Premier League Preview - Do Newcastle Have Enough Quality To Finish Top 10?

Newcastle’s 16^th place finish last season brought the fans back down to earth after a superb 2011-12, which culminated in the Magpies finishing 5th. Last season was ruined by European football and injuries to key players Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Chieck Tiote, something manager Alan Pardew will need to avoid in order for his team to be competitive this season.

Newcastle’s lack of depth was plain to see last season, not all of the players Pardew used were good enough to play at the top level. The team also lacked goals in the second half of the season after Demba Ba left in January, ending the season as Newcastle’s top scorer. The loan signing of Loic Remy will take the pressure off Papiss Cisse, but another striker is probably needed as Shola Ameobi could be on his way out.

They are defensively sound when Fabrizio Coloccini and Steven Taylor are partnered in central defence, but when Taylor was not playing, Newcastle lacked solidity at the back and conceded 68 goals, eight more than relegated Queens Park Rangers.

Last season’s signings should have gelled with the rest of the squad by now and with the quality there is at the club, Newcastle will be comfortable in mid table, but anything more than that looks to be out of their reach unless a few more quality players are brought in. Problems off the field may also scupper attempts to finish higher.

Prediction: 12^th

Thomas Baxter