Yes, we know we’re not safe from relegation yet, but assuming we come to life and stay in the Premier League – who do you think Kevin should allow to move on in the summer?
Shola Ameobi – odds-on to move out in the summer?
We are putting a poll up, but wanted to let you know that each reader will have 4 votes each.
We only wanted to list those players who haven’t performed particularly well but not list our better players like Owen, Faye, Beye, Martins, N’Zogia and the like, who we’re sure Kevin will keep. Of course we may lose N’Zogbia, but that will be his choice.
Good or bad, the players we’ve selected are the following 9 players.
Cacapa, Smith, Butt, Ameobi, Ramage, Viduka, Geremi, Barton and Rozehnal.
It’s interesting that 6 of these were brought in last summer by Big Sam. We wanted to get this out before we put the poll up to ensure readers knew they have 4 votes each.
81 comments so far
Chris
Feb 20, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Comment #41I really want to see smith leave TBH. Why he gets a start every game is beyond me. For a supposed attack minded player he neither scores goals or creates them. If you had 11 Smiths on the pitch every game you’d be beat every game and have a couple sent off.
Butt also gives the ball away to easy. He looks for the hard passes all the time instead of the short easy ones. It’s alright trying to thread a pass through now and again but everytime won’t work. The opposition read it straight away.
Dragoner
Feb 20, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Comment #42we need to offload
milner, duff, butt, smith, carr, ramage, owen, viduka, n’zogbia(as he is a clearly doesnt want to play for us) emre, and ameobi
we should replace all of these as they are either consistent underperformers or just crap.
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Comment #43I don’t care what anyone say’s but Smith brings more to the team than Butt.
Everytime i come on this site, butt seems to get by with no slack at all..Its all how shite smith is…
Butt is probably the worst player in the premiership , never mind just our team
Stami
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Comment #44Ameobi, Butt, Rozenhal and Ramage
Tom_Toon
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Comment #45John – Disagree id rather have Butt on our team and id rather have him upfront more than Smith.
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Comment #46you must like relegation battles then Tom
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #47in fairness, there both shit..Either one you will be in a relegation fight anyway..
Obafan
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #48OUT:
Ramage
Smith
Barton
Rozehnal
These are the players I voted for, but I would also add Butt and Ameaobi to that list, but i only had 4 choices to make.
Tom_Toon
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Comment #49John:
Butt 2 goals this season
Smith 0 goals this season
🙂
nightfall
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #50johann – owen & given are past his best, but you’d keep butt..and smith, ‘cos he was good at leeds….5 fcuking years ago…?! he didn’t do shit since he left leeds… he sucked at man utd…just watch some old matches man… even i could play ok with giggs, scholes, ronaldo and carrick in midfield…
Martins
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Comment #51BUTT CARR AMEOBI CACAPA ROZENHAL RAMAGE all defo ged rid
cooldj
Feb 20, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Comment #52we could start with:
http://nufc.com/2007-08html/squad.html
😉
obafemimartins
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Comment #53the person i want to get rid of most of shay given because he isn’t a good goalkeeper anymore. he seems to get a lot of injuries for a goalkeeper and his kicking is awful. we should bring in a new goalkeeper because everyone blames the defense but given isn’t up to it anymore
Paul P
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #54fact of the matter is everyone the whole team is just not good enough in truth. if it was, we would’nt be in the mess we are in now. the problems started back in 04, when bobby left. the signings made, bobby did not want to get rid of speed or woodgate, he did not want to sign klivert or butt, but fat freddy did, and because of it, he lost the dressing room when shepherd said it would be his last season, we then got no hope of managers in, who brought the players in not good enough to wear the black n white. moore, babayaro, boumsong, butt, klivert, luque, rossi (loan), smith, cacapa, rozenhal, viduka, geremi, barton, siberski (although he turned out quite good), got rid of players like bellamy, robert, bernard, speed, woodgate, obrien (better than what we have now ) jenas, dyer, solano (again), viana etc, which are far better than what we have got now. Now this all results back to 4 years ago. we were 3rd, 4th, 5th team in the prem, 4 years on, we have gone back overs, realistically everyone, its going to take 4 years before we are back in the top 5/6. does’nt matter what we try and do in the summer, although time will tell. we will find out then how much mike ashley wants to progress and take newcastle forward by backing keegan in the transfer market, giving him the big big money to get the players required, backing him if he wants to move for ronaldinho people of that quality, it be great to get players like this in, but it will be another 3 years after this point before we can actually put in a proper title challenge in my view. Just too much dead wood to get rid of and you cant do things over night.
