What would a Newcastle United side consisting of the current squad and their promotion-winning side of 2009-10 look like?
Newcastle United currently top the Championship and appear to be well on course to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. Their performance will evoke memories amongst the St James’ Park faithful of their last stint in the second tier, in 2009-10, when they ended up winning the league with 102 points under Chris Hughton.
But what would a combined XI consisting of players from the two squads look like…
GK: Contenders – Steve Harper, Karl Darlow
If this team is put together in a few years time, it may be difficult to leave Karl Darlow out, but there is no question that Steve Harper was excellent during the 2009-10 season. The long-serving stopper had only made more than 20 league appearances in a season once before that campaign, but confirmed his quality in the title-winning year.
GK Verdict: Steve Harper
RB: Contenders – Danny Simpson, Vurnon Anita
Vurnon Anita has done well at right-back, but Danny Simpson was hugely impressive for the Magpies seven years ago. The fact that Anita’s natural position is arguably further forward means that he misses out in this battle.
RB Verdict: Danny Simpson
LB: Contenders – Paul Dummett, Jose Enrique
Although Paul Dummett has impressed this term, Jose Enrique makes it 3-0 to the old guard. The Spaniard was the club’s Player of the Year in this particular season and earned a place in the Championship Team of the Year.
LB Verdict: Jose Enrique
CB: Contenders – Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark
Fabricio Coloccini becomes the fourth member of Hughton’s side to make the squad. Like Enrique, he made the Team of the Year and showed the leadership that was lacking from his game for most of his time with the club. Jamaal Lascelles has been equally impressive this season, especially as he had the added responsibility of being captain.
CB Verdict: Fabricio Coloccini and Jamaal Lascelles
Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe in action with Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles
RM: Contenders – Wayne Routledge, Matt Ritchie
Matt Ritchie has turned out to be as good a signing as many expected him to be when he joined from Bournemouth in the summer. His four goals and six assists have been important to Rafael Benitez’s side, and also mean that he edges out Wayne Routledge.
RM Verdict: Matt Ritchie
LM: Contenders – Jonas Gutierrez, Yoan Gouffran
Yoan Gouffran is enjoying arguably his best season with Newcastle, but Jonas Gutierrez really shone on the left flank during their promotion-winning season.
LM Verdict: Jonas Gutierrez
Jonas Gutierrez
CM: Contenders – Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey
Danny Guthrie was in great form the year Newcastle went up – contributing more assists than any of his teammates – but the partnership of Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey has been vital to the Magpies’ success. Shelvey has provided a huge amount of creativity, while Hayden has given the back line some additional support.
CM Verdict: Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey
AM: Contenders – Kevin Nolan, Mohamed Diame
This is perhaps the easiest call of the entire squad. Mohamed Diame has done alright since joining from Hull, but he has a long, long way to go before his contribution is comparable to what Nolan did in the second tier. The midfielder scored 17 times to finish as the side’s joint top goalscorer in the league. Diame currently has two goals.
AM Verdict: Kevin Nolan
Kevin Nolan
ST: Contenders – Andy Carroll, Dwight Gayle
Although the Nolan/Diame call may be the easiest, the decision between Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle is not that much more difficult. The idea of quite easily dismissing a striker who scored 17 times is perplexing, but it seems the obvious decision when Gayle has already gone past that number and it is still January. He has 20 goals in 22 league games.
ST Verdict: Dwight Gayle
Here is what the line-up would look like in full…
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