The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Praise for form and fitness of mainstays in a Magpies outfit crippled by injuries
THE FABULOUS FIVE HAVE ALL NOTCHED OVER 30 APPEARANCES THIS SEASON
WE all know about Newcastle United’s horrendous and relentless injury list which has punctured a season that initially had soaring possibilities.
We have heard all the quips – if a queue was formed outside the physiotherapy room it would stretch halfway down the A1. That photos are required to be posted of Nick Pope, Elliot Anderson and now Joelinton so fans don’t forget what they look like during their long absence. The total at any one given time has been in double figures.
Each match seems to produce another casualty and sure enough amongst the mayhem of a four all draw with Luton, Anthony Gordon hobbled away from St James Park on crutches.
As Gordon has until now been one of the few escapees from The Curse, that got me thinking about how we should pay homage to those hardy souls who have managed to keep going while comrades have fallen around them like autumn leaves.
I give you the Fab Five. The thirtysomethings of NUFC with grateful thanks for services rendered.
These guys have made the most appearances over the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup: Gordon 33, Bruno Guimaraes 33, Miggy Almiron 33, Fabian Schar 32 and Kieran Trippier 31.
That requires keeping form and fitness, two vital ingredients for any footballer.
While Miggy has made the least starts of the Fab Five he has topped them up with sub appearances which is why Eddie Howe was so keen to keep him when the Saudis came calling.
The Saudis trying to take off their fellow countrymen appealed neither to Eddie nor Miggy.
Where would we have been without the Mr Reliables? Of course those struck down are not to blame, it is just they have claimed the sympathetic headlines while those battling on without rest have merely been expected to be there and consequently somewhat under valued.
Trippier has always been, well, Trippier. First through the door, infectious, professional, deadly dead ball deliverer, inspiration, the leader of the pack.
Bruno the tub-thumping visionary who lives on the edge. Gordon has shown the biggest improvement of all from underwhelming last season to ace can opener of opposing defences. Fleet of foot and tenacious.
Schar, the all-round defender who can actually play on the ball. Almiron the willing worker with an always-present smile on his face.
Their consistent availability is one of the reasons we have feared Bruno and Gordon going out of the team, ironically not through injury as usual but through disciplinary measures.
If we are to be grateful for one aspect of their game we cannot pretend to be chuffed by another that will almost certainly deprive United of them in the near future.
Bruno is only one yellow away from an automatic two-match ban while Gordon is two short of the fateful 10 bookings which must all come in the PL. Will it be injury or football’s dreaded card game that is to claim the one-time Evertonian?
Actually the pair have totted up no fewer than 24 cautions between them over the long haul – Guimaraes has 14 bookings (9 PL, 1 FA Cup, 2 Carabao Cup and 2 Champions League) and Gordon 10 (8 PL, 1 FA Cup and 1 Champions League).
It has to be said that both are their own worst enemy when it comes to yellow cards. They are all too often impulsive and invite a referee to take action.
So many of their cautions have been distinctly avoidable but I guess Eddie Howe would say that to take away that passion, irresponsible though it can be, would be to deprive them of the edge that is a vital part of their make up.
However in our moment of dire need to go AWOL for no justifiable reason would infuriate. Careful boys, think twice.
Of course with so many out and results perhaps inevitably tapering off, debate has been intense. There is a saying that footballers become better players when not playing for a long time and I know what they mean. Bad games are forgotten and good points heightened.
We appreciate what players brought to the table when that commodity is suddenly missing for a while.
Even Howe admitted that United are suffering without Joelinton’s ball winning and Joe Willock’s athleticism.
Midfield has been one dimensional and equally take away Nick Pope’s shot stopping and the back four look shaky – which is why we should be grateful to the Fab Five.