Newcastle United routed Ipswich City by 4 clear targets on a wild afternoon climate sensible which highlighted the gulf at school between the 2 sides; it really was males towards boys.
An Alexander Isak hat-trick, a primary for a Newcastle participant since 2019, and a crashing Jacob Murphy effort made gentle work of the Tractor Boys within the Bobby Robson derby, guaranteeing the good man would’ve not less than been half completely satisfied the weekend earlier than Christmas.
Listed below are our 5 key takeaways from the sport:
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, a striker from Sweden
To borrow a line, I noticed on Twitter/X after the sport – ‘make Isak the King of Saudi Arabia to maintain him at Newcastle.’ The Swede is a few footballer and for my cash is one of the best striker within the Premier League in the mean time.
I don’t really feel there may be any hazard of Isak leaving United both – it’s apparent the membership would reject any January supply for him and with three years remaining on his present deal, we maintain all of the playing cards.
He was irrepressible on Saturday placing Ipswich to the sword with an attractive half-volley after solely 26 seconds, sitting down Muric for his second, and toe poking in from a good space for the third. And he most likely ought to’ve had a pair extra too.
Backup that’s deemed prepared, and never hopelessly harm susceptible, ought to arrive for him in January to permit United to maintain the Swede match for the massive video games this season since you simply really feel United can win any sport the lad performs in as he’s a world class finisher. He’s merely one of the best this membership has seen since Alan Shearer.
The Midfield Axis
When he was about to return from his ban, I wrote about Sandro Tonali and the way it was his class, technical skill and coronary heart that dragged Milan to the Scudetto in 2021/22, properly we’re actually beginning to see the Italians true class in Black and White however it’s his fantastically blossoming partnership with Bruno that’s beginning to heat the cockles this winter soccer season.
They’re beginning to look formidable along with 11 targets scored within the final three video games the pair have began collectively (bringing three wins) and what ought to’ve been three clear sheets too.
It’s undoubtedly 18 months too late (and I recognize Tonali was banned for ten of these) however we’re lastly seeing one of the best of the 2 taking part in collectively and it’s each bit pretty much as good as we hoped it could be.
Jacob Murphinho
Three targets and two assists in his final three Premier League video games is a few return for the rotational RW with Saturday’s contribution taking him to eight targets and assists in all competitions. Sure, the lad is inconsistent, however most gamers of his skill are, however he hardly ever lets United down when he comes into the beginning eleven.
However, if just one signing is to be made in January, I’d nonetheless need it to be a beginning RW (and we’ve been closely linked to Johan Bakayoko who can be an excellent signing imo) as a result of it’s incumbent on Paul Mitchell to boost the ground of United’s squad as there may be some actual high quality on the prime finish you’d be laborious pressed to enhance on.
Murphy although has definitely earned his place within the squad shifting ahead. Honest play to him too.
Is it time to speak about Nick Pope?
I’ll maintain my hand up and say I used to be bricking it when it was confirmed that Nick Pope would miss a month of motion by way of harm however Martin Dubravka, while not having a lot to do during the last three video games together with his palms, has are available in and added one other dimension to United’s construct up and passing out from the again by the advantage of being significantly better with the ball at his ft than the Englishman.
His composure and first contact have seen the lads construct up from the again with a level of management lacking from Pope’s sport and there have been no headless rooster, coronary heart in mouth moments both which Pope suffered a few in his final outing towards Brentford. But, I might nonetheless fear about Dubravka having to make full stretch saves, which Nick Pope does recurrently.
In the end, the reply most likely lies someplace within the center with one of the best keeper on the membership most likely being a hybrid of the 2, which sadly we’re missing, because it isn’t one of many different three ‘keepers we at the moment have on our books both.
Perhaps James Trafford is the reply?
The Excellent Week
There was large stress on Eddie Howe and the squad following the poor displaying at Brentford two weeks in the past and, as they’ve executed beforehand, the gaffer and the squad have responded to the stress with a set of assured, assured, but combative performances which have introduced three consecutive wins.
There are all the time varied shades of gray at Newcastle United and following the lads is a rollercoaster at one of the best of occasions however there was actual damaging momentum within the fanbase following the Brentford defeat, so it’s an excellent feeling to be going into the busy Christmas schedule (which consists of some robust video games) with the wind in our sails and the fanbase extra united.
Think about that Newcastle are a missed penalty [Everton (a)] and 30 seconds [Palace (a)] away from having an additional 4 factors on the board and we may very well be sat right here only a level exterior the highest 4. However as Bobby Robson used to say: ‘If is the largest phrase in soccer.’ So, for now let’s simply benefit from the finish of an excellent week following Newcastle United.
HWTL