Premier League Preview 2019-20: Newcastle United
Newcastle United Football Club
Credit: Newcastle United FC
2018-19 Premier League Finish: 13th Place
2019-20 Premier League Prediction: 17th Place
Transfers In:
Joelinton FW - Hoffenheim £40,000,000 Who?!?!
Kyle Scott MF - Chelsea, Free Agent
Transfers Out:
Ayoze Perez FW - Leicester City £30,000,000
Joselu FW - Alaves £1,700,000
Mohamed Diame MF - Al Ahli, Free Agent
I can’t even begin to wrap my head around how dumb the ownership and management of this club is. So Newcastle United will be entering their third season in the Premier League after their brief relegation. Over this time frame, Rafa Benitez had been their head coach but that is all changing this season. Despite Benitez being a former Champions League, Europa League and La Liga winner, Newcastle apparently think they can find better coaching elsewhere. And that coach is none other than Steve Bruce. The man who has been passed around to nearly every low, mid-table club in the Premier League. Bruce is the ultimate coach at getting your club to fight relegation all season to ultimately survive by a few positions. Well this season I have them just barely escaping with a 17th place finish. The worst case scenario for Newcastle is 100% getting relegated, as I could easily see that happening. Best case scenario for Newcastle is maybe around 13th place, but can’t see much higher. Maybe if Newcastle wasn’t too cheap to hang on to their coach and spent money on proven players, they could actually be a competitive Premier League club.
Strength:
Credit: Getty Images
Well this is definitely going to be a tough one here. I would have more than likely went with coaching here had they not got rid Benitez, but instead I’ll go with the defense. Newcastle only allowed 48 goals last season which put them tied for 7th best in goals conceded last season. Arsenal and Manchester United allowed more goals than Newcastle last year so that’s definitely a positive. Also Newcastle have lost nobody from their defense, so they carry basically the exact same rotation into this season. Schar, Dummett, Lascelles and Yedlin are all still looking to lead the defense, granted none get sold. Then add in Clark, Manquillo and Fernandez and not only does Newcastle have a solid starting defense but also some good depth. It will be interesting to see if Newcastle can continue that defensive record under Bruce or if it’s out the door just like Benitez.
Weakness:
Coach Steve Bruce & Joelinton
Credit: Premier League
Attack, attack, attack. Newcastle’s leading scorer in the Premier League last year and in my opinion their best player, is no longer with the club. That’s right, Newcastle sold Ayoze Perez to Leicester City for £30,000,000. They then make up for it by going and signing Joelinton for £40,000,000. I just want to start off by saying that I have no clue who the hell Joelinton is. And why should I? He’s played 1 season in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim and scored 7 goals in 26 games. Before last yer he played in the Austrian Bundesliga and scored 8 and 7 goals in his 2 seasons in that league. Now look, I’m not saying that he can’t become a good player as he’s about to be 23 yrs old in 2 weeks, so he is still young. He could be a great player for Newcastle, but he has literally done nothing to justify that price tag. You had a proven attacker in Perez and you basically got rid of him plus £10 million to land a guy who scored 8 goals in the Bundesliga last year and has no Premier League experience. What could possibly go wrong? Maybe Dwight Gayle will finally perform at the Premier League level, as we know he can get it done in the Championship. Surely they have to add somebody else before this transfer window closes.
Top Goalscorer Predictions:
Dwight Gayle: 8 goals
Joelinton: 7 goals
Fabian Schar: 5 goals
Home Kit: Yep this one is bad. I’m usually a fan of Newcastle’s home kit with the black and white stripes, but the stripes are way too big, it should have more than just 2 white stripes. Also why is everything centered? Putting the badge and logo in the center makes no sense, but then again what do you expect from Puma.
Credit: NUFC Direct
Away Kit: Another bad one here from Newcastle. So Newcastle haven’t officially released their away kit but rest assured that this one is either going to be the away or 3rd kit. I don’t hate the colors but the waterprint feathers is an awful look.
