2019/20 Newcastle United Review: Fabian Schar

After a breakout first season with the club, Fabian Schar was less consistent for Newcastle United this year.

Awarded the Premier League Newcomer of the Year in 2018/19 by ESPN, Fabian Schar looked set to become a star for Newcastle United entering his second season. But, injuries and inconsistency led to a sophomore slump for the Swiss international.

2019-20 EPL stats: 22 appearances, two errors leading to goals, 112 recoveries, and two goals

Expert Breakdown

Durim Halimi: Fabian Schar experienced a rollercoaster of a season on Tyneside. In my opinion, the Swiss international is the best defender at Newcastle United, but his performances in the second half of the season did not reflect that one bit.

Schar performed at an elite level at the start of the campaign before his injury opened the door for Federico Fernandez, but he lost all his energy after his recovery. It is fair to say that Schar’s defending can best be described as lazy and inattentive. Opposing strikers enjoyed plenty of space to create plays and they found open lanes behind his back on several occasions.

It was unfortunate that Schar ended the season early with a shoulder injury, but he should use this recovery period as a time of reflection. The star defender is still in there somewhere, but he needs to wake up and revive the 2018-19 version of himself.

Carson A. Merk: For Schar this season, it was all about which version of him showed up. When he was his 2018/19 self, he was a leader on the defense and also dangerous going forward, with his two goals scored as evidence. But, there were too many matches, especially down the stretch, that he didn’t seem full committed mentally and he turned in some lackluster efforts.

Based on talent, I still think Schar is a key component for Newcastle’s future. He’s still only 28 years old and the injuries he battled could’ve gotten in his head, too.