A kickabout at Carrow Road...
It’s hard to know how much you can read into pre-season friendlies. Last pre-season saw us suffer a horrific 6-1 defeat away at Leyton Orient, and I bet there aren’t many Newcastle fans around who were still confident we’d go up at the first time of asking. If we over analyse the defeat away at newly promoted Norwich City this afternoon then it would point to an immediate return to the Championship.
But I’m not that negative, and we have no need to be, however it should highlight to both Manager and Chairman alike that we can’t head into the first game of the season with the squad as it is. We do of course need to strengthen all aspects of the side, but if today’s defeat proves anything, it’s that we need greater cover at the back.
Now that Brucie has brought joy to every Newcastle fan by signing Titus Bramble to strengthen (?!?!) his squad, rather than chosing to lure Sol Campbell to Wearside, then it should open the door for us to bring in the ex-England man. He stated last season how he’d love to play for the club, he’s married a local girl, and recently bought property in the local area, and with the greatest of respect I don’t think all of that was done in the hope that he’d secure a big money move to Gateshead.
He’s clearly not going to be a long-term solution, but with us so short of cover at centre half, and more importantly Premier League experience, then he could add some much needed strength to our squad. He might just be that calming influence that Colocinni could do with alongside him as well.
"just calm down Fab..."
It’s a huge year for Steve Harper as well, he’s got to lead by example, his loyalty cannot be doubted, nor his ability to pull off match-winning saves, but the Easington-born stopper must manage his defence like he knows he can.
I could sit here all day and write about every position in our side and why we need to strengthen, but if we’re not well equipped defensively then I might as well dig out my A-Z of Doncaster that I thought I’d never need again.
Next up for us is a home friendly against PSV, on what is sure to be an emotional night on Tyneside as it comes exactly a year to the day that Sir Bobby Robson passed on.
Black ‘n’ White Army...
Submitted by Dave Brown
26/7/2010
