Prior to the emergence of the Longstaff brothers, it’s fair to say Newcastle United’s academy has rarely given fans something to shout about in recent memory.
Andy Carroll and Paul Dummett do represent a pathway into the first-team but the former returned to St. James’ Park a shell of the player who left in 2011 while the latter – while popular – has rarely been first-choice due to a series of injury problems. Considering a history that has seen North East-born players never make an appearance for the club in Michael Carrick and the Charlton brothers, it’s not as if the Magpies have a particularly proud history on that front. Alan Shearer was initially rejected, don’t forget.
So, have you ever thought about what Newcastle could do with players born in the area? The North-East, after all, is a hotbed of English football, but none of the 3 big sides have enjoyed sustained success since the 1950s. Well, luckily for us as we look for something to whet the appetite during the international break, Out of Context Football Manager has revealed all on Twitter.
In their simulation on how each team in the Football League would fare if their side was made up by locally born players and coached by a manager from the area too, they show that Newcastle would finish SECOND overall. Behind only Millwall who can call on the likes of Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham, a Toon side featuring three current club stars would thoroughly impress it seems.
2) Newcastle United
Points: 209
Manager: Steve Bruce
The work rate in this team. My god. You know a team is good when Danny Graham has to sit on the bench. I dont know how theyre this far up the table but somehow they've done. Steve Bruce masterclass, as per usual pic.twitter.com/tCXK1604b0
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) October 8, 2020
Carroll, Dummet and Sean Longstaff all feature (Matty was born in Rotherham) as well as the likes of Premier League talents in Dan Burn, Chris Basham and Fraser Forster. Former players Jamie Sterry and Jack Colback also feature in the starting XI alongside Sheffield Wednesday man Adam Reach and Sunderland academy graduate George Honeyman.
What a story.