Scout report: Newcastle fans on Danny Guthrie

Vital Reading asked three Newcastle fans their opinion on our new signing Danny Guthrie and how we they think he would do for us, explaining his strengths and weaknesses as a player.

We asked avid Newcastle fan Matt (@swanzmatt), NUFC.nu writer Jake (@jakejackmann) and NUFCblog.co.uk writer Dan (@93_Dannn).

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1) In summary, are you disappointed to see Guthrie leave Newcastle?

Matt: Absolutely. Whenever Guthrie was called upon, he did a really good job for us. He put a very mature performance in vs Man United away, also against Liverpool at St James Park he put in a outstanding performance. I still felt he could have been a great backup to Tiote and Cabaye, it was going to be difficult to get in front of them in the first team, cant fault him though, always gave his all.

Jake: This is a difficult one, as I`m happy for him as he clearly wants first team football which he will now get at Reading, but he would have been useful with the Europa League this year. I`d rather have kept him as a fringe player, but I`m glad to see there are still players who want to play, rather than chasing as much money as possible. He was very good this past season when he played, looked assured on the ball. Sadly he was never good enough to force his way past Tiote and Cabaye. This is a positive for Reading though, they are getting a proven Premier League star who at times looks like one of the best in the league.

Dan: I am disapointed to see him leave as he played a lot of games last season and as you know we had a great season. He is still relitively young and with us in the Europa League next year we need as many bodies as we can get but I understand a young player wants to play regular first-team football.

2) What were his strengths?

Matt: His strengths are his tackling ability, his movement going forward and his long passing is fantastic. You guys will definitely score a lot of goals with his passing ability.

Jake: He is very comfortable on the ball, and he can dictate the pace of a game. He can play some superb long passes; he can also play quick passing football when it`s appropriate. Danny can also score some brilliant goals from distance as he did against Fulham last year and several when we were in the Championship. He is more of a playmaker who likes to sit deep and control the pace of the game, he only occasionally goes forward.

Dan: His strengths are he has an excellent range of passing, a good shot and can play either holding-midfield or attacking-midfield.

3) What are his weaknesses?

Matt: Weaknesses are his poor fatigue sometimes, which showed in the latter part of the season. He would always seem to be running out of steam after maybe 60 to 65 minutes in the game. Also should have scored a lot more goals than he did, should be shooting more. Guthers is certainly capable of it.

Jake: Sadly Danny has been haunted by injuries throughout his career which I feel has held him back. If he wasn`t injured towards the end of 2011, then Pardew would have had a dilemma on his hands, as Danny was playing so well at that time. He is inconsistent at times, some games he is invisible, this normally comes against the lesser sides in the league. Sometimes his decision making under pressure is shaky.

Dan: His weaknesses are sometimes he tries to pass his way out of tricky situations where it would be better just to clear his lines. He goes through spells where he picks up a lot of niggling injuries and even though you might of heard he can play right-midfield, he can’t.

4) Did he have a ‘bad boy’ attitude or was he a good down-to-earth guy?

Matt: Guthrie always came across as a good guy, he had a bad reputation in his first season with us after the horror tackle on Craig Fagan, but in reality it was just frustration at losing at home ,and you would never hear stories about him outside of football genuinley think hes a nice guy.

Jake: He certainly isn`t a ‘bad boy` when it comes to football, he is a hard working professional who doesn`t have disciplinary issues. Off the pitch he is shy and can sometimes come across as rude. Some fans have said that he isn`t very welcoming to them when asking for autographs and pictures. At the end of last season, he didn`t come out on the lap of honour which was disappointing. I`d say he was a complicated character.

Dan: In his four-years at Newcastle he seemed a genuine down-to-earth guy and player, rarely gets cautioned/sent-off [except that one vs Hull…]. He didn’t kick up a fuss when in three out of his four seasons he was with us he was always back-up and you never got the impression he give any less than 100%.

5) Do you feel he deserved more chances in a Newcastle shirt or did injury hinder his progress?

Matt: I personally would have kept him, absolutely. I remember despite playing well, he got dropped against Wolves at home because Cabaye was back, he voiced his dissapointment that he didnt start, in reality Pardew would always pick Cabaye if fit. Guthrie’s injuries did hinder him, no doubt about it he has the ability, he could have easily stayed picked up wages and sat on the bench. Credit to him, I think he will be fantastic for you guys, he will create a lot of goals from his passing ability, wish him the best of luck.

Jake: Injury definitely hindered his progress. He was playing better than Cabaye at one stage and then got injured. If he had stayed fit, he may have secured a first team place and signed a new contract. He got a lot of chances last season when he was fit though. A 4-3-3 formation was used where he played with Tiote and Cabaye. He would have got even more games this year, if he had chosen to stay.

Dan: I do feel he deserved more chances but last season with Tiote and Cabaye ahead of him it was always going to be a tough ask for him to cement a regular place in the team. Injuries did hamper him to a certain extent but he and everyone else knew that once Tiote and Cabaye were fit, Guthrie would be out of the team.

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