What is the all-time Newcastle XI?

From years of battling for the Premier League title with Manchester United, Newcastle United endured a spell of success in the 1990s. Drama has unfolded in recent years, with the struggling ownership of Mike Ashley leading to two relegations in the past ten years. Its safe to say Newcastle are a club struggling for form.

In this article, we go back through the years, from the FA cup victory of 1955, up to today's team of 2018. In this article we will go through the all-time best 11 of Newcastle United. From the likes of Shay Given and Steve Harper right up to the all-time great Alan Shearer. We go through this with the typical, ordinary 4-4-2 formation.

Defense

Shay Given accumulated 354 appearances for Newcastle.

Probably the toughest decision of the team with the choice of goalkeeper. With the likes of Srnicek (152 appearances), Harper (157 appearances) and Given (354 appearances) all battling it out. However, with a total of 113 Premier League clean sheets Shay Given has to get the number one spot.

Now for the defenders. Firstly in at left back has to be Frank Hudspeth, a local lad who also won the F.A. cup with Newcastle United. With the second most club appearances at 472, his position is non-negotiable. To fill in at right back, there were only really two contenders: a player known greatly for the offside trap, Bill McCracken, and the player known for using the team as a stepping stone, Mathieu Debuchy. Although, he only spent a year at Newcastle, he was a deadly full back, noticeably in the match against Manchester United in which he scored. Mathieu Debuchy has to be the right back choice.

In at centre backs has to be all-time great Bobby Moncur and alongside him Philippe Albert. Although competition would be there from Newcastle's most recent great captain Fabricio Coloccini, Philippe Albert endured a great 5 year spell with Newcastle United gaining 96 appearances and 8 goals. He would make a great partner for Bobby Moncur.

Midfield

One of the all-time greats, Peter Beardsley.

When it comes to picking Newcastle United's best XI, the midfield is always the hardest to decide. With legends including: Gary Speed,Peter Beardsley alongside more recent greats like Yohan Cabaye, it really does choose to be a problem.

First up would be the left and right sided wingers. On the right hand-side is non-negotiably Peter Beardsley. Throughout his two spells at Newcastle United Beardsley bagged 276 appearances and 108 goals. Based on these stats alone Peter Beardsley is always going t be one of the greatest wingers ever to wear black and white. On the left hand side, would be a great debate between Nolberto Solano and Laurent Robert. In their time at Newcastle United they both bagged a lot of goals with Solano taking 37 goals and Robert taking 22 goals. Although Solano took more goals, Laurent Robert was a magician on the pitch and so he would start as the right winger.

In the centre of midfield, we find ourselves with many contenders: Cabaye, Ginola, Speed, Asprilla and Gascoigne. Out of all the contenders, the Newcastle greatest XI would have Gary Speed, due to consistency and Paul Gascoigne, due to his character and unpredictability in the central of their midfield.

Attack

X

The first choice for the attack is simple. Alan Shearer is the Premier League's all-time top scorer, with 260 goals. Joining him in the front two could be one of many strikers. For instance, Demba Ba, Pappis Cisse and Les Ferdinand could all make the cut. However, Ba only spent a short time at the club making only 54 appearances. Cisse, would also miss the cut due to a poor goals to game ratio, scoring only 37 goals in 117 appearances. On that note, the second choice striker must be Alan Shearer's partner in crime Les Ferdinand. Ferdinand, in his Newcastle career, made 68 appearances and scored 41 goals.

Final XI: Shay Given, Mathieu Debuchy, Bobby Moncur, Philippe Albert, Frank Hudspeth, Peter Beardsley, Gary Speed, Paul Gascoigne, Laurent Robert, Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand.