Not many Newcastle United players have covered themselves in glory this season.
It has been a bruising campaign both on and off the pitch and there are plenty of mitigating factors involved, such as the relentless fixture schedule.
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Quotes from Eddie Howe on Newcastle United losing Alexander Isak. It reads: "Losing Alex was a considerable blow for us."
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However, this Newcastle United team look now like a force of diminishing returns, and it has been the worst season many of their top stars have endured on Tyneside.
Here, Geordie Boot Boys rates the Newcastle United players so far this season.
Goalkeepers
Nick Pope – 6
Nick Pope remains capable of producing fine saves but they are no longer making up for the flaws in his game.
The goalkeeper has never been the most adept with the ball at his feet and those struggles have been more than evident this season.
Furthermore, Pope has made a series of high profile errors this season, and that has seen him lose his place in the team.
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A quote from Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon on Sunderland reading: "They're not a very good team compared to us."
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Aaron Ramsdale – 6
Aaron Ramsdale has now replaced Pope in the starting lineup but his future looks unclear.
Can anyone seriously say that the Southampton loanee has done enough to warrant a permanent move? Ramsdale has not proved convincing at Newcastle, and does not look like a huge upgrade on Pope.
Defenders
Kieran Trippier – 6
This has looked like a season too far for Kieran Trippier, who admittedly has had to play more games than perhaps one would have imagined due to injury problems elsewhere.
He’s a modern-day legend of the club and deserves a huge amount of respect but watching him in recent weeks has been painful.
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Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the stands at St James' Park, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks to the ground
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Tino Livramento – 7
Tino Livramento can be an elite full-back. Tino Livramento has huge flaws. Both of these can be true at the same time.
Indeed, Livramento is a crucial player at Newcastle but the defending for Sunderland’s second goal in the Tyne-Wear derby is enough to make the blood boil.
He’s looked off it in recent weeks and injury problems have proven costly.
Malick Thiaw – 8
What a player Malick Thiaw is.
Yes, his form has tailed off in recent weeks, but that is surely because he’s had to play so much football.
Thiaw has been a brilliant signing for Newcastle, and this season would have been even uglier without him.
Sven Botman – 7
Sven Botman may never be as good as he was in first season at the club following so many injuries but he’s not proven a disaster this season.
Time will tell if he can ever scale previous heights.
Sven Botman in action for Newcastle United in the Champions League against Athletic Club.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Dan Burn – 6
Like with Trippier, criticising Dan Burn feels painful. He was, of course, brilliant at the start of the season but the defender has since struggled.
He’s not alone in that but this season has surely shown that he’s no longer a starter.
Fabian Schar – 7
Excellent at the start of the season, Fabian Schar also no longer looks like a starter.
Hopefully, however, Newcastle fans get to see him enjoy what is almost certainly the final part of his career on Tyneside as Schar is set to return from ankle surgery in April.
Lewis Hall – 9
Lewis Hall is one of few players to actually emerge from this season with credit.
After putting some early season injury problems behind him, Hall has established himself as one of the best left-backs in the world.
Newcastle must build around him.
Midfielders
Bruno Guimaraes – 8
Bruno Guimaraes has stepped up this season. Though currently injured, Guimaraes is still very much Newcastle United’s best player.
The Brazilian has been a driving force, scoring crucial goals at crucial times.
In a season of change, Guimaraes remains a constant.
Bruno Guimaraes celebrates after scoring for Newcastle United against Crystal Palace.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Sandro Tonali – 6
It has not been a good season for Sandro Tonali.
Now, the idea of a club coming in with big money for him this summer would hardly be a disaster.
It’s not that the Italian has been dreadful, just that he’s not playing anywhere near as well as supporters know he can.
Joelinton – 6
Joelinton is surely on the way down now.
The midfield enforcer is still capable of some dynamic performances, but they are becoming few and far between.
He has not enough on the ball all season and his effectiveness off it is starting to wane.
Joe Willock – 5
Few would have imagined Joe Willock playing so often this deep in the PIF era. Still, Willock has played well at times this season, although it seems obvious that he’s way off the level we saw a few years ago.
Like with so many others, it’s felt like a season too far.
Jacob Ramsey – 6
It took a while for Jacob Ramsey to get going following his £43million move from Aston Villa, but we have seen some promising signs.
Frustratingly, however, Ramsey has been inconsistent for Newcastle this season and the jury is out on whether he will be a good signing. Deserves another season to show that.
Lewis Miley – 9
Lewis Miley has been another standout.
Indeed, Miley is playing the best football of his Newcastle career, and even excelled when playing at right-back.
The kind of player the club must build around.
Lewis Miley playing for Newcastle United against Manchester United.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Forwards
Anthony Elanga – 4
Anthony Elanga has so far proven to be Newcastle’s worst signing of the PIF era. A big claim perhaps, but it’s more of a reflection on their hit rate prior to this season on the recruitment front.
Frankly, Elanga has not played well for Newcastle consistently enough. Another poor season next time out would be a disaster.
Jacob Murphy – 6
Jacob Murphy misses Alexander Isak. His production levels have dropped (four assists across all competitions) and those trademark crosses are drying up.
Murphy will likely continue on as a squad player but that should be about it.
Harvey Barnes – 7
Harvey Barnes has scored important goals this season, but he continues to divide opinion.
Games can tend to pass him by and while 14 goals in all competitions is a decent haul, he can tend to leave supporters a little cold with some of his performances.
Anthony Gordon – 7
Anthony Gordon is perhaps Newcastle’s most frustrating player. Yes, he’s scored goals in the Champions League – but not really against anyone you wouldn’t expect an England international to enjoy success against.
Gordon deserves some credit for turning into a striker this season and there’s been enough to suggest that he’s got another few levels to go to. If he’s really going to be a big player, next season needs to be a big one.
Nick Woltemade playing for Newcastle United against Chelsea.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Nick Woltemade – 7
Nick Woltemade might never be the kind of striker Newcastle are looking for but ten goals in his first season is a decent return from a player thrust into a difficult situation.
Is he perfect? Absolutely not. However, Woltemade does attract a lot of criticism and while he’s not above it, his struggles do need to be placed into context.
The German is playing in a team who have hardly functioned, while being moved back into midfield.
Newcastle have a lot of problems and Woltemade is very far down the list.
Yoane Wissa – 4
It’s difficult to be too critical of Yoane Wissa given he is coming off the worst injury of his career but some of his performances do test that theory.
PIF weren’t comfortable with signing Wissa and the move has so far turned out to be a disaster. Three goals in 22 games after paying big money for a player to hit the ground running isn’t what anyone wanted.
Next season, if he’s still here, will be the time to judge him fully.
William Osula – 6
There have been some bright moments from William Osula this season, including a brilliant goal against Manchester United.
Still, Osula remains inconsistent and has never really done enough to suggest he can make the striking berth his own.
Another season here would be wise for his development but it’s hard to imagine Newcastle being much weaker if he was sold.
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