Eric
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Comment #55Allow to move? Told to go more like. Why does everyone want to get rid of Ameobi? The door should be opened (very wide) for Butt, Smith, Barton, Viduka, Rozenhal, Carr, NZogbia (if he cannot get his dummy back in his baby buggy), perhaps Milner if he can’t look up from the floor when trying to cross the ball, and Owen if he can’t see beyond what he has done and should be doing for us. What about some more of Allardyce’s ‘hotel’ staff? I thought he was running a health spa at one stage. We should keep and get only those quality players who can see that playing for Newcastle is an honour even if we don’t win any. It is a priviledge to be invited to Tyneside – if you are on our side that is.
iain
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Comment #56ed everyone in that list you can vote on should go if were serious about moving forward.
seriously if we want to push the top 10 and try and catch teams like pompey/blackburn/whu then we need a big clear out and a big spend where we buy the best players off the teams above us where possible.
everton/spurs/villa imo will be out of reach for two seasons unless mike ashley allows keegan to spend 100m in one go which he wont.
out/in
shola -santa cruz
enrique – shorey/bridge/taiwo
cacapa-upson (to have some balance in the team at the back would be nice)
barton-carrick
butt-scott brown
duff-muntari
zog -kalouda
viduka-pandev
carr/ramage-nelson (benfica)
emre-bentley
smith- young squad player cm as we have no kids who play cm would love marek hamsik
rozehnal-young squad player lb sounds like kadar will get near the first team sooner then we expected so we shouldnt bother with another over the hill 30yr old ch like cacapa just for the squad
rb – beye/nelson
ch – faye/taylor/upson/beye/kadar
lb – shorey/young cover… tozer ???
cm – carrick/brown/muntari/faye/bentley
rw – milner/bentley/brown/nelson
lw – muntari/milner/bentley/pandev/kalouda
cf – owen/martins/cruz/pandev/
wont evere happen though.
but using MA cash to buy better players from better teams above seems the quickest route to success in the short term ie getting back into europe.
im not saying thsoe are the players i think we wil lsign just the ones we should be aiming for firstly
chuck
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #57OUTS
Carr-past it
Ramage-never good enough
Butt-not the future
Smith-as a striker, cant score!
Geremi-past sell by date
Cacapa-collecting a pay check
Viduka-Great in the past, slow, injury prone
Emre- has flashes but inconsistant
Owen-yeah Owen!past best,greedy
Given
Brown Taylor Dunne Bridge
McGeady Arshevin Nzogbia Duff
Huntelaar Martins
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Comment #58hey Tom..
But might have scored 2 measly goals , and they were probably consolation goals . But how many is he the cause for with the amount off times he gives the ball away. I think against man U it was something like 56 times he gave the ball away. At least it felt like that.
He does’nt do he’s job. He’s soppose to be protecting the back four , but never does..
Would you think Butt would get in Villa’s, Everton, Blackburn, Pompey , Man City’s team..I think the answer to all those would be no..He would’nt get a sniff..But he good enough for us..Its bollocks
There is no argument about Butt..Anyone that rates him must love fighting relegation becuase there ain’t no way he’s good enough to challange Europe never mind top 4..
