Steven Taylor was gutted not to be able to make the trip to London for Sunday’s game against Fulham, because of a niggling groin strain.
Steven Taylor – defender was sorely missed at Fulham
And Steven must have been even more unhappy at the defensive display which cost Newcastle all three points in London, with his stand-in, Brazilian Claudio Cacapa, having a less than stellar game at the back.
The 22-year-old England Under-21 captain was forced to stay at home on Sunday, but watched the game on TV as Newcastle went down to a 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage, and didn’t play well.
This was the first time Michael has missed any Premier League action this season, and it shows the lack of depth in the Newcastle squad, when it was because of this, that we probably lost 3 points. But we could also have played Bassong, Beye or even David Edgar at center-back against the Cottagers, but that’s now all in hindsight.
Although Steven hasn’t always been at his best this season, he’s getting to be more solid playing alongside the great Fabricio Coloccini, and most fans think that if Steven had played on Sunday, we could have won the game at Fulham.
Steven hopes to be back for the game against Wigan on Saturday afternoon:
“I’m just taking things day by day, but I’ll be disappointed if I’m not available for selection.”
“I was gutted at having to miss out on Sunday, because I hate missing any game.”
“My groin problems all started when I was away on international duty.”“I tweaked the muscles, and since then I have been on painkillers, but I’ve had trouble sprinting, so it would have been silly to have played on Sunday.”
“There were fears that it might be a hernia, which would have meant weeks, if not months, on the sidelines, but fortunately this has not proved to be the case.”
We need Steven back for Saturday so we really hope he can make it, but if he cannot we would expect 22 year-old Frenchman Sebastien Bassong to start alongside Coloccini.
Seb has looked very good in that position when he’s played there before for Newcastle this season, and he seems to be just a smashing lad, who has taken quickly to life on Tyneside.
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
Tom
Nov 12, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Comment #1If Bassong is over the “injury” its claimed he had, then he should be playing alongside Coloccini. If he has a good game, then he should stay there, and Taylor will have to earn his place back in the side.
Monster
Nov 12, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Comment #2Our back four should always, if possible, be selected from Colo, Beye, Taylor, Bassong and Enrique. Cacapa and Edgar are not good enough.
redeye
Nov 12, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Comment #3I’d take a fit Bassong over Cacapa and Tayls.
cause I got the girth
Nov 12, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Comment #4“Newcastle need Steven Taylor”
ohh dear…..what have we become!!
Frankieboy
Nov 12, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Comment #5Exactly,
cacapa cost us on sunday he is really struggling as a result of lost confidence.
Bassong should start this weekend.As already said Beye dan also fill in with possibly Tozer starting RB….Why not?
ElfyToon
Nov 12, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Comment #6Y do people not like taylor? he is a gd defender who makes sum rash challenges at times but more often than not hes a gd player, and in collocini hes got the perfect mentor. i agree bassong is gd an personally id start him on sunday and bring taylor on in the last 20 mins if either him or collo are tired. bu id still have taylor ahead of bassong, just because bassong had a few gd games doesnt make him any better than taylor. taylor is premier league experienced player and still on the learning curve.
graeme
Nov 12, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Comment #7We need Taylor back like a hole in the head.
Give Bassong a game alongside Collo and lets see what he produces. I think he will do well, he seems to be level headed, quick and strong.
Obafan
Nov 12, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Comment #8Ohhh no, if this is the kind of player we need then we are doomed.
We need another good CB and Taylor is not that guy. I would start Bassong.
cause I got the girth
Nov 12, 2008 at 5:49 PM
Comment #9well said Graeme, over rated and liability we dont have time for considering the position we are in!! People say we dont have time for Xsico to come good, were in trouble and we need proven ability to help us out! Well, I sit on line with the 18 yrd line of the Gallowgate so have the pleasure of watching him for a half, man, the lad gets pulled around and his decision making is terrible.
Please dont get me wrong, i think he will be a good defender in a few years, but for right now, we need someone proven i think, coll is quite obviously a good defender for people who have been there and watched a few, just needs time and somone with him thats done it before, and thats my point with him. It was said above that coll should be Taylor’s mentor??? ehh, someone who has played a handful of games in the p/l a mentor??? Would you let some one from Azerbaijan re-wire your home after a few weeks of “mentoring”? Coll is the one who needs a mentor for now, sure the defence up once and for all!
Tom_Toon
Nov 12, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Comment #10Bassong should start even if Taylor is fit!
4rm the pearl of Africa
Nov 13, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Comment #11Good to see we are all united in saying Cacapa shouldnt play CB again.Bassong over Taylor for me.But Taylz has vital prem xperience over both Fab Collo and Bassong.
How about communication,Beye and Bassong hav good french,Colo and Enrique hav fluent spanish.But with Colo and Bassong at CB,what language prevails?
Heavy hitters
Nov 16, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Comment #12Bassong will be a better CB than Taylor but he will never get the shout in front of old big head so if he wants to develop as a CB it will have to be else where as Edgar has found out.