The Newcastle United Blog

91 responses so far ↓

• 1 Teddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:03

  give him taylors number if he wants it!

• 2 Stardust // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:03

  Unlike Taylor against Mallorca he looked calm, assured, quick and strong on the ball - being a Geordie isnt a pre-requisite for a starting place.

• 3 mr_flibbles // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:07

  http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=ojjdP01ydqo&feature=related

  ronaldo! How would joey barton get out of this? Anyone?

• 4 Chris H // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:08

  He did look a good player last night. He’s quick, strong and seems confident on the ball.
  Let’s see how he fairs in the Premiership, when the real pressure is on to judge him, but I must admit he’s impressed me so far.

• 5 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:09

  As I posted in the other thread:

  “I thought he looked sharp. He made some really nice tackles where he didn’t just take the ball, but controlled it and played it out. Oh and he was quick. I am willing to bet that he gets paired next to Coloccini at some point in the not too distant future. Especially as Taylor was responsible for the goal.”

• 6 Tom // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:12

  From what I’ve read about the last game, it seems we may have uncovered a gem in Bassong. As Harrier said, I can see him being paired with Coloccini soon. Perhaps in one of the upcoming friendlies against PSV or Valencia, if Curly signs in time!

• 7 Davies // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:15

  Taylor really is going to have to up his game to keep his starting place. I agree with everybody else; Bassong’s two performances for us have made him look like a much older and more experienced player than he actually is. He’s been very very good so far.

  Fantastic, given the money we paid for him. Let’s just hope we can get Coloccini in beside him. Faye can always find room in DM, but I reckon Taylor Cacapa and Edgar will all struggle to get off the bench in the coming season.

• 8 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:16

  Actually - I thought Edgar looked real good last night too - especially moving forward, and he seems faster now

• 9 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:18

  He’s making a VERY strong case for a starting slot!..
  …Whatever, about playing in the prem…Taylor still looked ‘unstable’ against Mallorca!..How will he fair?..

• 10 THELONGSHANKS // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:18

  BASSONG AND EDGAR WERE GOOD LAST NIGHT. Really hope we get collocini in as he is the real deal.

• 11 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:19

  I’d be happy with Edgar as backup to Beye personally

• 12 Matt // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:20

  Bassong was motm last night by a long way for both sides. Very pleased we’ve got him.

• 13 Capt Darlin // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:20

  Stardust, you obviously know nowt. The Newcastle United team without a geordie is like a marine company without a boat!!! Tayls is da man. The key to defending is to stop the supply. Did you see how much time and space their player had to put his cross in against Mallorca. There wasnt a toon player within ten yards of him…..

• 14 Toon1978 // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:21

  Toon have rubbished reports linking us to a take over AND the Colocinni saga is dragging on. Why is everything so slow a negative at NUFC. Just get the Colocinni deal wrapped up asap and Ashley wants to be more truthful with the fans. Everthing is to quiet.

• 15 scottish mag // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:23

  capt darlin that would be cos it was a free kick lol

• 16 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:23

  Toon1978 - all the reports said he would not come for his medical until today.

• 17 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:24

  “Tayls” is from greenwich, south london

  how many players will manchester united have from manchester in their first team next season?

• 18 Toon1978 // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:25

  Ok Harrier but you must admit this is one long drawn out transfer.

• 19 Bmore // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:26

  Darlin - that’s because it was a free kick!

• 20 Stardust // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:27

  Aye Aye Captain - since when have i ever claimed to know anything!

  Scottish Mag you walked into that one - a line waiting for a bite that one lol!

  Taylor should join his ancestors and go back to sewing and making strips rather than wearing them - he could get some elf helpers like Milner, Smith and Nemo.

  Ive finished typing and I can see loads more biting - personally I thought Ameobi was terrible last night, hardly noticed him again.

• 21 tom tomb // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:27

  Actually looks like he can read the game like Woodgate. Rare talent in some one so young, looks like he has it all-very impressed. Edgar had a good game too- after that em em either keeper.

