Alan Pardew has come out today and talked in lyrical terms about his full-back and the way he plays the game with passion and heart – something that could help England in their World Cup pursuits.
Steven Taylor – Newcastle United defender
As soon as Alan Pardew arrived Steven was just returning from injury, and he pointed out Steven as one of the key players at Newcastle but since then Steven has been out injured a lot – an awful lot – but when he’s played he’s looked a fantastic player for Newcastle.
This is what Alan Pardew said today in the local papers:
“It’s brilliant for Steven to be acknowledged this way. He conducts himself in a lovely manner in and around the city.” “You can’t help but love the way he plays the game. He plays with passion and heart and wants to win.”
“I genuinely, genuinely believe he’s every bit as good as the centre-halves they have.” “He now needs to play before you can judge whether he’s international class.”
“I don’t know whether he’ll play this time but I hope he gets the chance soon because you need that confidence to play in a tough qualifier.” “I think these games are absolutely perfect for him and I would have no hesitation to play him if I was Roy.”
“I spoke to Roy the other week about him actually. I think he’s well aware that they need to look at Steven.” “The European games have helped him but some of the very best players in Europe are in the Premier League and he’s playing against them week in and week out.”
“I can’t think of too many of them who have caused him any problems.”
Those are good words from Alan, and one of the things we like about the Londoner is that he always fully supports his players – and to us Alan has been a complete surprise since he joined us over two years ago – a positive surprise.
We know he has his critics, but this season there’s not many managers who could have done any better given the small squad and injuries we’ve had.
And not many managers would have survived losing 10 of 13 league games, but Alan did, and if he can get us safely through the season – he will be a much better manager because of the experiences he has gone (suffered?) through this term.
As far as Steven goes, we know he’s a potentially great player – but we have to keep the lad fit.
Comments welcome.
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12 comments so far
Toon-Prodigy
Mar 21, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Comment #1Lads check this, just for a change of subject if you will..
In regards to Colo,
There is a few of my workmates saying they reckon he’s not coming back.. My mates are not the people who wrote the following article.
Thoughts on this?
http://www.newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=313474
Transfer Sage
Mar 21, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Comment #2Nothing too suspicious as the article tries to suggest.
Ben arfa was left to recover in france so why not colo in argentina especially when he needed to be home for personal reasons too.
Standing and waving your hands isn’t that extreme an activity, hardly like he was down the beach surfing.
The fact he walked around for a bit with a back injury and played on a while shows it can’t be a bad break and he is mobile enough.
Making something out of nothing really there. And as for him going into the corner being unusual…well colo always has taked risks and the back and messed around, especially when enrique and jonas were that side too. He always held the ball and tried to play out.
Toon-Prodigy
Mar 21, 2013 at 9:54 AM
Comment #3Tin man,
What I’v heard and obviously it is only a rumour..
Is that maybe it’s not worth him coming back for one game and Colo is going to pay out the remainder of his contract. Or someone else is. That video shows he obviously has no considerable back injury
I’d be gutted if thats the case.
Toon-Prodigy
Mar 21, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Comment #4It’s just rumours Transfer,
Makes a change from Haidara, im at my witts end with it all.
Lilongwe Geordie
Mar 21, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #5Colo will be back, but probably only to say goodbye and collect his stuff. I heard he took 10 cases filled with stuff home with him. But as Sage says, we let all our players return home if they have a long term injury, so there is nothing suspicious there. And, (I haven’t watched the video) unless that video shows him swinging on the monkey bars and doing a double back flip dismount then I’m not sure how you can tell he doesn’t have a problem.
He will go in the summer, I reckon that was agreed in January, and provided Taylor and Mbiwa stay fit then he isn’t to badly missed.
Transfer Sage
Mar 21, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #6prodigy
Yeh I know, just having my view. And same as you now with haidara, its done, lets move on.
I think if you look at any situation you can pick it apart enough to find something what makes you suspicious.
He might not be badly hurt, his back may be pretty much healed but there’s a difference between being fit enough to stand and cheer a team on and being able to partake in a fast pace, contact sport.
Lilongwe Geordie
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #7Having said that, I’m dreading Taylor being with the England squad given his fitness record, and our season of injuries….
Transfer Sage
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #8lilongwe
Yeh I think he will be off in the summer too….regardless of whether he had gotten this injury or not.
No hard feelings, soemtimes things change suddenly in life and even something which seems small can effect you in a big way. No idea what caused these problems for colo but I think there isa genuine reason for him to want to return.
I know football is a business but from Colo’s point of view it’s not always easy to think like that when emotions are involved.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #9Previous Thread
Tinman
Cheers for that – seems the football/coaching psychee of the country needs to change
Stephen Keegan
Find some home grown players that are not stupid money to buy
Munster Mag
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #10Agree about Martinez and said same yesterday. Every year his team only reacts with 20% of the season left! I dont think he’s a good motivator and his teams dont seem capable of grinding out results. He has never managed a big club like NUFC ( not the be all and end all, but it helps in terms of the politics, pressure, fans , media etc ) . I cant say I’m wildly impressed with Pardew although I loved him last season, and we look useless without Cabaye. Once we went 1-0 down to Wigan I’m sure many fans knew we wouldnt win, because he is so defense minded. He needs to get more creative players in the team but struggles with that because most creative players from France etc do not fully understand the workrate he demands.
Munster Mag
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #11Lilongwe, I think Mbiwa needs to sharpen up, a lot. Also, if we dont get rid of Santon from left back, we wont have a reliable defence next season. Debuchy doesnt look confortable against pacey tricky wingers but at least he doesnt get caught out much, likes to tackle etc. Santon is a shocking defender at present.
Toon-Prodigy
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #12I have to say, if I was paying an employee £70,000 a week or there abouts i’d be a tad concerned with this. After all, he is supposed to be healing a broken back haha.
I actually find this quite funny in all honesty. My work mates were telling me this morning about exactly the same thing then this video and article came up. I had to post it.