Nabil Bentaleb was Newcastle's first signing in the January transfer window, which came out of left field and surprised journalists and fans alike. I for one, am still puzzled why Steve Bruce felt the need to bring in an additional central midfielder after the emergence of Matty Longstaff. What puzzles me even more, is that the Algerian has featured so prominently since his arrival on Tyneside, despite hardly even featuring in a match day squad for parent club Schalke 04 in the first half of the season. As I said on The Last Word after the Arsenal game on Sunday, this in essence is Bentaleb's pre-season. I can understand him playing in the FA Cup matches against Oxford, as they are the sort of games that are perfect to re-introduce a player back to the English game. But why has he played every minute of every game since his arrival?
This is in no way an attack on Bentaleb himself and doubtless the deal that brought him to Newcastle is an impressive piece of business in the modern era. A loan with an option to buy at the end of the season, costing a measly £8.5 million, for a midfielder still with his best years ahead of him is not one that even Mike Ashley would have to think too long and hard about.
Is it a direct replacement for and Ki, who wasn't featuring for United the season anyway, and someone to add competition for places in the engine room? Or is it an idea of how Steve Bruce wants to play in the future, maybe with three central midfielders like he tried at the very start of the season?
I have to question whether Bentaleb is the answer to Newcastle's problems in the current system. Does he bring anything different or superior to that of Hayden, Shelvey, or the Longstaffs? Bentaleb is yet to have shot at goal for Newcastle in the Premier League, considering one game was a dour 0-0 home draw to bottom of the league Norwich, that doesn't fill me with confidence, especially how we saw Sean Longstaff thrive in a more advanced role in the FA Cup, and the elder Longstaff was my man of the match at the Emirates on Sunday.
I think most would agree that Isaac Hayden has been our most consistent high performing central midfielder this season, with Jonjo Shelvey our most valuable. After all, Shelvey is still our top scorer this season, even after multiple spells on the sidelines through injury. I can't for one second believe that Shelvey would not have at least tried a pop on goal during a woeful home performance against the team rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. Sean Longstaff has struggled for form for the most part of the season, however I feel his performances since the 1-1 draw at Wolves in January, have shown signs that the NE29 lad is getting back to his best. Matty Longstaff has been the discovery of the season, whilst rumblings continue about a contract extension, which we all agree needs sorting NOW! The signing of Bentaleb in the current formation will see Matty drop down the pecking order and could hinder his development.
Steve Bruce has made no secret that he wants to change the system, but doesn't feel this season is the right time to do so. I've a feeling he may be looking at switching to 4-3-3 next season, as surely he must realise by now, the 3-5-2 he tried at the start of the season, and again around the dismal run over Christmas, does not work!
Rumours are now being whispered about summer transfer plans, starting with a clear out of defenders. One of Florian Lejuene, Federico Fernandez, or Fabian Schar will reportedly be shown the exit door this summer, which seems madness to me. In particular of Schar and Lejuene who were Newcastle's best defenders last season.
This is where I will be critical of Bruce, who I have got behind and supported from his arrival, because when it's all said and done, results on the pitch is what I care about first and foremost. But Steve Bruce has not been kind to players returning from long-term injuries this season, and their form has suffered. Example one: Sean Longstaff. Injury cut short his break out year last season, and seemed to be rushed back in pre-season for Bruce to accommodate Sean in a centre midfield three. Sean had a horrendous start to the season, with him only starting to regain form and consistency now.
Example two: Florian Lejuene. I'm a huge Lejuene fan, and if it wasn't for injuries, I am convinced he would be attracting interest from top six teams. But Bruce's failure to adapt and change system over the festive period, and Lejuene coming back from a six month injury, to play three four games in fourteen days broke Lejuene and made it look like we were back to the days of Boumsong and Bramble. You could even use this theory to re-emphasis the point I made about Nabil Bentaleb. Having not played first-team football for half a season, to playing every game for a month, can't be ideal surely?
I don't want to be overly critical of Bruce, as on the whole he is doing a "good job under difficult circumstances" (that is almost becoming a cliche for Newcastle managers!) An important end of the season lies ahead as we get to boiling point in the FA Cup, and three wins still needed to secure survival in the Premier League; we're in a position most fans would take with both hands, especially with the Joelinton debate rumbling on. We've essentially all but got through this season without a proper striker.
Next season though, Bruce will have no excuses and we will really start to see just what the Newcastle manager has been thinking.