This may be a foolish article, but with the international break upon us, what better time to have a look at who has been Newcastle’s best player this season. While in seasons gone by this may have been an easy task, not this year. In this campaign Newcastle have had one to eleven putting in stunning performances and both the old heads and new signings have been brilliant. However, is there one who stands head and shoulders above the rest? Well, I think there’s a winner by a ponytail…
What better place to start than with Newcastle’s number one? Tim Krul has been awesome in between the sticks for the Magpies, and a couple of slippery moments against Stoke aside, has been in fantastic form. He has already earned Newcastle a handful of points, with a save against Wigan sticking in my mind. However, the back four in front of him have been no less impressive.
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Danny Simpson has been solid at right back, while Ryan Taylor has been a revelation at left back and two stunning goals against Sunderland and Everton have earned Newcastle four points. In the middle, Steven Taylor has put his body on the line in every game, wearing a mask in the two recent matches and still being as solid as a rock. Then there’s Fabricio Coloccini, who has put in a captain’s performance every time he’s stepped on the pitch.
Up top Demba Ba has been banging in the goals, proving to be a great free signature, while Leon Best has been working his socks off. Then there’s the midfield, with Gabriel Obertan adding some pace down the right. In the middle of the park, Cheik Tiote has been tenacious as ever, and Yohan Cabaye has been a brilliant addition to the squad, providing plenty of creativity and getting stuck in.
The man I’m yet to mention, is the man who has impressed me most; Jonas Gutierrez. Spiderman has been out of this world! From a wonderful solo goal against Wolves, to a stunning cross against Tottenham to set up Ba, Gutierrez has delivered more often than not this season. However, perhaps surprisingly for a winger, it is his defensive displays that have stood out. He was simply out of this world against Stoke in terms of work rate and has helped Raylor no end, providing dilligent cover in front of him.
It is for these reasons that I’m giving Jonas Gutierrez the Player of Autumn award for Newcastle United. While Jonas has been sensational, so have Krul, Coloccini, Cabaye, Ba, et al. Let’s just hope there’s so many players fighting for the Winter award…
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Tough call! I plumped for Colo, as he’s not only captaining one of two undefeated sides in the League but he’s also been leading the best defense in the country (Europe?). Jonas second for me, Krul third, the other three of the back four next, and then Ba, Cabaye, Tiote and Best. And Obertan. They’ve all been magnificent!