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The Sunderland Match Preview + What’s Gone Wrong For Newcastle United This Season?

The Roller coaster Ride of Barclays Premier League continues as the teams battling for the top honors are quite surprising ones. The league known for its Ups and Downs continues to surprise its viewers. Teams considered as ‘The Giants’ are struggling in the mid-table whereas the teams sitting on the top spot are enjoying their stay. But then there comes the ‘Battle for Survival’ where the teams struggle to hold-on in the league. Norwich City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are the teams in this season’s Barclays Premier League who are fighting to get above the relation zone.

The Magpies (Newcastle United) are facing a horror show in this season. Starting from the Beginning, On June 2015 the London’s side appointed Steve McClaren as their head coach on a three year long deal. After eight games in charge McClaren managed his first win in the league defeating Norwich City by 6-2. The club played 28 games under McClaren winning just 6 and loosing 16 and drawing 6. Soon after his 3-1 defeat against Bournemouth the club sacked the English Professional. With 10 more game to play, United appointed the Spaniard Rafa Benitez as the manager on a 3 year long deal.

But what exactly has gone wrong for the Magpies?

1.Individual Errors 

Against the defending leaders Chelsea, the Magpies played a very disappointing game. Aarons did a huge mistake to give Chelsea a 2-0 advantage in the span of 3 minutes. The entire team has struggled to hold on the possession.
“We lost the game in the first 15 minutes. We got exposed on quite a few occasions in terms of defensive frailties, We caused our own problems. We knew Chelsea would come out quick. They wanted to win that game by half-time with the week they have ahead of them” said McClaren.

Almost in every game the players have been very disappointing in terms of keeping the possession and passing and the desire to go forward.

2. No Tackling/ No Pressing 

Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini have continuously failed to control the back of the teams. Giving possession cheaply, both just fruitlessly chase the opponent’s striker all over the stage/pitch. In the same game (against Chelsea) Coloccini struggled a lot to keep hold of Chelsea’s striker Diego Costa which resulted into a 3rd Chelsea goal where Costa got the better of the Argentine with a great dash to find Willian. With no experienced Centre Back besides Coloccini and Taylor the side has conceded most number of goals in the Premier League this season. With poor communication between the defenders their back four have struggled to hold on their marked man. Positioning have been poor, no Partnership or syncing between the defenders, failed offiside traps, misjudged back passes have been there in almost their every game. They are making the same mistakes week after week and that is probably the best answer for their poor run of form.

3. Poor Choice of Signings

Barclays Premier League, considered as one of the toughest leagues in the world. Not every player can adapt the environment of this league. Many players have struggled and in that condition, Newcastle United signed very young players with no previous experience.

No wonder they made wonderful signings and bought great players in their squad but as the older squad was losing its shape Steve McClaren made quite a wrong choice to sign players. Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend had a previous experience of the league but the rest have strived to adapt the league. Georginio Wijnaldum, the player of his stature is still seeking to cope with the league just like his country mate Memphis Depay. Aleksandar Mitrovic, have struggled to fit in the boots for the club whereas Ayoze Perez has surprised everyone with his skills and an eye for goal. Thauvin, haven’t made any impression yet. All-in-all, the team is really struggling to get out of the relegation zone. Newcastle United are currently second lowest scorers this season with their main man Aleksander Mitrovic have just 5 goals in his bag.

Recently the club has appointed the ex-Real Madrid’s manager Rafa Benitez. In their final 7 games the Spaniard will do anything to keep the Magpies in the league.

Sunderland (h)
Norwich (a)
Southampton (a)
Swansea (h)
Liverpool (a)
Crystal Palace (h)
Aston Villa (a)
Tottenham (h)

The Magpies will entertain their arch rivals Sunderland in their next fixture of the Barclays Premier League this weekend at St. James’s Park. The previous results are favoring Sam Allardyce’s Black Cats as they are undefeated against Castle in their last 6 matches.

Rafa Benitez’s side will face a real challenge against the Black cats. There will be a serious battle between Steven Taylor and Jermain Defoe. Defoe was benched last time out when the Cats battled against Southampton but as he came on the pitch he gave his side a crucial lead. A well-known figure in English football, Defoe can be a match winner or can be a decisive player on the pitch when the two sides meet. With skipper Fabricio Coloccini and Chancel Mbemba out injured the pressure will be on Steven Taylor to control the striker in the entire game. Taylor may win the aerial battles against the ex-Tottenham striker but Defoe can validate his presence when the ball comes on his feet.

Defenders like Patrick van Aanholt, John O’Shea, Jan Kirchhoff can cut the comedy for Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez. With lowest goals scored in the Premier League this season, both the strikers have a tough task to prove their worth in the derby. Georginio Wijnaldum, can help out in building the attacks for the Black and White Horses as the midfielder have netted nine goals this season (all at home).

With key players out injured in the back line for the Magpies, the team will struggle to confront the attacks from the Cats. Players like Lee Cattermole, Jeremain Lens, Yann M’Vila and the man who scored against the Red Devils Wahbi Khazri will be a risky business to hold-on for the Horse’s (Newcastle United) defense.

The good news for the Magpies is Striker Papiss Cisse, can make an entry for the first time since December. Very few players from the Magpies’s side have tasted a victory against the Cats. The longest serving player of the Club, Steven Taylor have enjoyed the win on three occasions. Skipper Fabricio Coloccini have played in 2 match winning derby in 2011 as well as in the explosive 5-1 victory in 2010.

Whether the Magpies will survive or they will face a relation which they brought upon themselves?
We will see.