Options for the front.

After a pretty successful Transfer Window, in which our midfield was strengthened, it feels fair to say that, although we have plenty of options in that department, the opening two matches of the season have asked questions of both the front and the back. Today, we’re going to focus strictly on the options Newcastle have up front. Watching Emmanuel Riviere struggle to hold his own against Man City and only show glimpses of his potential, I expected to see him step up against Aston Villa, but, again, he was fairly non-existent. This is, by the way, no comment on him as a footballer. It takes players time to bed in and it takes some longer than others, and, with Riviere, I believe we have a player who will be something of a slow-burner on Tyneside. His progress will also depend on who Pardew thinks best suits him as a strike partner. Out of all of the signings NUFC made throughout the summer, he is the one that arrived with, perhaps, the least fanfare (Colback crossing the Wear-Tyne divide; de Jong and Cabella arriving under the banner of ‘midfield maestros’ and Janmaat impressing for Holland in the World Cup) and yet, at the minute, it is he who the Geordie faithful are looking towards to spearhead this campaign. After the two aforementioned performances, this may appear to be a something of a gloomy situation we’re heading for, but, look at Pardew’s options: 1. Papis Cisse. Since his barnstorming debut in the Premier League, Toon fans don’t need to be told that Cisse has struggled to reach the same heady heights, causing some to doubt his ability. But, should he return from his injury with no problems and, with the right support, perhaps from Riviere (or Goufrann), it is possible for him to rediscover his knack of finding the back of the net on a consistent basis. 2. Facundo Ferreyra. On a season-long loan, it wouldn’t be right for me to pass comment on a player I have yet to see play, but, I think it says a lot about Newcastle that they have this young man on their books (as back-up) for a year and are not looking to him to bang in the goals as much as they did last term, with one Loic Remy, who, of course, was also on loan. 3. Ayoze Perez. When 21-year old Perez signed for Newcastle early on in the summer, I, for one, thought he was certainly one for the future, but, after coming on in our opening matches, a quick burst of pace and the urgency to get into the box is definitely a plus to our game this season, as well as seasons to come. He was incredibly unlucky not to make his mark in the best possible way against Man City, so, if a few goals come from him this season, would he not be considered a bargain for less than 2 million? 4. Youan Goufrann. Does anyone else remember when forwards were exactly that? For all the players you could list that have been branded with the social media term of ‘Pardewed’, Goufrann is the one that nobody seems to have picked up on. Newcastle have always looked stronger with him up front. Not necessarily an out-and-out striker, he has always impressed me when playing just behind the main forward, particularly when that was Loic Remy last season. Surely, to get the best out of this footballer, wouldn’t it would be better to allow him to repeat this role, rather than push him out to the left, because you don’t know quite what to do with him? 5. Siem de Jong. I read something on our summer transfers and all it said of Siem de Jong was ‘Newcastle have now signed the right brother’. Luuk aside, Siem can play as a striker, but, with the forwards I have just listed, it is my humble opinion, that, once fit and confident, he plays in the role of the number he has been given. Should he be positioned up front, it may turn into a mirror situation of the Cabaye fiasco, in which we were looking to one player to both create the goals from the engine of midfield and to score them all at once. From what I know, de Jong as attacking midfielder. There, he can see more of the ball and, indeed, more of the play, which will allow him to create, as well as score goals. So, despite the distinct lack of goals in the opening two matches, it is nowhere near cause for panic stations. Because of the lack of Premier League experience and the waiting for Cisse to return from injury, patience is key. Just give it time, Geordies.