Defensive crisis looms large

Simpson out for three to four weeks Well it was always going to happen wasn't it? Mind you, even I'm surprised with how quickly this one has come round to bite us on the behind.

I am of course referring to our spate of defensive injuries which have decided to make an appearance, just days after the closure of the transfer window when nothing can actually be done about it.

Of course the counter-argument regarding the lack of defensive depth is that something should have been done about it whilst the window was open. I know that, you know that, I think we all know that, but it wasn't and now we are faced with the situation we now find ourselves in.

That situation includes a lengthly lay-off for Ryan Taylor who has done some damage to his Achilles and is out for a case of months rather than weeks. Now we have an injury to Danny Simpson to contend with along with an injury to Fabricio Coloccini to consider. Simpson is likely to be out for a month whilst the seriousness of Captain Colo's injury is as yet unknown although the fact that Argentina haven't sent him home fills me with a small piece of hope.

As we all know injuries are part and parcel of the game, but it's just Newcastle United's luck that they all happen at once in a position where we should have been looking to add numbers over the summer regardless. Still it is what it is and now we have to hope the squad can cope with these absentees.

Realistically it is only the injuries to Coloccini and Simpson that should cause the most concern. Ryan Taylor is a valuable squad player of course, but the other two are two of our regular starting back four which is what we need to patch up before heading to Everton next weekend.

Amazingly we are still alright, just. Mike Williamson will come in (and more than likely be the scapegoat for EVERYTHING that goes wrong) for Coloccini whilst I'd imagine that Vurnon Anita will fill in for Simpson, especially with Cheik Tiote hoping to be fit for the game at Goodison a week on Monday.

We can get by, just, but if someone else gets injured in defence we are screwed. Of course it's just something that must be dealt with, but I can't help but feeling that all of this could have been averted had we added another defender over the summer.

Onwards, upwards and all that...