INJURIES + POOR PLANNING = TROUBLE

The failure to land a striker on deadline day got all the press. But Newcastle United had to know it was taking a big gamble when it opted not to bring in additional center back cover last summer.

That decision looks downright silly today in the wake of injuries to Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini during Newcastle's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. Taylor (ruptured achilles) is done for the season, while the early speculation about Coloccini (thigh strain) is that he'll be missing for two weeks at the very minimum.

It's true that losing both starting center backs in the same game is fairly unlucky. And you could make the argument, as Alan Pardew has, that if referee Mike Dean had correctly sent off Chelsea's David Luiz in the fourth minute of Saturday's game, Coloccini and Taylor might not have been in position to suffer those injuries because, theoretically, Newcastle would have controlled the match.

None of that should excuse United's poor planning at center back, though. The club's hierarchy knew that Mike Williamson was the only out-and-out center back on the roster behind Taylor and Coloccini. That's the same Mike Williamson who suffered an ankle injury Aug. 25, six days before the close of the summer transfer window.

Williamson is still injured, which means Pardew currently has exactly zero legitimate center backs at his disposal heading into Newcastle's next game, at Norwich. James Perch, who filled in for Coloccini after he departed in the 27th minute against Chelsea, isn't a natural center back, but he'll have to do for now (at least until Coloccini and Williamson are both back healthy). Perch didn't do nearly as bad on Saturday as some fans would lead you to believe, but he doesn't possess the skill of Coloccini or the power of Taylor.

As for the other starting spot, there's no obvious choice. Danny Simpson has limited experience in the center. Davide Santon is being brought along slowly, and tossing him in at an unfamiliar position seems ill advised. Then there's Tamas Kadar, the 21-year-old Hungarian who not long ago was seen as a major prospect. But, with injuries playing a large role, he's fallen off to the point that he wasn't given a squad number this season. Sure, Newcastle can buy a couple defenders in January. But United still has five games to go before the winter window even opens, not to mention the time it would take for deals to be concluded and players to get acclimated.

So here Newcastle stands, about to play a winnable stretch of games (at Norwich, vs. Swansea, vs. West Brom, at Bolton) that could allow it to solidify itself as a European contender this season. And it looks like United will be relying on James Perch and Tamas Kadar to make up for a bad decision the club made back in August.

Comments

[Jose Figueroa]

The fact is AP has the Toon playing great football. Created chances at Man City, held our own at Man U, and got unlucky against Chelski.
This HAS to be the time to bring on Davide Santon. And Danny Simpson has improved massivley, I think he can handle the next couple of games at CB.
With Tiote hopefully coming back agains Norwich, I can see this as our starting 11:
--------------------KRUL-----------------------
-----Perch---Simpson---Santon-----R. Taylor----
----Obertan-----Tiote----Cabaye--------Jonas---
--------------------HBA-----------------------
--------------------Ba-------------------------

[Kevin]

We could use gosling at right rb too

[M]

I'd be surprised if HBA stays in the lineup after 2 indifferent performances. Pardew seems to run a meritocracy in terms of team selection and with that in mind, I think Shola has done enough to earn a start. Loverman will get a run-out off the bench too (maybe)

Also, putting Simpson and Santon in at CB would be nuts. It'll be Simpson partnering Perch most likely, with Santon getting a chance at RB. A more leftfield solution would be to throw in a recovered(?) Tiote as an emergency CB. He's not the tallest mind u.....

[Rob Moyer]

Let's follow the decision of the great Maradona and stick Jonas at LB :(

[Mickg108]

Kadar is the only option,,he's the Reserve Captain & has now been given the # 40...Tiote is too small for a CB & still prone to rash challenges..Davide Santon has played as CB before,,but Holt of Norwich will try to rough it up,,not ideal in a debut,,but Raylor has been identified as our weak link,,so Santon @LB,,Raylor to replace Obertan,,who had a bad game against Chelsea..

[M]

Oh dear - Raylor in midfield??? Terrible idea, he's simply not a good enough footballer to play in midfield for any self-respecting Prem football team. If Obertan drops out of the starting X1 (and he won't), Sammy A would be next in line

Also.... u should recall that when faced with a similar defensive crisis in our Championship days, Chris Hughton opted for moving Simpson to CB ahead of playing Kadar. I reckon Pardew will follow suit