Newcastle Beat QPR 2 Years Ago To Stay Up - But How Do They Rate Vs The Current Team?

8. THEN: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa - NOW: Vurnon Anita

This point proves just how little progress, if any, Newcastle have made in the last two seasons: at Loftus Road they are almost certain to field Vurnon Anita out of position at left-back, as they did with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in 2012-13. Naivety in the transfer market and chronic injury crises on both occasions have ensured Newcastle have not had adequate cover in defence, and instead square pegs have been loosely rammed into round holes.

Yanga-Mbiwa came in for a serious amount of criticism during his time on Tyneside - some of it fairly - but he was often played out of position and struggled as a result of this, although he did perform quite well at Loftus Road two years ago. On the other hand, Anita has excelled since switching to full-back in recent weeks. He has been woeful at defensive-midfield all season - particularly when he was hooked at half-time during the 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City having given away a penalty inside 30 seconds - but at left-back he has stuck to his task admirably. Verdict: A point for each - 1-1. In an ideal world an actual left-back would play at left-back - a radical idea, I know, but it might catch on - although both are capable enough deputies considering the ineptitude of the rest of the Magpies side.