Newcastle United

...season be any better for Newcastle fans?

Last season Newcastle finished a disappointing mid-table last season in the Premiership. Admittedly they suffered a lot of injury problems, but it was still a let down for the whole team to finish such a disappointing way. That is not to say there is a lack of talent at St. James Park. On his day and free of injury Shearer is one of the best strikers in the UK, if not Europe, Peruvian international ...
...I would like to see Newcastle play with a flat back four, three in midfield, two main strikers, and one dropping off the main front two. If I had a full team to choose from this would be my line up if I was boss.

Given

A Griffin Dabizas Quinn Barton

Solano Lee Speed

Bellamy

Robert Shearer


Bellamy likes to roam, and he could be given a free role, where ... more

I am sure many people will agree with me that the last few seasons have been dazzling for the black and white army. More often than not they have disappointed and it seems an eternity from the days of challenging Manchester United for the Premiership crown under Keegan, even though it was only four years ago. Will the new season be any better for Newcastle fans?

Last season Newcastle finished a disappointing mid-table last season in the Premiership. Admittedly they suffered a lot of injury problems, but it was still a let down for the whole team to finish such a disappointing way. That is not to say there is a lack of talent at St. James Park. On his day and free of injury Shearer is one of the best strikers in the UK, if not Europe, Peruvian international Nolberto Solano is a great midfielder, Kieron Dyer should have a good England career ahead of him and Nikos Dabizas is a good defender, strong and reliable. There is also a lot of young talent coming through. Shola Ameobi, Gary Caldwell, Aaron Hughes, Michael Chorpa, Lua Lua and Danny Griffins are great prospects. Unfortunately recent signings have not been so great. South American imports Christian Bassedas and Daniel Cordone were spectacular flops and failed to lift the magpies, already suffering large injury problems. However pre-season signings have improved. Laurent Robert comes from Paris SG with a good record and could be the answer to the lack of goals and injury problems upfront, and if he does will be well worth the money they paid. Craig Bellamy has also arrived from relegated Coventry, and scored quickly in the pre-season intertoto cup. He came with a high recommendation from old club Norwich, but failed to live up to as much at Coventry, he can score goals, and cause problems from midfield, so is a good one to watch out for. Robbie Elliot is back to strengthen the defence and could prove to be just as good a signing. With better signings, a good crop of current players and a good manager, Newcastle’s fortunes could be about to turn around.

The Players

Goalkeepers - Should be a straight fight between Shay Given and Steve Harper, with Dutchman John Karelse very much the third choice keeper. Difficult to say which of Harper and Given are the better of the two, certainly both are good keepers with there own merits, and a bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone. Personally I prefer Given, the Irish international is acreobatic, agile and has good reflexes. Given lost his place to Steve Harper, after he got injured, then good displays from Harper caused Given to become second choice. Given should start as number 1, but there is an able keeper waiting in the wings if injury, suspension or poor form should force Given out

Defence – Not really a strong suit for Newcastle, but there is talent there. Warren Barton is dependable and strong, as is Greek international Niklos Dabizas. Around them is the new signing from Bolton on a free is Robbie Elliot, who used to play for Newcastle. He is a good player, calm and collected, and adds more experience. Added to that are several young players, Wayne Quinn, signed from Sheffield United, and a former England U-21 player, Aaron Hughes, a Northern Ireland international left back, Andy O’Brian who signed from Bradford and is on the fringe of the Ireland full squad and Andrew Griffin, a talented full back signed from Stoke, and has played for England at youth level. A good mix of experience and youth, and although it has its weaknesses, there is a lot of talent, present and future there.

Midfield - Rob Lee is injured and had problems with Ruud Gullit, but is still a vital player and distributor in the magpies midfield. Kieron Dyer has suffered with bad injuries, but is talented, both going forward and back. Gary Speed, a Welsh international is capable of scoring tremendous goals from midfield and Peruvian Nolberto Solano is a great passer of the ball in the centre of the park, or wide putting in telling crosses. Solano was involved in the passport scandal, he was accused of having a forged Greek passport as his second nationality, meaning he did not need a work permit, but he has now ditched the Greek passport and is keen to play on.

