What you start with
Newcastle United have been largely inconsistent in terms of league positions in recent seasons, having finished as high as fifth in 2012, as low as sixteenth the following season before a comfortable mid table spot after that. Your primary aim this season is to build on this with qualification for the Europa League.
The board explain that your success will mostly be judged in the league, and ensuring you can lead the team to a top seven finish is the target. Qualification can be met through cup competitions; however this may not be enough to satisfy their criteria if you fail to live up to expectations in the league.
To help you do this, the board allocate you an initial transfer budget of £14.5m to strengthen the squad with a wage budget of just over £1,108,000 per week.
In terms of domestic cup competitions; the board suggest they would love a cup run and therefore your target of reaching the round of 16 is the minimum aim.
The Squad
Who you should build your team around…
One of Newcastle’s main assets is their goalkeeper Tim Krul and he is already one of the best players at the club, meaning he is someone who you should be looking to keep hold of.
He is a great shot stopper and has the potential to reach a rating of 84 that would ensure he becomes of the Premier League’s top keepers in the near future. His performance will be key to any hopes of securing European football.
Ahead of the Dutchman Fabricio Coloccini is the real leader of the team; club captain and the highest rated player at the club. He may not have youth on his side, but he is by far your strongest defender who is good in the air and in the tackle. Given the lack of strength in this department, the centre back should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Remy Cabella is perhaps the most exciting player at the club, and acts as a real attacking threat as someone who can operate in an attacking midfield role or out wide.
He has great attributes in terms of pace, dribbling, passing and shooting making him an important player to the team and someone who will contribute plenty of goals and assists throughout the season. He is one star you have to ensure makes the team on a regular basis.
Three players you should sign…
Newcastle do lack quality options in a number of areas and so ensuring you have enough cover for these positions should be the aim during the first transfer window. Danny Ings is a decent signing as a back up striker to Cisse, and can be bought from Burnley for £6.5m.
He has the potential to reach a rating of 79, and with plenty of pace is a useful man to have at your disposal from the start so his signing is recommended.
The signing of Victor Wanyama from Southampton for £5m also represents a real bargain and will provide much needed depth in the centre of the park. His stamina and strength are his primary assets ensuring you can count on him to win a number of tackles over the course of a game. He too can reach a rating of around 79, and therefore marks as a decent purchase.
Singing a new centre half is imperative when you take over at Newcastle, and it’s advised you get in a ready made Premier League defender in Chris Smalling who can slot straight into the first team alongside Coloccini. The United man can be signed for £7m, even though the Red Devils value him at £10.5m and will become an instant hit given his quality. His speed is a great weapon, and with potential to reach a rating of 81 means he represents real value for money.
Three players who you should sell…
Jonas Gutierrez has just 12 months left on his contract, and having passed 30-years-of-age is someone who should be looking to move of the wage bill. He won’t be your first choice left midfielder, and given the younger options that can cover this position when Gouffran is not available, it’s advised you cash in on him while you can. QPR bid £1.9m for his services which was more than enough for the offer to be accepted.
QPR also signed another squad member who had limited use in the first team; Vurnon Anita. The defensive midfielder has plenty of names ahead of him in the pecking order, and so selling him for £2.6m was an easy decision.
A lack of depth at centre half means it could be a risk selling Mike Williamson, but the chance to recoup £1.6m for an ageing defender who lacks pace could be worth taking. He will be the fourth choice and therefore shouldn’t be needed, so selling him to Chievo helped raised funds for a better option in this area. It could be worth bringing in a centre back on loan just in case to cover his departure.
Youngsters…
In terms of youth; Newcastle look set for a bright future in terms of attacking talent with Ayoze Perez, Adam Armstrong and Adam Campbell all potential first choice strikers at St James’ Park.
Perez will be closest to the first team squad in your first season with an initial rating of 67 meaning you should be giving him some game time during the first campaign. The 20-year-old has the potential to reach a rating of 78, meaning his value is sure to rise over the next few years.
Adam Armstrong is a centre forward who has the potential to become a leading player in the Premier League. He starts off rated just 62 when you take over, but has the potential for a huge amount of development and can reach an impressive 81 rating that will make him a valuable asset to the Magpies in the future.
And finally Adam Campbell is another player who looks set to follow a similar path as Armstrong and can also make it into the 80s in terms of overall rating. The young striker has plenty of pace and over time can become a leading goal scorer for the Geordies making him one to keep an eye on.
Tactics
Newcastle’s default formation of 4-4-1-1 is worth sticking with at first and the one you should proceed with to cater for your best players.
In goal it’s an obvious choice with Krul the first choice while a back for of Janmaat, Coloccini, Smalling and Santon a solid looking defence that should bring plenty of clean sheets. Santon begins the season on loan at Inter Milan, but he should really first choice for the Magpies and so it’s worth recalling him for £480,000 as soon as you takeover.
Sissoko and Tiote are the best options in the centre of the midfield, while new signing Wanyama along with Anita and Colback ensure you have decent options when rotating the squad.
Out wide Cabella and Gouffran are the best bet, with Obertan and Ameobi good players to have on the bench given their ability to open up a game with their pace.
De Jong is most effective just behind the striker and will be the crucial link when attacking, while Cisse is a great first choice striker that has the ability to net plenty of goals during the season. Ings and Riviere also provide you with decent options upfront and can help fire you to a European place.
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