After looking at Newcastle’s best goalkeepers of the decade, our next stop is the fullbacks.
We’ve had some good players on the right and left of defence over the past 10 years, but who is number one?
7: Daryl Janmaat
Brought in to replace Mathieu Debuchy in 2014 after impressing at the World Cup for Holland, Janmaat was very hit and miss in black and white.
He was energetic, providing a lot of support in attack, but his defensive ability often left a lot to be desired.
Janmaat spent two full seasons with Newcastle, joining Watford in 2016.
6: DeAndre Yedlin
Janmaat’s replacement was DeAndre Yedlin. The American had enjoyed an alright spell at Sunderland in the Premier League, but really excelled with Newcastle in the Championship.
His pace is a massive outlet, and a key reason why he’s played so many games for the Magpies.
In the Premier League he’s often been found out, but he’s still more than capable of holding his own. A good character in the dressing room and a player who has been worth every penny of the £5 million he cost.
5: Davide Santon
A right-footed left-back who joined from Inter Milan in 2011, Santon was once tipped as the next big thing in Italy. His debut season in England was excellent, helping Newcastle finish fifth in the Premier League.
Like a lot of modern fullbacks, Santon was excellent going forwards, able to cut in on his stronger foot. But at the back, he was far from the full package. He returned to Inter in 2015.
4: Danny Simpson
Danny Simpson was a proper old school defender for Newcastle. Going forwards he was non existent. His delivery from out wide was awful, but that didn’t matter.
Simpson was an excellent defender, joining in January 2010 after a successful loan spell. He helped Newcastle win promotion, and was then solid in the Premier League as well.
A decent player who probably didn’t get the credit he deserved at the time.
3: Mathieu Debuchy
The Frenchman arrived in January 2013, taking Simpson’s place in the team. For me, Debuchy was Newcastle’s best right-back of the decade.
He combined brilliantly with Yohan Cabaye, and was competent at the back as well as providing a decent outlet in attack. His form earned him a move to Arsenal in 2014, where he struggled to have the same impact.
2: Paul Dummett
What a decade it’s been for Paul Dummett. He had loan spells at Gateshead and St Mirren, now he’s a rock solid Premier League player.
Dummett has come of age in the past couple of years, converting the doubters into fans with his no nonsense style. Dummett isn’t your typical modern footballer. When he plays at left-back, you’re not going to see him flying forwards and getting assists.
His job is to keep the ball out of his own net. Often playing as the left-sided centre-back, Dummett has came into his own, reading the game excellently. The 28-year-old deserves all the credit in the world for his rise in the last 10 years.
1: Jose Enrique
Jose Enrique endured a rocky start to his Newcastle career, but that came in the previous decade. From January 2010 to his departure in August 2011, the Spaniard was sensational at left-back.
He came of age in the Championship, finally getting to grips with the physicality of English football. But he was also able to do a job going forward, powerfully driving up the pitch in both the Championship and the Premier League.
His form in the 2010/11 season earned him a move to Liverpool which received a negative response from Toon fans, who eventually got their own back when Enrique ended up in goal on his first game back at St James’ Park.
But in hindsight, what a player he was for us.
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