Newcastle United: 8 Best Players Of The Season So Far

7. Tim Krul

At the very start of the season (ignoring the first Man City game), questions were again asked whether Krul was really worth the hype that he was receiving in the wake of his World Cup performance for Holland. He looked lacking in confidence, his decision making was off and his distribution was poor (especially compared to Rob Elliot's, which continues to be his own saving grace), and some were even suggesting that when the next round of transfer speculation comes around, he should be cashed in, especially since Karl Darlow is on his way. But since then Krul has proved himself the hugely capable stopper he has been for years, and with his confidence in his backline somewhat restored, he's grown in stature as the team's performances have improved. And that save against Swansea, which preserved a point, was an incredible thing indeed. If he can work a little more on his decision making (and positioning), he will be a great - it just remains to be seen whether that will actually be at Newcastle.