• 22 steve // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:27

  Faye and Collo will be number one pairing with Bassong / Tayls as backup, personally I’d prefer Bassong to Taylor, he just hasn’t gotten past the “one for the future” stage and is making as many mistakes as Bramble used to - I dont care if he is a geordie or not, that shouldn’t qualify you to play.

• 23 Chris H // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:28

  That’s funny Spyro, do people from Greenich usually talk with a Geordie accent.

• 24 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:28

  exactly steve

  @ Chris H

  moving to newcastle when you are young doesn’t make you a Geordie

• 25 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:28

  Well, we all knew the details of the Majorca chairman yanking us around. They agreed the fee on Friday, and they said that Coloccini would come to Tyneside on Monday for a medical. It should be announced in the next 24 hours or so I would hope. They have already agreed terms

• 26 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:30

  moving to Newcastle when you are young doesnt make you a Geordie

• 27 ACD // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:30

  Bassong looked very comfortable last night although i don’t think he really got tested but what he had to deal with, he dealt with very well ! He looked quick, strong and composed! cant wait to see him against some better quality strikers to see how he copes !

  Why havnt we signed colloccini yet? wasnt the deal meant to go through today? im starting to worry =[

• 28 Chris H // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:31

  It’s Deportivo, Harrier mate.

• 29 Will // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:31

  I was very impressed with him, He was very composed and has a sound reading of the game for his age. The setanta sports commentators were having a sly dig at him to start with too about his appearances last year and his teams’ performance.

• 30 Chris H // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:34

  Quote from Spyro “moving to Newcastle when you are young doesnt make you a Geordie”

  It does in my view Spyro cause he doesn’t know anything other than being a Geordie. He’ll hardly remember living down south will he. He has a Geordie mentality, he’s lived here ever since he can remember.

• 31 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:36

  fair enough then chris

• 32 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:36

  Of course Chris H, just had majorca on the brain from the friendly

• 33 JonGoodwyn // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:37

  ACD, how many hours are there left today? have some patience!

• 34 Incognito // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:38

  As long as Bassong is backup only to Faye and Coloccini, I’ll be happy. Taylor does not deserve automatic choice that he seems to get.

  What REALLY winds me up about Taylor is when he makes a mistake (often) he’ll point at the nearest team mate and blame them. He takes no responsibility and shows this by the way he passes the ball as quick as possible, whether the receiving player is in a good position or not. Very irritating.

• 35 GordonO // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:39

  Bassong may be good but the line up from yesterday frankly scarred me.

  In my opinion Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, David Edgar, Geremi, Danny Guthrie and Alan Smith who started are all bottom of the league players.

  Are that really a team that anybody inside the Newcastle United sports management believe, would be able to get anything out of a premier league match?

  We lost to Doncaster 0-1 and Bolton beat them 5-0. That’s to say where one of the supposedly weaker teams of the league is.

  What we are looking at right now is a league start with a number of consecutive losses and after that a number of panic-buys. That is my prediction.

  I am very worried for the next season.

• 36 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:39

  Incognito thats maybe a bit harsh, Taylor tends to pass the ball quick because he is not composed and panics a lot when he has the ball. However you are right about his automatic choice, he certainly doesn’t deserve it and it will be shown this season unless he improves

• 37 micepie // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:41

  Despite all the angst on this site these past few weeks, it’s still possible that most fans could be happy by the end of the window. Let’s see. Everyone is hoping for the Colo deal to go through.

  Are the squad currently having their last sangrias and olives on the hotel patio in Mallorca, or travelling back from Spain or back on Toonside?

• 38 derekm // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:41

  Is this another wisey and his team’s find?
  If it is then just for once can we give the team credit - their job was described as being to find and land young talent, so far they appear to be doing this exceptionally well compared to the club’s previous efforts.

• 39 ACD // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:41

  JonGoodwyn

  your right ! but i really dont want us to miss out on him ! He could be the player we need to start the ball rolling this season !

• 40 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:42

  Gordon, the clue is in what you wrote, if you honestly think that is our starting 11…Well i don’t know what to say man!..

• 41 harrier // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:45

  derekm - I deffo think that was a Wisey player - as Keegan wanted to see him on trial before he signed him.

• 42 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:47

  i have said for ages that the Wise criticism is unjustified and he is simply targeted because of his past and the fact he is from the south, stupidity

• 43 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:49

  Here, here, Spyro!..

• 44 Richard L // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:51

  Hope he gets a better squad number because 46 is rubbish.

• 45 goochy23 // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:51

  bassong loooked a gud playa last nite but lets lets not go overboard, remeber he is only 22 also taylor is 22 aswell so lets giv these playas a chance to grow and not xpect too much of them please.

  when colo signs him and faye shud be our 1st team pairing with them 2 as back up. look how arsenal do it!

  p.s milner and smith for me are completly pointless u cant justify there places because they work hard and giv 100%. with out no end product wats the use, look at anelka mister sulk himself at bolton its fair to say he was a success, now u wouldnt say he was commited and would giv his all for the club would u?

  my point is class and ability outways passion!

• 46 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:54

  my point is you need all three to truly be a good player

• 47 michael // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:57

  I like this kid he is a big strong quick player which a think we are in desperate need of a hope he plays alot next season a hope he takes fayes place.

• 48 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:57

  Aye, it just begs the question: what has Bassong been doin’ in the same time/years as Taylor?..
  …Taylor ‘could’ get blown outta the water by Bassong!..

• 49 CRAIGG // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:57

  If were rating Bassong so highly after one match then surely Taylors performance against Hertha deserves praise where he was equally impressive.

  For christ sake he played well, looked good on the ball and tryed to organise…OK

  I saw Brambles in his first 2 matches at SJP both 4-0 wins and he was exactly the same strong in the tackle,passed the ball well and looked at right leader shouting at the other players to mark up at set pieces.

  I Wasnt you so impressed 5 years on seeing him week in week out and maybe you should hold fire with your views or you could look silly heaping so much praise on him.

• 50 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:58

  There’s not much wrong with Faye like!..

• 51 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 14:59

  I think Taylor & Milners lack of improvement could be down to our coaching staff, as i have said many times before, we seem unable to develop and take advantage of our good young players

  e.g. I reckon if Ameobi had joined Man U or Arsenal he would have been developed in to a better player.

• 52 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:00

  Aye Craigg, but bramble is an enigma…I remember him getting MOTM awards in his last season with us, then playing crap the next match!..

• 53 ACD // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:01

  Spyro, you can say that about any player! of course they’re going to develop into a better player because they’re playing with better players which make them play/ look better !

  Eg. look at alan smith! at man utd he was great because he was playing with the likes of ronaldo whereas smith is playing with the likes of milner

• 54 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:02

  ACD ok, fair enough.

  Let me give another example, Man City and Boro develop good youths, as do West Ham

• 55 Andy1 // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:06

  I’m not going to get carried away with Bassong because at the start of last season Cacapa and Rozehnal looked like they had slotted straight in and adapted to the pace an physicality of the premiership. This obviously wasn’t the case in the long term. But I remember thinking that Rozehnal was the best defender we had had since Woodgate.

  So Bassong may look comfortable on the ball and read the game well but so did Cacapa and Rozehnal at first but then their lack of pace and strength was found out. Friendlies, or even the first few matches of the season don’t show the real style of premiership football and don’t give a fair judgement of how he will adapt.

• 56 Teddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:07

  oh yer, last nights game…

  everyone see geremi’s great crosses and free kicks?

  i remember the free kick bout 30 feet out him and milner over it geremi blasts it out of the stadium, how is he in are squad? i would rather play tim krul wher eh plays and forster upfront instead of smith.

• 57 ACD // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:08

  Spyro i see what you mean, as much as i hate to say it, boro actually have a good academy set up! We havnt had many players coming through the rank but this past season we have brought in many youngsters, so hopefully we’ll end up like a bit like arsenal =]

  okay i better wake up and stop dreaming, but yeah we need to start developing our younger players to a better standard

• 58 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:10

  fair enough point i suppose Andy1, thing is Cacapa and Rozenhal both read the game well and are actually good defenders, however both lack strength and i suppose you could say they couldnt hack it in the premier league (although i still feel Cacapa could be important for us next seaosn)

  However, Bassong is fast, strong and can read the game well, i will be watching him closely for the rest of pre season

• 59 CRAIGG // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:12

  Also how has milner joined the Smith, Ameobi and Geremi club

  Yes his crossing was poor at times but he put some decent balls in as well and with only smith in the 18 yard box i doubt Beckham would pick him out either, Milner and Zog with Shearer and Ferdinand would have been much better crossing wise.

  Until we get some quality movement, height and numbers in the box they wont improve.

• 60 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:12

  Teddy, 30ft out is a penalty!..

• 61 HeronMag // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:13

  Bassong looks decent…

  BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH COLOCCINI!?

  I thought this deal would have been sorted out by now.

• 62 Teddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:14

  ok lol well then 40 i dnt no my feet, even if it was a penalty he would still have managed to miss.

• 63 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:15

  Yes Craigg, no-one to cross to last night!..
  …smith seems to get a nose-bleed in the box!..

• 64 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:17

  Soz Teddy!..Maybe y’meant 30 yards?..

• 65 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:17

  Baptista or Bendtner would both be good options in midfield and up front

• 66 goochy23 // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:24

  craigg

  ok milner gives his all, will get stuck in, hunt bck and help out the team. he’ s not here for that tho!

  milner is a winger who does not create much, does not score much, somehow he always ends up in tight spots and his crosses are as bad geremi, look bck when hes takin corners and ste- pieces- terrible.

• 67 CRAIGG // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:27

  to be honest punk im running out of patience with Milner

  i have always liked him from the start for Leeds and the U21s and was ecstatic when we signed him, He can cross well and shoot accurately and take a wicked set piece and go past a man easily but he doesnt do it enough he is too much of a hit and miss player and as much as i like him he needs to pull his finger out in the near future because i doubt KK will left him get away with it for much longer.

  However until we get the majority of our first team back the results in these friendlies are irrelevant.

  And as you said we may as well have played no one up front, For all the impact Smith had.

• 68 CRAIGG // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:30

  Goochy23

  That sounds pretty much what we were praising Gutierrez for a few days back, As his crosses were poor and his shooting was worse

• 69 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:32

  Lua Lua needs to be brought in, or we should persist with the Larsson attempts, either way it is clear Milner needs serious competition for him to improve as i dont know what our coaches teach in training, it will also stop him from getting so knackered by the end of the season.

  Or we could play him in the middle just behind the strikers, i would prefer to see him there.

  However, if a bid of 6million or more is made we should sell and buy a better winger

• 70 Shearer#1 // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:32

  He looks good, reminds me of Ledley King. Let’s hope now for Coloccini, Warnock, Inler, Baptista, & Arda or Reyes. Squad will be looking good then.

• 71 Stami // Aug 4, 2008 at 15:59

  when did we start knocking our promise players? did everyone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning… Milner is going to be vital for us this season. Taylor has just become a ‘big boy’, and was insort when we had no-one else to play! Geremi has been fantastic for the most part since KK came back! so we lost pre season frendlies. we didnt score…was anyone supprised when they saw Ameobi and Smith walk out onto the park…? i would be worried if Owen iduka and Martins had been playing and we had lost…think about who was on the field before we rip heads off as someone mentioned earlier…

• 72 Teddy // Aug 4, 2008 at 16:01

  yards would be the one lol. cheers punk skunk.

• 73 goochy23 // Aug 4, 2008 at 16:11

  take no notice of me, am just tired and bored, hopefully will be seeing colo confirmed 2day or tomoro

• 74 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 16:34

  Craigg, i feel the same about Milner, he just seems to be labouring…The friendlies without the regulars are obviously a try out for the fringe players…Bassong did well, as did Edgar last nite, in fact the defense did ok really…But i despair of smith…What went wrong?..

  …Spyro, i’m with you mate, i’d try Milner centrally & i agree we should try & get Larsson!..
  …He does score, can pass & takes a wicked free-kick!..

• 75 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 16:34

  No sweat Teddy!..

• 76 Tom // Aug 4, 2008 at 16:57

  The reason people are knocking Milner, Taylor, Geremi etc is because they have been poor. Frankly, in my opinion, they are over-rated. Taylor isn’t going to be ahead of Faye or Bassong (or Colo, when he signs), Milner won’t start on the wings ahead of Jonas or Duff (that would be my right/left combo) and Geremi won’t be ahead of, well, anyone. Beye at right back, Jonas on the right wing, guthrie and butt/new attacking midfielder, going to be difficult for geremi!

  I think, once Colo is nailed down, we need a left back, creative midfielder and target striker (say, shorey, skjelbred and derdiyok) for us to be looking good. I don’t want Reyes or Baptista to sign, Inler or Veloso fair enough, but not those two, Im not keen on them.

  Regarding the youth setup, it has been poor in the past, but I feel with some of the young players we have signed, Zamblera, Baheng, Kadar, Tozer etc, plus some of our young players, Carrol, Donaldson, Lua Lua etc, the future could prove bright for us, as long as we continue it!!!

• 77 leavy // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:07

  i would also love larson at the club
  for around 3 million u cant go wrong
  also i doubt his wages are that high

• 78 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:21

  £3m…more like £4/5m…I afraid!..

• 79 Spyro // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:34

  if we sell milner for 6million we should buy larsson for 5million and then we have made a proift, MA would love that lol

• 80 GordonO // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:38

  Punk Skunk. I know that was not our starting 11, but the players i mentioned are so poor that they would not even be on the bench at many of the supossed top 6 clubs. We need a squad of 11 x 2 players that can compete for the starting lineup. That is not the case at our club…

• 81 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:44

  Good shout Spyro!..

  Gordon, i hear ya’man, but half of that team won’t be on our bench mostly either!..
  …All i’m saying mate is judge us with our full squad out on the pitch!..

• 82 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:49

  What we desperately need more than anything is a bloody ATTACKING MIDFIELDER!! Someone that can cross the ball, pass the ball into space, take corners past the first man (unlike Milner / Geremi) and someone that can take threatening free kicks! Like someone else said…why on earth do we take soooo long to do things!! ARRRGGHHH!!!

• 83 shirts // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:52

  If Bassong’s so good, why didn’t we snap him up without the trial? I hope he’s as good as everyone seems to think, but I wonder what the hold-up was. Just being cautious?

• 84 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 17:54

  He showed skills last night shirts!..
  …I think that’s all most are saying!?!..

• 85 normski1930z // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:01

  we have supposedly bid 4.2 and birmingham knocked it back….

• 86 Christoon // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:04

  Definate class act. Its Good to get a decent hard working youngster that wants to be apart of KK’s plans.

• 87 davetooooooooon // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:20

  it depends how good he plays if he plays agenst man u. cos the team he has played agenst for us arent premier leege quality like man. even though we got beaten ion the last 3.

• 88 Punk Skunk // Aug 4, 2008 at 18:41

  Offer ‘em £5m is what i say!..

• 89 clinta // Aug 5, 2008 at 1:59

  let’s see how he plays in the premiership before we start raving about the lad ey?

• 90 dubfan // Aug 5, 2008 at 3:09

  is it just me or is he better than any of the other backs we have …

• 91 welshgeordie // Aug 5, 2008 at 14:35

  he played awesome against mallorca nd i didnt see him against doncaster

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