JONAS AND THE JOY OF STABILITY

If we're all being honest, we can admit this much: No Newcastle United fan expected to be praising the stability surrounding the club six weeks into this season.

And yet another sign of the good vibes bursting out of St. James' Park arrived on Tuesday when news broke that winger Jonas Gutierrez had agreed to a contract extension that will see him through 2015.

But even beyond the obvious positive of Gutierrez's new deal - securing the services of a player who's been one of the team's most consistent performers over the past two-plus seasons - this is a superb PR move for a club that has taken a beating (oftentimes rightly) in that area over the past few years.

Weren't we all told by none other than the Prophet Joseph Barton that all of Newcastle's established players would soon be following him and Kevin Nolan out the door? And, remember, Jose Enrique warned us "it is not settled like it is here at Liverpool and I think that is why everyone is leaving Newcastle."

It's fair to say that Gutierrez was never going to draw as much interest on the transfer market as his pal Enrique (although he'd likely get more offers than Barton). But the fact that a player who's still receiving call-ups to the Argentina national team feels good about the direction in which the club is headed is fairly significant. That, combined with an unbeaten start to the season, adds credibility to the club's rebuilding efforts.

Realistically, Gutierrez isn't an indispensable player. His final ball tends to be lacking and he's not a major goal-scoring threat. But the positives easily outweigh the negatives. He tracks back and is Newcastle's release valve against high-pressuring opponents. He's willing to run at opposition fullbacks, is awkward to defend against and draws a handful of fouls each match. And on a team that has its share of wild cards, he's about as reliable a player as you could hope for. He might not be a matchwinner, but he plays a significant - and sometimes understated - role in just about every match Newcastle wins.

The money to fund Gutierrez's extension will almost assuredly come from that infamous £35 million, which would theoretically eat away future transfer funds. But for this move, at this time, it's worth it.

Comments

[Gabardine]

I'd like to preface this by saying that I'm not intentionally trying to put a negative spin on this at all as I'm definitely encouraged by the Jonas signing. It was well-earned and certainly deserved. But does his extension prevent him from being sold in the January market for the right price? In other words, is a contract extension really an indicator of "stability" anymore?

[Charlie Prince]

I know what you mean, Gabardine, but in a way it is still a sign of stability. At the very least, it means that a player can't bully his way to another team, like Enrique basically did. Yes, Jonas could still be sold in January, but it's as close to stability as you're going to get, other than writing an absurdly high buy-out clause into the contract.

[Dave From Newcastle]

Jonas' play can definitely be maddening, but your description of his positives is dead on- afterall it was his run at Sunderland that lead to Taylor's free kick winner.

[Tom]

Gabardine - I agree, Jonas could still be sold in January, although I think him signing an extension will dissuade other clubs from sniffing around him.

I guess my point was this: It's a good sign of stability when your better players want to be at the club. And Jonas signing a new deal is an indication of that.

[Gabardine]

Tom, thanks for the explanation -- and agreed!

[Ryan]

Great to hear about the Jonas signing. I think he brings a lot to the team. As Tom said, what he may lack in crossing, he makes up for in hustle, drawing fouls, etc. Plus, he really loves Newcastle and loves playing for us. That goes a long way in my book. I would take Jonas any day over a player a little more skilled that doesn't want to be at Newcastle (Barton or Enrique).

It's so refreshing lately to be playing well and not having any distractions. Newcastle fans aren't often used to this. I think the lads can keep it up Saturday vs. Wolves. HWTL!!