Have Newcastle’s squad players improved?
Posted on January 27th, 2011 | 16 Comments |
In the meantime, the squad players that have come in have covered manfully with players like Leon Best, Perter Lovenkrands, James Perch, Nile Ranger and Danny Guthrie.
Not so long ago, we were saying: ‘We’ve got no strength in depth‘, ‘The squad ain’t big enough‘, ‘We won’t cope in this league‘. Some may still feel that that’s the case.
So, I’m asking: Has our ‘squad’ improved?
It seems that Danny Guthrie, after a poor showing last time out, has pulled his game around, delivering a perfect cross for Coloccini to fire home v Spurs. James Perch put in a decent shift. Peter Lovenkrands came on and, but for a desperate lunge by the Spurs defender, could’ve put us two up in the same game.
Nile Ranger is showing some good skill and determination to get at teams and was desperately unlucky not to score; maybe he could’ve squared it to Lovenkrands, but hey, he’s getting there.
It’s starting to look as though some of the squad players are starting to get with the program and find their ‘Premier league’ feet. Some of them have time on their side in as far as they are young lads getting their first taste of Premier League football – it’s a big step up from the Championship. It’s gonna take time, but with some decent encouragement and game minutes maybe they can make the grade.
So after a few dodgy moments I’m beginning to have a bit of faith in our young squad. Do you feel that they’re gelling and that the team is becoming interchangeable and a level of consistency is creeping into our game, slowly but surely?
Yes, it’s always good when you can put out your best 11, especially for the big games. But can we now rely on whomever comes in as cover when the inevitable injuries and suspensions happen?
The main thing being that, even without some of our ‘big’ players recently, the lads have pulled together and showed some Premiership level resiliance. Something most of us would have not thought possible not so long ago.
Cheick Tiote still has a game left of his ban and Andy Carroll may or may not be back for the Fulham game, that gives a bit more time for the squad to make its mark. They are big boots to fill right now, but if the team goes about it like the S’land and Spurs games, they should do alright and give Alan Pardew something to think about.
If they can rise to the challenge, it could allow a bit of squad rotation when necessary. What’s more, it could help us, the fans, feel slightly more relaxed when faced with the prospect of some of our first team out.
I think of the squad players that have played the last few games Best has improved he was unlucky against Spurs not to score when the ball bounced down after hitting the crossbar , it could have crossed the line with a bit more luck . His hold up play is decent from what i have seen and imo is looking better than Ameobi and against WestHam he proved he can score . Guthrie is a decent young player that needs games in his natural position to improve and i think is going to become a very good squad player in years to come , he is already a better alternative than Smudger .