Niles Ranger, our 17 year old striker, signed quietly from Southampton in the summer, was a a handful all night against Wigan, but he still ended up on the losing side tonight for Newcastle Reserves.
Niles Ranger – one for the future?
Steve Harper and David Edgar were given run-outs to ensure their match fitness, in case they are needed for the first team.
Newcastle started off brightly and were in control in the early part of the game, and after 25 minutes they took a deserved lead through Niles Ranger. The impressive youngster smashed the ball into the top hand corner of the net from 25 yards out – an excellent goal.
Ryan Donaldson’s evening was ended after 40 minutes when he was stretchered off with a bad ankle injury, following a challenge from Andrew Pearson.
Then shortly following the restart of the game, Jonathan Routledge put in Joe Holt who shot low past Steve Harper in first-half stoppage time. As we all know a good time to score and a bad time to concede, especially when Wigan’s goal was against the run of play.
Wigan then took the lead after just nine minutes into the second half when Routledge sent in a curling shot from 30 yards , which beat the diving Harper. Niles Ranger then came within inches of a second goal, when his shot hit Pearson and went just wide of the upright. This lads looks good.
Newcastle kept fighting Reserve debutant Stephen Folan beat three men as he put Godsmark through, but goalkeeper Postlethwaite made another good save.
A good display from the youngsters, and they were unlucky to lose this game.
Newcastle United Reserves: Steve Harper, Callum Morris, Stephen Folan, David Edgar, Ben Tozer, Mark Doninger, James Marwood, Jonny Godsmark, Sammy Ameobi (Conor Newton, 46m) Ryan Donaldson (Michael McCrudden, 45m) Nile Ranger
Subs: Max Johnson, James Tavernier, Patrick McLaughlin
NUFC News 24/7 
44 comments so far
Andrew
Oct 7, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Comment #11st
Dan13
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Comment #2Nile seems promising.
I’ll probably go to the next one at blue flames, canny good there.
Ganiyu
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Comment #3viduka retiring?
Tom_Toon
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Comment #4Ranger:
4 in 4 for the ressies
3 in 3 for the u-18’s
sounds good, apparently the goal today was immense.
Ganiyu
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Comment #5Hopes he makes it to the national team
Ganiyu
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Comment #6Ed speed is equal to edharrison is equal to Ganiyu once. I just noticed that.
irish_al
Oct 7, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Comment #7Tom_Toon
i believe it is 2 goals in 4 reserve appearances
and 4 goals in 3 under eighteen appearances
but hey, who’s counting
Isaac Hunt
Oct 7, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Comment #8Ganinyem: You are no relation so stop trying to be and Enigmatic Hunt!
John(indian toon)
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:55 AM
Comment #9Guy read dis-http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fleagues%2Fpremierleague%2Fnewcastle%2F3153057%2FKevin-Keegan-rejects-Newcastle-United-return-under-Nigerian-consortium-Football.html&hl=en&client=ms-sonyericsson&source=m&channel=bm
John(indian toon)
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Comment #10http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fleagues%2Fpremierleague%2Fnewcastle%2F3153057%2FKevin-Keegan-rejects-Newcastle-United-return-under-Nigerian-consortium-Football.html&hl=en&client=ms-sonyericsson&source=m&channel=bm
Ganiyu
Oct 8, 2008 at 2:28 AM
Comment #11Old news indian toon.i hope bill gates buys the club
Ganiyu
Oct 8, 2008 at 2:50 AM
Comment #12Best of luck ranger hope you become what we dream of.wonder kid
Ian
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:17 AM
Comment #13What has happened to Fabio?? Is he injured or has he gone?
They should get Niles Ranger in the first as soon as possible to keep his feet on the ground and see what happens, he might be the best outside of Martins and owen.
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Comment #14Zamblera has had a few knocks, still played some games but not scored many goals
In regards to Nile Ranger playing in the first team, i’m happy to leave the decision to the manager, he’s in a better positiob to jugde, it is a big step up, we might see him on from the bench at some point soon, same with the likes of kazenga lua lua
Born Again Geordie
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Comment #15Here is a question for you.
Why should these young lads always be viewed as ” one for the future”?
When teams like Arsenal and Everton etc put the likes of Walcott, Rooney in the first team they are hailed as the next footballing genius and get picked for England etc, etc …. you know the story.
Will JK have the balls to go with one of our young guns and let them shine ???
