Toon in tune

Friday, 06/08/2010

by Chris Hasker, Shoot's Newcastle fan reporter

After storming the Championship last season, it’s a welcome return to the struggles of Premier League football for Newcastle fans this time around.
 
Relegation to the Championship had raised concerns about the club ‘doing a Leeds’ and failing to find their way back to the top-flight, especially with the antics of owner Mike Ashley leaving the club in disarray both on and off the pitch.
 
However, fears were firmly dismissed under the guidance of manager Chris Hughton and as early as Christmas a return to the top-flight seemed inevitable. The final points tally of 102 was testament to the solid job that Hughton has done under the circumstances.
 
Retaining the services of key players like Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique was crucial to the team’s success and on a minimal budget Hughton has transformed the dressing room and even managed to secure a few promising signings on the cheap. Gone are the days of big, if not necessarily good, buys.
 
With the departure of Nicky Butt, England under-21 international Dan Gosling has arrived from Everton on a four-year deal to strengthen the midfield.
 
He is joined by defender James Perch from Nottingham Forest for £1.5m and the experienced Sol Campbell on a one-year contract. Campbell could bring extra stability to a defence which conceded the fewest goals in last season’s Championship, especially with Steven Taylor’s continuing injury woe’s ruling him out until around October.
 
For once it could be a shortage of goals that is the problem, rather than the usual leaky defence. Nolan led the scoring with 18 last season, ahead of an assortment of strikers struggling with fitness and injury issues.
 
Striker Andy Carroll will be keen to shine and is an outside chance to break through to the England squad, while Jonas Gutierrez will be wanting to find the net on a more regular basis from his position on the wing after a World Cup spent at right back.
 
Survival is the one key target for the Toon, although a good run in the cup wouldn’t go a miss.

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