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NUFC Defence – So Solid Crew

12 years ago
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I’ve never been the biggest fan of Mike Williamson, a solid enough player when the ball is in the air but on the ground he tends to panic more than when I realise I’ve forgotten the wife’s birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s, you name it.

Anyway, since he came back into the team against Bolton, United have now kept three clean sheets in the four league matches played.

Williamson has done ok but it is as a unit under the guidance of the superb Fabricio Coloccini that Newcastle have excelled at the back this season.

Well drilled in training, with an excellent keeper behind them, the defensive play has undoubtedly earned the team many points this season.

Again not to disparage him  but Mike is no world beater and for me shows that you don’t necessarily need superstars throughout your squad, what you do need though is at the very least dependable worker ants like Williamson who will support your real superstars like Colo, Krul, Tioote and so on.

Following Taylor’s injury shocker against Chelsea, the following three matches saw Perch come in as a makeshift and anything but solid replacement – one point out of nine and seven goals conceded against Norwich, Swansea and West Brom.

Having another utility player of Williamson’s ability wouldn’t have broken the bank and there must be a number of candidates that Ashley could have funded who could fill in at both full-back and centre-half.

Another five or six points from those three matches would have seen Newcastle into fourth place in the league, what monetary value could Mike Ashley put on that…

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