CRAIGG
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Comment #59Reaistically half the players mentioned wouldnt touch us with a 10foot barge pole. This squad is players i think KK would keep and bring in (If possible) Realistic squad for next season:
Given/Harper
Beye/Brown Taylor/Faye/Cacapa/Edgar/Ramage Bridge/Enrique
Wright-Phillips/Milner Carrick/Butt Emre/Barton Duff/N’Zogbia
Owen/Martins Ashton/Carroll/Smith
Brown free transfer from Man utd better a RB than CB wants first team football would be preffered to Cacapa and Ramage at CB in case Faye or Taylor out. He could cover left back as well at a push.
Bridge 2nd choice for Chelsea says he will leave if he doesnt play in Carling cup final, Also Cappello wont pick him unless he’s regular starter and Shorey breathing down his neck for england place.
Carrick geordie boy behind Scholes,Hargreaves,Anderson and soon maybe veloso and Fergie loves Fletcher and O’Shea in centre mid as well and seems to find regular places for both.
Wright-Phillips is behind Chelseas other wingers Joe Cole, Malouda and Kalou.
Also chelsea will revert to narrow 442 to accomodate Drogba and Anelka with lampard, essien, Mikel, Ballack, Sidwell, Makelele all preffered to that system.
Ashton is behind Cole and Bellamy in west hams team when their all fit and Curbs loves Bobby Zamora who is back from injury very soon
and his 451 system that suits cole and zamora more than ashton.
Ashton the closest thing to shearer that ive recently seen great vision and creative passing, loads of Strength and good in the air and also admitted he would love to play for us.
I think despite all our thoughts Keegan will want to keep Butt, Barton, Smith, Ramage, and Cacapa as back up i think despite Tom_Toons suggestions he will buy English prem experienced players.
iain
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Comment #60john whats worse is butt even knows hes past it becuase he consistently fouls players.
prime example being elanos free kick goal away at city.
the quality in the pl has doubled in one season.
teams like pompey/man city/villa/blackburn all have a few real quality players that take your average pl player to pieces.
CRAIGG
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #61Butt goals were an extremely vital opening goal agains Everton in a 3-2 win And A goal at Chelsea that would have got us a point if the lines man wasnt paid off with Russsia Roubles. Butt does his job to a degree he breaks up a lot of opposition attacks but wastes possetion trying over elaborate 25 yard passes he should revert to last seasons excellent form by playing short passes to the more creative players and do what he does best snuff out opposition attacks
Tom_Toon
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Comment #62John – I absolutely hate Butt, but i hate Smith even more.
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Comment #63I know Ian, they have all improved and we have been left behind..
It sickens me when i look at the team sheet and see Butt bang right in the middle of midfield..
Why not stick passers in there at least. Even Faye. He’s been excellent this year. Our only good signing ..Stick him there with either Barton or Emre.
Id be delighted to see that on Saturday and will hope for it, but i know im going to be dissapointed cus I always am when it comes to watching us and Butt trying to play 60 yard balls he’ll never make..
He must just be a nice lad behind the scenes cus hes a shit footballer. There’s no other reason he gets a start week in week out
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Comment #64Excellent form last year craig..Where did we come that year..13th or something like that..
I would’nt put Excellent in the same sentence as Butt …Just does’nt really go..Feels wrong
CRAIGG
Feb 20, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Comment #65“Faye. He’s been excellent this year. Our only good signing” Havent you see many matches this season Faye has been fantastic but Beye has been even better and Enrique has been very good when played as well
cooldj
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Comment #66how many own goals does smith have though???
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Comment #67ok craig, sorry Beye has been good this year also..Not sure you could put Enrique in there yet…Has’nt been brillant if you ask me..
The reason i pointed out Faye is that he would be much much much better than Butt in Midfield and you would be a fool not to agree
CRAIGG
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Comment #68I dont disagree but i think that we need him in defence. Barton, Emre and Zog can play in the central mid positions and i think this back 4 is really good and the only solid back four available to us until the summer.
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Comment #69i think the answer to that is none cooldj ..Butt is probably in double figures though 🙂
John
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Comment #70i can see what your saying but i dont think the defence is the only reason we have conceded so many goals..
