I must admit that when I saw ex Newcastle defender Paul Dummett had signed for the Latics, I was quietly pleased for both him and for you, although I had hoped he’d one day sign for Bristol City, so Portishead could have Dummy living there (sorry). Seriously, I think he’s a good player who can help you out with his experienced head, astute positional sense and calm demeanour. I thought it was a crying shame he’d been without a club since leaving SJP at the end of last season, so let’s hope following in the footsteps of another limited but honest player, James Perch, this is a mutually beneficial union, however brief. Please don’t think Dummett’s with you just to pick up a wage; he’s a proper professional and will do the job that is asked of him and more. One of the good things that Nice Guy Eddie Howe has done since he’s been in charge, is to allow former players who become free agents to continue training with the club, to help them keep sharp during their search for a fresh start.
Anyway, what are you getting for the next couple of months? A vastly experienced 33-year-old defender, who has mainly played as a left back, but prefers (and is arguably better as a) centre half. He isn’t a commanding, snarling presence or a no-holds-barred marauding stopper, but rather a calm and assured ball player who is decent in the air. Over 12 seasons on Tyneside, he made 196 appearances, the overwhelming majority in the Premier League, and scored 4 goals, the most celebrated of which was a diving header from about 18 inches above the turf in a bonkers 3-2 League Cup win away to Palace in September 2014.
You may be surprised to learn that, despite being born on North Tyneside, Dummy is a Welsh international. His international career wasn’t a stellar one, making only 5 appearances and being left out of the 2016 European Championships squad, but it’s a decent thing to have on your CV. Similarly, his greatest achievement at club level was in black and white stripes, but not with Newcastle. He spent two loan spells with St Mirren in 2012/2013, sandwiching a return to SJP to make his Magpies debut in an FA Cup game against Brighton (we lost). With The Buddies he not only made 30 appearances and scored his first senior goal against St Johnstone but played the full game in St Mirren’s unexpected triumph in the Scottish League Cup final, being instrumental in setting up the second goal in a 3-2 win over Hearts. Whatever he achieves in the game, he will always have a winner’s medal to cherish, and he was never going to get one of those with NUFC was he?
Generally, he played about 50% of games, often filling in across the back line for injuries and suspensions, with notable highlights including goals at home to Liverpool in November 2013 and Manchester United in January 2016, both rescuing draws right at the death. His other goal was in a thoroughly enjoyable 4-2 win away to Leicester on a Friday night in an empty ground at the tail end of the COVID-blighted 20/21 campaign. Looking at the stats for his time on Tyneside, his season totals veered between 45 appearances in the 16/17 Championship winning side, to zero minutes on the pitch in 22/23, though he did get a runner-up medal when we lost the League Cup final to Manchester United. In fact, his last 3 seasons saw him hardly play at all, as injury and the appearance of better players post takeover relegated him to minor walk-on roles.
Sadly, his final campaign will probably be remembered for a wholly unnecessary wrestling move on Calvert-Lewin that gave Everton their injury time equalising penalty in a dogshit draw on a Wednesday night in early April 2024, though he did make other appearances after that. He rang the curtain down on his Newcastle career with an injury-time appearance off the bench in the season ending 4-2 win away at Brentford. The potential offer of a further 1-year contract extension for both him and Mitt Ritchie (who seemed to get 1 year deals every year, despite hardly ever playing) was withdrawn after European football failed to materialise for Newcastle in 24/25. Hence, this is where we are. Good luck to him and good luck to Wigan.
Enjoyable read and appreciated
ReplyDeleteThank you