Kevin Keegan was training with his his players today, but some of his comments made to the Evening Chronicle are depressing.
Kevin Keegan – will stick with established players (we’ll not call them stars)
Kevin Keegan was back on the training ground at Little Benton today and talked to the Evening Chronicle:
“If you asked me after the Blackburn performance, I would have liked a game pretty quick.â€
“We were unlucky in that game and when that happens you want to get the players out there, but having a little bit longer this time can only be a good thing.â€
“It will let the players get rested. We’re pretty much relying on the same players week-in, week-out.â€
“We haven’t the luxury Rafa Benitez has got to rest players, change things around and freshen things up, though I know they’ve got more games.â€
“We’re asking these players to keep going out and performing, and a break can only be good.â€
We think those last few sentences by Kevin are very depressing. Basically, what he seems to be saying is that he will keep faith with the players that haven’t done the job for us since he arrived in mid-January.
Why?
We have better choices than guys like Alan Smith. For heaven’s sake, let’s take a chance before it’s too late and give players like Andrew Carroll a chance. Also play Oba Martins next Monday. Drop the guys who are just not performing like Smith.
There’s that old saying about mice and men:
The only difference between mice and men is that when a mouse goes down a hole for cheese he will eventually give up if he doesn’t find the cheese. Humans keep looking down the same hole.
Hey, we’re not calling Kevin a mouse 😀 what we are saying is the manager seems to be sticking with something that is just not working – so change it before it’s too late!
If Kevin sticks with his established stars, they could very well take us down. If that happens Kevin would have to take the responsibility of relegation, if he indeed persists with these losers. The established players have done a good job in the last 8 games of taking us hurtling down the league. What’s going to be different in the next 9 games if we play the same players?
What does Kevin think is going to change in the last 9 games? We know all about faith, but misplaced faith can cause terrible disasters – which is what we see happening right now. We’d hate to see that. Give some of our youngsters at least a chance, even just for 45 minutes, before it’s too late.
The Newcastle squad will train today and tomorrow, have Thursday and Friday off and get back into training on Saturday and Sunday.
The Chronicle is suggesting the Newcastle squad may fly to Birmingham on Monday morning, and probably loosen up in the afternoon to get ready for what is a vital game in Newcastle’s relegation fight.
There’s also no truth in the rumor circulating today in Newcastle, that players will be searched before they get on the plane to ensure they are not smuggling white flags onto the plane.
Just kidding, but we are still annoyed at the capitulations of some of our players in the last couple of months – we just cannot stand it.
Comments welcome.
60 comments so far
ELFER
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Comment #1ED I do not agree…I think the players have manouvered us in this bad situation and they have the responsibility of driving us out again! That’s their chance and they should take it!!!
Well, I think we have to make that blackburn performance happen again and we need to pair MARTINS with OWEN up front! Give it a shot! Let’s blood also DIATTA and give TAYLOR a rest?
ronaldeano
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Comment #2In the Blackburn game, MOST of our players did very well and we deserved to win.
Whatever team KK picks on monday, it will be a team he thinks can go there and win. I hope that its the right one.
KK has never said that he wont play Martins or Carroll! He was talking about the squad in general because its tiny! and not much quality in it!
Its fat Sams team, not KK’s
WHEN, we secure of PL status, KK will build a side capable of chalenging the top 6, definately.
ELFER
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Comment #3get back into the top 6 would be to much realistically…but somewhere near that would be nice.
But before this can happen we need to stick all together – and mostly the players! I believe it’s possible next monday to start things off the right way again, but we need 100% commitment, pride and solid work/defending from everyone on the pitch! it’s your chance of winning our support back! howay the lads!
ronaldeano
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Comment #4I agree Elfer that Taylor should be dropped.
If Diatta can play he should give Taylor a rest and try something new in defence. We have conceded FAR to many goals and something needs to be done about it.
Ed Harrison
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Comment #5Elfer – yes that’s a good way of looking at it. But do they have the character to put right what they’ve already done to us in the league – we’ll see. I take your point though.
ronaldeano
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Comment #6Ed – i can see Martins starting next week, definately. KK knows that things need to be changed asap. I f Smith does play, he has DEFINATELY got something in his contract!
ELFER
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #7I think they have! Let’s look closer at some individuals:
OWEN – committed and I like it really!
MARTINS – even more committed!
BARTON – A lot to proofe, this should motivate him!
MILNER – not much to say, always commited!
FAYE – the only light I see in defense
DIATTA – must proofe himself to win contract!
BEYE – always solid, boost from his Senegal mates?
ENRIQUE – I like him and he is commited even if a bit unlucky!
DUFF – all the way back now!
EMRE – dissapointed me the most! enough motivation for him to proof?
some examples who should be motivaters for the rest bunch and I’m a positiv thinker yes, but I see light there! I question SMITH for starting line too and I’m really dissapointed in ZOG.
Mr T
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #8I think there’s more quality in the squad than Keegan believes, or at least implies….it’s just lack of experience for someone like Carroll, or Edgar ya na!
As I mentioned on a previous thread about the reserves, the first teamers are under performing, because they know there’s little or no threat to their position cos Keegan just doesn’t seem to like his youngsters and want to give them a chance!!! Shake things up Keegan, give our regulars a kick up the bum, make them realise your not afraid to try new things if they’re not doing the business…. or keep trying to find the cheese in the same hole over and over again.
Dave Atkinson
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Comment #9What’s the old saying? The definition of insanity is doing the same over and over….and then expecting a different result….
I’m a massive Kevin supporter but if he sticks with his current starting line-up (to avoid confusion I’m citing Smith, Butt, Barton and Owen), then he’ll confirm that he’s a f###g idiot.
You’re much better than that Kevin but, the clock is bloody ticking mate….
geordie jock
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Comment #10Play Martins and Carroll with Owen on the bench. We need a new captain, someone who will rally the troops on the pitch, maybe Nicky Butt. Also Faye should be dropped he looked like he was out for a stroll against liverpool.
JW
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Comment #11Keegan is sticking with his experienced stars because dropping them in favour of untried kids would say one thing – PANIC! Throwing in players who aren’t tried at Premiership level would just be giving other teams more ammunition against us, we’d be a laughing stock. It’d be like saying that we can’t coach the players we’ve got or inspire them to play to the levels that they are capable so we have to use kids instead.
JP from The Rock of Gibraltar
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Comment #12ED I agree with ya 100%! We need changes!!! Got damn it I am soooo sick of all this shit!! All season I have been longing for us to play our strongest team only for injuries and unbelievably STUPID decisions from our managers to prevent me from witnessing it. If Keegan still hasn’t realized that Smith (no more than a squad player) won’t score for us and hasn’t scored a league goal for three years, we will definately go down! Those three years Keegan was in Glasgow and did not realize this. I bloody hope he has now as he STILL hasn’t scored! You could see the moment Martins went on the pitch against Liverpool the threat he was to the other team. He smashed the bar from 40 yards!!..and nearly got us something from nothing. He is desperate to prove to the boss that HE should be there and not Squad-Player Smith! The worst and most painful season I have ever had to witness and to my disgust, it could be our last in the premiership!! I won’t even go and start to talk about Butt and Barton as it is the same shit, just that little more painful.
ELFER
Mar 11, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #13Well, sometimes NICKY BUTT’s geniality shows for a moment, but I do not think he will be a regular starter if we manage to stay up in the PL honestly. His time is over.
KK just needs to start that fire again, that fire and desire to give everything for the black and white shirt! I think too, that there are some players how can takt that fire on the pitch – but we now really must burn the roof off!!!
ScottyT
Mar 11, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Comment #14if keegan drops alan smith i think the whole of newcastle should have a huge party! .. or maybe name monday the 17th march as alan smith day!
faustino
Mar 11, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #15Did anyone stop and think he might be saying this as a bit of negative propaganda? Does no one play Champ Man 😉
steve k
Mar 11, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #16…the clock is ticking for KK. He has made some bizarre moves since becoming manager. He gives nothing but the impression of a man out of his depth.
James
Mar 11, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Comment #17The team that KK will pick against Birmingham is the one we all don’t want to see :
Harper
Beye Taylor Faye NZogbia
Milner Butt Barton Duff
Owen Smith
So starting with 9 men again and we will lose everytime Butt and Smith are on the field
obafemimartins
Mar 11, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Comment #18martins proved how good he is hitting the bar beacuase alan smith wouldnt even try that. enrique has to play against birmingham because nzog there is wasted even if he doesnt try hard enough
Brad
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Comment #19To Elfer, how does that make sense?
Those players got in this situation because they’re shite. There’s a reason they haven’t been able to get us out too…
Davies
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #20Scotty T, March 17th is already named St Patrick’s Day. Let’s hope Smith gets ditched before then.
My primary concern is that players like Alan Smith, Licky Butt and Joey Barton are being played in favour of Martins, N’Zogbia and Emre. If these players continue to end up on the bench, they may well look elsewhere and we’ll be left with the shit squad we’ve got now.
I know it’s practically blasphemy to suggest that Taylor be switched out for a new boy, but I agree that Diatta should be given a try, and if he fails, maybe Edgar should take that central defence role with Faye.
I tried to show a formation that involved Martins up front with Owen just behind him to the left and Carroll just behind him to the right. You can’t do it in this text box as it removes all of the surplus spaces you leave in your sentances.
Anyway, a midfield of Duff, Zog and Milner and a back line of Enrique, Faye, Diatta/Edgar, and Beye.
If you had Taylor, Emre, Lualua, Cacapa and Forster on the bench, the formation could be changed easily to 4-4-2 with only one substitution, or a more defensive formation than that even.
We never even needed Smith in the first place. I really hope Kevin Keegan starts to read some of these forums soon, as it seems there are a few other tacticians here that would put him to shame.
James
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Comment #21For those that are dillusional, Butt and Smith will never be dropped by KK. That has been proven. If he wants to play Martins then he’ll put Smith in midfield or on the wing. He won’t leave the field.
CJ
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #22Scotty T- 14 agree
Hadrian
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Comment #23Keegan To Stick With Established Stars – Why?
one hell of a gamble at this stage of the day to start taking chances on the young un’s .
you will really be on his nuts then if it didnt come off ,
keegan used youngsters in a relegation battle , why ?
read’s the blog headline in the summer .
steve
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Comment #24@James – I tend to agree, however we’ll be beaten by Brum if we field that team for sure.
I find it utterly bizarre how KK and co can’t see that Smith in particular is offering nothing to the team.
Stephen Taylor is another who just isn’t performing at the moment and is continually out of position, I’d drop him for Diatta or even Cacapa.
Duff and Barton are major disappointments and Zogs and Owen aren’t currently showing the form they’re capable off so I’d drop them as well.
I’d go for Martins and Carroll up front and blood young Wesley in midfield to partner Butt (we need a holding midfielder)
ScottyT
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Comment #25davies – yeah ano tis but still alan smith day sounds betta lol
about barton and smith allardyce paid nearly 12m for them .. tells you everythin about fat sam to me. in the end lookin at how he used the money we gave him its probably a good job ashley didnt let him go wild with spending or we could have ended up with others such as nolan for example. hell maybe he could have persuaded stan collymore and lee bowyer to come with their gr8 reputations.
boater
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Comment #26Firstly – for ‘established’ please change to ‘fading’.
No one is suggesting playing a team full of kids and reserves and take a massive gamble…. but someone already said on here..without martins goals LAST season we may well have been relegated… play martins and Zog up front together as – you must remember he was at his best with dyer up front with him last season with a pacy and skillful partner…. I have been saying this all season… this would leave duff in the left slot and For Heaven’s Sake play geremi and emre in the centre PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr T
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Comment #27JW – I don’t agree with what your saying at all, look at how well the kids have done for us in the past when they’ve been called upon, i.e. under Roeder. I wish Hunty was still with us (I’m aware he’s not getting his game at leeds, but McCallister is hardly the messiah mark 2 is he) cos I think him and Edgar would do a great job in defence, Edgars positioning and anticipation always seems good, which is more than I can say about Taylor given his recent form. Same as Butt with recent form, he has been horrible…but earlier in the season he was good!
The above shows to me clearly there needs to be a shakeup cos Keegan isn’t doing the job he was meant to do yet, so something needs to change. It’s like that old saying “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it”, but it clearly is broke!! In Keegans games in charge we’ve lost all but 2, of which we’ve drawm, and have come out with a terrible, terrible goal difference with it!!! There’s faith, and then there’s blind faith…. come on, give the kids a chance!!