I would much prefer to have a protector in front of the defence aswell like every other team cus Butt just does’nt cut the musturd in that department..
Barton could probably do it aswell , but i just cant see him starting with Emre and Barton together
Deano
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #71Out:
Butt, Ameobi, Ramage, Viduka, Rozehnal, Carr
In:
Diego – CAM
Asharven – CAM
Elmander – CF
Kalouda – MF
Wes Brown – RB/CB
Rinse/Wayne Bridge – LB
Ezequiel Marcelo Garay – CB/RB
Peter Crouch – CF
CRAIGG
Feb 20, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Comment #72John, Fair point but moving faye to the holding midfield position leaves Cacapa, Ramage (When fit) or a young inexperienced kid like Edgar (Although he has impressed me when ive seen him), Tozer or Kadar and it could ruin one of these kids confidence and future career if he has a series of bad games in a really hard league
Tom_Toon
Feb 20, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Comment #73Obafan – Ever seen Overmeire, i havent but he is apparently a defensive mdfielder very much like Carrick? Could be worth a punt for cheap, hes got to be better than Butt?
ScottyT
Feb 20, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Comment #74tbh the only ones out of that list id keep would be viduka and cacapa and theyre just for backup. the 4 i chose were barton (thug should be jailed or released on a free), rozehnal (doesnt want to be here), shola (shite) and smith (doesnt score enough goals nor create enough chances).
ps carr would be one of my choices but he aint there .. probs cos we all expect him to leave anyways eh
rob
Feb 20, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Comment #75Given f off stop getting in a huff when harps gets a chance let harps in given cash in and by to all the players on the list except viduka he is good lets try and get the best out of him
Johann
Feb 20, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Comment #76John
I think you are way too harsh on Butt. I think butt has a lot more to give than what he has. When you think about butt has been good coming into their area and solid at his defensive duties, it´s just his damn passing. I believe it will improve
Smith I doubt more!
CJ
Feb 20, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Comment #77Ed you forgot to put Carr on there he is a fat joke and if Duff really want’s Carr to stay he obviously doesn’t want the best for the club so i would get rid of both of them.
Micky
Feb 20, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Comment #78Carr.
Rozehnal.
Emre.
N’Zogbia only because he wants to leave.
Ameobi.
Edgar(Loan)
Baheng(Loan)
Tozer(Loan)
Viduka.
Troisi.
Lua Lua(Loan)
Forster(Loan)
Mac
Feb 21, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Comment #79Right if we have 50 mil to spend in the summer and Kev wants British this is how,no must be spent,
Bentley Blackburn 14 m yes that’s right 14 m,
Carrick man u 11 m
Bridge chelsea 6m
Ashton West ham 7m
Dunne Man city 6m
Sell a few of our shite to raise a few more quid and get Crouch for 9 m and get Wes Brown for a free from Man u. Job done european place
darren mills
Feb 21, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Comment #80Johann – you surely cant have watched any football this season, keep Butt and Smith what a joke, would get rid of, Butt,Smith,Rozenthal,cacapa,Geremi,Viduka, Carr,Ameobi,Barton. Players i would try and bring in,
CB-Campbeel or Dunne
LB-Bridge
RM-SWP or Ashraim
DM-Edmilson
CM-Carrick
ATT-Pandev
That would leave the team like this.
GK – Given-Foster
DEF-Beye-Taylor-Faye-Campbell/Dunne-Edgar-Kadar-Bridge-enrique
MID-Milner-Ashraim/SWP-Emre-edmilson-N Zogbia-Duff-Carrick-Lua Lua
ATT-Owen-Martins-carroll-Pandev
Then add some young players to the mix and you have a good squad for the future, would also have some good techniacal players which we are sorley lacking, Ashraim,Edmilson,Emre,N Zogbia,Duff,Pandev. Either way lets hope king Kev realises this and a massive overhual is needed.