OPINION
For all the talk about Rafael Benitez’s defensive tactics, the biggest problem Newcastle United have had this season is a chronic lack of creativity at St James’ Park.
Now, you could put that down to their best player Jonjo Shelvey missing three of their six Premier League game so far this term, but the problem is more that the club has no creative outlet other than the former Swansea City man.
The likes of Kenedy, Jacob Murphy and Ayoze Perez have all massively underperformed this campaign, meaning Benitez should take a radical approach to his creative problem solving.
You don’t tend to associate top clubs with making free agent signings in late September, but Newcastle should really take a look at 56-cap Portugal international Miguel Veloso.
The 5’9″ midfielder [Source: Transfermarkt] is a free agent after leaving Serie A side Genoa in the summer, and at 32 years of age he’s still able to contribute at a high level for a few more years.
The Portuguese star is strictly speaking more a defensive midfielder, so he wouldn’t necessarily solve Newcastle’s creativity problems through his own performances – rather it’s how he would impact Shelvey that’s the key.
By installing a top level defensive midfielder into his team Benitez would be giving Shelvey a comfort blanket; the license to roam forwards without worrying if his defence is being protected.
Veloso has shown throughout his career that he is a combative presence in the middle of the park, while being neat and tidy when in possession.
Indeed, he can help dictate games alongside Shelvey, something that Newcastle have rarely, if ever, done this season. And despite being a free agent, he’s not over the hill yet.
The 32-year-old made 23 appearances for Genoa in all competitions last season and would have made more had he not suffered a muscle injury that caused him to miss 10 games between February and April.
The Magpies’ need is really quite dire; something needs to be done to improve their fortunes going forward – and Veloso could be the man to do it.
Benitez’s side have had just 46 shots this season, the lowest in the top flight, while they have registered just 17 shots on target, third fewest in the division [Source: Premier League].
Mohamed Diame is not a comforting defensive figure to have next to you in the middle of the park. You never know what the rampaging former West Ham man is going to do.
Shelvey needs a steady presence next to him so that he can go about his business as Newcastle’s creative fulcrum – Veloso can be that man.
