top of page
Writer's picture@leeatnftv

The right-back problem

When was the last time you looked at Newcastle's right full-back position and said to yourself 'we're fine there'?


Mathieu Debuchy, most fans would claim was the Magpies last right-back you wouldn't worry about. However, taking a look at the current day squad - it's a problem both Benitez and now Bruce can't seem to fix. We've saw four at the back and wing-backs the past three years, yet no one can stake a claim to be the consistent number one right back.


Yet, three were named in Bruce's 25 man squad - however Jacob Murphy came in from the cold - started in a surprise wing-back role against Wolves and rightly claimed the man of the match award for the Toon Army - so what next with the fixture against Everton coming up?



Many thought the improvement of Javier Manquillo's form the past 18 months, would be enough to keep him in the side, but the Spaniard has found himself sat on the bench the last two outings. Emil Krafth got the nod against Manchester United and played a part in our only goal - but although he looks like the Swede has slightly - ever so marginally improved, he worries fans with his positional awareness. Running down his contract and a guy who massed over 50 international caps, is American - DeAndre Yedlin, who was strongly rumoured with a move away to Turkey this summer, Yedlin has all the attributes you would think for a modern right-back - pace, recovery, can get up and down the by-line easily - however his end product is probably the worst out of three, yet he can be caught off guard defensively.



The club really should of strengthened this position this summer, even Isaac Hayden has had a short spell playing at full-back, so for the short term - assuming we're playing wing-backs against the Toffees, it's Jacob Murphy's shirt to lose.

86 views

Comments


bottom of page