2. The Treatment Table
For some reason, Newcastle United players get injured far more than players in every other club.
Figures from last season showed that the Tynesider's first-team squad suffered 41 "significant injuries", i.e. that the player was unavailable through injury for 2 weeks or more. Every player in the Newcastle squad last season was unavailable to play due to injury for on average 10 weeks each! In contrast, Chelsea, who played 69 matches in all competitions last year, suffered just 16 significant injuries over the course of the season. These statistics are just a part of a wider problem which has haunted Tyneside in the past. When the Tynesiders were relegated in 2009,
a slew of injuries throughout the season, including injuries to key strikers Michael Owen and Andy Carroll at important times in the season were blamed for their relegation. Clearly, there are issues in the club with pre-season training, medical care, or regular training, as this volume of injuries cannot entirely be attributed to chance. It's an issue owner Mike Ashley and manager Alan Pardew will have to address sooner rather than later if they're to ensure the club remains in England's top tier.