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Opinion

Call me crazy but…

8 years ago
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US based writer and Newcastle fan, William Travis, believes Steve McClaren should avoid changes to the team as much as possible and let the chemistry develop between the young players especially.

I think the tide might actually be turning.

I know that sounds crazy coming off a game (Bournemouth) in which the Magpies were grossly outshot and outplayed.

I’m also well aware that it was against a team that only recently escaped the lower league that Newcastle is so desperate to avoid.

I also know that, going into this game, Newcastle had amassed four points out of nine and played well enough to own all nine. We should have beaten Stoke and, though Sunderland fans may take exception to this, there’s no denying that we were by far the better team up until that untimely red card.

But hey, that’s football. We didn’t capitalise on our chances and we paid for it. But goodness is it nice to be the beneficiary of that statement for once. In the midst of a season that has consisted of red cards, injuries and missed chances, it sure was nice to see that Newcastle can be on the good end of the luck.

Because that’s football. You’re going to lose some games that you should win, but that’s ok if you also win some games you should lose. It’s when you’re losing everything when things start looking bad.

And personally, I like the make-up of this squad. We get to watch a lot of young players that possess a great deal of talent. The team has been playing pretty well and if the chances keep coming, then eventually goals will as well.

If I were McClaren, I would refrain from making any changes. Let this team develop some chemistry on the field, it could turn into quite a potent squad.

I’m especially optimistic about this team’s future. Hopefully the organisation will hold on to the young players (Perez!!!) for a bit. Let this team grow and develop together. On-field chemistry is often overlooked; let these guys get used to playing with each other for a year or two. Add some more quality in the transfer window and we could have quite a team at the start of the 2016 season.

On a negative note, I really hate that Colback got hurt. I can’t help but think that part of the reason we looked so bad against Bournemouth was his absence.

I’ve been a constant advocate for Colback over the past few months; his steady presence in the midfield, both through his possession and defensive effort, just cannot be replaced by any one midfielder on this team.

I do think a combination of Anita and Tiote is our best chance going forward, but it’s a duo I don’t have much faith in right now. Hopefully they’ll prove me wrong.

Otherwise, I think it’s looking up. Call me crazy but I think by Christmas we’ll all be feeling a bit better about the Magpies’ position in the table.

(To feature like William, send in your articles for our website to contribute@themag.co.uk – all views those of the author etc etc)

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