Would like to know what anyone else thinks 🙂
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Comment #16I have the players you mentioned, Rooney and Walcott not only showed potential, but their actual current level over ability was great enought to merit a place, Walcotts ability merited him a place in the Southampton team
Rooney was worthy of his place in the everton team, in my opinion Rooney was alrady playing near his full potential at a young age as he developed physically earlier than most
Rooney or Walcott at 17-18 had greater ability than any of our young players
Glad to see you’ve joined a footballing conversation too Born Again Geordie
Tom
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:05 AM
Comment #17I think with playes like Ranger and Lua-Lua, its best if you introduce them slowly into the first team picture, bench them and let them have a few sub run outs. Maybe play them in FA cup games, or when someone gets injured, but not throw them in at the deep end and expect them to swim.
Hopefully, in a few years time, we’ll see people like Ranger, like Lua-Lua, like Kadar et al, all playing in the first team, and playing well!
It will be nice when the future of the club becomes the present. 🙂
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Comment #18Aaron Ramsey joined Arsenal for c ÂŁ5 million
he has ability and greater potential but is not getting much first team action as there are players currently showing greater ability
Other teams have players with potential that aren’t getting played either, Jack Hobbs at Liverpool, Scott Sinclair at Chelsea, not because they are not good players but because on merit/ability their are other players at the club worthy of those places
Ganiyu
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Comment #19If joe can give shola a chance i strongly believe he can give the youngsters a shot.
Ian
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Comment #20I think that some managers have made the wrong decision with some of our reserves, Roeder had it right, the likes of Pattison was played and all of the promise disappeared, O’brien, Edgar and Taylor looked and are good, Lua Lua was played early and I really rate him but he hasnt been given the chance lately.
Others such as Carroll in my opinion have been wasted, as Carroll built the momentum in the reserves he should have played in the first to keep his feet on the floor, he levelled off in his talent at top reserve and doesnt appear to be progressing at all now.
I used to compete in a sport and was always in the top three at club level, however as soon as I moved on in to the nationals I didnt even rank, so I dumped the club and trained in national competitions and private grounds so that I raised my level as I was always alongside regional, national and international champions. My belief is that everyone should get a taste of top competition level so they understand why they are training to such a high level, otherwise if they are the best in their little pond, why better yourself?
It is hard to train every day, raise your level if you do not know what the level you have to reach is.
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Comment #21i think i missed a better example, Danny Guthrie
Not good enough to get passed Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano on current ability, Liverpool would of happily kept him due to potential
I think it is hard to way up ability when watching the first team or even the reserve matches, you still don’t see the full picture like the coaches, they see how these players do day in day out in training, we can see first team football, reserve football, but hard to compare difference in levels between the two, during training senior players play with younger players so in such games it is easier to judge how these youngsters would perform
A young player might look a star in the youth team, but be outclassed by the senior players, if this is the case you’re not likely to see them thrust into the first team
I have a hope a good few of our young players break through either at Newcastle or other clubs, but i don’t think any of them show as much ability or potential as Rooney or Walcott, i think we are hyping them up a bit, a fair number of form newcastle youngsters litter league one and two, ie james copinger and lewis guy at doncaster, few newcastle youngsters that have not played much at first team level have been sold for great profit
There are players in the premier league that didn’t really break though into the first team but went on to play successfully elsewhere, steve sidwell was at arsenal, jonathan greening was at man utd, but can’t think of any from newcastle
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Comment #22Ian,
Good point about certain players being blooded under Roeder, sort of like a make or break point
both pattisoon and lua lua looked good at lower level, when they played in the first team lua lua looked ok where as pattison floundered, he’s not a bad player, afterall Roeder took him to norwich, bit he didn’t make the grade with ourselves
In regards to your point about giving them a try at first team level or they won’t know what to aspire to, i do disagree with this point as younger players do at times train with the seniors, if we were to play a lot of young players we would effect the performance of the first team, which afterall is paramount, i would also argue that a number of those young players would then demand first team football, renewed contracts even if they had not looked that good in the first team, as they would now be on the radar of other teams around our level
Ganiyu
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Comment #23I hope nicky butt doesnt start the game against city cos jo robinho and elano would really expose him.
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Comment #24so you trained at higher level, that is still different to competing at the higher level
assuming you were involved in athletics, the national, international champions comepeted rather than yourself on merit
still, congratulations on the level you did reach, it is a great achievement itself
Will
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Comment #25essay answers and double posting is a sin.
