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News, Views and Comment On Newcastle United Football Club By Ed Harrison, A Proud Geordie And Lifelong Fan

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Keegan Team Selection Will Tell Fans A Lot

February 20th, 2008 by Ed Harrison · 45 Comments

One thing that will tell us a lot about what Kevin Keegan is thinking is the Newcastle line-up he will announce at around 11:45 AM next Saturday.

kevin-keegan-321.jpg

Kevin Keegan - almost full choice of players for Saturday

He has almost a free choice of players, except a couple of injuries, with Oba Martins out and maybe Shay Given also possibly missing out on the game.

But his line-up, especially the defense, will tell us what he thinks of the defenders. He now has Abdoulaye Faye back, and we’d be very surprised if Kevin doesn’t give him a start. We’d like to see him start alongside Steven Taylor in the center of our defense, but he also played very well for us in defensive midfield.

And who plays at left back will be interesting because against Aston Villa Kevin snubbed Jose Enrique, who we all expected to start. Who did he play there? Our right footed right back Stephen Carr. If Kevin believes Carr is better than Enrique at left back, then we would suggest Jose packs up his bags and returns to Spain - now.

In our poll of the best players Sam bought in the summer, the top 3 players are Beye 55%, Faye 25% and then Enrique comes in above Mark Viduka, Joey Barton, Cacapa and Geremi on 6%.

Those other players in our poll have played a lot more games than Jose, but it’s not surprising Newcastle fans have put him in 3rd position, because when he’s played he’s looked a good young player and all action. Somebody who could be very good in the future.

But if Jose misses out again on Saturday, his face mustn’t fit at Newcastle for some reason, and we haven’t a clue what that reason may be.

We’re also concerned that Kevin may give former Red Devils Butt and Smith a start, both of whom hardly deserve it, based on their recent performances. So it will be interesting. Here’s a side that could do well:

Given
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Milner Barton Geremi Duff (N’Zogbia)
Owen Viduka
Subs: Harper Cacapa Smith Butt N’Zogbia (Duff)

It’s difficult with Charles N’Zogbia and Duff both being available because there’s not too much to choose between the two of them on the left wing. So we’ll sit on the fence, and say that one plays and the other is a sub.

One of the things that caused Big Sam’s demise at Newcastle, along with some poor results and disastrous displays, was his team selection. He insisted on starting Alan Smith - anywhere, and then made him captain. Smith is a utility player at best, and we half expect him to be sold in the summer.

Sam would play Milner and N’Zogbia on the wrong wings, on the few times he started both of these youngsters. We still haven’t heard a good explanation of this bizarre selection.

Kevin has good players available, but they must be played in their regular positions. Picking the best 11 players and then somehow fitting them into a team has never worked - many times before. Steve McClaren was guilty of doing this at England, and paid the penalty, as another example.

What do you think?

Comments very welcome

Tags: Newcastle News










45 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Leo* // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:14

    number 1 haha cooldj

  • 2 mikeygd // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:25

    whats wrong with Emre, is he suspended ED?

  • 3 Leo* // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:25

    but being sensible i think this games selection is very important, because it will show us keegans intent for the rest of the season i hope.

    my team has to be

    harper

    beye taylor faye enrique

    milner emre nzogbia duff

    owen viduka

    just go and attack them, dont give them any time on the ball and we might unsettle them, but i think it would be a huge ask to see us win or draw

  • 4 cooldj // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:26

    beaten by a short head!

  • 5 Julio Cesar // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:27

    Please Kevin don’t name the team five and a half hours before kick off. Why’s he doing that? Keep it a secret man!

  • 6 cooldj // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:27

    as for the team

    Ed when you say “here’s a team that might do well” do you really mean “here’s team that might only lose by a couple of goals and that will perform admirably in defeat”??

    perhaps the article could be changed accordingly ;)

  • 7 cooldj // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:31

    I would like to see:

    Harper

    CarrBeyeFayeTaylorEdgarKadarCacapaEnrique

    Milner………………………………………………Zog

    …………………Owen…………………….
    ……….

    or maybe:

    Given (Harper)

    Beye Taylor Cacapa Enrique

    Milner Faye Emre Zoggy

    Owen and Martins(duff,smith,carroll,lua lua,viduka)

  • 8 cooldj // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:34

    4 in a row!

  • 9 Kash2 // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:37

    I read something about 6 players that Arsenal need to offload. They were Hoyte, Traore(Loan), Bendnter (Loan), Lehmann, Gilberto and Eboue. To be fair, I’d take most of those players for us except Lehmann.

    Gilberto will definitely leave in the summer and I think he’d be a class signing for us. He’s so experienced and a solid player. Eboue would be ok, but I would only ever have him as squad mainly because we could get a better RM such as Bentley!

    what do you guys think, would Gilberto be a realistic and good signing? Maybe a Carrick and Gilberto partnership?

