It will be interesting to see where Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear plays new signing Ryan Taylor on Saturday, since it’s almost certain he will start that game.
Jose Enrique – with famous Tyne Bridge in background
It seems like the player most under threat from Ryan is left-back Jose Enrique.
Joe Kinnear felt that Enrique wasn’t in the game enough in the first half against Sunderland, and let him know that, in no uncertain terms, at the break.
Joe apparently urged the 23 year-old to take full advantage of what Joe felt was a narrow Sunderland midfield.
But Joe seemed to be very pleased with Jose ‘s response as he played very well in the second half, and even seemed like he was determined to get that winning goal.
Kinnear talked to the Shields Gazette this morning:
“I told Jose at half time ‘you’re not giving what I expect from you’,” “He’s got all the potential to be a top-class left-back, but he just sits at times.”
“He was our get-out ball, without a shadow of a doubt. I didn’t think he did that enough in the first-half, so I had words with him at half-time.”
“I thought he did exceptionally well second-half. When he gets in that last third of the pitch, he can hurt teams. He has the ability to do it.”
“Sometimes he’s just prepared to sit on his backside in that position and let the game drift away from him.”
Of course Joe Kinnear has been looking for another left-back to challenge Jose for some time, just like Kevin Keegan before him.
Ryan Taylor can also play right back, so one player is threatening both full backs and both wingers for their places, and that has to be good in terms of getting good performances from the lads.
Ryan could also make his debut on the wing on Saturday, which he may well do, with Jonas being suspended for the game.
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
The Real Entertainers
Feb 5, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Comment #41Best crosser at the club.
Potentially one of the best LB i’ve seen in my time.
Currently, down there with the worst of them!
One word:
Frustrating!
Tom_Toon
Feb 5, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Comment #42Even his worst performance he hasn’t been in the bottom half of LBs in the prem! There are so many bad ones, the worst probably being the captain of the team we are playing on saturday.
ginkoh
Feb 6, 2009 at 3:53 AM
Comment #43Try to enjoy your play and everyting will fine. I think he nerve to play sometime. He need to add more power into his game and he will be the one of the best left back in PRM.
The Real Entertainers
Feb 6, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Comment #44*Re- worst Lb i’ve seen
What i should have said is at Newcastle. My point still stands.
Tom_Toon
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Comment #45Just shows how little you know TRE. He is closer to one of the best we’ve ever had.
Robbanufc
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #46Really? Kinnear is all wrong. Enrique was one of our (by far) best players in the 1st half. But he went missing at some times during the second half. I thought he was our next best player, after Jonas.