TRon

Beye looks calm and assured, he just looks like a top class defender, if all of the Allardyce signings were as good as him we'd have had a very good season. We give Allardyce stick for the way he (Allardyce) turned out but he's got to be given credit for Beye, he's come to a new country and fit straight in. i'd say the same about enrique and (just about) faye aswell. but his team set up's were awful. best example i can give is swindon. many said the team was built by macari but only played under hoddle. I could be wrong but didn't they play best under Ardiles where the diamond formation was first invented?

How did that happen? We were flying high in the Premier under Robson who had successfully signed Distin on loan for the season. He did well in his time here, although was played at left back too many times for my liking. Contract negotiations fell down to whichever imbecile in charge was conducting them, and King Kev stole a fine player from under our nose. Distin might not be he best Centre back in the Premier league but I'd be interested to clarify who replaced him here and why?

only on the proviso he promises to stop being a diving,cheating,nipping,pulling hair,whiney b******. plus he wouldnt sign for us anyway he would if we showed we were more ambitious than everton(of which there is a possibility). the top 4 are unlikely to want him. personally though no.... i wouldnt sign him. Owen does the same job in any case, i.e. steal in to the penalty area late to score goals. Cahill and Lampard have been rumbled.

It could be argued either way - he hasn't been first choice because he's got a poor attitude, or he's got a poor attitude because he's not first choice (when he should have been ahead of Duff). The bottom line is, if he wants to stay fine, if not he can leave for the right fee, which would be relevant to his earnings I suppose.

Something which might not have been mentioned wrt the defence, in the match against Portsmouth especially, just how useful it is to have two big strong defensive full backs. Enrique on a few occasions darted into the centre to help out Faye when he was under pressure, and Beye has been doing it all season. It makes the job of the centre backs so much easier when they have defenders of such quality at their shoulder. It's all well and good having fancy wingers come defenders flying down the channels but I have always liked defenders who can defend personally. These two definitely can.

He did. He's been pretty solid during our turn around in form to be fair, I think the team is defending much more as a unit since the switch to 4-3-3.

The one from the miss cleared corner not much to do with his new deeper role that. Big credit Keegan for changing the system but I think the side would benefit from Owen playing higher up the pitch and Viduka deeper seems obvious to me considering what both are best at. I agree with Redknapp comments regarding Michael Owen role completely. So you're ignoring the fact that Viduka isn't fit enough to play a deeper role? No disagree with it. And the opinion that Michael Owen is not quick enough to play as a out and out striker up top and in behind the defenders anymore... bizarre. A lot of people were happy to get shot of Owen prior to this run of form in his new position, remember? I'd actually say the majority, on here at least, would have been happy to get shot and keep Martins ahead of him. Then Keegan moves him in behind the strikers, he's on the ball far more, and he starts scoring goals and looking like a player again. I'm just at a loss to understand why you think you know better than the manager, to be honest, especially when the tactics have got us 11 points from five games and put us 5th in the form table (6 games) and 3rd in the form table from those five games, only behind Man Utd and Chelsea? And when the man in question has gone on a great little scoring run, and both Viduka and Martins have been scoring as well? I should rephrase my comment, too, as it's impossible to write-off anyone really. I should have said that I think Owen will be less effective up top than he will where he is now, especially if you're swapping him with Viduka. Think you've missed entirely what role Owen is currently playing if you think Viduka can play it, as Gol has pointed out. Don't disagree with much of what you say, but I still wonder how we would look with a genuine attacking midfielder playing in the Owen role? Obviously one who can also score goals. Against that, you'd be hard pushed to find one that would steal in for as many as Owen so a bit of a dilemma.

With there being less pressure for us due to easing of relegation worries, we will be able to play good, free-flowing football. I expect Sunderland to huff and puff for 20 mins during which it will be hectic, but with the pace and movement of Martins and Owen floating around Viduka's clever hold up play, we'll pick them off like snipers by the end. 3-1 - all three strikers to hit the net :pow:

I said in my first post that we have consistently backed the wrong horse by preferring Duff and this has undoubtedly huffed Zog. Even so, it's water under the bridge now, I'm sure Keegan would want to utilise him in the future but if he's bent on leaving then it's a shame but life moves on.

Seems like we signed Marseille's Rob Lee from all accounts. Doesn't that quote just sum up everything that's good about Habib Beye? A leader and a Champ and it's that never-say-die attitude that people here have really taken to IMO.

This is what I wrote some time back and got slated for it by some at the time: I said it then I still say it now. Derby should have been steamrollered. Steam-fucking-rollered.

