Hughton’s choice is black and white

Aug 4 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

Newcastle United have emerged from a bewildering summer remarkably clear-headed when it comes to the short-term future of the team. Stuart Rayner on the shape of things to come

FOOTBALL pre-seasons can be confusing for supporters. Easy wins can be racked up against weak or less-prepared opposition.

Some players look like world-beaters only to freeze on the big occasion, others need competitive football to shine. Some managers experiment voraciously with personnel and formations. Last month Liverpool used 26 players in the first match of their Asian tour, 24 in the second.

In a summer where just about everything else has been anything but, Newcastle’s on-field situation has been remarkably black and white.

So small has caretaker manager Chris Hughton’s pool of players become that the scope for experimentation has been minimal.

Second-guessing Saturday’s opposition will be one of the easier jobs Roberto Di Matteo undertakes as West Bromwich Albion’s new manager.

“It’s normal that as you approach the latter stages of pre-season you’re formulating your team for the start of the season,” Hughton said after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Dundee United. “It’s never, ever set in stone but it’s only fair to say we’re settled as to where we’re going.”

In truth, with so little room for manoeuvre, Hughton’s plans have been pretty clear from the start. He would have kicked off pre-season at Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium unsure as to how many of the squad would still be at the club when the season got under way.

But the one positive of the confusion enshrouding Newcastle’s ownership is that five days before the opening game at West Brom, all but Obafemi Martins remain. Almost all should be in good shape physically, if not mentally.

Most pre-season friendlies, particularly at the start of the programme, can be substitution-fests.

With bulky squads needing match-time, managers try to give as many as possible the minutes they need under their belt ready for the big kick-off. But in Newcastle’s last two pre-season games – against Leyton Orient and Dundee United – Hughton has restricted himself to just six substitutes, rather than go far beyond his pool of senior players to fill out the squad. As from this weekend, Football League clubs will be allowed to name seven subs for league games.

With the exception of Sebastien Bassong (with just 60 minutes against Leeds United) and Geremi (45 at Leyton Orient), neither of whom are likely to be at St James’s Park very long, none of Newcastle’s players can legitimately complain of going into the new season under-cooked.

Having given the Magpies an almighty kicking from so many different directions in 2009, Lady Luck has smiled on them with regards to injuries. The man who would probably otherwise have started the campaign as United’s captain partially dislocated his thumb at Darlington and will be missed, but his misfortune has been the exception, not the rule. “Nicky Butt has been the only major injury,” Hughton says. “There’s been a few who have missed the odd days’ training, but that’s it.”

Four seem to have been ruled out of the thinking for pragmatic reasons. Regardless of whether Tottenham Hotspur or anyone else succeed in signing £10m-rated central defender Sebastien Bassong, he will miss Saturday’s game through suspension.

His departure seems inevitable in the short-term.

Habib Beye has handed in a transfer request, and the absence of Geremi and Fabricio Coloccini at Tannadice too suggests Hughton is resigned to their hefty packages being removed from the wage bill before the season gets beyond its first throes.

Hungarian teenager Tamas Kadar is likely to partner Steven Taylor in the heart of the defence, with Ryan Taylor starting in his preferred position of right-back.

Alan Smith and Joey Barton will provide a combative central midfield and the home-grown duo of Ameobi and Andy Carroll will battle to be the targetman Kevin Nolan plays off.

The Liverpudlian has been converted to striker in the warm-up matches, but could return to his former role when a fifth midfielder is needed.

It is a line-up lacking pace and guile, but at least it carries an air of solidity and certainty. Be grateful for small mercies.

PROBABLE STARTING XI v WEST BROM (4-4-1-1): Harper; R Taylor, S Taylor, Kadar, Enrique; Duff, Barton, Smith, Gutierrez; Nolan; Carroll (or Ameobi).