    I know I keep banging on about Carrick, Bentley and McGeady but I honestly think all 3 are realistic targets and would definitely improve the first team!!!!

  • 10 Davies // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:46

    Surely this is simple;

    Harper (if Given isn’t fit)

    Beye-Taylor-Faye-Enrique

    Milner-N’Zogbia-Emre-Duff

    Viduka-Owen

    It would be nice to see the younger players who are proving their worth get on the bench, like; Carroll, Kadar, Forster, Edgar or even Baheng and Zamblera.

    Certainly the reserve team seem to be a bit more up for it.

    Cacapa, should also be on the bench, as should Carr, but not as a right back.

    Barton, Smith, Butt and the other underachievers don’t really have a place.

    Can’t help but think we haven’t got the balls or skill to beat Man Utd on their current form. I do like surprises though…

  • 11 Ryan Syahril // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:46

    agree with Leo..

  • 12 Paul P // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:51

    my team for saturday

    harper

    beye, faye, taylor, enrique

    milner, emre, barton, nzogbia

    viduka, owen

    bench - duff, cacapa, given( if fit) martins (if fit), ameobi (better than smith, butt, carr)

  • 13 Leo* // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:52

    looks like a good defence 7 defenders sounds good

  • 14 sas1 // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:58

    Kash2, I’d rather we sign players on the way up rather than on the way down (Parker, Smith, Butt, Geremi). Gilberto could end up being another Nicky Butt.

  • 15 Paul P // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:01

    team next season

    buffon

    miguel, barzogli, lucio, bridge

    wright phillips, carrick, diego, ronaldinho

    eto-o, villa

    subs

    crouch, bentley, harper, owen, de zeeuw, taylor, turan

    haha!!

  • 16 Rich // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:01

    I would go with wLeo and Davies to, if a defensive mid is played then please Faye and Cacapa and Taylor at the back!

  • 17 Rich // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:04

    Kash2 - i like the sound of Gilberto or Carrick ,think the two played together wouldnt give us much creativity but one of the two paired with Emre would be great!

  • 18 Stamford Toon // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:08

    I would like to see Cacapa in the middle of the back 4 with Beye, Taylor and Enrique
    I would put Faye just in front of the back 4. That would be a good solid defence.

  • 19 Kash2 // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:08

    Rich - Disagree with you on the creativity front. I think Carrick is very creative in his passing. Played alongside Gilberto would give him the license to roam. I personally think he’s wasted as a holding midfield player. Then also our LM and RM would dictate who plays in the middle too. Bentley as we know is very creative!!!!

  • 20 Bill F // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:08

    I would agree with Leo apart from starting Carroll instead of Viburger.

  • 21 Callum // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:19

    I think KK, like Sam is contractually obliged to play both Smith and Butt :(

  • 22 Jon // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:19

    Owen Martins

    N’Zogbia Emre Geremi Milner

    Enrique Faye Cacapa Beye

    Harper

    I really think we should get rid of Taylor.

  • 23 Johann // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:20

    Gilberto is such a poor player that i´m amazing that you are even suggesting it. Just see the effect when Flamini missed out against Manchester when not fit. Gilberto was completely overrun in midfield and wasted the ball a lot. He has no ability at all in my mind. Just watch him in arsenal games, he doesn´t do sh*t :) I don´t want left overs from the top teams. That´s for sure

  • 24 dingo // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:36

    Chelsea and CSKA Moscow are both reported to be after Lubos Kalouda… in the words of Freddie (not fat but fag) ‘another one bites the dust’

    from the Independant

    Chelsea

    The Blues reportedly face a battle with CSKA Moscow to secure the services of the highly-rated FC Brno midfielder Lubos Kalouda. The Czech Republic Under-20 international has drawn comparisons with Pavel Nedved. “In football terminology, the ball is on CSKA’s side of the pitch,” Brno majority shareholder Roman Pros said.

  • 25 mikeygd // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:38

    Given
    Carr, Taylor, Beye, Enrique
    Milner, Emre, Faye, N’zogbia, Duff
    Viduka

  • 26 UTD111 // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:38

    Ed
    That point you make about playing Milner and Zog on the wrong wings. I seem to remember BSA justifying it once by saying they could then cut inside and cross it with their stronger foot. For example Milner on the left, cuts inside, crosses with his right foot. I seem to remember Sam saying that this way the ball was already heading towards the goal if somebody got their heed to it!!
    Some logic there I suppose…….I suppose…..??

  • 27 UTD111 // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:46

    I’d go for

    Harper

    Beye
    Faye
    Cacapa
    Enrique

    Milner
    Emre
    Nzogbia
    Duff

    Viduka (or Smith)
    Owen

  • 28 Johann // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:04

    Harper

    Beye
    Faye
    Taylor
    Enrique

    Milner
    Barton
    Emre(Butt far from being on top of his game right now, doesn´t derserve a place)
    Zogbia

    Viduka
    Smith(Viduka seems to get the best out of him still we haven´t seen them play together at top, shame)

  • 29 Griff // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:14

    As much as i dont want them to, i am pretty sure Kevin will play Smith, Cacapa and Butt.

