Gallowgate End

Agree. I think its very important playing a player in there strongest position not only to get the best out of the individual but also to aid the balance of the side.

I think its pretty obvious a change of Captain wont be happening, and for the right reasons. However Steven Taylor is a good shout for our potential Captain certainly if his progression keeps improving at the rate it is.

I think we will find out on Monday night, if Steve Coppel decides to not start Sidwell like he has threatened then it would seem a deal has already been done. Personality i find it bizarre if this story is true we are going for another Central Midfielder. I think Sidwell has been a key part in Reading over achieving season and is a good player its just another Central Midfielder is not what we need this Summer, Full backs and Centre backs must be the priority for Roeder this Summer.

Thoughts - Surprisingly good defensive display as a unit, one of only a few teams to have got a clean sheet against Chelsea this season. I thought Steven Taylor was outstanding and the leader of the good defensive display won almost every single battle against Drogba. - Attacking wise i have to say we were poor for me, alot of that was due to Roeder selection of playing players not in there best positions mostly Dyer struggled and James Milner workhouse display was good but he has got lots of assists from the Right Wing this season and enjoys Solano passes getting him in the right area to deliver. -Would of liked Roeder to have played N'Zogbia Left Wing and Milner Right Wing and Dyer though the middle. Harper - 6.5 - very little to do but showed consistency and no faults. Solano - 7.5 - kept his defensive position well and covered when needed, good passing and link play. Bramble - 8 - some thunderous tackles but struggled when up against Kalou trickery. Taylor - 9 - one of our best performances from a player this season, won every battle up against Drogba. Carr - 7 - decent, showed some good overlapping play. Dyer - 5 - awful, second home game running he has been shocking but today not in his favored through the middle position. Butt - 8 - disciplined and assured, won some really key tackles. Emre - 7.5 - fantastic energy always trying to make things happen, our movement was not good enough for Emre to prosper. (still playing to deep) Milner - 7.5 - got up and down really well, put in some good in swinging deliveries. Sibierski - 7 - defensively fantastic when dealing with Terry at Set Pieces, however struggled to link the play. Martins - 7 - very little service but showed fantastic work rate as per usual. Man Of The Match- Steven Taylor=9

Thought it was best to start a thread instead of carrying on the debate in the pre match Chelsea thread. and and First of all I don't and won't subscribe to the consistent and baffling criticism of our Clubs Captain it seems on this Forum let me make that clear. On Nate's questions. a/b.) I would agree Nicky Butt has been one of our better performers this season and i highly value his worth to the squad that is a positionally disciplined defensive midfielder who will break up oppositions attacks however in my opinion if given the Role by Glenn Roeder himself Scott Parker for me is a better all round Defensive Midfielder we saw that in his player of the season performances under Souness in the Defensive Midfield role and also this season with his far superior Tackling and Tackling success rate. c.) I would agree also the partnerships of Butt & Emre and Butt & Parker have shown better performances then that of when Parker and Emre have played together (not been often) however this is due to the fact in my opinion that Roeder needs to realize that to see the best of both Parker and Emre as individual players and that of a partnership then must be given the Right Roles. For the Partnership of Parker and Emre to work to its best Roeder needs to make clear in this partnership Parker has the (DCM) role which is to break up play and track attacking runners from the oppositions midfield (a role in which Parker flourished and got player of the season under Souness and also this season with a different role but still demonstrating his tackling and breaking up play abilities), and Emre is to be given a role (ACM) by Roeder to dictate attacking moves much more in the oppositions half something i have to add we are starting to see more of. On HTL bizarre analysis of (not seeing how people think Parker has the capabilities as a Defensive Midfielder), One did you not watch our Captains performances as a Defensive Midfielder when getting player of the season under Souness? Number two did you not know our Clubs Captains has the -Highest Tackling Rate- in the whole of the Premiership and 2nd -Highest Tackling Success Rate- in the whole of the Premiership? (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=256196&lid=1533&clid=&channel=Football+Home&title=Opta+Stats) to even suggest Scott Parker has not got the abilities to play Defensive Midfield when its clear he has is bizarre. But our Captains is from London is that not what its really about? Also un surprisingly our Captain has not only the -Highest Tackling rate and Highest Tackling Success rate- in the Premiership but at our Club. -Nufc Opta Stats- Tackling Player Tackles Tackle Success rate% 1 Scott Parker 162 79.0% 2 Nicky Butt 93 66.7% Not only that our Captain is the most superior out of the two at the Club at -Passing and Passing Success rate- but also the most superior at the whole Club. -Nufc Opta Stats- Passing Player Passes Pass Success rate % 1 Scott Parker 1,121 79.0% 2 Nicky Butt 975 72.7% Scott Parker is our Newcastle United Captain and Captain for the right reasons.

