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Monday, April 17, 2006
Post Season Newcastle Squad Review
Ah... The final ball has been kicked, it's all over... Now what's next?
Expired Contracts:
Shearer - Legend.
Chopra - I've always had a pretty low opinion of Chopra, and while that has been softened in recent weeks as he's put himself about and shown a lot of commitment, realistically, I don't think he can hack it in the premiership, he should move on to a lower-division team and enjoy his football.
Elliot - Past it, his extraordinary lack of pace is a major problem, he's done.
Lee Clarke - A decent squad player, whether he'll feature in the first team next season is anyone's guess.
Loaners:
Milner - Hopefully he'll be back, I'll assume he will be. There have been some non-commital stories in the press from both him and his agent, elegantly sitting on the fence...
Butt - With Birmingham being relegated he's coming back, but there's no way he'll be playing for Newcastle again, so it'll just be a question of finding him another club, he might be a good signing for one of the teams coming up, give them his wealth of premiership experience.
Strikers:
Michael Owen
Shola Ameobi
Ok, so clearly this is the area that needs strengthening the most. I think we need to sign 2 more strikers, I'd say a proven premiership player, like a Robbie Keane or Defoe, perhaps Milan Baros... and then I'd suggest perhaps a more experienced, late in career player, strickly as a squad player, but someone who can come on and change a game with that little touch of brilliance, a sort of Dennis Bergkamp type... I'm concerned about Van Nistelrooy's situation at Man United, if he is available, and wants to stay in the premiership, then of course Newcastle will be a possible destination, I'd REALLY struggle to cheer for this horse-faced ass... But if he bangs them into the net, then I guess that's what matters...
Midfield:
Left: Albert Luque, N'Zogbia
Central: Emre, Parker, Bowyer, Dyer, Faye, Clarke(?)
Right: Solano, Milner
I think we're fine in Midfield, I think there's enough quality and depth, no need to invest here... If it turns out that Clarke is moving exclusively into coaching, and if Bowyer goes, then I think we potentially do need to make a signing, or decide whether Brittan, Pattison, or O'Brien are able to really step it up and be involved in the first team. Also if the new manager wants to make some changes, then I think Bowyer & Faye would potentially be the ones to move on...
Defence:
Left: Babayaro
Central: Boumsong, Bramble, Taylor, Moore
Right: Carr, Ramage
I think the full-back positions, especially left-back are the areas that need strengthening... both Yaylor and Ramage have shown a lot of versatility, but we should have some more cover there. As far as central defence goes, a I think a fit Stephen Taylor will be in the middle and Boumsong played quite well with him... Unless we can get a real quality central defender on the cheap (perhaps Matthew Upson?), there's no point bringing in more squad players, we need to improve on what we have. As far as a left-back or right-back, how about Glen Johnson who's been forgotten about completely at Chelsea? He played well enough against us this weekend...
Keeper:
Given / Harper
I don't want to see anything change here...
So overall, I think the squad is in pretty good shape... We need a couple of fullbacks and a couple of strikers and we should be good to go, I'll be happy with a 5th/6th place finish next season, perhaps challenging for 4th spot...? ¶ Monday, April 17, 2006
Expired Contracts:
Shearer - Legend.
Chopra - I've always had a pretty low opinion of Chopra, and while that has been softened in recent weeks as he's put himself about and shown a lot of commitment, realistically, I don't think he can hack it in the premiership, he should move on to a lower-division team and enjoy his football.
Elliot - Past it, his extraordinary lack of pace is a major problem, he's done.
Lee Clarke - A decent squad player, whether he'll feature in the first team next season is anyone's guess.
Loaners:
Milner - Hopefully he'll be back, I'll assume he will be. There have been some non-commital stories in the press from both him and his agent, elegantly sitting on the fence...
Butt - With Birmingham being relegated he's coming back, but there's no way he'll be playing for Newcastle again, so it'll just be a question of finding him another club, he might be a good signing for one of the teams coming up, give them his wealth of premiership experience.
Strikers:
Michael Owen
Shola Ameobi
Ok, so clearly this is the area that needs strengthening the most. I think we need to sign 2 more strikers, I'd say a proven premiership player, like a Robbie Keane or Defoe, perhaps Milan Baros... and then I'd suggest perhaps a more experienced, late in career player, strickly as a squad player, but someone who can come on and change a game with that little touch of brilliance, a sort of Dennis Bergkamp type... I'm concerned about Van Nistelrooy's situation at Man United, if he is available, and wants to stay in the premiership, then of course Newcastle will be a possible destination, I'd REALLY struggle to cheer for this horse-faced ass... But if he bangs them into the net, then I guess that's what matters...
Midfield:
Left: Albert Luque, N'Zogbia
Central: Emre, Parker, Bowyer, Dyer, Faye, Clarke(?)
Right: Solano, Milner
I think we're fine in Midfield, I think there's enough quality and depth, no need to invest here... If it turns out that Clarke is moving exclusively into coaching, and if Bowyer goes, then I think we potentially do need to make a signing, or decide whether Brittan, Pattison, or O'Brien are able to really step it up and be involved in the first team. Also if the new manager wants to make some changes, then I think Bowyer & Faye would potentially be the ones to move on...
Defence:
Left: Babayaro
Central: Boumsong, Bramble, Taylor, Moore
Right: Carr, Ramage
I think the full-back positions, especially left-back are the areas that need strengthening... both Yaylor and Ramage have shown a lot of versatility, but we should have some more cover there. As far as central defence goes, a I think a fit Stephen Taylor will be in the middle and Boumsong played quite well with him... Unless we can get a real quality central defender on the cheap (perhaps Matthew Upson?), there's no point bringing in more squad players, we need to improve on what we have. As far as a left-back or right-back, how about Glen Johnson who's been forgotten about completely at Chelsea? He played well enough against us this weekend...
Keeper:
Given / Harper
I don't want to see anything change here...
So overall, I think the squad is in pretty good shape... We need a couple of fullbacks and a couple of strikers and we should be good to go, I'll be happy with a 5th/6th place finish next season, perhaps challenging for 4th spot...? ¶ Monday, April 17, 2006
