OPINION
Newcastle United have struggled in every position on the pitch so far this season, that’s why they’re yet to win a game in the new campaign.
And while the team have suffered from poor production from its attackers and precious little dynamism from its full backs, it’s in central midfield where Rafael Benitez has failed to find the answers.
It’s Matt Ritchie that the Spaniard must turn to, then, if he is to sufficiently address the issues that have plagued the middle of the park for Newcastle all season.
Mohamed Diame and summer signing Ki Sung-yeung have both featured heavily this term, but neither man has impressed and Isaac Hayden is clearly not the answer either.
Jonjo Shelvey needs a quality partner in the middle of the pitch, and for that Benitez must take the unorthodox approach of moving Ritchie inside.
The Scotland international has been operating exclusively on the wing this season, but the 29-year-old, on a reported £45,000-per-week at St James’ Park [Source: Spotrac], has the quality to perform well in central midfield also.
The former Bournemouth man has terrific technical ability, as shown by his crossing and set pieces, and that quality could be better utilised in the middle of the pitch.
If positioned next to Shelvey, the passing ability of the two men would be such that the Magpies would be able to dictate the pace of a game for the first time this season.
No more Diame running around like a headless chicken or Ki’s slowly-slowly approach, the Ritchie-Shelvey tandem could actually exert some control on football matches.
Both players are capable of speeding up play when required, while also being willing to do the defensive dirty work required in central midfield.
Newcastle’s biggest problem this season has been a lack of creativity, and with one fell swoop Benitez can improve the way his team moves the ball around.
Ritchie moving inside would leave a hole on the wing, of course, but it’s high time that one of Kenedy, Christian Atsu or Jacob Murphy stepped up and made that position their own.
The Magpies haven’t been able to control games this season, but they could do if Benitez deigned to move the Scotsman inside. Something to think about for the Spaniard, perhaps.
