Watching the Newcastle Middlesbrough game this afternoon, you cannot help but think that some of the players we now have at the club, just aren’t good enough.
Kevin Keegan – tough job ahead
Yes, we have a very small squad which will be helped in a while by the many good youngsters we are signing, but some players need to be moved out in the summer, to make way for better players coming in.
We need to augment the squad with 6-7 top class players. It will not be easy for us to attract these types, because it’s getting to be almost a certainty that we will not qualify for Europe, for the second season running. 🙁
The players we need to move out probably include the following:
Stephen Carr
Claudio Cacapa
Shola Ameobi
Alan Smith
Peter Ramage
David Rozehnal
We didn’t want to put Peter Ramage on the list, because he’s been out all season and his contract runs out in June, and we just cannot see Newcastle renewing it. He will probably be snapped up by Roeder at Norwich City. We see Norwich beat Preston yesterday, with an injury time goal, for a valuable 3 points and are now in 13th position.
Claudio Cacapa is a bit mysterious because he can play very well, but we’re starting to think he may be too much like Rozehnal, and just not quite good enough for the Premier league.
Alan Smith is not quite good enough up front with his heading or goals, not quite good enough in midfield with his tacking and passing, and is not a good winger. Alan may be a very good squad player but nothing more, and we’d rather get our £6M back on him. He’s too ordinary for a Newcastle Keegan side, which we’ll have next season.
The players we need to bring in during the summer include those in the following positions – almost across the board really:
2 central defenders
left back
2 central midfielders
winger (either side)
big striker
So with 6 players out and 7 players in, the ranks will not be swelled too much, but hopefully we’ll sign some youngsters again and surely some of them at the club right now, will be able to force themselves into the first team squad for next season.
We did move out Celestine Babayaro in December but did not replace him in the January transfer window so we really reduced our ranks by two senior players in January, when we include Rozehnal.
What do you think?
Let us know your comments and ideas for the future – it’s more interesting right now looking towards the future. 😀
150 comments so far
dopaz
Feb 4, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Comment #121think our best team at moment is
given
beye faye taylor enrique
milner barton emre zog
owen martins
thats when everyone is available
Ells
Feb 4, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Comment #122Very harsh on Cacapa. Was by far our best player yesterday.
Rob
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Comment #123do we get martins back now?
ChrisL
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Comment #124I’d like to see Milner given a chance as an attacking midfielder. He can do everything but cross the ball, so why not give him a go in the centre? (obviously we’re then struggling for a right winger, Duff probably the only other one who can play there)
steve
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Comment #125You have to add Butt, Viduka & Geremi to that list, personally I’d keep Cacapa as cover, not sure about Owen, if he had a decent partner he’d probably start knocking the goals in
Eric Edwards
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Comment #126A clearout by all means and sooner the better.
Bye bye Viduka, Smith, Rozenhal, Barton, Smith, Carr, Butt, and, if necessary Owen, Cacapa, Milner and Geremi. Too many over the hill and unimaginative carthorses in the team!
Lets have some daisy cutting perceptive carpet football. We need some resurrected Allchurches, Easthams, Mitchells, Tony Greens,
a Milburn, a Shackleton, and a couple of Moncurs, perhaps an Iley, a big Brennan?
Bill F
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Comment #127The big problem with some of the players is lack of confidence and self belief. ie Cacapa, Milner even Zog, and that comes with a few wins. The MOTD crowd mentioned this and how the fans seemed to be very nervous during the game. It doesn’t take much to transform a losing team into a winning team. With some decent reffing we would have had a win which would have carried us into the next game.
I would bet that some of our much maligned players, Carr, Ameobi, Geremi etc. would look a lot better in a winning team. I think KK can see this and all that is needed is a few good results and bingo they go from zero’s to heroes.
The big problem is getting the kick start everyone keeps banging on about.
mark
Feb 4, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Comment #128Butt is class. get off his back he does a quiet job very well.
Keep Cacapa, Sell the rest, possibly keep Smudge, at least he works hard.
Mr T
Feb 4, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Comment #129Given has lost it, he doesn’t look anywhere near as formiddable as he once was, he should have gotten Huth’s header….or more he would of two seasons ago. Sell Given….. Harper, Forster & Krul will do a good job.
paul p
Feb 4, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Comment #130outs
cacapa, carr, enrique, ramage, butt, emre, geremi, ameobi, viduka, smith,
keep
given. have to as he is simply one of the best keepers in the league and that is proven. harper great back up, then we got krull, forster.
defence
beye, yes keep him because he will be a good squad player. faye, yes good squad player also, taylor, same applies. dont think he has had a good season to be fair. can improve but a dont think he is good enough for the 1st 11,
midfield – keep
barton. good to have in reserve if not in jail, nogbia. keep him but who do you play, duff or charlie. duff, he is coming into form now and finally showing glimses of what he can do, just needs to do it on a regular basis. milner. not good enough for the first 11/where we want to be, so good back up player.
