'They've had a little bit of a wobble': Steve Bruce says Newcastle United are struggling this season for one major reason
Newcastle United have had a strange old season thus far. For the longest time, they couldn't get a grip on things in the Premier League, but their cup form has been fantastic.
Now, though, you probably wouldn't think it, judging by the mood after the last couple of games, but Newcastle are riding high in the Premier League form table. They were top of said table before Sunday's defeat to Aston Villa, so things aren't as bad as they perhaps feel.
That being said, it's not just Newcastle's form that has been concerning this season. Once again, Newcastle find themselves struggling to keep players fit during a season in which they are competing on four fronts.
Newcastle's injury record two seasons ago, the last time they were in the Champions League, was diabolical, and it's not faring much better this time around either.
Steve Bruce and Ally McCoist bemoan Newcastle's lack of squad depth
Ally McCoist made a point on TALKsport alongside Steve Bruce that Newcastle have a very good squad of perhaps 14 players, but beyond that they lack the depth, and it's a point that Bruce doubled down on.
"They've got a squad of players who are very, very good, and you might be right about 14, 15, but to compete in all of them like they're trying to do, they've had a little bit of a wobble and a struggle with it because of the strength and depth they haven't really got like others have.
"It's been a little bit up and down for them; they're still in a good position in the Champions League. Obviously, the Premier League, they've got to address and try and be a little bit more consistent in that, but it's where they want to be, and it's dealing with that now."
Are Newcastle really 10 players short of being a top squad?
After bringing in six new players this summer, we did expect that we'd be better equipped to deal with the rigours of the Champions League this time around, but injuries have taken their toll massively, but so too has the fact that only Malick Thiaw has fully integrated into the team.
We thoguht we'd struck it lucky with Nick Woltemade when he started scoring early, but he's gone off the boil massively. Anthony Elanga looks like a third division player being given a Make A Wish dream to play for a Premier League team, Jacob Ramsey is doing okay, but it's like there's a ceiling he can't burst through and we don't want to judge Yoane Wissa too much as it's still early days for him after his return from a bad injury.
Clubs can name a squad of 25 players, so does this mean we need 10 additions in the summer?
