So the rhetoric goes. Newcastle is in the Championship next season. Big question is how they should approach the new challenge.
We’ve heard it all before: the Championship is a tough league. Not only is it a tough league, but it’s become a hub of English talent over the years. Rafa Benitez has experience in lower leagues when he was with Spain, but he understands that the Championship is a whole different beast.
Commenting on the fixtures that Newcastle United will be faced with in the Championship, Benitez had this to say:
“There are a lot of ex-Premier League teams playing in the Championship now, so the level is higher. I think it will be very interesting.”
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And that’s absolutely true. The quality of the Championship is truly amazing, and Benitez cannot make the mistake of believe that just because his side is fresh from the Premier League and has money for transfers will make them immediate favorites to get back to the top. Even though they are favorites.
The problem that Newcastle will face is respect. They mustn’t fail in respecting their opponents. Whether they be fellow relegated Norwich and Aston Villa, or recently promoted Barnsley. Each club is in the Championship for a reason, and that’s to play tough football.
Discipline will be key moving forward. We’ve spoken about this before with Aleksandar Mitrovic’s poor run of discipline in the Premier League. He will need to tone it down, and avoid getting carded. Mitrovic will need to be a leader when it comes to putting the ball in the net, and they can’t do that when he’s sitting out due to suspension.
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A strong defense will be key. I’ve been slightly disappointed in Newcastle United’s decision to go for some more strikers straight out. Understandably, the club needs a proven lad or two to boost the club’s offensive presence, but Newcastle got relegated last season thanks in part to a defense that simply could not stave off the competition.
It makes getting Reece Oxford on loan, signing Alvaro Arbeloa, and making a move for Grant Hanley that much more pressing. A strong defense can produce offense by keeping the club in the game. Hopefully, there is a nice long list of defensive targets for Benitez to pursue.
Tactically speaking, always changing formation can be seen as detrimental to players who require a steady foundation. But in terms of changing the gameplan in times of importance will give Newcastle United a strong advantage. If the players are able to quickly grasp a changing gameplan throughout the course of a match, it makes the squad that much more deadly.
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Lastly, playmaking which was extremely weak last season will need to see an improvement. Newcastle missed a lot of opportunities last season because players weren’t setting up strong goal scoring opportunities. Or perhaps it was due to players being out of sync with one another. Either way, teamwork and lack of selfishness on the ball will be crucial to building not only a team that can get promoted, but a team that can compete in the Premier League.
If Newcastle can achieve these things, then they should have a good path to promotion. Granted, no matter what the club does