Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

Opinion

Peter Beardsley sees the positives

8 years ago
Share

Peter Beardsley is the go to person when it comes to giving a positive outlook at Newcastle United.

Today he has been called upon to give his latest on the Newcastle players who went out on loan last season.

We all want to see younger players come through but you still at the same time have to keep some grasp of reality.

Peter Beardsley has talked positively about a number of players but do the facts really back that up?

I know Newcastle have dropped down to the Championship but are there any of the numerous players who went out on loan last season, capable fo stepping up to be in the matchday 18 next season?

Adam Armstrong is the obvious one after scoring 20 League One goals last season and nobody would be worried if he was a regular in the matchday 18 next season rather than another loan spell – but apart from him?

Gael Bigirimana (23 in October) struggled at times to even get into the matchday squad at Coventry and only made nine League One starts in six months.

Haris Vuckic made only five League One starts at Wigan despite being there all season – plus he turns 24 in August.

Ivan Toney struggled to get into the first team at League One Barnsley in two spells, making only five league starts in almost four months at the Yorkshire club.

Macauley Gillesphey and Alex Gilliead appeared to do ok at Carlisle although they both spent plenty of time on the bench, though it is very hard to see them making a leap from semi-regular players in League Two, to Championship level.

Kyle Cameron and Lubomir Satka were at York who ended up dropping into the fifth tier, with Satka only starting five League Two games in five months.

With the exception of Adam Armstrong there doesn’t appear to be many/any players who are pushing to make that breakthrough, so let’s hope Rafa Benitez can start to address the problems at the younger levels at the club, as well as the more immediate first team problems.

Peter Beardsley talking to the official club website:

“Arma (Adam Armstrong) is not that far off the first team in a lot of people’s eyes, although that will ultimately be the manager’s decision.

“But him going on loan, Ivan Toney going on loan, Alex Gilliead and Macaulay Gillesphey have had a brilliant experience at Carlisle, Haris Vuckic has done well at Wigan, getting promoted with them – it’s all part of their development as young players.

“It’s been brilliant for people like Arma, who scored 20 goals, and Ivan, who has played at Wembley twice this season. That’s massive for them.

“Bigi (Gael Bigirimana) will have got his confidence back at Coventry – a club he knows well.

“Alex and Macaulay did brilliantly at Carlisle, even though they fell away at the end, while Haris is going to come back buzzing because he has been part of a title-winning team.

“Kyle did a great job at York. Lubo couldn’t get in the team there because physically he isn’t ready yet, but he’s a lovely footballer and the experience will have done him the world of good. He will come back knowing what he needs to do to improve.

“The lads who have been out on loan will all return as better players for their experience.”

[get_involved]

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks