Kevin Keegan is now hoping that some of his injured stars will become available for the last two games of the pre-season, before we visit Old Trafford for our first league game on August 17th.
Kevin Keegan – no goals and no points in Mallorca
It looked like a patched up team last night, when the lads went down to their third 1-0 defeat in a row, but like in all games there was some good things to come out of it for the manager.
Bassong again looked the part at center-back, and 21 year old Danny Guthrie put in a good shift.
But Newcastle were without a lot of first teamers once again with Michael Owen, Habib Beye, Mark Viduka, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia, Shay Given, Jonas Gutierrez. Abdoulaye Faye and Oba Martins all missing last night. That’s nine first teamers away, not to mention Joey Barton.
Newcastle have two upcoming games with PSV Eindhoven and Valencia at St. James’ Park and Kevin said today:
“We’ve not risked anybody,” “We are down to one forward at the moment with Alan Smith.” “But Michael will be back soon and will probably come on for the final half hour of the Valencia game.”
“There’s a lot of the lads have done a big shift this pre-season. Geremi, Alan Smith, James Milner, Danny Guthrie, Steven Taylor and Claudio Cacapa have played a lot of football.” “They have done it without complaining and have given it their all.”
“Hopefully we’ll have a few of the lads back for our games this week.”
Hopefully, we can improve our game once some of the lads get back, because the last 3 games have not been good to watch, from a fans’ perspective.
But these are just pre-season games and the major thing in these is to get the lads match fit, try out a few players, and build cohesion within the team.
Hopefully we will have done all of that within the next couple of weeks.
Comments welcome.
65 comments so far
toonfan1
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Comment #1does anyone know if the games against psv and valencia are televised?
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Comment #2Hope not i cannot take any more pain.
scott
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #3We need them back. Were gonna struggle for early form unless the team plays as a Unit before the big kick off…..
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Comment #4Manure are gonna kick our ars.s unless Colocinni can stop Ronaldo and co.
Will
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Comment #5I’m with Toon1978
staffsmag
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Comment #6Will be interesting to see what team KK puts out on Wednesday and Saturday. looking forward to Saturday – will be there !!!
tyneside tommo
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Comment #7Got to be honest and tell you how I dozed off before the end of last night’s game.
But I saw enough to be impressed with Danny and Seb. These two are going to be black & white stars of the future.
Anyone heard any more about our other targets such as Collocini?
scottish mag
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Comment #8i was very impressed with bassong again last night and would say he should be a first team regular alongside colo at the back as bassong is big,strong and quick and colo is big, strong and clever and can improve bassong
what a defence
beye colo bassong new lb/enrique
but we need need creativity KK so the two new signings better be after bassong and colo are done as if they are the only two then we are stuffed
beessi-kosovo
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Comment #9Keegan hopes for return of his senior players but i hope to sing some players to replace our senior players…3 last game we lost and also we didn’t score so why Keegan don’t look to bring some players that can play better than players we have now
Swift nextsoccerstar
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Comment #10We badly need strikers. I know Alan Smith wouldn’t normally be first choice, but if the others are hardly ever fit – this is the sort of form we are left with (those with a nervous disposition, look away now)
Alan Smith, Key Stats:
Currently at 9 hours 30 minutes without a shot on goal.
Real Mallorca – 0
Hertha Berlin – 0
Doncaster – 0
Hartlepool – 0
Everton – 0
Chelsea – 0 (on 45th min)
West Ham – 0 (on 82nd min)
Portsmouth – 0 (on 82nd min)
Tottenham – 0 (on 79th min)
Fulham – 0 (on 84th min)
Liverpool – 0
Blackburn – 2, [pulls shot wide], [heads a sitter over the bar]
Man Utd – 2, [good effort from 20 yards tipped over the bar by VDS], [Piss poor header goes straight up into the air VDS collects easily]
Aston Villa – 0
Middlesbrough – 0 (off 67th min)
Arsenal – 1 [blocked before the ball even left his foot]
Arsenal – 1 [shot cleared off the line]
Birmingham – 0
Arsenal – 0
Blackburn – 1 [fires the ball over the bar]
Portsmouth – 2 [low shot saved by James], [shot deflected]
Everton 1 – [Lescott recovers to turn it around the post]
Alan Smith averages a shot every 2 hours and 24 minutes.
1 shot on target every 6 hours and 6 minutes.
AdamCF
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Comment #11Can we start the negativity after we lose a few real games otherwise we may as well start popping pills now?
Karl - Fenham Hustler
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Comment #12Ed – You’ve wrote MeatloaD at the top.. Is it actually her who sings on the original?
staffsmag
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Comment #13Swift – pass the valium !!!! lol 🙂
Big Ricks Black Nd White Army
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Comment #14never mind needing first team back, we need signings the last 3 games has proven that, i was at doncaster and i thought we were terrible, we need a new striker incase owen or martins gets injured, otherwise we will have to settle with ameobi and smith and they wont score a goal for there life, would i recomend zigic, dont know what people think of this. comments pleease
scottish mag
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Comment #15and when was the last time he actually scored
in a competitive match not v sampdoria i think it was when manure beat roma 7-1
when was it??
James
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Comment #16That Indian bloke (6th richest man) has denied he is interested in buying us and like the club doesn’t know where this comes from (News Of The World making stuff up again).
Current team for Old Trafford that I’d like to see:
——————–HARPER———————
—BEYE——BASSONG—COLOCCINI—ENRIQUE
——–GUTIERREZ—-GUTHRIE—-DUFF——
——————–NZGOBIA——————–
————-OWEN————-MARTINS———-
Big Ricks Black Nd White Army
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Comment #17swift them stats are amazing it just proves how bad smith is lol
andy
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Comment #18wow, smith is s**e
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Comment #19Adamcf we are only stating what we are seeing mate. As the saying goes”the truth hurts” and the truth is we are not good enough to even finish 12th this coming season AND we have less players now then what we had last season. I mean cmon playing Cacapa in midfield is a joke. We should have a signing in by now to play in that position.
Cyprus-Toon
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Comment #20Smith seriously needs to be dropped & sold imo, even Ameobi does better than him & he’s crap also!!!
Viduka needs replacing too, so that leave Owen, Martins & Carrol, we seriously need more strikers, as our midfield don’t seem to be hitting the target either, which isn’t good 🙁
So player we need are:
Another LB & RB
A creative CM
A striker
In less than 4 weeks now 🙂
Davies
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Comment #21I hope the first teamers are back for the next couple of games. I know they’re only friendlies, but we’ll hardly go riding into Old Trafford on a wave of confidence if we carry on like this.
As far as I know, Ronaldo won’t be playing for Man Utd on the 17th as he’s only recently had an operation. Not sure when he’s due back, but I don’t think it’ll be as early as our game.
Bassong looks a decent player. I read that Keegan said he was one for the future, but I’d just as soon have him in central defence as any of the other players we have there, especially if we get Coloccini to play along side. Man our defence will be good if we get him.
Over all, I’m looking forward to a good season, but we should be getting into winning ways before we kick our first competitive ball. We need to win these next two matches.
Toony Montana
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Comment #22Very interesting stats Swift.
I see there was no mention of Oba playing on Wedensday!!!
Graham
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Comment #23I’m not too concerned about this at the minute. We’ll have Oba and Owen back in a few days and i’ve a funny feeling that we will get another big striker in soon.
On a brighter note – anyone heard the one about the spit roasting spice boy who left NUFC last year only to break his leg, come back and get the same leg fractured? Lets all laugh at Dyer! And before anyone has a go about not wishing that on anyone – would he give a toss if it was you?
Bmore
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Comment #24Smith is not good enough. Shame – still a young player but his best days were at Leeds. The game has moved on now.
I agree with Bassong – very impressed with him. All the new signings have done well.
But if I was Taylor – I would be worried. With Collocini coming in, Faye being bigger and stronger, now Bassong shows he is a good solid player – Talyor needs to start producing the goods and living upto his potential. He is not a kid anymore, but is now an experianced premiership defender – he needs to start playing like one, and cut out the silly mistakes like on last nights goal.
Big Ricks Black Nd White Army
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Comment #25we say we need players yes, but we wont get them no one wants to come to us, doubt we will get a top quality striker, even though i would love this, but it is reality that we might not get a good stiker
James
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Comment #26We won’t beat PSV or Valencia both are far too good for us.
totsy
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Comment #27cypryus toon were abouts in cyprus are you
??
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Comment #28On a positive note i believe IF we get Colocinni, a good left back, a quality creative midfielder and another decent striker we will be ok and can push for top 8 or even 6.
dick
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Comment #29thank god ronaldos injured we might be able to keep the against goals down to single figures now
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Comment #30http://www.sunderlandecho.com/nufc/Coloccini-talks-at-39advanced-stage39.4354213.jp
Ericles
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Comment #31Sorry KK – with only Smith we have NO forwards. We do need to sign another striker and I thought Derdiyok would have fitted the bill. I would have had Saha back if needs be – better than Smith and Viduka – injury prone though. We must get a quality midfield playmaker, someone with vision and brains. Even with a full team that position desperately needs to be filled. Smith is now a cannabe and Viduka a neverbe again. Again – we still need LB cover. Reckon Bassong is a bargain too and young Guthrie has a future with us too. If anybody wants to buy anything please buy the Sun etc so we can shut their gutter press wingers up!
Graham
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Comment #32I reckon the Coloccini deal will be confirmed later today and hopefully a couple more in by mid next week at the latest.
Its not so bad – we had 9 players out last night and most are due back over the next week or so. Yes it’s leaving it late to get our 1st team playing together but whats new?
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Comment #33So far all three of our signings have shown just how good they are, and they no doubt improve our squad, 3 more like that and i think we will be ok.
1. Coloccini
2. Midfielder
3. Midfielder
Graham
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Comment #34I wouldn’t buy the sun if I was down to my last pound and it had a voucher for a million quid cheque in it!
Graham
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Comment #35I’m with you Spyro – but i think that we’ll have a striker before the months out too (or in place of one of your midfielders)
robertsa
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Comment #36well be fine if we get in collocini get in burdisso get in baptista.
given
beye collocini faye burdisso
gutierez baptista milner
martins viduka owen
incredibly strong, tall, ugly, reliable defense.
hard working men on the wings with a powerhouse down the middle.
proven goal scoring formula upfront.
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Comment #37Baptista would be kind of ideal actually, a guy who can play striker and midfield, creative and immense on his day.
Coloccini
Baptista
Skjelbred
and we will be ok for next season
robertsa
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Comment #38ive never saw Skjelbred play is he good. what posistion does he play? id give fulham ameobi and smith for bullard. what a deal that wud be.
anonymussss geordie
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Comment #39i used to be a smith fan but he seems scared to be upfront and have the pressure of leading the attack, last night he barely barley entered the final third of the pitch and when he did he had his back to goal, had he forgot what team he was on or summat! and ive just read an article saying ashley is exited about the new season, is he watching the same matches as us or has someone switched his tv to a man utd game b4 kick off
JOeT
Aug 4, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Comment #40There is no doubt that team last night (even with the other boys still to come back) still needs 4 quality additions if we have any chance of the top 8
Smith, cacapa, ameobi – have got to go
and in
Colo – CB
Inler/de jong – DM
Thigo neves, moutinho, diego – AM
ST