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Comment #26Hello Will
Guilty as charged
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Comment #27Hello Will
Tried to post same again and got the reply –
Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!
Tom
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Comment #28Incidentally, what about Aaron Spears? I know we signed him, but has he played for us at all, at u17, u18 or reserve level yet?
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Comment #29he hasn’t appeared at under 18 or reserve level as of yet accorinding to stats on nufc.com, also isn’t shown on there list of transfers under keegan, may just be as it isn’t a professional contract, maybe it was a pre agreement to join newcastle, not sure either Tom
Ageordiedoonsooth
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Comment #30Anyone know whats happened to Zamblera he hasn’t played for the resreves or youth for weeks is he injured?
Ageordiedoonsooth
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Comment #31I think with Spears he is only 15 & I believe there is an FA rule that U17’s have to live within 50 miles of the club they are signed for. I believe he will stay with Plymouth until next season & then move up here. Unless of course his parents up & move north
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Comment #32Mr Spears will probably be offered a job as groundkeeper, lol
Xiscore
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Comment #33Guthrie _Modric
Bassong _Corluka
Spidey _Bently
xisco _Goevani
Compare and contrast and then tell me who is laughing now so far i think we are blinded by the whole KK issue that we cant notice the good of Ashley’s set up .Honestly i would love to emulate Arsenal in terms of recruitment and youth policy.Ashely should get partners to join him and in that case we will get a win win situation
Born Again Geordie
Oct 8, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Comment #34Irish Al,
I am glad to be talking about football again mate. Too much doom and gloom on here lately.
Ian
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Comment #35Irish al, I dont disagree with much of what you say, but I also trained with nationals at club level, I used to get down to the semi finals and even occasionally but very rarely beat them at club level, but then going in to national level against internationals was a totally different ball game, I could raise my game to be 70% of the top guys, but after that it took very very serious training and a national coach.
While I do not think, unless needs must that a youngster should be thrown in as a permanent feature of the first team, I think they need to be given 15 minutes of the occasional match to realise where they really are, not ridiculed but shown why they need to train all the time take everything on board just to creep up in ability inch by inch.
It is to easy to be good in an easy environment and stop learning and improving.
Tom_Toon
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Comment #36Even when Zamblera was fit he was on the bench and only scored 1 goal! He barely played for the reserves, noly really the u-18’s.
Ageordiedoonsooth
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment #37Irish Al you got the wrong player Ramsey was signed by Arsenal from Cardiff Aaron Spears played for Plymouth and as far as I know has signed a contract with the Toon
irish_al
Oct 8, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Comment #38Ageordie downsouth-
the reference to Ramsey was a different discussion on wanting to see more chances for youth players in first team appearances
Ian-
i think we’ll need to agree to disagree to a small extent, however thankyou for an enjoyable debate, out of interest what event(s) did you compete in?
Ian
Oct 8, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Comment #39Irish al,
Clay pigeon shooting, seriously competitive at high levels. I did sporting, Olympic Trench and Skeet. It was easy to stay at the level you were at if competing at club level, if you won you won, there wasnt much more you could do.
At national level a decent shot could easily get themselves up to 70% but then from 70% in to the nineties was like crawling up a mountain, having a few different people behind you trying to understand what your problem was with certain targets, eyes, clothing, joint movement, feet positioning, chokes, cartridges the list was endless, had to practice twice a week and get professional coaching not to win at national level just so I hit a reasonable amount of targets to justify bothering!!!
It wouldnt have mattered how good the coaching was at club level, it wouldnt have improved me to national level, you have to stand in front of a large crowd in unfamiliar surroundings on your own to understand why the coaching is needed and why everything is so important. I think that could be a problem with our reserve team, if they are the best or one of the best in their position without ever playing in a competitive game with large crowds watching they will not know what they are aiming for, when you are king in a tiny pond you are convinced that nationals or internationals are within your grasp!! How wrong can a person be!!
swederic
Oct 8, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Comment #40A pal of mine made an intervju with Ole Söderberg, who atm is injured, for the swedish newcastle fan site.
He had some quite intresting things to say actualy.
Like who he fought had the most ability in the reservteam, he said just Nile Ranger. Nice to see we have got a true talent! Who plays good in the games, and shows he is better than what we had before!
The friendliest player in the A-team he actualy said Jose Enrique of all.
And on how many goals he had let in from Ameobi, he laughed and said not many =)