Whitley Bay resident Steven Taylor knows all about what it’s like coming through the ranks of the Newcastle Academy.
Steven Taylor – came through the Academy at Newcastle
Steven was a star youngster on Tyneside, who played for every England Youth side from U16 through the England U21 side, and he was captain of the U21 side.
Steven has had a tough job getting into the Newcastle first team this year, but showed that he may be coming back to somehow near his best in the last couple of games, in which he’s scored a header from a set play in both games.
Steven is deputizing for the injured Mike Williamson, but Steven’s ability to score goals on set plays, may eventually give him the nod over Mike Williamson, who has yet to score for Newcastle.
Steven thinks youngsters like Sammy Ameobi, Shane Ferguson, Kazenga LuaLua, Michael Richardson and James Tavernier have all mixed in well with the Newcastle first team this year, after so many senior players have been out with injury.
Steven told the Newcastle local press corps today:
“I came up through the ranks, and having homegrown players in the team and squad is so important to the club and the fans.” “It was good to see the young lads come on and get their chance, especially at Stamford Bridge against world-class players, and I think the fans like to see that too.”
“Now they can go on and achieve more, and it is up to us senior lads to give them all of the encouragement and help they need.” “It can be a daunting step, but they have done well. Getting that experience so early in their careers will stand them in good stead.
“They did very well, and that bodes well for the future.” “This season’s been fantastic.” “We said at the start of the season when on tour in Ireland that we wanted to avoid relegation, and we did that with a few games to spare.”
“We can finish the season on a high in front of our own fans against West Brom.” “They’ve been brilliant all season, and we want to reward them with another win.” “There’s no reason why we can’t perform like we did against Chelsea.”
Indeed the last two games have seen Newcastle give some gutsy performances, after the disappointing and all too too easy 3-0 loss at Anfield.
Those 4 points in the last two games have given Newcastle a decent chance of finishing in the top half of the table, but the job is not complete yet, and a good performance against West Brom on Sunday is what’s needed.
After all West Brom beat Newcastle 3-1 back in December, in what turned out to be former manager Chris Hughton’s 74th and last game in charge of Newcastle. Chris had a 53% win rate in those 74 games in charge with 39 wins, most of them in the Championship of course.
So Newcastle owe one to West Brom on Sunday.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
54 comments so far
boater
May 20, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Comment #41why the HELL does anyone want Bassong back? The stats that season proved that we dropped more points whenever he played… 2 previous clubs were relegated, now he can’t get a game for a side riddled with injury… master of looking good in a losing side,, a la scott parker…
defenders should be judged on results, not how fast they run or how you THINK they look quality. why are you all clinging on to some stupid local myth about how good he was.
Williamson – a million times better option.
Thump
May 20, 2011 at 5:40 PM
Comment #42http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110520/official-opening-of-sir-bobby-robson-memorial-garden_2281670_2364000
quality idea
boater
May 20, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Comment #43CC89 – All your bravado about Zog being a pansy, sulky type is a bit wearing. Like I said on a previous thread, if you want to move up the table you need a balance – that might include talented but temperamental types.. if you want a team full of hard working, likable grafters you might be better off watching Stoke.
coolcatcarter89
May 20, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #44Boater – your blanket assumption, that every gifted player is temperamental (which is what you’re implying), is a bit ‘wearing’.
Bravado? Huh…..?
coolcatcarter89
May 20, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Comment #45Sorry Tonytoon73. 🙂
WWJBD
May 20, 2011 at 5:54 PM
Comment #46Thump all I can say is about bloody time
And I really hope it is up to the quality it should be for the legend
Partizan
May 20, 2011 at 5:57 PM
Comment #47We have a very promising squad,all we need is to release the dead wood high earners and replace them with fresh quality.
Sell/Release…..Campbell,Xisco,Smith,Kuqi
Loan……….Ranger,Lua Lua,Sammy Ameobi,Vuckic,Ferguson
Buy….
CF…N’Doye for 5 mill
LW.N’Zogbia for 8 mill
AM.Christian Eriksen for 10 mill (dubbed as the new Wesley Sneider)
LB.Ivan Obradovic for 5 mill(if Zaragoza goes down which i believe they will)
Home team formation 4-4-2
…………………………….Harper…………………………
Simpson………Taylor……….Colo………..Enrique
……………………………Tiote……………………………
…………Ben Arfa……………………….Jonas…………
……………………………Eriksen………………………..
……………………..Best………….N’Doye……………..
Subs-Krul,Barton,Willo,Nolan,N’Zogbia,Lovenkrands,Obradovic.
Away team formation 4-5-1
……………………………Harper…………………………
Simpson………..Taylor……….Colo…….Enrique..
………………………………Tiote…………………………
………….Jonas………………………………..N’Zogbia
……………………Ben Arfa…..Eriksen……………….
…………………………….N’Doye……………………….
Subs-Krul,Barton,Nolan,Best,Willo,Obradovic,
Gosling
You have a squad to rotate anyway you like,wheteher from injuries,fatique,cup rotation etc,,,you name it.
Its a very realistic squad imo and deff a team good enough to push for Europe.
Sir Alan
May 20, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Comment #48Off topic but was talking to a guy today who knows Steve Stone. Apparently one of the most unpleasent guys you’ll ever meet!
GeordieGerman
May 20, 2011 at 7:03 PM
Comment #49I don’t know why people are saying N’Zogbia left us when we where relegated. He left us before. And JFK calling him insomnia was not the only reason. It may have been the straw that broke the camels back. But I can’t imagine Carroll starting on him in the car park would have helped.
GeordieGerman
May 20, 2011 at 7:05 PM
Comment #50“Apparently one of the most unpleasent guys you’ll ever meet”! Guys? Steve and Stone then?
ToonDownSouth
May 20, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Comment #51GG, you realise that his sentence makes perfect sense right? XD
If he said “guy”, then it would make no sense :/
MadAboutToon
May 20, 2011 at 7:59 PM
Comment #52agree with (boater). why do yous want bassong back? the only thing he does good is pulling on other player tops and giving away pen. i don’t understand why he got player of the year
daffy
May 21, 2011 at 12:11 AM
Comment #53Forrest Gump.
shearermania
May 21, 2011 at 3:16 AM
Comment #54dame n’doye…got to be kidding…
yes he scores goals but in the danish league…mention 1 striker who has been lethal in the premier league playing in the danish league – the danish league is the standard of english league 1….oh forgot mark robins but apart from him…and frank pingel dosnt count