The Newcastle Evening Chronicle is reporting that Kevin Keegan has told Michael Owen he intends to keep him as captain of Newcastle United, at least for the time being.
Michael Owen – captaincy will be confidence boost for England striker
So Michael Owen will be Newcastle’s captain when they visit Arsenal at the Emirates for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round. That means we have had 3 captains in the last 3 weeks with Alan Smith having recently been appointed captain by Sam Allardyce, after Geremi held the position from the beginning of the season.
While this will be good news for Owen, and will hopefully inspire him to some better displays, and more goals, on the other hand it’s bad news for Alan Smith.
We really wonder whether Alan is Kevin’s kind of player. He certainly isn’t in midfield or out wide, and he doesn’t score enough goals up front.
Alan Smith – may find it difficult under Keegan
Keegan said he had spoken to Shay Given after making Owen captain against Bolton, and Shay had no problems at all with Kevin’s decision. 😀
Keegan told the Evening Chronicle this morning:
“I looked at the players I had got, and I honestly believed Michael was the most experienced player on the pitch, along with Shay.â€
“I told Shay I would like Michael to lead it from the front, and he said ‘Fine – I fully understand. I’ve got no problems with that.â€
“I think we’ll leave it with him at the moment, and if he comes to me and says he enjoys it, then we can look at it longer term.â€
Let’s know what you think about Michael as captain, and whether you think Smith has a future under Kevin at the club.
Comments and opinions very welcome – just keep the language decent for the bairns. 😀
54 comments so far
smc894
Jan 21, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Comment #1Good
MattyDread
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Comment #2It’s Keegan’s style to select a striker as skipper, but I just don’t know whether Owen’s enough of a talker on the pitch. I might be wrong tho. I suppose a referee is more likely to respect the words of MO more than other players…
As for Smith, I think he’ll come good once he gets settled back into playing up front. He’s probably fourth choice striker tho so defo not a good player to pick as captain.
Black and White Blood
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Comment #3I have no probs with that – taylor long term!
Black and White Blood
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Comment #4MattyDread – Do you know, I think KK will try and mould Smith into a defensive Midfield, a Batty type of player!!! I know I sound a little bit potty, but you never know…
HonoraryGeordie
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Comment #5Owen is a much better choice than Smith as captain, but it should really have been between Big Stevey Taylor and Shay. But hey, who am I to question the King? 😀
Owen will come into his own under Kevs playing style! As for Smith, he will definitely have a future with the club, he is wasted in midfield, but he is a much better option than the fat aussie, I mean Sir Alex felt his link up play was good enough to put him in midfield, so he is capable of being a great foil for either Owen or Martins. That is unless Dean Ashton is on his way in 😀
ronaldeano
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Comment #6Not Allan Smith. We were getting beat 6-0 by Manure and he got himself sent off late on for his mouth. If Smith opened his mouth and spouted things to help the team like a captain should, then yes make him the captain, but he sprouted a load of bullshit to the ref and got himself suspended. Is this the type of behaviour we want from our captain?
toon sooth
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Comment #7I hope that Owens game improves with this appointment, as his game has been non existent at times, come on Micheal show us you’re not a has-been.
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Comment #8Best choice for Captain and questioned the decisions on Sat without being abusive (unlike Smith). He also tried to organise Nzogbia and Duff who kept drifting out of position on Saturday.
He will revel in being the leader. Owen has always played better and responded to Managers when they give him assurances that he is the main man.
He has even Captained England on a number of occassions, so that says it all.
It is too early for Taylor. At the moment it would put too much pressure on him, when he should be concentrating on improving his game. Whereas Owen thrives under pressure and always has.
thelongshanks
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Comment #9Cant wait to see geremi’s face when he comes back.
Punk Skunk
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Comment #10in the manure game Smith couldn’t believe the shit reffing & went & told him…But stiles didn’t have the balls to just take it, even with one lousy minute left, even with us 6-0 down, partly due to him-tosser, sorry, BIASED TOSSER!..i reckon the last ‘goal’, that didn’t even cross the line was the final straw!..But hey, Owen looked up for it on sat with the armband, pity he didn’t get much proper service tho’!..
…Howay the Lads!..
evildick
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Comment #11I don’t mind owen having the armband, I think it will inspire him. He will be a much better player under keegan, and I think he’ll finally come good for us.
Smith will be good as a backup striker.
milner fan
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Comment #12@Black and White Blood i fully agree smith loves to get stuck in, i think he would help break up attacks. He can play football every now n then so could start attacks from the back.
Gordon d
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Comment #13I think we will get the best out of Michael Owen only if he gets the right service.
Tez131
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Comment #14Smith is NOT a midfielder!!
He is a striker / Forward and when in midfield he puts in stupid striker tackles. His contant yellow and red cards prove this.
He looked a decent player when put upfront for a few games, and can link up play quite well which lets our other stiker, Martins or Owen play more advance on the defensive line.
then FINALLY we can play balls in behind there defence and watch our quick strikers do what they do best…
But for this to work we need creative Attacking Midfielder to Smith to link up with. My thoughts would be Van Der Vaart, playing in Germany and they can usually adapt quickly to Premier League.
