Why I Root For Mike Williamson

I like Mike Williamson. There, I said it. Let the snickers ensue.

I like Williamson, not because he's a world-class player. He isn't, and I'm fairly certain he would admit as much. And that's what I like about him: what you see is what you get.

He's a 6-foot-4 center back who, as you'd suspect, is good at winning defensive headers and battling with physical strikers. He reads the game fairly well and tends to be in the right position most of the time. He's not fast, so if he's in trouble, he'll take a foul — and a yellow card, if need be — for the good of his team. He'll never be confused with Franz Beckenbauer on the ball, so Williamson depends on his central defensive partner or the midfielders in front of him to build play from the back. And, yes, when necessary, he'll launch the ball forward.

Those deficiencies make him an easy target for frustrated fans. I get it. He's not a sexy player. He doesn't have speed like Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa or skill like Fabricio Coloccini. Newcastle United could certainly stand to buy a center back who's comparable to Williamson in the air but also a more polished player with the ball at his feet.

I'm all for that. That’s the sort of player Newcastle needs to develop into a regular top-six challenger. In the meantime, though, I'll be pulling for Williamson.

I root for him because he maximizes his potential when he's on the field. And because he helped Newcastle get back to the point where we can complain about not pushing for more than mid-table mediocrity. And because he seems to genuinely cherish the opportunity he's been given at Newcastle, the biggest club on his résumé. And because he seems like a decent human being who doesn't have the classic Premier League ego.

Williamson will falter at some point in the coming months. Newcastle will face an opponent — it could even be Swansea on Wednesday or Manchester United on Saturday — who will take advantage of his lack of speed or skill. Alan Pardew will likely respond by replacing Williamson with Yanga-Mbiwa or Steven Taylor, two much more heralded center backs.

And when that happens, Williamson won't throw a fit. He'll wait for his next opportunity — perhaps when Taylor is sent off for handling a goalbound shot or when Yanga-Mbiwa has another lifeless, out-of-body performance — and when it comes, he’ll do exactly what he’s doing now: give Pardew simple, steady play in the middle of the defense.

It’s not breathtaking or perfect, but it’s the best Williamson can do. And I can get behind a player like that.

Comments

[geordiepat]

I'm not sure this article does him justice. The fashionable Williamson soundbite is that he is honest, hardworking, reliable, etc. etc: the facets of the average championship defender, but to hold a place in a team (twice) threatening the 5/6th spots in the premiership - you need more than that. Williamson does the above, but also anticipates the movement of the ball, the runs of opponents and closes down angles with intelligence and composure. He is up to the job psychologically - no mean feat in front of 50,000+ nervy home supporters used to watching porous, kamikaze defending for years and years.

Pace is an overrated commodity for central defenders, necessary to salvage a situation or correct a mistake - which is normally the domain of the fullback in most situations anyway. You mention Beckenbauer, how about Puyol, Terry, Adams, Stam, Le Blanc, etc: lynchpins in teams enjoying sustained success, none of whom possess natural pace or technical flair.

I don't think Williamson will be ousted after a defeat. Pardew probably realises he needs steel to compliment the silk of Colo or M'biwa, and it may well be Taylor who is no longer deemed fit for purpose.

Good to see some appreciation for him, but I don't agree he is riding his luck, or living on borrowed time. I'd like to think Pardew- and supporters have now realised the importance of having a player like him in the team.

[Jaeger]

i never thought he should have been attempted to be sold or not playing. i agree that he doesn't have the offensive possesion skills. too often he'll pass it back to krul or boot it to avoid the possible turnover, which in the big picture isn't a bad idea, i'd rather play it safe like that than turn it over and have a breakaway.

if he and MYM are in form together, id continue to start them together in the big matches until their form changes.

ive noticed that fans are quick to jump on any less than stellar performances from a player or even pardew, which is very annoying. those performances are kept around in memory, which is why everyone thinks he is just riding luck.

[rob]

He is only really good in the air from the run of play. Countless times he has been beaten in the air off set pieces. I can already recall 3x he has been beat off defensive corners during this stretch of matches he has played. Very happy with his performances otherwise though.

[Matt B]

I agree with the majority of the comments made here, he is a journeyman premiership defender, but I have seen a marked improvement over the time he's spent with Newcastle.

Not a flashy defender on the ball or pacey, as we have already discussed in this thread, and to be honest I've never been a huge fan. I always thought the Championship was more his level BUT after some of the displays by MYM earlier in the year my FB status declared we should sell MYM in January and restore Williamson to the team immediately (Steven Taylor being injured at the time...shock!).

I still think Taylor has more to offer, more pace, better on the ball, as good in the air most of the time, but he's still prone to the odd "Titus Bramble" moment so I agree Williamson should keep his place until he loses it through injury or an obvious gaffe that's costs us.