Needs and wants – Difficulty differentiating between the two | OneFootball

Newcastle United fans watched on as their team picked up all three points on Saturday.

After a bright opening, Eddie Howe’s side then dropped off their high press, as Southampton successfully and bravely played through it after a shaky start, rather than just clearing the ball aimlessly up the pitch.

The Saints had the edge for 15-20 minutes as Newcastle United looked to find their feet in this opening game and not use up valuable energy chasing lost causes, the first game of a season always physically challenging.

That physical challenge going up so many notches with the Schar sending off on 28 minutes, with it ending up United having to manage 73 minutes with a man down, including time added on at the end of each half.

Not only did Newcastle United’s 10 men magnificently preserve a clean sheet, they also took their chance when it came. Ironically, a ‘brave’ but lazy pass out from McCarthy in the Southampton goal, was easily intercepted by Alexander Isak and within seconds in the back of the net, as the striker from Sweden fed Joelinton for a super cool finish.

Anyway, difficult to know what to make of that opening match, in terms of what now the rest of the season holds. Although that hasn’t stopped some Newcastle United fans!

A very vocal minority of Newcastle United fans seeing disaster as inevitable unless big signings are made…

This to me is where ‘wants’ and desperate ‘needs’ end up so confused. In my opinion anyway.

Yes, I think it would be good if Marc Guehi did sign for Newcastle United, or indeed another credible central defensive target. You can’t have too many quality players.

However, to make out that this would be some kind of a disaster if another central defender isn’t signed this month, is just bizarre.

Fabian Schar has been arguably Newcastle United’s best player since Eddie Howe and the new/current owners rescued us from Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce (who didn’t even think Schar deserved a place in the team ahead of the likes of Ciaran Clark and others, even midfielder Isaac Hayden played ahead of the Swiss international in central defence at times).

Schar was an integral part of the meanest Premier League defence in the 2022/23 season, then brilliantly held it together last season as so many around him became unavailable.

Then he was one of Switzerland’s top performers at the Euros in the summer.

Yet now, it will be apparently certain doom if Fabian Schar isn’t instantly replaced. Which will surely be the case if say £65m, £70m, is committed on Marc Guehi.

Schar is only 32 and arguably has never been in better form.

Yes, Newcastle United do need to bring in another right footed central defender at some point, but there is no panic and desperation at this point.

People even point to the suspension for Fabian Schar as Newcastle United have to even more desperately bring in a new right sided central defender NOW!

Judging by everything we already know about Eddie Howe, even if massive money was paid and Marc Guehi arrived today, I doubt very much he would be thrown straight into the Bournemouth match on Sunday, nor even very likely the Spurs match in 11 days time. Signing after signing, Eddie Howe has shown he will take the brave route of giving new players whatever time he thinks they need, before starting them. Bruno, Botman, Gordon and so on… all of them looked after before eventually becoming regular starters.

Fabian Schar actually only misses two Premier League matches, as the cup one at Forest is the other game he is suspended for.

I find it mad that some Newcastle United fans think a £100m+ commitment (which is what Guehi would be with wages included) should suddenly become money no object, just because a player is missing a couple of PL matches.

I am not saying this would be the long-term answer in any way.

However, if Emil Krafth starts at Bournemouth I won’t be thinking this is a nightmare.

The same if say Lloyd Kelly was paired with Dan Burn. Playing two left footed central defenders isn’t ideal as a permanent arrangement, just as two right footed ones isn’t, though that isn’t seen as negatively generally for some reason. However,, from what I have seen of Lloyd Kelly, I think just like Sven Botman, he can play as the right sided one if needed. Once again, I wouldn’t be losing any sleep if this was going to be the case on Sunday.

The same of course on the right side of attack, yes I would love to see a high quality versatile right winger signed, but both Murphy and Almiron have done well these past two seasons AND Gordon can play there as well, with Barnes on the left.

Newcastle’s progress and relative success has been built largely on buying the right (quality) players at the right price.

Paying way over the top on signings is a route to future misery, the same if Newcastle end up just buying somebody/anybody to appease the Newcastle United fans.

Newcastle United are clearly willing to spend in this window and if say it doesn’t happen and a new central defender and/or right winger has to wait until January or even next summer, then so be it.

If say we were left with no quality striker option for example in the long-term, then that would be a desperate NEED, not a want.