A really good interview with Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan in the Sunday Sun today, where he admits Newcastle want to follow the Arsenal blueprint for success.
Chris and Kevin – seem to be on the same wavelength
Newcastle Chairman Chris Mort has laid some foundations for this already at the club. We think it’s a sensible move, and it’s already in action as we saw 5 first class teenagers arrive at Newcastle in January.
Keegan told the Sunday Sun today:
“Will we buy in top-end players or just kids? I think we’ll do both,†“We need more quality senior players but more younger players to push the first teamers.“It shouldn’t be that you’ve got your first team and then your young players and a gap between them. We’ve got one or two decent young players, but we need more.â€
“But then we also need to shop at the top end of the market as well, because you’ve got no future if you don’t get the present right.†“It’s a multi-tasking thing.â€
“Arsenal only got where they are because they had plans, and we have to plan as well,†“You don’t get like Arsenal tomorrow by just throwing a lot of money at things. Arsene Wenger has been there over 10 years.â€
“He has rebuilt a team in that time, bought some of the best young players, loaned them out, got them some experience, fetched them back, sold some of them, made other good, solid purchases and got a good scouting program – which we now have.â€
“It’s not just one area he got right, he got it all right.†“I think the priority is to assess who our targets are going to be around March, April time.†“That’s when you start to look at the Bosmans – everyone does it.â€
“You ask ‘who can we get who’s going to work for us? Who can we get for no fee but obviously have to pay a bit more in wages? Who’s got one more year left in their contract that we’d like? What positions do we want filled?â€
“And we’re also looking at the future of the players here: what contracts they’ve got, stuff like that. I’m learning all that each day.â€
“But at the moment, my main job – as you can imagine – is winning matches on Saturdays, which at the moment we haven’t done.â€
Sensible down to earth comments again from Kevin. When you take a good look at the relegation danger we’re in. it doesn’t look too likely that we’ll be dragged into the quagmire. But we cannot keep losing games like we have been doing. We’ve lost 7 of our last 10 league games, some by big margins, and that streak will take any club spiraling down the league.
Somehow, we must stop this terrible run of 10 games without a win, and as Kevin says, once we get a win that should help to turn things around. Blackburn will be a very good challenge for us this coming Saturday, but not nearly as difficult as the match against Manchester United yesterday.
In all honesty we’d rather play badly against the top teams and play well against those below us in the league. That will help us to maximize the points we can get – especially in the next 11 games, which will be vital. So let’s not dwell too much on yesterday, it will only lead to deep depression – and we’ve had enough of that this season. 😀
A draw would be welcome against Blackburn, who are a good team, and a win would be just great. Here’s hoping.
Comments welcome.
64 comments so far
Tom_Toon
Feb 24, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Comment #1ahaha what a joke, we are in he championship whether you like it or not.
Griff
Feb 24, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Comment #2Shat up you muppet…
We have the same team as in August yet we were all saying top 7.
So shut it, we are not that bad.
Nick C
Feb 24, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Comment #3if it weren’t for reading i reckon tom would be right.
Tom_Toon
Feb 24, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Comment #4I cant see us getting any wins the rest of this season, maybe scrappy draws with the likes of fulham but thats it, maybe it will be enough, but i dont know.
GraemeR
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Comment #5As I see it these are the matches that we need (and are capable of) getting points in – Next match is home to Blackburn – 3 points, Away to Birmingham – 1 point, home to fulham – 3 points, away to Tottenham – 1 point, home to Reading – 3 points, home to Sunlund – 3 points and away to West Ham – 1 point
Thats a grand total of 43 points – fingers and everything else crossed.
Whilst I had little hope of getting any points this weekend, I am concerned that we fold like a deck of cards as soon as the first goal goes in – look at the Villa game. Still cant see why Enrique doesnt get a match and allow Zoggy to play further up the pitch as his defending is way off the mark.
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Comment #6bhah, i hope we are doing this while in the premiership
lets all just look 4ward 2 blackburn
CJ
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Comment #7Tom toon – I have to disagree that we will not win another game in my opinion i think we will win 4 games maximum hopefully that will and should be enough but we are the easiest team to beat in the lge and that is very worrying.
lee
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Comment #8jst try and stay possitive j dont think well be relagated
CJ
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Comment #9I would be very confident if i heard we will sign the magnificent marvellous dazzling Danny Shittu ha ha.
J
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Comment #10WHOEVER is saying we might get relegated are COMPLETE Idiots!!!!!
COME ON, there are AT LEAST 6 teams worse than us!!
Jus wait till summer and see what happens?????
Tom_Toon
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Comment #11Face it if we bought Da nny Shittu he’d be our best player, rather have Rusol now i think about it.