I was in the magpie suite @ the Blackburn match, and Mort gave a talk, putting the season down as a ‘transition’ season, if it is, then why not begin to bleed some of the youngsters in, the youngsters who have something to prove…. at the minute we’re playing like 10 Viduka’s, and Newcastle’s #1 keeper, Harps!
figsdad
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Comment #28He is scared to drop the likes of butt and taylor and smith player power will get us relegated…
Should pick players on form not on rep….
Mr T
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Comment #29figsdad – have you been reading the fabio cappello book of team selection??
good call!!
ELFER
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Comment #30I’m sure KK won’t pick SMITH now that MARTINS is back! Things will improve with MARTINS and OWEN, you’ll see! believe me!
CRAIGG
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Comment #31Lads to be fair, what alternatives has theyre been recently to butt and smith
CM: Barton and Emre have been injured and as for Geremi as i’ve said many times i would prefer Butt to play.
CF: Martins has just come back after being injured and still not 100% fit and viduka still injured, Ameobi is as poor as ever.
Yes i would like carroll to have his chance but i’ll bet you anything Barton and Martins start against Birmingham, We all hate Smith but it is risky to throw carroll in at Anfield and we know what we’ll get from Smith his trademark Headless chicken running, mistimed Sliding tackles, Gurning at linemen and abusing the ref and Plenty of opposition freekicks.
I think that this side will start against Brum:
Harper
Beye Faye Taylor Enrique
Milner Barton N’Zogbia Duff
Owen Martins
I’ve left out Viduka and Emre as they probably be injured still, Diatta probably isnt match fit, Ramage and Carr are injured.
I dont think Cacapa or Carr will play again for the club as KK will give Diatta and Ramage the chance to earn new contracts and as much as i love the boy Taylor should get a good long rest until next season to find his form again.
Ed i didnt swear once in that whole post but i cant make any promises if Smith starts against Birmingham.
steve
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Comment #32Yup this is what we’ve become!
a friggin joke
Rich
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Comment #33Team i would like to see against Brum:
Harper
Beye Faye Cacapa Enrique
Duff Barton Butt N Zogbia
Owen Martins
Subs: Forster, Taylor, Viduka , Carroll, Milner
If Emre is fit he replaces Barton and if Milner is fully fit id play him instead of Duff otherwise ad amke sure hes fully recovered for our run in!
Leo
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Comment #34oh fuc!!!
Rich
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Comment #35I think though that this will be the team:
Harper
Beye Taylor Faye N Zogbia
Milner Butt Smith Duff
Owen Martins
Subs: Forster, Geremi, Viduka, Carroll, Barton
malaysian youngster
Mar 11, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Comment #36plz get glen roeder back. he is really a good manager. he doesnt believe in the things called experience. technique is more important.
Obafan3
Mar 11, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Comment #37I wish KK would just go with the Capello approach: Don’t be scared to drop the so called big names, get a new fresh team that WANT to achieve.
Obafan3
Mar 11, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Comment #38lol figsdad basically summed up what i meant earlier.
Steeley
Mar 11, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Comment #39Owen dropped, Martins In.
Smith dropped, Carroll In
Taylor dropped, Diatta In
Butt dropped, Lua Lua In
See how that goes.
Leo
Mar 11, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Comment #40just read this on nufc.com
The first rule of fight club; don’t repeat tittle-tattle from opposition fan sites without checking the facts:
From The Journal, Monday:
“reports in Liverpool claim he (Ashley) was targeted by angry supporters on Saturday.
“After the third goal a Magpies fan is said to have accused the billionaire of ruining Keegan’s chances of assembling a good team by failing to provide him with sufficient transfer funds.
“In a separate incident, a drunken fan allegedly lunged at Ashley.”
Not so, report the travelling fans standing near him, who were able to confirm that nothing untoward had gone on.
Update: two further eye witness accounts state that one lad who looked slightly the worse for wear voiced his opinions to Ashley, before shaking hands with the owner at the final whistle – hardly the rumble in the jungle……
Another example of sh*t stirring, abetted by gimpy hacks.
Update 2: sh*t stirrers masquerading as Newcastle fans – Martin Hardy in the Mail:
That has added to the woes of owner Mike Ashley, who faced abuse from one of his own supporters about Newcastle’s plight when seated in the away end at Anfield on Saturday.
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those cheeky cnuts are trying to wind us up. and it sure worked looking back at the previous article refering to the supposed attack on big mike