Steve McClaren told the media after Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat by Swansea that:
“We didn’t learn a lot, apart from it is difficult to win with 10 men. “
Five Lessons for Newcastle to Learn Before Manchester United Challenge
Despite this, however, there were plenty of lessons for any Magpies to learn and avoid what Alan Shearer is starting to expect as,
“another tough season for the North East in the Premier League”.
More signings are expected in the shape of Florian Thauvin from Marseille in a swap deal for Remy Cabella yet picking the right players from the existing squad will go a long way to righting the Magpies current wrongs.
1. The Premier League Is Not A Level Playing Field
Mike Jones’ decision to send off Daryl Janmaat was the decisive moment in the match and prevented any realistic hope of the kind of spirited comeback they had demonstrated against Southampton a week ago.
From disallowing a 25-yard Cheick Tiote strike against Man City to not giving a “stonewall” penalty at Old Trafford last season at 0-0, Jones has been a curious judge of Newcastle matches ever since Moussa Sissoko accidentally struck him against Southampton in December, 2013, bloodying his nose.
Whether he correctly applied the laws of the game by issuing two yellow cards to the Dutchman, it was a policy not followed by referee Lee Mason when judging Francis Coquelin’s multiple fouls for Arsenal against Crystal Palace yesterday to the ire of Alan Pardew.
Aston Villa were also denied a blatant penalty against Manchester United on Friday night when Micah Richards was pulled back by Matteo Darmian and replay technology must be introduced to correct these injustices.
2. Mike Williamson Still Has A Big Part To Play
With an emphasis on the word big, the 6ft 4in centre back would stop Newcastle getting bombarded in the air, where they have conceded 3 of their 4 shipped goals so far.
Last season, the English centre back enjoyed aerial duels with some of the tallest, best headers of the ball in the Premier League like Andy Carroll and nullified their threat.
With just two less aerials battles – 95 – won than celebrated defender of the season John Terry, he outperformed the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Joleon Lescott according to Squawka as the 13th best defensive header of the ball in England.
As level-headed as they come, Williamson has steadied the Newcastle ship before and could again alongside a fast stopper like Mbemba to clean up on the deck.
The unsung clean sheet hero of Newcastle, “Iron Mike” can restore order to a flapping defence.
3. Cheick Tiote Must Replace Vurnon Anita In The Engine Room
Newcastle only picked up 13 points – 23% – from the 57 points available in the 19 Premier League games Anita played in last season. By contrast, Newcastle including Cheick Tiote won 11 points from a possible 33 or 33% including a famous win against a 23-game previously unbeaten Chelsea.
Anita’s performance on “Survival Sunday” has revived a flagging Newcastle career yet it must be taken into account West Ham’s players, as well as wanting to get injured before summer , were actively trying to avoid fouling and thus not competing to ensure their Europa League slot via Fair Play.
Under normal competitive conditions, the 5ft 6in midfielder is constantly out-muscled, outfought and largely anonymous in physical mismatches against midfielders like 6ft 1in JonJo Shelvey on Saturday.
Cheick Tiote, however, at 5ft 11in is built for the job of protecting the back four with his hard-tackling, physical intensity that lets the opposition know they are in a game and is at his best against the best.
4. It Is Time To Unleash Aleksandar Mitrovic
When the Serbian came off the bench in the 82nd minute, Newcastle United came alive. In fact the whole of the Liberty Stadium did with every eye on his every move to see what would happen.
Yes, he was booked again this time inside two minutes as opposed to 14 seconds against Southampton yet if he started games, the pent-up energy and naked desire to help the Magpies cause would find an outlet and be channelled better knowing he had time to make a difference.
Leading aggressively from the front and competing for everything in a manner comparable to Diego Costa or Alan Shearer according to John Carver, Mitrovic represents a massive threat to the opposition.
Old Trafford next week is the perfect venue to make the positive statement to The Toon Army he has tried desperately to make in the 23 minutes plus injury time he’s played in two cameos so far.
5. Paul Dummett Must Start As Soon As He Is Fit
The Geordie stopper’s contribution was not given the recognition it deserved last season considering the Magpies only won 8 of their Premier League points total of 39 in his absence.
Graham Souness and The Sunday Times named him as Newcastle’s ‘Star Man’ in their pre-season previews and considering both Southampton goals came from the left-back slot Massadio Haidara should have been covering, he is a big miss.
There were 6 Geordies playing in the side that beat The Champions Chelsea last season and “the Geordie chip” is not to be underestimated as a factor.
