Kevin Keegan has four additional players to choose from this weekend, now that Barton and Emre are cleared to play, and Viduka and Ameobi seem fit again.
Habib Beye – returned from African Cup of Nations
Kevin was happy in a way to also see both Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye return from the African Cup of Nations tournament. Although they will not be available for tomorrow’s game, because of their travels, they’ll be ready for next weekend’s game at Aston Villa.
We think Kevin will be pleased when he realizes just how good these two are, because they are the best players Big Sam signed for us last summer. Claudio Cacapa is also starting to show his stuff at the back now, as he gets used to the physical England game. Kevin has already said how pleased he is with the way Taylor and Cacapa have played for him at the back.
Kevin talked to the Shield’s Gazette today about our Senegal two – Habib and Abdoulaye:
“I feel a bit sorry for them, as Senegal probably had the players to even win the tournament.â€
“But the other part of it is that they’re going to come back and be involved against Aston Villa, and with the size of our squad, that’s a big plus.â€
“Half of you wants them to do well, but the other half wants them to come back.”
Keegan will feel a little spoiled for choice tomorrow as he now has both Joey Barton and Emre available, in addition to Mark Viduka, fit again after his thigh strain.
They will be available for tomorrow’s home game against Middlesbrough. Shola Ameobi is also fit again, so he has four more players than he had last weekend.
Kevin continued about his small but good squad:
“It’s a massive increase when you have a squad this small.â€â€œOne minute you’ve got a squad of 16, then you’ve got a squad of 20.â€
“There’s always little things that can happen, like Charles N’Zogbia not being available against Aston Villa because he’s suspended.â€
“But that’s why you need a squad – you’re looking for players to force themselves into the team.”
First things first – and we need 3 points at St. James’ Park tomorrow against Middlesbrough, and we expect to win the game.
Comments very welcome.
41 comments so far
Dunc
Feb 2, 2008 at 7:44 PM
Comment #1Happy with that. Can’t wait to get Oba back!!!
big pea ov the weab
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Comment #2y cant u wate for oba he is a big daft lump couldent hit a barn door
Leo*
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Comment #3didnt realise that charlie is unavailable for villa game…
Leo*
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Comment #4howay big pea mate, people on hear are saying emre will play much better under keegan, but will oba not? i hope he does…
im sure you all will support him when he plays
Tripp
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Comment #5Glad the duke is back. I’m sure we’ll see him up front with little mickey tomorrow.
big pea ov the weab
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Comment #6the only thing we need to do is stay safe till end of season then a massive cull in the summer here are a few i think we should get rid ov
OWEN( we could get world class for his wages)
CARR (absolutley crap)
BARTON (be in jail)
MARTINS(dosent show enouf passion)
GERIMI (why he even came is a mystery)
any thoughts on this ?
big pea ov the weab
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Comment #7@ LEO
am not bein funny m8 but a dont think the keegan appointment was the right 1 for our club we will need a mirical for oba to start performing not keegan i think mike ashley and chris mort has made a massive mistake.
Tom4NUFC
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Comment #8Big Pea,
I feel that Martins to stay is a must,
Owen could leave for anything over 8m ide be happy,
Carr OUT,
Barton good player, hope hes not in jail,
Get what we can for Geremi
Tom_Toon
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Comment #9We should have traded Ameobi for Dzemaili, random bt an idea. Bolton need a strker and wanted Ameobi and we want a young replacement for Butt who can actually pass, would have been a good deal. Gary Megson isnt playing him which i dont understand because hes a good player along with Teymourian but he plays Nolan, Cohen etc who are pants.
UTD111
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Comment #10Great to get 2 of our best defenders back – I agree Kev will love them. Beye is class and has a great engine. Kev will take one look at Faye and think “I’ve got my Killer Kilcline” LOL Lets stuff the Smoggies and upset the London Gutter press again – haway United!
scotty
Feb 2, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Comment #113 points a must the morra but i fear boro’s form of late will be hard to break down – i hope i’m wrong!!!
geordie
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Comment #12doesnt matter who plays these days this crew has got its own ideas and mutiny in the ranks needs ironed out keegan took over to early why do you think shearer isnt part of plans if he had of been and this shower goes down the plug hole then he would have been a villian along with all the other leaches they cant get rid of.
Dunc
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Comment #13Big Pea
I want Oba back so we have some pace up front and I also think with a run of games and a attack minded manager he could prosper.
Owen can go for me.
After all, if Liverpool or any other “top four club” had come in for him (lmao- AS IF) he’d have gone there, and so it leaves me thinking he doesn’t want to be with us, never did and is just picking up his till.
Owen was a ridiculous signing on our part and Real Madrid must still be sniggering into their tank tops.
They say top players bring other top players. Were’s the proof on the back of Owen signing? There is none becasue he’s lost so much with age and injury it’s beyond belief.
Carr is decent back up for Beye but Geremi and Butt can go to Championship sides.
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Comment #14The revolution starts at 13:30 the morn. I just want to see KK laughing his tits off come 15:30.
Tom_Toon
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Comment #15Luis Suarez has got to be the first summer signing!
Warwick Hunt
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Comment #16I think some of our players will absoluetly blossom under KK, Oba being one of them. I think with him it’s all about confidence and that is something that KK can instill into his players.
