Newcastle's Most Underrated Player

That Danny Guthrie was an afterthought coming into this season seems ridiculous now.

Guthrie won't be a contender for player of the season at Newcastle United. But he deserves to be more than a footnote in the story of Newcastle's surprising top-six challenge.

Where would Newcastle be without Guthrie? Not fifth in the table, I promise you that. Between Cheick Tiote's knee injury and Africa Cup of Nations absence and Yohan Cabaye's current suspension, Guthrie has started nine Premier League matches for United. Newcastle has taken 16 points (five wins and one draw) from those games, a return that's more impressive when you consider matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are included.

Most of Guthrie's playing time has been in relief of Tiote, sitting deeper than Cabaye. In all honesty, he's miscast in a holding midfield role. I don't blame Alan Pardew for using Guthrie in that position, simply because he's clearly Newcastle's next-best central midfielder after Cabaye and Tiote and can play the holding role well enough. Thing is, Guthrie is much better suited to play where Cabaye does, with an athletic destroyer type sitting behind him. That's how it was Saturday against Aston Villa, when Guthrie ran the show from the midfield with James Perch cleaning up the trash behind him.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying Guthrie should play over Cabaye. But the difference between the two isn't as great as most would have you believe. Take a look at how they in some key statistics* in Premier League play this season:

Statistic	Cabaye	Guthrie
Pass completion	79 percent	82 percent
Pass completion in final third	62 percent	64 percent
Chances created (open play)	19	13
Ground 50-50s	58 percent	60 percent
Tackle success	65.4 percent	63.3 percent

Injuries have hampered Guthrie's progress over the past two seasons, but it's still somewhat baffling to think he wasn't considered a more integral part of Newcastle's plans going into last season. He was quiety one of the stars of the Championship season, leading United in assists (13) and playing major roles in some of Newcastle's most memorable attacking performances in the second half of that season. That Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton were so influential under Chris Hughton probably didn't help Guthrie's cause.

The presence of Cabaye and Tiote means Guthrie still isn't a part of Newcastle's strongest lineup in Pardew's preferred 4-4-2 formation, which means extending his contract - due to expire this summer - could be a bit tricky. Guthrie, who will turn 25 on April 18, is good enough to interest plenty of other Premier League clubs that could offer him a regular starting role.

The x-factor in all of it is what Pardew does when Tiote returns. His 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 experiment showed promise before crumbling in the second half against Fulham and looking awkward at Brighton and in the first half at Blackburn. But that was with personnel that didn't necessarily fit the formation. In Guthrie, Cabaye and Tiote, Pardew would have a midfield trio better suited for a 4-3-3 based on their passing ability.

Either way, should Guthrie sign a new contract, he won't be a forgotten man going into next season.

*Statistics courtesy of EPLIndex.com.

Comments

[Charlie Prince]

Cabaye, Guthrie and Tiote could definitely form a solid midfield trio. And while Gutierrez works hard, I wouldn't mind testing it out for a game or two at his expense. The one thing I'm not so sure about is moving Ba out to the left. I know he's played there before, but a high percentage of his goals (like the one against Villa) seem to come from being in the box and reacting/anticipating. Would we lose that is he's on the wing in a 4-3-3?

[AndyToon]

charlie prince: Jonas tops NUFC this season in winning posession AND successful passes in final 3rd... Just sayin..

[Tony Toon]

Its something of a conundrum for Pardew. It really does look as though that midfield 3 would be very strong. Playing Ben Arfa behind the Demba boys and in front of the above 3 also looks an interesting prospect but at the cost of losing width from Gutti and Obertan/Raylor in both offensive and defensive plays. There are some exciting looking options but Pardew is the only one to make the call as I am sure he is trying all these formations in training.

Regarding Guthrie - Last season he was too often played in a wide right position where he is obviously not at his best. This alone imo prompted the (as usual) over the top criticism from some fans who labelled him substandard and who wanted him sold. Wouldn't that have been a mistake? How much do you think it would cost to replace his quality right now.

Listening to Talk Sport 2 days ago the usual suspects were declaring that any team in the country would love to have Scott Parker in their current line up. I seriously question whether he would get past either of our main three. He doesn't have the vision and passing ability of either Cabaye or Guthrie and although good, is not as commanding as Tiote.

[MnToonArmy9]

I don't see how Pardew can sit Tiote and Cabaye given what they bring to the table, however, Tiote may need some rest after the ACN so that might give Guthrie some additional minutes. I wonder if Guthrie can play on the right wing in a 4-4-2, given Ryan Taylor's knock and Ben Arfa's apparent ambivilance to defense. Obertan might be reasserting himself, but as a 70 minute sub, Gabby looks really fast in late games.

On the other hand, having a "super-sub" in the form of Guthrie at 65-70 minutes isn't a bad thing. Given that we are bound to have either more injuries or more discipline related suspensions in the last third of the season, Guthrie will be a great sub and get more games.

[Munster Mag]

There's no way Pardew will deviate from the 4-4-2 as a tactical formation , fully. Ben Arfa will be sold especially if we find a seriously good winger ( right ) , who can defend aswell as attack. And Guti wont be safe either. Letting Demba Ba move towards the left wing is a bad move and was unfair on Leon Best too, in the sense that he looked a poorer player than he is.

[Geordie Pat]

It's one of those hypothetical questions which answers itself in all likelihood. Injuries and suspensions to Tiote and Cabaye, plus the ACON and other international duties, etc. means that even if Guthrie is our plan-b, he will get plenty of match time regardless.

Everyone is always trying to work out the best team when everyone's available. How many times has that been the case this season? One game? When Tiote comes back, Obertan will probably get a knock so we can play Guthrie on the right, for e.g.

[John]

well to be honest if we make europe we will need to keep Danny an with the extra fixtures that come with european football he will be sure to get games cause i can see squad rotation been more necessary or we will burn players out.... he deserves a new contract after this season

[Ryan]

Definitely we need to keep Guthrie. Even if he isn't starting when we are healthy and have our "full" squad, he is too valuable as a sub to let him go. Plus, when injuries hit, as they seemed to really have the past couple of years, that kind of depth is invaluable.