6. Steven Taylor Might Not Be The Best Answer, But He Is The Right One For Now
Of all the players on Newcastle's books, one of the most criticised is Steven Taylor. His behaviour on the pitch in attempting to whip up the crowd and distract opposition goalkeepers might make him something of a figure of fun, and his decision making leaves a lot to be desired, but he continues to be a better option than Mike Williamson. Williamson is an immobile stopper: designed to win the ball in the air (he can't direct or power his headers, sadly) or put in interceptions, and his lack of movement puts more pressure on Fabricio Coloccini. The Argentinian likes to roam a little, pushing out and wide to the wings to help cover at full-back, but with Williamson alone in the middle, holes open and Colo looks the fool for abandoning his post. With Taylor, the back four is more dynamic: he might not make every decision correctly, but he at least knows not to pay too much attention to the choices his captain makes. He has the ability to cover when Colo goes on a wander, and crucially, he will put his body on the line, as he proved against Leicester. Yes, he's not the most elegant player, but he is a mobile centre-half and he can still win things in the air - two key characteristics Newcastle have missed.