If we do stay up, instead of having a squad overhaul, id buy quality in the positions we need:
LB: Bridge
CB: Rusol
CDM: Song
CAM/RM/LM: Kahlenberg
ST: Chermiti
CRAIGG
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Comment #12Tom_Toon i just retracted my statement on another post about you but ive changed my mind again you are a tit
scott 9
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Comment #13dont be so negative we just need one win to get confidence back up this should be our team for next game.
beye edgar faye enrique
minler geremi emre zog
viduka owen
daiv
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Comment #14Keep picking Smith and Butt Kevin and get us relegated. I cannot understand bloggers who say we should pick this team and that team. KK is not reading or listening. He will pick Smith and Butt. Just like Sam did, but for some reason thats OK now. Except we lose by loads of goals instead of the odd goal under Sam. Anybody got an answer why we are worse now?
Bill F
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Comment #15I don’t think I will start worrying about new players till the Summer. If we are still EPL and I expect us to be then we can possibly get better players. If we are championship then we will have to set our sights a little lower. Speculating at this moment is a waste of time although I appreciate there is a lot of fun in doing so. What I would really like to see KK do is give some of the reserves a run out. Carroll, Edgar and Lua Lua are better players now than some of the dross getting first team places, might help to gee-up some of the seniors as well.
daiv
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Comment #16KK picks names based on old reputations rather than form. SMITH and BUTT. What the hell has the Duke done wrong. Lets pick a guy as a striker who has never scored for NUFC and 4 goals in 7 years as part of Manure over the Duke. Crazy. Its time we got on KKs back to wake him up. Or he can clear off back to his circus. Don’t treat NUFC like a circus.
Oztoonfan
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Comment #17Butt and Smith are terrible, Butt has to have along look at himself he picks the ball up deep and just pumps long balls upto Owen who if im not mistaken was the smallest player on the pitch, alarm bells are ringing Nicky are u mentally unable to grasp the fact that long balls hardly ever win games…
Smith he is hopeless can win a header cant shoot cant hold up the ball, Carroll look ten times better he got stuck in won headers and had good touch, Keegan season is over give the kids a chance they will at least have a go!!
We cant do any worse, if Keegan dosen’t play the kids i seriously think he is an idiot and should never been given the chance to take over!!
Play the kids now at least we will have some fight and maybe some pace as we look desperatly slow, play Enrique aswell he is young and can play just needs a run of games. N’Zogbia is not a left back get him in the middle his running with the ball could unlock teams as i think Duff has been great on the left with little help!!
CcB
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Comment #18Anyone counting Butt’s yellow cards? Hopefully hes out for saturday…
daiv
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Comment #19KKs performance as manager has been little short of total embarassment. The guy should try to keep us up and not waste the chairman’s money in summer and do the honourable thing. By the way, I love the guy to bits but he is well past it. Keep us up, resign and maintain your dignity Kevin.
steve
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Comment #20KK’s playing with BSA’s team which are simply not good enough at this level, hopefully we’ll get enough points to survive in prem – poss 14 available points for us to play for, if we get em we’re safe but if we drop any of these points we’re really gonna struggle
blackburn – 3 points
liverpool – 0 points
Brum – 1 point
Fulham – 3 points
Spurs – 0 points
Reading – 3 points
Portsmouth – 0 points
Sunderland – 3 points
West Ham – 1 point
Chelsea – 0 point
Everton – 0 point
geordie nick
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Comment #21all u arseholes moanin at kk already are the reason toon fans get a bad name, the season was over before kk came here and he is playin with big sams team, lets face we wud hav no more points on the board under sam so why dont u just giv kev a chance and let him get his own players in next season then judge him at xmas wen hes had time to change things around
CJ
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Comment #22My team for Blackburn if i was manager
Harper
Beye(cap) Faye Edgar Enrique
Milner LuaLua Emre if fit Zog
Martins or Owen Carroll
geordie nick
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Comment #23lets stop all this talk of relegation aswell, thers no way we are goin down because the teams below us are even worse than us, i agree we prob wont get many more points this season, but lets face it, neither will the teams below us.
by the way daiv ur an arse sayin keegans past it and shud resign, hes had no money yet, bought none of his own players, and been left with th shit tht allardyce has left
daiv
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Comment #24CJ,
Your team does not matter. Its Kevins team which matters and he will pick Smith and Butt.
Ausgeordie
Feb 24, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Comment #25Ashley – STOP WEARING YOUR GODDAMN SMITH SHIRT!! IT IS UNDERMINING THE MANAGERS TEAM DECISIONS.
WHY ELSE WOULD HE PLAY A 6M STRIKER WHO HAD NOT SCORED IN 30 GAMES????
AYNONE BUT SMTIH AS IT WOULD BE WRITTEN OFF AS A BAD BUY BUT BECAUSE HE IS ENGLISH HE’S A HERO. HE SUCKS!!!!
