6ft 6in Hornicek part of new cycle
Leaky Newcastle kept just eight clean sheets in the Premier League last season and conceded 55 goals, 15th overall with only relegated Burnley, West Ham and Wolves plus Leeds and Tottenham below them. Newcastle's outfield players clearly did not offer enough protection, but goalkeeper Nick Pope made a handful of significant errors leading to goals while Aaron Ramsdale never fully convinced during…
Newcastle United's pursuit of a new goalkeeper to bolster their defense this summer has led them to sign Czech international Lukas Hornicek. The 6ft 6in defender is expected to bring an added dimension to the team as they embark on a new cycle under head coach Mattias Jaissle. The club has a history of targeting young foreign talent, having previously signed Jaouen, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba, making Hornicek something of an experienced contrast.
Despite his stature, Hornicek will have little time to acclimatize to the physical Premier League, but his ability to play out from the back could prove invaluable in preventing goals. The club's reliance on their defense to save the season is clear, with only eight clean sheets in the Premier League last season and a defensive record that saw them languish in 15th place.
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