We lost the first Derby game. think he means allardyce said a draw would be a good result which he did. i thought he was just saying it to stop everyone getting over confident.....after 15mins i realised that is what he set the team out to do. That's right. I distinctly remembered Allardyce saying a draw was a good result and that approach infuriated me at the time, and a few others I suspect.

We lost the first Derby game. No wonder I blew a gasket then!

I remember after the first Derby game he said a draw was a good result and I blew a gasket at thaqt approach in one of the threads here. I used to respect him, now I can't stand sight of the cunt.

Keegan would have got crucified for throwing away a 5 point lead and capitulating in key games after taking the lead, so on that basis, I can only brand Arsenal a bunch of bottle-dropping losers.

Apart from the fact Smith & Duff dont start. Also we have better players than them two in there positions. I dont think we have any better centre backs than Taylor & Faye. My view is just like Smith and Duff were rated way above their contribution, so is Taylor. I am pretty sure Cacapa would dovetail nicely with Faye, as would Rozenhal IMO. WUM? Don't blame me if you can't see the bigger picture. If your bigger picture has Rosie or Cacapa any where near our starting XI, on there previous form shown then I dont want to. Keegan was right to loan Roz out & right to drop Cacapa, do you disagree? Just for the record, I dont give a shit who plays just as long as it is our best players. If Steven Taylor scores 3 own goals & plays through balls for Defoe today, than I will want him dropped. If Cacapa turns back the clock or Rosie is inspired from being a sub at the ground Nesta used to play at great. It is all about Newcastle United the team for me. Just to clarify, Roz wasn't loaned out because of his ability or lack of it, more because he was moaning to the foreign press and clearly unhappy. I did say that Taylor's attitude was one of his plus points and was what was getting him picked for which he deserves credit. Cacapa is new to the premier league and is injured anyhow. But to answer your question yes I think both those players could have done well playing in a more confident side like present, in the same way NE5 claimed Taylor would. Anyway, Taylor has the shirt for now so good luck to the lad. Does that convince me he's going to be a good enough defender to hold the shirt long term? Absolutely not.

He's only 21/22 he's still a bairn in terms of footballing development. Playing with better teams and better players always improves you. The last few years haven't been easy for our defenders, ever since we lost Shearer, Bellamy and Robert. Last year we lost Solano too. To a degree dire went but he hardly played and when he did he wasn't arsed a lot of the time. Don't you see what a difference this makes to the overall pattern, shape of the team and development of all the players at the club ? I've seen loads of defenders improve as they get older. Loads, and not just at Newcastle. Bobby Moncur had no pace, but he was a good captain. As a defender he improved all through his career, I'm sure he wasn't even a regular first team player until he was in his early 20's. Ollie Burton too was a "right-half" who converted to a centre half in his mid 20's and became one of the best we have had. Kenny Burns was always a decent player at Birmingham. But moving to Forest and playing in a top side transformed him into one of the best around. This is how it is. He needs to step up from playing in a team of the standard he's played in for the last year or two into a better side, and if its with us he can and should perform much better himself. Fair enough. I don't think he's as bad as some make out, but he's not good enough IMO. We can't afford to wait for him to iron out the individual errors he's been making from day one - these are still occuring irrespective of who he's been playing alongside, which isn't a good sign. man for man, I'm quite happy with our current back 4, especially with Beye. I concede we can do better, of course, and we need strength in depth. Edgar might be a player on the fringe who can cover all positions for the moment unless we get an opportunity to bring in someone who can go straight into the first team. Maybe Edgar can step up himself. He looked a bit nervy last week, but he was excellent playing against Manu last season and he is very tall which helps especially if you are a centre back. Your whole reading of the game improves when you play at the back for a good team with better players around you. Completley agree with this. Although, i'd like see us add one first class centre half to partner Faye and i will be content going into next season. Taylor has been anything but crap, he's just the scape goat. How has he been the scape goat? He's been poor this season and was average the season before, how long do you expect people to stand by someone who isn't putting the performances in for the club? all this while getting his dad to go to the local press trying to get him a bumper pay rise. You've said yourself that you want a new partner in for Faye so you don't even rate him that highly or you wouldn't want him replaced. I'd get rid of him in the Summer while his value is still quite high, he's just a very average player who doesn't shine in any area of his game. Aaron Hughes had those exact same 'qualities'.

I think Rafa's a bit of a con merchant to be honest. He has created a fairly defensive teams which is great in cup competitions but in the league you don't beat the poor teams regularly enough with that approach, which is why they fall away.

