Although Dan Ashworth sensibly ruled himself out of the mess that is Manchester United last week, anyone who believes he is taking the easy route by choosing Newcastle United is mistaken. Eddie Howe has never been one for quick fixes, but Newcastle’s most recent Champions League defeat exposed how thin their squad has become.
The tall project at St. James’ Park is about to enter a critical stage, and their struggles in the Champions League will unavoidably highlight Ashworth’s involvement.
Although the team has the resources and ambition to contend with the best on the continent, their painful back-to-back losses to Borussia Dortmund highlight how far they still have to go. The owners of the club are sympathetic and patient, but eventually the summer, when they spent £130 million, will come back to haunt them in the form of a serious injury crisis by fall.
With their acquisitions of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, did they lose sight of the task at hand by focusing too much on the future? Although Ashworth will likely contest this given Livramento’s outstanding start in black and white, it seems like January might be a good time to loosen the restrictions and provide Eddie Howe with some temporary relief.
Thus far, Newcastle has shown little interest in doing so. A United insider informed me that the club’s current management structure would make it “impossible” to start making the argument for signing a number of experienced 29-year-olds on large salaries.
“Kieran Trippier demonstrates that flexibility is available for the appropriate player, but PIF owners are process-oriented. According to a source, they are interested in the long-term return on expenditures made in all areas, including player acquisition.
Stated differently, Wout Weghorst is not traveling to St. James’ Park in black and white.
Ashworth will face his toughest transfer window to date in January as he attempts to bring all these threads together. Adam Wharton of Blackburn, for instance, is being monitored by his recruitment staff, but is the 19-year-old truly a solution at this point?
There was some conflict last summer between two conflicting priorities—investing in the future or concentrating on the here and now, according to sources. Even while there is leeway in January, particularly in the loan market, Newcastle will need to find a difficult way through the recruitment process if they hope to add players in the New Year.
Although Howe is not a short-termist, several of his decisions have shown a desire for “right now, right here” solutions. One of them from last summer was Scott McTominay, a player with a resume enhanced by experience in the Champions League and on the international scene despite not having the most spectacular name.
When Manchester United placed a ridiculous £40 million asking price on him, that specific move made little sense, but we can anticipate Howe would quietly push for players who would show up in January prepared to perform. Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City is one such choice. Another is Ruben Neves of Al-Hilal, but considering that PIF owns a controlling stake in both clubs, there would be significant ramifications to that move.
What happens next for Ashworth and the club’s owners will reveal a great deal. With acquisitions of players like Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, they have thus far been able to fulfill both objectives; yet, as the latter’s protracted suspension for engaging in illicit gambling demonstrates, even the best-laid schemes can backfire.
Howe’s current mission is to make sure Newcastle’s season continues as planned before January arrives. While the performance against Borussia Dortmund wasn’t great, the outcome was. It’s sad for Newcastle, given their limited resources, to have taken nothing away from the two games.
After the international break, Bournemouth will play ten games in thirty-six days to determine their Champions League and Carabao Cup fates before the new year. It will now be a question of counting heads.
The team has the chance to deal heavy blows to its top four opponents at home against Chelsea and Manchester United, but they are severely short-staffed with only 16 senior outfield players available.
Thursday may present an additional challenge, since I have been informed that Anthony Gordon—who has been Newcastle’s star player lately—is expected to be called up by Gareth Southgate.
That is a mixed blessing, even if it would certainly be confirmation of the Magpies’ sales pitch to Gordon when they signed him. Newcastle would prefer that he take a fortnight off to rest and heal.
The Newcastle manager’s admission that Tuesday’s match had simply come “too soon” for Gordon, given his Arsenal exertions had put him squarely in the injury risk zone, was undoubtedly instructive.
Newcastle could run out of attacking players given that Callum Wilson needs close monitoring and a specially designed training regimen to avoid a relapse of his hamstring problems. Howe could shatter the glass in an emergency and give Joelinton, the team’s previous number nine, a run of games up forward, but taking him out of midfield definitely reduces the club’s alternatives in the engine room.
That is just one of the many unanswered mysteries about St. James’ Park at the moment.
Five choices for January
Adèle Onana
Rival Premier League teams have expressed a lot of interest in the Everton midfield player, but nobody was ready to commit in the summer. A long-term fix, but his cost would be high.
Neves Ruben
Is Newcastle ready for a possible brawl with their Premier League opponents? There would be much discussion if a player who plays in Saudi Arabia went on loan, but Ashworth made it apparent last week that they may be willing to go there.
Alicia Abraham
Although Callum Wilson signed a contract extension, as far as I’m aware, the team has started scouting strikers. Abraham is available as Roma try to balance their books as he nears the end of a protracted injury exile.
Leonard Cherki
It is Ashworth’s responsibility to make sure Newcastle is looking for the best prospects, and Cherki is one of them. The Magpies are keeping an eye on things, much like Desire Doue at Stade Rennais, but January may be too early and too costly.
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