Attack – Alan Shearer is a great forward, despite not getting any younger and having problems with injury, most recently tendonitis in his knee. When fit he can cause any defenders problems, the only question is how often he is going to be fit. Carl Cort has also been hit by injuries, but showed in flashes that he has got talent, again the question is how often will he be able to show it off. Youngsters Ameobi and Lua Lua look exciting, with pace and skill, but are not yet the finished article and a regular source of goals. New signings Robert and Bellamy could be the answers to injuries and lack of goals so far upfront, but time will tell, Robert may need to adjust to the English game, and Bellamy never shone at Coventry.

Tactics

I would like to see Newcastle play with a flat back four, three in midfield, two main strikers, and one dropping off the main front two. If I had a full team to choose from this would be my line up if I was boss.

Given

A Griffin Dabizas Quinn Barton

Solano Lee Speed

Bellamy

Robert Shearer

Bellamy likes to roam, and he could be given a free role, where he would do most damage to opponents defence. I’m not sure too much about Robert, so I am playing him as a main striker, but if this fails he could drop deeper in place of Bellamy, and a fit Cort could partner Shearer. Given is my first choices keeper, Griffin and Barton are a good blend of talented youth and experience as are Quinn and Dabizas as centre backs. Both full backs can push up, Barton especially at putting telling crosses into the box. Lee can play more of a holding role, and distributes the ball, Solano can feed passes either to feet of strikers, or go wide and put crosses in. Speed is a good general midfielder, a good tackler, passer and a supply of goals, all you could want for him. Sadly I am not the manage of Newcastle, I am simple an armature, and not even a Newcastle fan, this is just my suggestions on playing.

The Boss

Bobby Robson is eligible for a pension, but has lost none of his enthusiasm or passion for the game in his old age. Instead he has gained invaluable experience, coaching at some of the best teams in the world, and will bring that to the Newcastle side. He started by managing a successful Ipswich side, then went abroad to coach Dutch club, PSV Einthoven, where his prodigy Ronaldo was a player. He then moved onto Catalan giants Barcelona, where again he enjoyed success domestically, and in between he managed England during the 1990 world cup, England doing well until Pearce’s and Waddle’s penalty miss against the Germans put England out. He has had some time, and critics have jumped on his back for not producing instant success, but for me his is the right man. He needs the full backing from fans and the board, and has what it takes to make the clubs successful, or at least provide the building blocks to improve down the line. Robson replaced Ruud Gullit (who quit mid-way through the 1999/00 season), who obviously clashed with some of the players, most publicly Alan Shearer and was clearly not the right choice for the team, and took several steps backwards. Robson is a major advance, and a big step in the right direction for Newcastle and long may he be successful there.

Overall Prospects

Newcastle fans have had an agonising few seasons, mostly having to put up with poor displays and excuses such as the injury list. Already Shearer, Rob Lee, Carl Court and Kieron Dyer are out for the early games, so there are still problems around. Robson is still a great manager, and can certainly get the best out of some players, unlike Ruud Gullit. They have had to watch as Liverpool, Arsenal and Leeds become United’s main challengers, even losing out to rivals Sunderland in the league standings. Unfortunately for them I cant see any improvement in this season. Bellamy and Robert are good signings, not quite in the same bracket as van Niestlerooy, Lampard, Zenden and Veron, but will elevated the team.

Their first match of the season was a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against a strong Chelsea side including new singings Lampard, Zenden and Gallas, as well as old stars Hassailbaink and Desailles. The draw was a fair outcome for the game, although both goals from Zenden on his debut and Newcastle’s from Clarence Acuna were due to keepers errors, Given’s was pretty bad, but a point against Chelsea away gives a good start, although there is plenty of time to improve.

If they can stay clear of injuries, the new signings click and they keep good players (Solano and Dyer) they can do slightly better than pervious years, but still of European qualification and another mid-table finish, and an intertoto cup slot is all the toon army can look forward to the coming season.
 

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