to the squad, (more so than the afore mentioned Rose).

#x Ki Sung-yueng - 3

Made one cameo and was subsequently released. Nowt much to say I guess for this season. Probably had his best spell under Rafa Benitez but was since deemed surplus to requirement. It could maybe be questioned if he was any worse than Bentaleb, but hey ho...

#8 Jonjo Shelvey - 7

A player who I often criticise - his attitude blows hot and cold too often and that's been evident in some of his performances, particularly earlier in the season. Yet, his technical ability and quick thinking at times have enabled big goals to be scored, most notably the one at Sheffield United, which is arguably our goal of the season.

#11 Matt Ritchie - 5

Given the style of football we have become accustomed to in recent years I think it's no surprise we have occasionally seen Ritchie in a more defensive role (not necessarily position) than previous. He isn't the most mobile and is occasionally out of position defensively which has cost us. On the other hand, he is central to the morale we have in the squad, I feel.

#14 Isaac Hayden - 7

An unsung hero for a few years now, his hard work and positioning allow our defence to have a somewhat sustainable rigidity that makes them harder to break down. Yet for Hayden to flourish in this role I feel he needs to be accompanied by an equally athletic player alongside him.

#24 Miguel Almiron - 7

A key player for us this season but largely because of his athleticism and attitude. For teams of our current nature these are two absolute necessities to ensure safety. His ability and desire to press, work hard and make up ground where others are lagging has been paramount to what we have "achieved". It says a lot (about the team) that, that's why he's had a good season though...

#30 Christian Atsu - 5

With only 6 starts to his name and 13 equally forgettable sub appearances, Atsu remains our man with a degree of talent but no footballing brain. Massively frustrating. Poor decision making, poor awareness but a degree of technical ability and skill. Unfortunately, for us to progress he's one to be phased out.

#36 Sean Longstaff - 5

The less ground-breaking of the two Longstaff's. The defensive work has been duly noted and Sean is statistically better in a tackle than Hayden, who I'd argue is our best defensive midfielder. I think there's more to come from him, as there is his brother and it's imperative we nurture them into a midfield that in the summer needs an overhaul. His tackle in the Bournemouth game that led to our first goal really helped us gain the momentum in an emphatic win.

#43 Matthew Longstaff - 6

That goal against Manchester United was a joy to behold, and arguably the most joyous moment of the season. To see a local lad bury one past them was simply beautiful. Energetic but occasionally naive, I think this lad could become a solid Premier League performer, with more game time. It's shockingly bad business, and poor management that has prevented this lad from progressing in recent months.

#42 Nabil Bentaleb - 5

Our most recent scapegoat, I feel he's not as bad as some make out. That's not to say he's been great either mind. I mean, he was at Spurs 3 years ago and took an (arguably) backwards step by being sold to Schalke. Not sure what people expected to be honest. He's a squad filler at our current level but again, one who needs moving on if we're to kick on.

#23 Valentino Lazaro - 5

Admittedly, I had higher hopes for this lad as someone who occasionally watches Internazionale in Serie A. However, I've been left a little bewildered as to why he's not had more game time in the final half a dozen games of the season. I can only assume he hasn't trained well or we've been simply reluctant to change things...

Why loan someone if they hardly feature? Maybe he's just shite...

#13 Yoshinori Muto - 4

Like the vast majority of the squad, Muto is a likeable player who grafts, but has now served his time. He is just one of around a dozen players that need improved upon to take us to the "next" level. With only 8 appearances in the league of which 6 were as sub, there's nothing to really note for Yoshi'.

#9 Joelinton - 4

Fairly shite, first season or not. However, to attribute a score less than a 4 would be to overlook that he's been played out of position and with minimal service. It's not his fault we spent £40m on him. Yet, on occasion the attitude hasn't been there and I feel that's why he's making more enemies than friends.

#10 Allan Saint-Maximin - 8

Without doubt Newcastle United's best player this season. If he could improve his end product then he'd be at a top 6 club, without a doubt. Mesmerising on the ball and our only real attacking outlet. It is no surprise that when we win, Saint Maximin normally features.

#12 Dwight Gayle - 6

As a striker who has proven throughout his career that he's questionable at this level, I feel his experience as a natural goal-scorer would have seen him potentially reach double-figures this season, if started, but he hasn't and so he only has 4 (goals). Yet again he has proven he is a 1 in 3/4 games sort of player, at any level. 

#7 Andy Carroll - 5

Brought in to appease the masses, Carroll doesn't have the fitness required to be called upon more at this level, but when he has been called upon, has been somewhat effective. A shame, really.

#50 Thomas Allan - 5

Just a young'n' who played a bit-part in the FA Cup on one occasion. Nowt much to really be said...

Hopefully, he gets some game time at a lower league club (but not S*nderland) and progresses into a steady PL player for the futrue.  

M Steve Bruce - 6

To judge signings, one has come off and the others not so much (assuming he signed the players last summer) and based on expenditure against return probably a slightly below average window, but I feel it's harsh to really judge on him in this area.

Tactically, well...we seemed to quickly revert to previous type once the new, attacking brand of football didn't appear to be working. So, make of that what you will. I'd argue he did well to realise this and change it in sufficient time - even if it was back to a version of the previous managers tactics.

On the media front; "How's the bacon did you say?"

Wey to be honest Steve it's not the best.

If comments were bacon then Steve's are overcooked and have subsequently left Geordie mouths burnt, and with a bad taste. Pandering to the ownership and questioning the fans views of him isn't really a good way to go about business. That being said, he has been relentlessly pestered and compared (with Benitez). He has undoubtedly had a difficult time with the ongoing takeover bid that I originally blogged about here (almost 19 weeks ago) and he's acted with a degree of professionalism despite being in a position of great uncertainty himself.

Furthermore, he has undoubtedly overcome the expectations made of him and his ability to keep the Toon afloat this season based on league position and how soon we obtained safety. How we got there is debatable however, and so in a future edition it will be time to put my take on 'that' debate...

Overall, this season has been "meh" as the kidz now describe it. (Apparently Z's are cool too). Hence all of the ratings between 4 and 8. There's more to come from everyone and if there isn't they're either over the hill and/or not good enough for the club to kick on - the same as last season for some. Despite a more lengthy cup run, we beat no one of note and finished similarly placed on similar points to last year. Stagnating in mediocrity once again.

I'll be very surprised if next season doesn't end up being "sick" but by varying definition. It all depends on the farcical, ongoing takeover. We shall see...

So there you have it - a boring as shit article for a boring as shit season.

Ciao for now 😉

*(all photos courtesy of the www.nufc.co.uk, The Evening Chronicle and the official Premier League website)