Don’t think that KK is a very astute tactician but he is very, very good at man managment and confidence building. It does concern me a bit on the tactical side so the job of number 2 to him has to be a very good appointment.
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Comment #17Sod the tactics. We just need to beat the beasts
Phani Tikkala
Feb 2, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Comment #18Does anyone know how good our five new young signings really are? What I mean is, has anyone seen them play? Maybe some of our overseas supporters.
Not sure who it was but he ahd put a posting on here about him playing agianst our reserves for North Shields (I think) in a cup game and he had said that it was Godsmark who run the show.
Whumpie
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Comment #19I don’t want to piss on anyone’s firework (well, a bit), but discussing players in and out as the answer to anything two days after the transfer window CLOSED is a bit.. well.. daft. Sorry fellas, but this whole thread is kind of embarrassing.
We are stuck with the squad we have for the rest of the season. While it has gaps, it should be a squad capable of beating most of the teams in the premiership. There’s some serious quality in there that is going to take a few weeks of training and a few matches to start working as an attacking force again.
We should be looking forward to the improvement between now and the end of the season, not bitching about who’s played badly in the past!
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Comment #20Phanni it was a post by Broon Ale – he plays for Shields. Yes if was Jonny Godsmark he raved about. But hey man I once played for Cam City Reserves against Cambridge Utd Reserves. I scored two. I raved about Cambridge Utd players for ages. They were shite but it’s just a case of comparison – they were all better than me.
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Comment #21Whumpie. It was over twenty years ago and I didn’t play that bad. lol 🙂
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Comment #22repeat message. Anyone else having probs with this thread?
Phani Tikkala
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Comment #23Whumpie.
Why shouldn’t I be asking how good our five new signings are?
Yes of course we have to stick with the squad we have until the end of the season unles you are aware of another transfer window that everyone else is not privy too.
With the players we have I believe it belies the league position we are in.
Onwards ands upwards.
Penalty-Spot
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Comment #24Bloggers; just popped in for a minute…We have to win tomorrow. I’m bloody excited because I know we will. I’m waiting for a fine display off all the lads and some clebrations spilling on to the pitch from Keegan and Co. Me and mi mate Geoff are off down the pub to watch the revival, I’ve already got the cigars! Come on!
given
carr taylor capaca enrique (fit?)
milner barton duff
emre
vids owen
subs harper, smith, zog, butt, zamblera
smith
Penalty-Spot
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Comment #25smith’s clone seems to have sneeked in to my team sheet…must have him eliminated 🙂
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Comment #26Phanni. Just in case you thought it was a pisstake – ‘Broon Ale’ is the blog name of the North Shields player who wrote about Jonny Godsmark.
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Comment #27Penalty-Spot. Yup. We have to beat them. We have to beat them. We have to beat them like we would a ginger stepson 🙂
Whumpie
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Comment #28Phani – wasn’t referring to your post, which came in as I was writing mine. I totally agree with your point – I think everyone has been so disappointed with the lack of senior signings that they’ve not noticed three very promising younger players arriving.
If it was Wenger signing them, the press would have been licking his boots about it. But we do it, and nowt but derision. I reckon we’ve got a much, much better supply chain of new talent than we’ve had for many years – and it’s very exciting.
Leo*
Feb 2, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Comment #29big pea how can you say martins doesnt show any passion, you actually watched him play?
micknufc
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Comment #30pea
are you a whiteleas mag?
Knypzya Knypols
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Comment #31Oba Martins will be fantastic under the stewardship of Keegan.
Phani Tikkala
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Comment #32Whumpie.
No bother mate, so many WUMs been on here recently I thought you were having a go at me.
Some of my posts aren’t getting on here???
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Comment #33Phani u a Kenton mag?
gloryhunter
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Comment #34MOTD – watch the makems getting beaten
Phani Tikkala
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Comment #35Gloryhunter.
Nah.
scotty
Feb 3, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Comment #36Our aim now this season is not to be relegated and to finish top out of the NE teams. Once our league position is safe – i would integrate as many reserves into the squad to see how they measure up.
Not bringing young talent through the ranks successfully has been a massive problem with NUFC.
I just hope the new structure at the club eliminates this……..
big pea ov the weab
Feb 3, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Comment #37@ leo corse av watched him play a own a season ticket and attend as many away games as i can so thats how i can say he lacks passion the bloke couldent even make the bench at inter so how any 1 could say hes going to shine under kk is beyond me correct me if i am wrong here but is int this the sam saga all over again hes gona do this n do that bullshit! the only thing this club needs is a masive clean out and start from scratch !
@micknufc dam rite i am m8
AdamCF
Feb 3, 2008 at 1:22 AM
Comment #3830 points should get us there..
micknufc
Feb 3, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Comment #39pea
cramlington lad myself,but lived raeburn road for 7 year.
howay the south shields mags !
ryan magomu
Feb 3, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Comment #40the only players am happy with so far are cacapa,habib,faye,enrique from wat big sam brought in.
when u look at martins pliz some one save us from this guy.we should let him go
geremi should be let to go out coz he is really nothing.
smith i know he has the passion for the club.u can see it in him.things are not working out now but i know he will be fine once he gets his form.