So which was the better squad between the above? Recent stats suggest that, point for point there is little between them. It's a poll.... so you decide....!
I think Rafa's squad just edges it. It seems more balanced and there's a more 'business like' feel to how it is made up.
Squad has to be the current bunch. In goal we have an abundance of mediocrity (rather than just one or two), defence has actual defenders who can defend in it (Lascelles, Mbemba, Hanley, Clarke is the first time in decades we've had four central defenders capable of turning out for us) and back-up all over the pitch. As regards first team there's little in it and I think Nolan, Barton (not that he played much), Smith, Raylor, Colo, Enrique, Carroll, Gutierrez are probably a shade better than their current counterparts. Our issue which has been addressed is cover.
I think Hughton's squad was better tbh, as it was genuine Premier league players, whereas are current squad is players who can win the Championship but would probably struggle in the Prem. Carroll, Guiterriez, Nolan, Enrique, Krul, Coloccini, Simpson and Guthrie were all Premier league standard, with Lovenkrands, Raylor and Saylor being on the cusp of Prem/Champ. This season Richie, Hayden, Clark, Laescelles and Shelvey look Prem standard, with Gayle, Mitro, Yedlin, Darlow and Gouffran probably Prem/Champ borderline, and Colback, Diame and Sels looking naff so far.
It's something that will always bother me. Chris Hughton should have been allowed the opportunity to manage Newcastle United following the capture of the Championship Trophy. No victory parade, nothing. I can't recall the squad entirely that we had back then in 09/10, but you have to say that the end result couldn't be bettered. It remains to be seen if Benitez has got the balance right with this squad - it looks pretty good thus far - although he still has another transfer window to fine-tune the squad in January. I will say that Hughton's squad was better than the current lot, but the proof will be the final league position.
If you are going to compare stats you need to factor in that the Championship is of a higher standard than in 09/10 (in my opinion at least). Other than the forwards (Carroll and Nolan) I think the current squad is better to be honest. The depth of quality wasn't there last time.
Goals win matches. Hughton's had an abundance of them in the team at that level. We are pretty toothless at times. However it will be easier to judge after this lot have had the chance to gel. I do think the likes of Best, Carroll, Loverman, Nolan, Harewood, The Mighty Shola, The Lone Ranger had a lot more goal getting ability.
That's the beauty of stats isn't it - it can completely skew reality. We have looked like we have goals in us...but only in about 3 of the games. We do create enough but we lack the consistency in front of goal to take those chances. We played a much tighter high energy brand under Hughton - the strikers got fewer chances but looked more likely to take them. That is the beauty of judging players with your eyes and not looking at stats like Fat Sham would. Over the 46 we were very good defensively. Much better than the current bunch so far. However I believe we now have a better squad of defensive options. Defensively - Krul, Simpson, Enrique, Colo, Saylor against Sels, Anita, Dummett, Mbemba, Lascelles I know which I think is better. We are deeper now though and have young Lazaar and Yedlin to bolster the current starting 11. As I say the time to compare is after 46. We were immediately very consistent in the first half of the 09 season. I could be wrong (probably am!) but I reckon we kept a high proportion of clean sheets over the first 20 odd games. Won a lot of games 1-0, 2-0 I reckon. I think we will settle, and look good defensively. If he gets Mitro into the starting 11 I think we will see him take the chances. His pedigree in Belgium suggests he will.
No question 09/10 had better finishers but does that mean there were more goals in the team ? If 09/10 created 5 chances and finished 2 of them while 16/17 create 25 chances and finish 2 of them, aren't there the same number of goals in the team ?
I meant more in the sense of strikers, and the point would be you won't always create that number of chances. So over a period of time you'd get better consistency from 09/10. They were very consistent with keeping it tight, creating a regular number of chances through very clear patterns of play. This team - as has shown so far - have more peaks and troughs. So they will likely drop more points and would less of a banker on the coupon. As I say though many more new players and it would be disappointing if we didn't settle down and get better and better. I think mitro has goals in him at this level given the chance.
A lot of our lads put bets on that we would be over 100 points..... I got 14/1 and 16/1 on two separate bets so pro-rata.. we are looking good for this bet. Bear in mind we have played a lot of the so called 'big' teams now too.
Rumour has it we need to play them again mate. Since those first two games we have been fantastic. We did play all the big teams at home though so a hairy handful of away games later in the season, i don't really care about 100 points or even winning the league. Offer me a scraped 2nd place now and I'll tear your arm off.