I think both Solano and Emre would be fantastic in that system as they could influence the game much more with there passing, also Dyer and N'Zogbia as interchanging inside wingers would be interesting to see. However long term with Michael Owen return, the best formation of us will be 4-4-2 to fit the firepower of both Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen in the side and for us to use our wealth of good wingers at the Club. And HTL why on earth would you play Craig Moore? considering hes made it clear hes leaving at the end of the season, Steven Taylor and Onyewu need to be given a good run as a partnership.

First of all Centre back partnership must be Steven Taylor and Onyewu, this partnership should of been given a run by Roeder and not Craig Moore coming in and out the side, why play Moore when he has already stated he will be leaving in the Summer? N'Zogbia now must be given a run in his favored Left Wing position now with Duff injured Roeder might be disappointed with N'Zogbia performance away against Portsmouth last week but he was given a bizarre role by Roeder himself. Up front the emergence of Carrol gives us a "Centre Forward" option also with Sibierski struggling with injury and Dyer woeful performance in his last match at St James against Arsenal we might see Carrol pushing Dyer for a starting role alongside Obefemi Martins on Sunday. i would pick... Harper Solano Onyewu Taylor Babayaro Milner Parker Emre N'Zogbia Martins Dyer Onyewu and Taylor in theory would be best against the Strength and Ariel ability of Drogba, our Captain should be fit to compete against Lampard hopefully it will go as well as it did when Parker came up against Steven Gerrard at St James, for me Emre inclusion is vital we need his variation of passing, Dyer and Martins movement will need the passes of Emre and Solano to thrive in this game. Bench Krul Bramble Butt (70 mins on for Emre) Luque Sibierski (70 mins on for Dyer)

People should compare them two High Finishes under Sir Bobby Robson with Kevin Keegan teams. Because when you look at it Sir Bobby Robson got 71 points in the High Finishes which is MORE points then when we finished 2nd the second time and Joint points with the famous Kevin Keegan 2nd place team that "should of won the title". How this Club has gone backwards since those days just a few years back due to Freddy Shepherd bizarre and ill timed sacking of Sir Bobby Robson just 14 days into a Season is shameful. Also the way the Club let go so easily the two people Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson that did so much for this club is very disapointing. Both Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson should of stayed longer and not let go by the board in the matter both were.

"Celestine Babayaro, Craig Moore and Peter Ramage are back in training but not yet at the point where they could be considered." According to the Journal Should be in contention in a week or so i would imagine. Both Ramage and Moore returning will bolster the Squad but i can't imagine Roeder picking them ahead of Onyewu, Steven Taylor and Bramble.

Many clubs have lost big players due to small contracts as the player see's out his short contract and the club receives nothing. Long contracts can help valuation.

Obafemi Martins is on a 5 year contract no?

Playing mind games... yet he just manage dutch mid table club ..... mackems.gif... yawn...moronhinho wannabe I think you'll find Mourinho is a Van Gaal wannabe if anything. Ooops... my sorry.. i forgot... Moronhinho was his assistance at Barca First under Sir Bobby Robson in Portugal then at Barca. then he was assistant to Van Gaal for 1 year.

For the starting line I think Roeder is only contemplating playing Kieron Dyer just off Obafemi Martins, can't see him changing much else due to the teams performance against AZ Alkmaar in the home tie last week, can't see Emre or N'Zogbia returning or returns to left back for Huntington or Edgar. Given Solano Taylor Bramble Carr Parker Butt Milner Duff Dyer Martins Subs- Sibierski, Luque, N'Zogbia, Emre, Huntington, Edger, Harper. could have a strong bench for Thursday. Prediction- Az Alkmaar 2 v 2 Newcastle United

James Nobby Carragher Woodgate Shorey Ronaldo Scholes Fabregas Giggs Drogba Martins Manager: Coppell Agree with HTT about Steve Coppell.

