As the Transfer Window slammed shut Newcastle United announced the signing of Joe Willock on loan for the rest of the season. But with this signing has the January transfer window been successful for the Mags.
To answer that question we need to look at where we needed to strengthen the squad. The first position that springs to mind is Right-Back/Right-Wing back. With the departure of De Andre Yedlin we only Manquillo and Krafth with Hayden who can put in a shift there. I believe Manquillo is our best RB, but it is a position which still needed strengthening. Manquillo is good defensively and will go forward but his deliveries are lacklustre and his not pacey enough to run back if he's dispossessed whereas Yedlin could get back. Krafth for me would make a better Center Back as he puts in a tackle but lacks the pace and attacking prowess to assist on the wing.
The next position we needed was the opposite flank at Left-Back. We currently have Jamaal Lewis who is predominant in that role, but his cover is Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummet who are arguably better in other/more familiar positions, despite Dummet starting his Toon career at LB he is more suited to CB. There were talks of Jetro Willems returning to put pressure on Lewis who up until the Everton fixture looked out of form. The club (Newcastle) allegedly turned down the opportunity to sign Willems and thus no cover has been added.
The final two positions we needed to strengthen are Center Midfield and another Striker. It would appear that Bruce has lost his confidence in the Longstaff Brothers as the one signing we havemade, (Joe Willock) has been drafted in presumably to fill a box-to-box role in the heart of the midfield, something we have come to expect from Matty Longstaff. However, Bruce may still have plans for the native Geordie lads as they allegedly received offers to leave on loan, but have decided to stay. Hamza Choudry was an option for Bruce but a deal could not be agreed due to a lack of cover at Leicester.
As for upfront, we could have benefited from another Striker to ease the pressure on Wilson as Carroll and Gayle are less than prolific.
The players we missed out on according to various media sources are the aforementioned Choudry and Willems, also Brandon Williams of Manchester United and Ainsley Maitland-Niles who signed for West Bromwich Albion. So initially it looks like a failed window, however we shall learn at the end of the season, just how successful it was.
By Sam West
Howay the Lads!
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