Newcastle United squad – Essential for this challenge | OneFootball

I saw an interesting article earlier today on The Mag about the Newcastle United squad and Sandro Tonali in particular.

The article was by Lewis Jones and entitled ‘Sandro Tonali wasn’t dropped – This is the Newcastle United reality to get your head around.’

If you missed it, well worth a read.

Basically, it was reacting to journalists and Newcastle United fans saying about Sandro Tonali getting ‘dropped’ on Saturday against Arsenal.

The article making clear that this wasn’t getting ‘dropped’ it was simply using your squad out of necessity AND choice.

Getting the best out of your Newcastle United squad, not the old days of playing the same eleven players pretty much every match, unless you got any injuries.

I just wanted to build on this.

We need as many players available as possible!

It is great that both Willock and Longstaff look back to something close to their best, Kelly is now fully integrated I feel, then hopefully a case of both Trippier and Wilson coming back after this November international break.

Then hopefully Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles to follow on in the not too distant future.

The daft modern day scheduling gives a massive advantage to those clubs with the strongest biggest squads.

In these first 14 weeks of this Premier League season, Newcastle United will have played 11 PL matches, plus three in the cup, these stats run up to just before we play West Ham on 25 November.

I have just worked out.

If beating Brentford in the Carabao Cup and whoever we get in FA Cup third round, Newcastle United would have 18 games to play in less than 11 weeks.

From West Ham at home on 25 November through to FA cup fourth round on weekend of Saturday 8 February 2025.

That would be 13 Premier League matches in 70 odd days, plus three in the Carabao Cup and two in the FA Cup.