Sunderland & Man Utd Prove Newcastle's Squad May Not Be THAT Bad

Magpies fans shouldn't disregard the perceived 'deadwood' so quickly...

Every single Newcastle United fan has already drawn up their lists of players that must leave the club in the summer whether Premier League survival is achieved or not. Those players that are now classed as deadwood and simply not good enough for The Magpies anymore. The deadwood that seemingly accumulates in every Premier League squad as the seasons wear on. The names of Yoan Gouffran, Sammy Ameobi, Vurnon Anita, Mike Williamson and Gabriel Obertan are likely to be those found in the majority of lists and there is little to defend players of that ilk; players that have shown over a prolonged period of time that they simply aren't Premier League standard. But maybe Magpies fans shouldn't be so quick to dismiss these forlorn figures as two other Premier League sides have proved this season.
Let's start with Sunderland. The Black Cats secured their Premier League status with a bravely battled 0-0 draw at The Emirates against Arsenal last night. Cast your minds back to mid-March when they were losing 4-0 at home to the likes of Aston Villa and Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace and it just proves what can be done when you hire a bonafide manager with a track record of success. It was clear to see last night how much work has been put into Sunderland's defensive unit. Players like John O'Shea and Sebastian Coates, who have had torrid times on the field of late, grew into man mountains and kept one of Europe's most potent attacks at bay. Imagine what the likes of Mike Williamson could have done with a little bit of top class coaching. Something he seems to have been starved of under Alan Pardew and now John Carver. Questions were often asked of Pardew's back room staff. The likes of Carver, Steve Stone, and Andy Woodman aside, who else was there coaching the squad and developing them as professionals? Those who play the Football Manager computer games will know of how massive the big clubs' back room staff are. Numerous first team and more general coaches clog up the screen. So why have Newcastle had so few for so many years? Surely a real manager, should one be appointed in the summer, will be afforded the opportunity to bring in as many people as he wants.
Manchester United also showed why you shouldn't write a professional footballer off. Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini were two names that every single Red Devils' fans wanted rid of last summer. But lo and behold, the arrival of a proven top class manager, and some seriously top level training, has seen the pair reborn and thrusted into the forefront of the former Premier League champions' serge back into the Champions League. Imagine calling those two men key players a year ago just after the departure of David Moyes, a man that was severely out of his depth at Old Trafford. A real manager, someone like a Rafa Benitez, could do similar miracle work with the like of Gouffran and Obertan, players that proved there is decent enough quality in there capabilities early on in their stints on Tyneside. There are two examples of what can be achieved when you hire a real manager. Which shows that maybe it's a case of evolution rather than revolution that needs to happen at Newcastle this summer. Then again, maybe these players are just rubbish that need to be disposed of as quickly as possible. Only time will tell on this one... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
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Content Producer

Video & written Content Producer for WhatCulture Wrestling. NCTJ trained journalist. BA Hons, Sports Journalism.