We’ll know soon if Leon Best will get his second start in his fledgling career at Derby County tonight.
Leon Best – will hope for another start tonight
Leon didn’t get on the score-sheet last Friday night, and certainly missed a sitter in the first 10 minutes, when it seemed easier to head the ball into the back of the net, rather than to head it wide right, from just six yards out.
But that doesn’t say that Leon didn’t look good on his debut, and being just 23 years-old he has time to get better, and we think he will.
But of course the star man last Friday night was local lad Andy Carroll, who could have easily had a hat-trick after just 15 minutes.
As it turned out he got a brace and hit the post, but the ball then rebounded into the net off a Cardiff City defender.
Andy was certainly ready to play on Friday night, that’s for sure, and he could have well been inspired by the possibility of winning the famous Newcastle number 9 shirt in the future.
As far as Leon Best is concerned, manager Chris Hughton is still expecting goals from his new striker, and he feels the obvious hot competition for a starting place at Newcastle, will spur on the former Coventry City striker.
Chris Hughton said today:
“He’s a young lad. I brought him in here to score goals, as with all the strikers, but also be part of a striking group that’s going to apply pressure on each other.”
“Although he didn’t get on the score sheet, I certainly wouldn’t want to take anything away from his contribution in the game.”
We have a sneaking suspicion that Chris may well give a start to local lad Shola Ameobi, who has not seen too much action lately.
And we were hoping that Newcastle would continue their all out attacking form of last Friday at Pride Park tonight, but it doesn’t look like that will necessarily happen as Chris continued:
“It’s a totally different team and different game. You have to look at each game on its merits, and the most important thing is to try and get a good result.”
Of course with the new creativity in the Newcastle side, you never know, and the Magpies may get off to another good start tonight – we hope so anyway.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
petey
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Comment #1Great picture of leon best coming out from behind some bushes.
I wonder what he was up to?
Spitfire
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Comment #2Hughton has easy decision : DON”T CHANGE A WINNING SIDE -he has done it too many times over the course of this season
Toonmadtom
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Comment #3lets hope so im not expecting a big score th nite but you never know.
Robby Bobson
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Comment #4Spitfire….exactly.
However changing the strikeforce wont change that much as a combination of Carroll/Ameobi with Loven/Best are clinical at this level…i just hope he doesnt cange the shape of the side and plays Jonas and Routledge with 2 up front.
I can see Smith coming back in for Guthrie :(.
Fozzy
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Comment #5Carroll Loven/Best to start, i would have Ranger come on or start over Ameobi, he’s not consistant enough and is to lazy for my liking. Ranger however gives 100% every time he wears the shirt. Midfield i would like to see Routledge Guthrie Smith/Nolan and Jonas on the left.
Bosck
Feb 9, 2010 at 3:53 PM
Comment #6I mostly agree with you Spitfire, but like Robby Bobson says I don’t think changing the strikeforce is too bad, personally would go for carroll and loven up front as they are the 2 in the goals at the moment, doesnt seem right to have loven on the bench seeing as he has scored something like 6 in his last 5 games. then bring on best after 60 mins or if carroll has a few personal issues to deal with re the court case then go with best and loven up front as best big enough to do the target man role but with added pace.
derekm
Feb 9, 2010 at 4:14 PM
Comment #7ALWAYS ALWAYS go for the players in form – carroll and loven – with the new balanced midfield of two quick players each side willing and able to track back, the service will still be there for the front two, even though Derby are no mugs at home. We should have the confidence to soak up pressure and hit them with our new found pace. No one -I repeat no one – will remember the away games we kept tight and sometimes boring if we are celebrating promotion in a few months time.
TheHeyman
Feb 9, 2010 at 4:36 PM
Comment #8Hopefully not to much tinkering from CH. We have players that on their day can do well against Premiership sides, why play around with a formular against championship sides?
Sav
Feb 9, 2010 at 7:28 PM
Comment #9Ranger is the lad who needs games at some level and he’s not getting them.
– At best its 20 minutes here and 30 there. Delighted to see Kazenga Lua Lua get to Brighton and glad top hear a couple more young’uns are being lined up for loans.
Send Ranger out for some game-time now that Best is here. We can manage with 4 strikers for a month or two and it’ll do the lad some good. He’ll come back ready to challenge for a place then.