CJ
Feb 24, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Comment #26Obviously KK won’t pick that team but in my opinion it would many fans choice of team no Smith or Butt. Milner LuaLua Emre and Zog all players who can run with the ball at there feet and all have a bit of pace total different to either Smith Butt and Barton all one paced and predictable.
geordie nick
Feb 24, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Comment #27i agree with all comments about smith and butt, neither are good enough, but they hav both been better than joey barton who cant seem to pass the ball to his own team anymore, he has been absolutely shocking and shudnt be playin when he has too much other stuff goin on in his life which obviously seems to be affecting his performance
TheRealSuperAl
Feb 24, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Comment #28It seems to me that it is a mistake to concentrate on particular players who are/are not playing well. Our problem, currently, is a team problem. Psychologically, we are all over the place. Confidence is at an extremely low level and however “up for it” the players are when they run onto the pitch, it doesn’t take much for that confidence to drain away when things start to go wrong. We have been unfortunate, since KK arrived, in having a series of tough games that we would not have expected a lot from (Bolton & Boro we should have got something wrong, but I think that there were specific reasons why we did worse than expected in those two games). Unfortunately, this run has drained confidence, & energy, even more.
The next few winnable games are vital. If we can get a couple of good wins under our belts confidence will increase and any thoughts of relegation should be well & truly put to bed. Unfortunately, if we lose a couple of those winnable games the rest of the season will be a rocky ride.
At a playing level, it seems that recent managers have ignored the need for pacy players in the modern game. As others have said, we have too many players in crucial positions, who cannot compete with pacy teams. Until that is corrected, we will continue to get slaughtered by teams like Arsenal, Villa & ManU.
The other thing we are lacking, in my view, is genuine defensive organiser – why, oh why did Woody choose Spurs.
As a Newcastle supporter for over 50 years I have learned not to get too depressed when we have a bad run, or too elated when we have a good run. I have also learned to keep optimistic whatever is happening.
Must go now the nice men in the white coats have come to give me my injection. Ah, that’s better.
Tom_Toon
Feb 24, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Comment #29This is not a sack KK point but do you recon Henk ten Cate has got sick of being a no 2. yet, ino he has been a no 2. a lot but he might want a good crack himself.
micknufc
Feb 24, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Comment #30bloody hell
nick nailed it before,do any of you people go to the games,or watch them ?
aye we’re shite & i done something ive never done before in the 29 year ive been going to st james. i walked after the 3rd goal! there said it..
why?
no idea,ive seen much worse over the years,but theres something about these lot that i hate.
but i tell you what,lets sack yet another manager?
no wonder the piss is ripped out of us!
JJ
Feb 25, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Comment #31I’ve said this before it’s down to fitness, and you have to train to get that up to the right level for how KK wants to run his team – and it doesn’t happen over night.
Failure against the Manure on Sat was down to BSA letting the team play in a way they never got fit to run just fit to stay in their half.
I was impressed by a few things and this has been a steady improvement since KK came back to us.
Anyone care to look at the stats will see it wasn’t as bad as the papers are saying. We probably had the best game of the season for us (excluding Arsnal ) we challenged for longer. we were more commited, and we got the chances, we only took one however Manure had 8 chances and they scored 5 ( that shows their quality).
The bottom three are in a lot worse position that us. I believe we are on target to win the games we need as the team gets fitter.
I talk about fitness because I was an international sportsman.
Keep the faith. It’s going to be tough, and if you are a supporter then support all the way to the end of the season and beyond.
t-g-w
Feb 25, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Comment #32Sacking the manager doesn’t make any difference. That is obviously not the problem. It must be the player s or something else. But its definitely not the manager. All we can do about it is support this team as it can’t get much worse than this.
CJ
Feb 25, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Comment #33tgw- I agree with that but who has said sack KK.
I have said it since King Kev came back that i am sure next season he will get it right and push us up the lge where we belong he is stuck with what fat man left behind.
There is nothing on KK’s club managerial record to suggest that he will not get it right what ever club he has been at he has always done very well.
CJ
Feb 25, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Comment #34JJ- What you say about us just being fit to stay in our own half is very intersting i never thought of it that way but when you put it like that it makes a lot of sense.
Toon Al
Feb 25, 2008 at 2:00 AM
Comment #35someone uo there reckons we’ll beat blackburn, but draw against birmingham…
we have a really troublesome end of season comin up
i predict 16th, jus a few points above the drop
Cape Toon
Feb 25, 2008 at 5:19 AM
Comment #36Just had a glance at the goals conceded. Only Derby and Reading conceded more goals than us this season. Shocking. We’re on 52 already!
Nick Dryden
Feb 25, 2008 at 7:33 AM
Comment #37Daiv, 4-1 at home to Pompey, 3-0 at home to liverpool . We didn’t use to lose by just the odd goal
ronaldeano
Feb 25, 2008 at 8:41 AM
Comment #38I dont realy give a shit where we finish as long as we stay in the league, which im sure we will
Anon
Feb 25, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Comment #39Alex ferguson give all his ex players a 1m payoff to continue playing for them when he comes uop against their new team.
The ball from Smith to Rooney with the outside of his boot was fantastic!!!!!!
And Butt’s passing outstanding, especially when he kept finding Evra and Brown to feet over 40 yds!!!!!!
These 2 need to be dropped from the toon team and sold at the earliest convenience. Like I have said many times before, Ferguson does not sell good players!!!!!!!!!
AdamCF
Feb 25, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Comment #40I’m hoping that we’re on the crest of the slump.. only up from here 🙂