An encouraging start to the season has nevertheless seen Newcastle pick up only two points from a possible twelve, albeit from, statistically, the most difficult Premier League fixture list start. Winning must be the next step. Three points is the holy grail to getting first out of the relegation spot they currently occupy and secondly to kicking on towards the European positions.
In order to achieve that, a different approach is needed, especially when a Europa League place can be achieved via the Fair Play table as Monday Night Football’s opponents West Ham achieved, then squandered. Discipline has been a problem early on with two red cards and 11 yellows while West Ham’s record is even worse with three red cards already and six yellows.
No-one can question the spirit and commitment of the current squad of Newcastle players — a charge occasionally, if unfairly, levelled at Alan Pardew’s Magpies — but there is a danger that passion is giving way to reason. Staying on their feet, not diving in and using their heads more will reap dividends in the high-octane top flight of English football especially in the pressure-cooker atmosphere generated by the presence of the TV cameras.
As Steve McClaren’s Magpies go in search of their first Premier League win, these are the three changes needed to be made to secure the three points.
Three Key Changes for Newcastle to Make Against West Ham
1. Incorporate Siem De Jong In The Side
Intelligence, vision and an ability to coolly execute the killer pass or shot in the final third, Dutch international De Jong uses and keeps his head while all about him are losing theirs — often to head in goals like Joe Hart and Man City found to their cost in the Champions League.
The former Ajax Captain, who won four league titles for the Amsterdam club, has yet to kick-start his Newcastle career due to bad luck with injuries yet looked sharp dictating against Northampton Town in the League Cup in a recent 4-1 win. That was the club’s only victory in five games so far in 2015/16 and if they are to turn cup wins over minnows into victories over Premier League teams, the game-changing Dutchman will be a chief architect.
Whether behind lone striker Papiss Cisse in the no. 10 role — a potential partnership already shown to be productive pre-season with a De Jong goal assisted by the no. 9 against Sheffield United — or a co-conductor with Gini Wijnaldum in a double 10 formation, he can make the difference.
2. Drop Vurnon Anita For Cheick Tiote
Newcastle United do not win many games with Vurnon Anita in the team. He must possess one of, if not the, lowest win percentage from games played in the current squad despite the early season form he has carried on playing with the urgency he demonstrated on the last day of the season against West Ham.
That day, however, Newcastle won against a West Ham side with one eye on an injury-free summer holiday period and double the incentive to avoid physical challenges due to their Fair Play League standing. Anita impressed, yet squandered a four-on-one chance that could have ranked with the most costly mistakes in The Magpies’ history.
Typically, he looks sharp, energetic, comfortable on the ball and rarely does anything wrong — the question is what does he do to positively benefit the team? Newcastle have not won a game with him in the team this season and rarely did last — four games in the 21 he played — and therein lies the crux of the problem.
Nor, it seems, do the Netherlands and his recollection to the squad over World Cup dynamo Daryl Janmaat coincided with The Oranj’s Euros struggles. His diminutive physical side must have opposition sides happy when they see his name on the team-sheet and 6ft 3in Reece Oxford will be no different.
In contrast, the powerful and intimidating figure of Cheick Tiote is an immediate signal the opposition are in a game and men from Wayne Rooney to Yaya Toure have been bossed by his electric intensity and physical presence. Size matters in the Premier League — you have to earn the right to play and intimidate the opposition plus his presence will free Jack Colback to get forward more and score — and it’s time Newcastle showed their true stature.
3. Let Mike Williamson Deal With Andy Carroll
The 6ft 3in Geordie striker has played against the 6ft 4in defender on no fewer than seven occasions and never scored against him. Whether it’s the extra inch of height or similar aerial strength to his game that Williamson possesses, he has had Carroll’s number so far.
In two of Newcastle’s previous games this season, they have conceded headers — 6ft 4in Graziano Pelle and Shane Long scored for Southampton against Fabricio Coloccini and Chancel Mbemba and Andre Ayew notched for Swansea against those two and Steven Taylor after The Magpies had been reduced to 10 men.
“Iron Mike”, as he has been dubbed by his fans, is the latest scapegoat for a certain section of support yet he is an unsung hero capable of handling the best in the air. After scoring against Northampton in The League Cup, he’ll be looking to maintain his 100% scoring record this season and with De Jong will give Newcastle a renewed aerial threat especially from set-pieces.