Thcary even!

Agree. I remember seeing him in this position roming off Patrick Kluivert at Barca and he was great in this position, seems to have lost his way since however maybe due to lack of a consistent run. I would love Roeder to buy him to rotate Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Saviola and use particularly Saviola in European games next season i think he should plan similarly with Emre next season using the rejuvenated Nicky Butt and Parker more in the Premiership. From Roeder's quotes he seems to have great faith in Ameobi tho, rightly so i suspose after last season performances for Glen so i can't see much chance of us going for Saviola or any other Big name striker next Summer.

He wanted to leave a Huge Trophy winning club Inter Milan and put himself up for transfer just last Summer. Came to Newcastle United for first team football and to play in "the best league in the world". First team football must be very important to him and i can't see him going back on his desition to leave a huge trophy winning club and move anytime soon. However Chelsea asking about his availability in January is worrying, but if he was to leave then selling to Chelsea at a inflated price and with the return of Michael Owen would not be so bad. Hopefully not though as the prospect of having the firepower of Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins next season is frightning.

Exactly.

I'd hope we didn't go out to protect our lead at all. We should be looking to get a goal over there to make things that much harder for them. I would still play Butt though. Can't see Roeder dropping Nicky Butt he was instrumental in pressing and breaking up AZ Alkmaar's moves. Emre will come in for Nicky Butt against Chalton on the weekend i would guess due to Butt suspention.

And also lets not forget AZ Alkmaar are more open then Paris Hilton's legs. Look at their goals conceded in this seasons Uefa Cup, 2 goals conceded every Uefa Cup home game. I maintain we have got a fantastic performance and result last Thursday, and we are favorites.

As someone posted before. AZ Alkmaar European Uefa Cup Home Record 2006/07: Kayserispor (h) won 3-2 Braga (h) won 3-2 Liberec (h) drew 2-2 Fenerbahce (h) drew 2-2 Interesting stats i thought. you have conceded 2 goals EVERY time you have played at Home in the Uefa Cup this season, against the likes of (Karserispor?, Braga, Liberec and Fernabache) and also not kept a clean sheet in this seasons Uefa Cup. so do you think your team AZ Alkmaar will be able to keep the clean sheet you will proberly need on Thursday? No. That's why we have to score three or four goals, lol. Interesting thats what i think also. However I have to say i was very impressed by your teams Attacking movement and passing, Boukhari roming off the Left and Martens roming from Attacking midfield and Jenner on the Right all looked good Attacking players, AZ weakness for me is when your patient passing and attacking moves where broken up your Midfield were not prepared to track back and left De Zeeuw your holder and passer and back 4 with way way too much to do. I think its going to be a fantastic game on Thursday night.

As someone posted before. AZ Alkmaar European Uefa Cup Home Record 2006/07: Kayserispor (h) won 3-2 Braga (h) won 3-2 Liberec (h) drew 2-2 Fenerbahce (h) drew 2-2 Interesting stats i thought. you have conceded 2 goals EVERY time you have played at Home in the Uefa Cup this season, against the likes of (Karserispor?, Braga, Liberec and Fernabache) and also not kept a clean sheet in this seasons Uefa Cup. so do you think your team AZ Alkmaar will be able to keep the clean sheet you will proberly need on Thursday?

The Quayside and it's buildings/bridges looked nice, especially the view from our appartment. But I didn't like the altitude differences of the roads, I'm not used to that in Holland, hehe! Rosie's Bar and Shearer's were nice too and the people of Newcastle were very friendly Too bad we had a dramatic first 30 mins of the game, I also expected a little more fans but Martins is really a superb player! Anyway, we all are still confident that we can make 2 goals in Alkmaar, although the odds are in your favor now.. Good to hear... AZsupporters - what was the result and performance like against Fayenoord this weekend?

Agree

1 goal against the top 10 sides in his first season in England... and ZERO away goals in his first 5 months in England... Berbatov = "Signing of the Season" tbh