Anyone Agree?
Nomis_jade
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #15I think its a good decision. and i hope it inspires owen. Smith has got to be played up front if anywhere. he gives away t many free kicks in the mid and his passing isnt cutting edge. I would start with ameobi against arsenal though and bring smith on later if need be. Thats assuming dukes is still injured.
Finally i dont know about the rest of you but i cant w8 for the arsenal game already. The more games the merrier. Its such exciting times!
Nomis_jade
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:48 PM
Comment #16we got to e really fired up if we are giong to beat arsenal. But if we really go at them and put them under pressure i reckon we can beat them!
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:48 PM
Comment #17I think the Smith arguments are pointless. Keegan will sell him in the summer.
ronaldeano
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Comment #18I do Tez131, Van Der Vaart is one of the best players ive seen in ages, he’s still quite young. VDV would be the perfect signing if we could get him!
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Comment #19Wenger confirmed he is most likely to play the kids in the FA Cup and more experienced players in the Carling Cup tomorrow.
Question is which game would be rather win? FA Cup on Sat, or the league game against them next Tues? They have two squads to choose from, we don’t. So Keegan will have to be clever on who he picks for each game.
Nomis_jade
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Comment #20Id try and win the FA game. Surely?
Punk Skunk
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Comment #21Wenger needs to win the league game more…He prob. also feels it’s easier to beat us with kids, at home!..Two different teams then. We don’t have much choice really, do we?..
Punk Skunk
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #22Maybe we should play our kids v theirs, that might keep it interesting!?!..
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Comment #23Personally I’d prefer to go for the league game. We need the points. If we beat Arsenal in the FA Cup we still have to get past Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man Utd.
I’d love to see our own kids given a chance against Arsenal in the FA Cup. Lua Lua, Tozer, Carroll, Kadar, and a mix of the first team.
Then for the league game go all guns blazing.
We can beat Arsenal, but we cannot beat them twice in 4 days.
cooldj
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Comment #24completely random but is it true that geovanni dos santos’ contract expires this summer. he wouldn’t come to us but i’m still interested.
ObaFan2
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Comment #25Lead from the front and It’s not like Owen has never been captain before !
Typical KK choice and I certainly have no problems with that.
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Comment #26cooldj – yes he has 6 months left, with no sign of it being renewed. barca said they would wait till the summer to open talks. mort and keegan should go and get him now in my books.
there was even talk of him going on loan until the end of the season.
Punk Skunk
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Comment #27Aye James!..We do NEEEED the points!..But most fans are probably gonna want us to stay in the cup…It’ll be interesting to see what KK thinks tho’ won’t it?..
cooldj
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Comment #28james as much as i’d love to see him at the toon there must be a long list of clubs in italy spain and england wanting him and the chances of us being at the top of the list is near impossible. he’d get first team football at chelsea, milan ect but i agree-no harm in trying he will be world class.
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Comment #29KK would want the points more. Arthur Cox said he has told him that he thinks Newcastle can finish in the top 7 this season. Well to do that we need to start getting some 3 pointers. We are already 11 or 12 points behind that.
If Shola starts either game we will lose….it’s no good taking on Arsenal with 10 men.
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Comment #30cooldj – i love dos santos, but Keegan won’t have seen him play. so he won’t even be on the radar. he’s certainly cheaper than berbatov!
keegan
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #31is this dos santos any good
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #32keegan – dos santos is going to be a superstar. hopefully in black & white. one of the most natural finishers i’ve ever seen.
Punk Skunk
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #33Owen & Carroll up top then. At least Carroll stays up & tries to get in goal scoring positions!..
…Shola just always seems to be behind the play when crosses come in!..
nightfall
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #34“smith is good to break opponents attack”?! wtf?! do you even watch him play? when he plays as a midfielder he just runs after the ball and fouls a player who get’s it…and that’s in our half…by our goal… he’s useless… he’s a 4th choice striker… it would be much better if he was sold and if we’d buy a young, talented striker to replace him… cheaper and better solution!!!
Bertram Bum-Roberts
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #35I think Kev will work this out, judging by this he’s on track for great things:
http://poochat.blogspot.com/2008/01/kevin-keegan-loves-it.html
keegan
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Comment #36nightfall- i definately agree smith just isnt a player we need SELL HIM
ronaldeano
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Comment #37Well said Nightfall, Smith and Ameobi must go cos they arent good enough, simple as that. Dos Santos would be good but can we get him? Fred is good and avalable, we shud go 4 him
Zx
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Comment #38Dos Santos isn’t coming, wake up wake up, stop dreaming. Stop bringing your football manager to real life.
Whoever KK brings to the club, it will be for the good of the club. Meanwhile I still believe in Smith. If KK is going to give Ameobi a chance, then Smith certainly deserves more than a chance.
James
Jan 21, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Comment #39Nobody will be sold in Jan. But when the summer comes there will be a revolving door at SJP.
cooldj
Jan 21, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Comment #40agree with zx. dos santos is fantastic but will go to a champ league team if he actually leaves barce.