I'm not convinced by the Taylor's "just a bairn" argument either. Defenders might improve with age, but if they don't have good anticipation, timing and positional sense, it's not likely they are suddenly going to acquire them. Titus Bramble being a prime example. The other excuse that it's far easier to be playing in a team with confidence, that's true. But themn who's to say Cacapa or Rozenhal wouldn't look far better in this current team?

Apart from the fact Smith & Duff dont start. Also we have better players than them two in there positions. I dont think we have any better centre backs than Taylor & Faye. My view is just like Smith and Duff were rated way above their contribution, so is Taylor. I am pretty sure Cacapa would dovetail nicely with Faye, as would Rozenhal IMO. WUM? To be fair, i happen to think that Cacapa and Roz may still have a role in the team, Roz especially, i think he was unlucky and suffered from a series of unfortunate circumstances and bad man management. Cacapa for me is still a good defender as well, although too weak, Roz however isnt weak contrare to popular belief and lost alot of confidence which effected his performances. how can you say he's a good defender then say he's too weak [for a central defender] Because he is a good defender, he has good attributes minus the strength, put him in any other league and he'd be fine, its just this league is too physical for him. Strength is an attribute just like pace, if a defender has no pace does that make him a bad defender as well? Man you really dont know much about football do you? Have you ever played football? strength is imperative for a central defender in the premiership ? You say I know nothing about football ? haha. class that like Well that's the point about Taylor, he isn't very strong either. I see him getting barged aside same as Rozenhal. If neither of them are very dominant, then you have to balance other strengths and weaknesses. Taylor's used to the Premier, and has a good attitude which is probably keeping him in the team. I doubt he's going to be a top defender though fromn what I've seen. Aaron Hughes/Andy O'Brien level at best for me. I hope he proves me wrong (but I doubt it). you must be looking at a different player to me if you think Taylor lacks strength. He lacks experience, he has dived into tackles, ball watched, mistimed some challenges, got caught out of position sometimes. All defenders do this. Well it's mostly just the 2nd rate defenders who do. I can only call it as I see it and I quite often see Taylor get outmuscled, same as Rozenhal, and he doesn't have any of Rozenhal's anticipation either, or Cacapa's intelligence. David Wheater looks a far better 'local' prospect to me, now he'd have a reason to be big-headed.

Yes...and show him the entrance door if he wants to stay!

Apart from the fact Smith & Duff dont start. Also we have better players than them two in there positions. I dont think we have any better centre backs than Taylor & Faye. My view is just like Smith and Duff were rated way above their contribution, so is Taylor. I am pretty sure Cacapa would dovetail nicely with Faye, as would Rozenhal IMO. WUM? To be fair, i happen to think that Cacapa and Roz may still have a role in the team, Roz especially, i think he was unlucky and suffered from a series of unfortunate circumstances and bad man management. Cacapa for me is still a good defender as well, although too weak, Roz however isnt weak contrare to popular belief and lost alot of confidence which effected his performances. how can you say he's a good defender then say he's too weak [for a central defender] Because he is a good defender, he has good attributes minus the strength, put him in any other league and he'd be fine, its just this league is too physical for him. Strength is an attribute just like pace, if a defender has no pace does that make him a bad defender as well? Man you really dont know much about football do you? Have you ever played football? strength is imperative for a central defender in the premiership ? You say I know nothing about football ? haha. class that like Well that's the point about Taylor, he isn't very strong either. I see him getting barged aside same as Rozenhal. If neither of them are very dominant, then you have to balance other strengths and weaknesses. Taylor's used to the Premier, and has a good attitude which is probably keeping him in the team. I doubt he's going to be a top defender though fromn what I've seen. Aaron Hughes/Andy O'Brien level at best for me. I hope he proves me wrong (but I doubt it).

Seems to me the door is very much still open for Zog to stay if he is prepared to buy into the obviously great team spirit KK is building once again. Hopefully he'll want to be part of something special, if not he doesn't belong here in any case.

I think Keegan is spot on really. N'Zogbia is one of my favourite players at Newcastle and has been for a long time but that's not to say he hasn't got a lot to learn. He has got fantastic assets but he could be even better if he used his head a bit more.

Apart from the fact Smith & Duff dont start. Also we have better players than them two in there positions. I dont think we have any better centre backs than Taylor & Faye. My view is just like Smith and Duff were rated way above their contribution, so is Taylor. I am pretty sure Cacapa would dovetail nicely with Faye, as would Rozenhal IMO. WUM? Don't blame me if you can't see the bigger picture.