up front
owen, can still score goals as it was proved yesterday given the chances, just wish he had more pace about him. martins. fastest striker in the league, but just wish he had a brain and could pass the ball and get his head up. not prolific enough to get in the 1st 11. still young which is an advantage. carroll. one for the future.
so we need right back, 2 left backs, 3 centre halfs, 3 creative midfielders, 2 midfielders, 1 right midfielder, 2/3 centre forwards. plus signing the youngsters as well. all have to be world class though or we are not going to make any progress at all.
boater
Feb 4, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Comment #131I have been clamouring for a new keeper for some time now… milner and taylor are – without the toon rose tinted glasses on – not good enough YET. Cacapa is doing fine – I can’t understand people moaning about him… he makes mistakes ALL DEFENDERS DO but other clubs don’t replace their centre halves every summer like us because of it. Our problem all season has been a lack of creativity from midfield… the focus on defense is annoying to me.
gloryhunter
Feb 4, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Comment #132@Eric Edwards: I’ve got the Delorian gassed up. Now we just need Marty and Doc to move over and let you drive it 🙂
Punk Skunk
Feb 4, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Comment #133I watched the superbowl cooldj!..Lets get some of that NY Giants fighting spirit in the team or what!?!..
Debs
Feb 4, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Comment #134If Givens name is mentioned on the ‘out’ list again i will seriously start to worry!!
He’s proven he’s one of the best goal keepers in the league… if it wasn’t for him Newcastle would b in a worse position.
Taylor & Smith again 2 players who stand out for their determination and effort! I dont see why they deserve to b kicked out th team, Two goooood players who, with Keegans help could become key players.
Punk Skunk
Feb 4, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Comment #135…….Harper…….
Beye-Faye-Taylor-Enrique
Barton-Emre-Zog-Duff
Owen-Viduka/Martins
Subs: Given-Cacapa-Milner-Edgar
Whumpie
Feb 4, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Comment #136Ed – I think you’re being a bit ‘old-fashioned toon’ on this one. Our problem is that we jump straight to blaming individuals and don’t take the big view enough. We’ve been one of the most active clubs in the transfer market for a decade – and look where it’s got us.
I’d agree that we need better cover for RB – Carr’s been consistently sub-standard for years. Also, we need any cover for LB. And anyone can see that we need a real thinker in midfield, and better crossing.
But why does that always have to be acheived in the transfer market? Can we not teach Milner, at the ripe old age of 21, to cross accurately? Can we not work out how to get Emre working the attack more?
Can we not make Carr taller and quicker? Oh. No. Fair enough on that one.
We have so much that’s new at the club, and once it’s bedded in things will change a lot. I think we’ll all have very different lists of ins and outs by May, and we may cringe at the lack of faith we showed in certain players.
Kenneth Bassan
Feb 4, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #137Steve Carr
Peter Ramage
Nicky Butt
I hate to say this, but James Milner inst good enough. Dont have enough pace, crossing is awful and dont have very good tecnique.
David Rozenhal
Geremi
Barton could be good enough, but do we really want such a player that draws negative attention to the club.
paul p
Feb 4, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Comment #138ed. might be worth putting a blog out to see what people’s thoughts are about players coming into the club in the summer. people will have different idea’s etc and will be interesting to see what other fans idea’s are.
Michael
Feb 4, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #139Rather than worry about not qualifying for europe we need to worry about getting relegated. It was so risky not to buy anyone in january when we’ve proven time after time that we can’t create or defend.
I will be happy to make sure we stay up this season then splash the cash in the summer.
The only players I would be disappointed to see leave the club in the summer are Beye and N’zogbia. Everyone else can f**k off.
Ausgeordie
Feb 4, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #140JK Muzzi if you honestly think Carr is “pure class” your smoking the wacky tobaccy. He is slow, gets turned too easily and is woeful in attack. How many times has an attacking run been stopped becasue Carr has driven one fifty metres over the posts.
Whumpie
Feb 4, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Comment #141It was Carr who totally failed to mark Huth for their equaliser. I know Huth is basically a shaven yeti – but Carr didn’t even get his feet off the ground and was on the right side of him. Lummox.
Mick
Feb 4, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Comment #142Given Given Given Given
Given is one of the worlds best shot stoppers, he is without a doubt in the top 5%. His male modelling evening has sold out!
In the game of football I think that less than 25% (a quarter in old money) of a golakeepers responsibilities are concerned with “shot stopping” the rest of the time they must concentrate on other trivial matters such as distributing the ball. Being in the correct position to support the defence. Helping to organise the defence. Not kicking the ball to a player from the oposition (who is on the edge of the 6 yard box). Not punching the ball to the oposition in range of goal. etc etc.