  • 30 GEORDIE69 // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:35

    Harper

    Beye Taylor Edgar Enrique

    Milner Faye Emre Nzgobia

    Owen Viduka

    Subs Foster Geremi Duff Barton Carroll

  • 31 thelongshanks // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:38

    faye and emre in the centre plz.zog and milner on wings

  • 32 Dragoner // Feb 20, 2008 at 13:45

    why the f**k would we want gilberto, he is clearly a fringe player at best now, he is a defensive mid with no fight in him, he is too relaxed and often makes poor passes, loses the ball, but makes no effort to win it back. no need for him

  • 33 Chris // Feb 20, 2008 at 14:06

    i’d bet my bottom dollar that Smith starts on Saturday, barring injury. I’m sure Keegan was hinting at starting Viduka also, so it looks klike Smith will be in midfield.
    Why Smith has to start though is beyond me. He neither scores or creates anything.

  • 34 Stami // Feb 20, 2008 at 14:11

    as i read through the posts i see that most of us have a relatively similar idea on who should be starting. good to see:) hope thats the team for Sat
    Harper

    Beye
    Faye
    Taylor
    Enrique

    Milner
    Emre
    Nzogbia
    Duff

    Viduka (or Martins if fit)
    Owen

  • 35 nightfall // Feb 20, 2008 at 14:30

    no no no..cacapa must not play against man utd..he’s too slow..he won’t have a chance against ronaldo, rooney, tevez, nani,…

  • 36 iain // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:12

    harper

    beye faye taylor enrique

    milner geremi nzogbia duff

    emre

    owen

    cant believe im picking geremi but we need a dfm and emre is in becuase martins isnt fit it seems and in that position given a run of games he will influence more games than any of our other cf bar martins put together

    forster/cacapa/butt/smith/viduka

    if we allow them time to pick there passes in mf we will be destroyed.

  • 37 Rich // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:16

    Now that everyone has said who they want to play who do we actually think Kev will play! I think he will go for this:

    Given
    Beye Faye Taylor N Zogbia

    Milner Butt Emre Duff
    Owen Viduka

    Subs: Harper, Cacapa, Geremi, Barton, Smith

    I hope im wrong but id put a decent wager on this being the team for Saturday, Emre may be changed for Barton and Vioduka for Smith.

  • 38 shirts // Feb 20, 2008 at 15:57

    Given/Harper

    Beye–Taylor–Cacapa–Enrique

    Duff–Faye–Emre–N’Zogbia

    Owen–Viduka

    Milner is crap. Duff Beye down the right wing is far better than Milner dribbling up his own arse.

    Unfortunately, Keegan’s still in love with Alan Smith’s haircut and/or headless chicken-itis, so he will be played.

  • 39 Jon // Feb 20, 2008 at 16:06

    Taylor should not be in the starting eleven.

  • 40 Deano // Feb 20, 2008 at 16:23

    Starting 11

    Harper
    Beye, Taylor, Faye, Enrique
    Milner, Geremi, NZogbia, Duff
    Owen , Viduka

  • 41 nightfall // Feb 20, 2008 at 19:29

    Harper
    Beye, Taylor, Faye, Enrique
    Milner, Geremi, NZogbia, Duff
    Owen , Carroll

  • 42 marcus owen // Feb 21, 2008 at 0:03

    Harper

    Beye-Taylor-Cacapa-Enrique

    Milner-Faye-Emre-Duff

    Viduka-Owen

    Hopefully,KK no more gambling his fate on players like Smith, Butt and Carr.

  • 43 Len // Feb 21, 2008 at 3:27

    I cant see any of those teams getting anything out of this match. Which puts Shepherds custody of the club and KK rebuilding task in proper perspective.

  • 44 Chris F // Feb 21, 2008 at 4:17

    why is everybody so down on nicky butt on here? not being funny, but he’s probably been one of our better players this season, along with milner and beye.

    i know he’s not a great player, nor as good as he once was, but as a defensive midfielder, he’s not done too bad a job for us this year, certainly better than many others have done.

  • 45 Beezeri // Feb 21, 2008 at 6:52

    I really do hope that KK will give a start to Enrique at left back but can’t see it happening because he hasn’t done that already. Going for right footed Carr instead isn’t a good sign indeed! I can’t understand why Big Sam signed the Spaniard for such a big money and totally ignored him and now the same with KK. Maybe he doesn’t speak too fluent english yet to work with the rest of the back four? However…Enrique has been one of the best players everytime he’s featured IMO!










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