Newcastle United's Midfield

After a very stressful last 24 hours, we need to move on and think of the positivies at our club and one of the biggest positives is the shear class we have in our midfield at the moment. In 18 months ago, I was told Newcastle United would have one of the strongest midfielders in the entire Premierleague, I would not have believed you. However, we now have a midfield which can attack and defend, cross and play cute through-balls.

With Barton, Jonas, Guthrie, Barton, Nolan, Ben Arfa, Smith, Ireland, Tiote, Gosling, we have a set of quality players.

However, when they are all fully fit, who would your first choice midfield be?

It's a tough one to call as each player offers a lot, but I would have to go:

Barton Tiote Nolan Jonas

Ben Arfa

I think that midfield could unlock defences using any method, through balls, crosses etc.

 

Tiote

Jonas barton Ireland Ben Afra

 

Who are they gonna cross to?! I'm a bit perplexed by the Ireland signing don't see where he fits in when we are crying out for a right winger. I dread to think what sort of formation Pardew had them doing in training this morning at a guess I'd say 3-7-0.

I'd like to see this midfield personally

Ireland - Tiote - Barton - Arfa
------------- Nolan --------------

Whether it works or not remains to be seen, but I don't think Jonas is good enough to play on the left, so I'd rather see Arfa used there instead of behind the striker and having Jonas or Barton forced out on the left wing. I reckon we'll use this at some point possibly with Barton and Ireland swapping positions

 

Barton's just THAT good he needs 2 mentions ..........!

 

I like that formation. In some ways its a shame that Nolan's captain as when Ireland is in form he is probably the better player. However we can't drop Nolan because hes captain.

 

In that case, ideal midfield would be..

Barton Tiote Barton Ben Arfa
---------Nolan

 

Ameobi is solid in the air, as well as Best. I think we have the height and aerial ability to still warrant crossing the ball.

Only reason I would not play Ireland on the right wing is that he has been vocal before in the fact he doesn't like playing on the wing, and I don't think he is the type of player who can play successfully on the wing.

I do like the order of the rest of your midfield, though. I think Ben Arfa could be very dangerous on the left wing, and we all know how successful a middle three of Tiote, Barton and Nolan can be.

That is the problem with Nolan and his captainacy. He can't really be dropped even if other players are playing better as it's not really expected to have captains dropped. The one thing I think no other midfielder, except maybe Ben Arfa, can bring that Nolan does is his goals. I think his goals is what we keep him in the team even if his form dips a little.

 

-----------Tiote---------

Barton--------------Arfa

------Nolan--Ireland---

 

In Nolans defence I think even when he isn't the most involved in a game he's still the most vocal and best leader we've had on the pitch for a long time. He marshalls and organises everyone so well even when the game seems to pass him by. I've noticed as well the majority of his poor games have been when he's been asked to play in a more central midfield role rather than being allowed to play further up off the striker.

I just don't understand the Ireland deal I really don't we needed a right winger badly, but we sign him instead. If it's true Ireland doesn't like playing on the right wing then I'd like to see something like this until Arfa comes back especially at home-

------------ Tiote------------
Barton--------------- Jonas
------Ireland - Nolan------
---------- Ameobi-----------

Looks good on paper a fantastic holding midfielder, two great attacking midfielders who can pick out a pass and can get amongst the goals when required and Barton who can pick out a great pass and well... Jonas is alright

 

I do tend to agree with your point that his worse games are when he has been asked to play more central midfield. I don't think he's that sort of playing anymore, he doesn't look comfortable. For any weakness he does have, you are right that he makes up for it with his leadership ability. He has brought this group of players together and really got them as a unit. I do think that Alan Smith has to take massive amounts of credit for his marshalling and organising players on and off the pitch, as well, especially in the championship last season.

I am a massive fan of that midfield. I think that would work well, especially considering how Barton is a completely different player to Jonas, as is Ireland to Nolan, so that sort of set-up would give us different options at different times and periods of the game. I also think Ranger could spearhead an attachking unit like that without much pressure because of the players abilities behind him and there ability to create changes.

 

I agree with you about Ranger kind of. I think he would be perfect to play in front of that midfield as he'd be able to run all across the opposition back four to chase balls a lot better than Ameobi could, but at the minute his finishing isn't quite there. Whether that's a confidence thing or a ability thing at this level I dunno, but I think we'll be seeing more and more of them and hopefully once he scores one at this level he'll not look back.

It's interesting the way that Pardew has handled him in the media he seems to be giving him reality checks trying to keep his feet on the ground, which I think is the best way because he obviously fancies himself as a fantastic player

 

-----Tiote---Ireland-----
Barton-----Nolan----Ben arfa
----------Ameobi---------

 

I fully agree about the way Pardew has handled him in the media. For a long time this season, he was seen as our 2nd/3rd choice striker, getting 20 minutes every game and I think he thought he had made it and that he wasn't going to need to work as hard as previously to maintain his status in the team. However, Pardew kept him out of the team for a while, made little comments about him in the media and it seemed to have worked as he seems to want to play again, wants to improve and obviously Pardew is happy with him again as he is back in the team.

 

Fully fit midfield?

IMO:

Barton Nolan Tiote Ben Arfa
Ireland
Best...

 

tiote
Barton ireland nolan ben arfa

 

Personally I dont think any of our current strikers have the ability to play as a lone striker so I would have to go with a midfield four of

Barton Tiote Nolan Ben Arfa

If we were to buy a better striker who can play alone I would more than likely change this and put Gutierrez into the mix going with a

Barton Tiote Nolan Guterriez
----------Ben Arfa-----------
------------?????-------------

However it could be a slightly diferent lineup if Ireland is to impress in his time here, but we'll have to see.

 

------------ Tiote------------
Barton--------------- Jonas
------Ireland - Nolan------
--------- Ben Arfa----------

I don't see why Ben Arfa shouldn't be trialed in a striker role, he's strong, fast, decent long shot on him, and i'm sure he's not too bad at finishing either...

Then we've got everyone in there!

 

Watch Guthrie wriggle his way into the first team

: )