My quesiton to the Given fans would be:
How many goals (attempts on goal) does Given bring on himself by bad kicking and not commanding his box?
and
How many opportunaties do we miss out on because of Givens inability to kick the ball up the field to a Newcastle player. (I would also argur that this is the fault of the outfield players as Given always kicks the ball in the same place – a couple of yards either side of the hald way line to his right. Players from the oposing team suss this out after a couple of times, however we never seem to work it out!).
Given is a better shot stopper than Harper, however I think that Harper gives you much better all round goal keeping, and helps the rest of the team – give the lad a chance (a prolonged run in the team) and I am sure that he will be a benefit to the team.
Oh and by the way that goal on Sunday! I am lost for words!
svarthvit
Feb 4, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Comment #143GIVEN OUT!!! he’s done enough here, and need something new!! Also out : CARR, RAMAGE, BUTT, GEREMI, VIDUKA, SMITH, AMEOBI, ROZEHNAL, CACAPA and TERRY MAC!!!!!!! 🙂
leavy
Feb 4, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Comment #144ive never heard so much bollocks in all my life
given out emre out milner out
jesus christ where would we be without shay in goal
id hate to think a bad few games doesnt make a good keeper and his kickin is shit o well he kicks the ball up field to whom owen butt emre milner we have the smallest attack i have ever seen are u saying harper would pick a better pass to them
emre out he and barton ran our midfield against ‘boro and he was the only player with passion and set up the goal
and milner again last season he was amazing so shut the f!uck up!
the only shit players are carr butt ameobi
Whumpie
Feb 5, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Comment #145Given didn’t have a good game – for all the reasons Mick gave. But he’s still one of the best in the prem. So give him a rest! What’s the point in having two of the best goalies in the league if you don’t use both of ’em?
Give Harper a couple of starts and get these two competing for the place again.
Whumpie
Feb 5, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Comment #146Oh, and for all you lot shouting for half the squad to be sacked and replaced with £50m deities: may I suggest that you switch your allegiance to whichever team Freddy Shepherd buys? That kind of thinking is exactly why our trophy room is full of carpet and air.
Ya muppets.
svarthvit
Feb 5, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Comment #147point is; If we can get a couple of freebies in every year to make up the numbers, and maybe hope that 1 of them becomes a hit, then we can sell the rest that doesn’t fit in or whatever, and make some money we can use on real targets.
On the Given out I would say that; NO doubt that he is one of the best goalies in the league, but if its not in his heart anymore, then we ‘ll be better off without him and vice versa…. Just look at Man- U, they sold Van Nistlerooy and won the league..
Arsenal sold Henry and are doin very well without him..
Both are proven world class players and went on to Real Madrid and Barcelona…. But they wear NOT irreplacable!!!!!
IF IT’s NOT IN THEIRE HEART ANYMOORE…
Mr T
Feb 5, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Comment #148Seriously, it is possible for Given to get worse. Yes he has done alot of good in the past for Newcastle and has often been the only visible star behind a very foggy back four, but why did Harper get dropped? For nothing! Bring Harper back, he’s looked better all the times he’s played for me (bar portsmouth, but he’d been knocked down a peg or 6 by then for being dropped for playing well). Get rid of Given while he’s still got a value on him. Given feels like he deserves to be in the team and gets out his pram if he’s not…Harper gets on and does his thing cos he’s as loyal a player as you’ll ever get!
Harps, Forster, Krul and that young Swede will more than do for me.
Defence we should keep Beye, Taylor, Ramage and for now at least keep Enrique, the rest are dead wood for me. Midfield is actually ok as it is for my money, Barton and Emre in the middle, Zog, Milner and Duffers on the wings obviously supplies cover… or even Zog in the middle, or as extra cover on the wings Lua Lua has looked canny in the reserves as long as he’s on his correct foot.
Up front we’re desperate, Ameobi isn’t fit to wear the shirt, Owen hasn’t hit form yet, and you have to ask yourself when, if ever. Viduka plays well when it suits him, when he can find the energy; Alan Smith just isn’t good enough if we want to improve. Andy Carroll looks like he could become a handful if he gets the experience, but only time will tell!
If we want our reserves/kids to do well we should bleed some through now while our seasons doing nothing. I was sad to see Pattison go myself, I hope that one comes back to bite Newcastle in the butt. Same with Huntington, I’d much rather have Hunty, Tayls, Ramage and Edgar at the back than Carr, Faye, Rozenhal and Enrique.
Have faith in Keegan & Ashley from here on now though, just be patient!
hanzemre
Feb 5, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Comment #149for this summer, as we target to better our ranking in the league table we must buy high quality players in all departments & try to ship out Ameobi,Butt,Smith,Carr,Viduka for high prices as possible.The rest i’d keep for another season.
Matthew
Feb 14, 2008 at 12:45 AM
Comment #150‘I’d much rather have Hunty, Tayls, Ramage and Edgar at the back’
Hahaha seriously, that is the stupidest thing I’ve ever read, no way is Ramage better than Faye!!