TRon

He offers a lot more down the right, but he doesn't score goals and if he's not scoring he needs to be setting up a hell of a lot of goals, which I don't think he does. I know what you're saying mate and the goals / assists have dried up a bit. But he's provided more 'end product' than the other two have in their time here. I.e. I think he's worth hanging on to more than those two. At the end of the day, for attacking players its all about goal threat - either creating or scoring, and whenever Zogs has played (even at left back) he's looked streets ahead of Duff and Milner in that respect. All the pretty approach play and tireless running is of limited value if you're not threatening the opposition goal. That's not to say I don't think Duff and Milner can't still be decent for us. As an all round footballer Zogs has a lot of improving to do, but he does cause defences problems with his ability to whizz past a couple of players and get a shot in. It'll be a bit Ironic if he does go now, cos apart from Wenger and Ferguson I reckon there's not a manager around who'd stand a better chance of improving Zogs in the areas he needs to improve on than Keegan. KK's training was always focused on ball work - Zogs' first touch and his decision making (when to give a short pass and when to take men on, for instance) are things he could improve under KK but never stood a chance of improving under Souness/Roeder/Sam. I bet Milner's stats for goals / assists since he came here are pretty similar to N'Zogbia's mind. I wonder what those stats would look like if Milner played at right back for half those games?

Is the attitude issue not understandable? If Damien Duff was asked to play left back or sit on the bench for two seasons behind Zog, would he not have an attitude issue? Zoggy was fucking garbage last season though. Even when being played in his favourite position. Yeah I remember. He would rather play on his phone than play for Roeder I recall. Not many players were playing for that nonce by the end were they?

Is the attitude issue not understandable? If Damien Duff was asked to play left back or sit on the bench for two seasons behind Zog, would he not have an attitude issue?

In this context, where the two teams are going nowhere, I would definitely be blooding promising youngsters. In fact, as soon as we are mathematically safe, that's what I hope we will be doing with the likes of Kazenga and Carroll maybe.

He offers a lot more down the right, but he doesn't score goals and if he's not scoring he needs to be setting up a hell of a lot of goals, which I don't think he does.

Downing has just signed a new contract with boro, so we will probably have to look abroad for a replacement..who will probably need time to settle...meaning more starts for Duff...meaning fuck all coming from the left etc..

Milner is another one - great attitude like Smith and Duff, but end product generally zilch. It's no coincidence we have started scoring goals since that trio are out the of team.

Agree with you to some extent but the fact is, for all his faults, it's been proved that those in the pecking order above him aren't fit to lace his boots. Don't get me wrong, I don't want players here who are unhappy, but from the day that twat Duff was signed I had a feeling this was on the cards. I wonder who Keegan has got in mind to replace him?

That half a right foot whacked in an absolute screamer earlier on this season against Big Sam's Bolton. Took the fat bastard completely by surprise if I recall. Probably too busy studying stats to register anything out of the box tbh.

McKay can't force anyones hand. Someone will have to pay quite a lot to buy N'Zogbia being on a 5 year contract and all.

Got the raw ingredients there though imo. We should be looking to keep hold of talented kids and develop them. He's not the finished article I agree. It's ironic that he is probably leaving because he's spent so much time playing second fiddle to the finished article. Because I'm pretty sure Damien Duff is finished as a top player.

I think Downing just signed a new contract with boro.

Looks like he's on his way in the summer. He seems a difficult character if you look at from a certain perspective, but if he hadn't played second fiddle to Duff would he have been happy here? I am of the opinion all he wanted was to be first choice for the left wing spot and if he didn't get it, tended to get in a strop. It could be argued that he's not that great, but if he had left because there was a genuine class player blocking his route to the first team fair enough. The fact it was probably Damien the Duff pisses me off tbh.

Hate to say it, but it's true. Reyes is exactly the type of player Keegan would target, and IMO is quality, but if he couldn't settle in London, there's no chance here, unless we do a Liverpool and buy half a dozen Spaniards so he'll feel at home.

That's what I thought too. The whole reason he fucked off from Arsenal in the first place was because he missed Spain so much, wasn't it? Or a meringue? It might be a case of the grass isn't always greener on the other side, similar to Anelka coming back to England with his tail between his legs. Reyes is a quality player but I still think this is the wrong club for him.

Spurs did get hammered by Birmingham recently and leak goals like a drain. Just another side to the argument. I think this game is up for the points either way.

A couple of half decent results and Keegan is already badgering the board in public about giving Michael Owen a new contract. I'd say the spark is back and itching to ignite come the summer. Keegan's looking more and more like his old self and as always, his team is starting to reflect it.

Drogba misses a few, but I'd say the other two were fairly clinical. More to the point, all three are capable of making their own chances, and of creating things for team mates, to a far higher degree than Owen. If a striker is gaining his place up front as a specialist finisher, then his conversion rate is more important. Isn't that argument redundant now seeing as Owen is playing deeper and playing as a link man?

The only drawback to his game is that he doesn't get beyond the winger so far, but he's a good defender, which is after all the first priority. He's got good skill as well so if he's still first choice next season I think we'll see him really come on.

I'd agree with this. Against the weaker teams this formation has worked great because they will give us the ball back quite regulary so no need to press all over the pitch. The better teams have fast competitive midfielders which will probably over-run us if we have only three midfielders in there. What I would say is that Owen has shown just what a clever footballer he is and there's definitely a role for him in a Beardsley role, i.e. a striker who plays off the main front man. Could see him working with Viduka obviously, but also I'm now convinced an Owen/Martins strike partnership could work.

Harsh imo, after a shaky first few minutes looked pretty good in general play yesterday showing some nice skill and neat touches, Fulham had no answer for him. I thought he did ok. Nowt special. He did well when he latched onto the excellent long pass from Enrique in the first half but other than that he didn't do a lot. Summed it up pretty well. Provided a possible threat with his pace but never actually did much with it, although his team play was better than it can be. Didn't giver the ball away, and stuck out wide quite dutifully.

I was amazed how many started filing out before the whistle as well. Such an important win and for some reason I expected everyone would stay to applaud the team off.

We're only getting showers so no problems. One minute it's blizzard conditions, next bright sunshine.

I guess it could be argued but the debate would end once the men in white coats arrived to take you away. Also what is with the '' around local hero? It like your having a dig becasue he was from Newcastle. I think you are mentally fatigued after your long board wars with NE5, take a week or 2 off & regroup your thoughts TRon. I don't really want to take this into a different direction and turn it into a Shearer debate, I just don't rate Shearer types as highly as I rate Players with the ability to make things happen, which is why I mentioned Waddle, Beardsley and Gascoigne. I was gutted when all three of those left, whereas Shearer for me was at his peak just before he arrived at Newcastle. At Southampton and Blackburn before his injuries he seemed to have an explosiveness which wasn't there once he signed for us. He seemed far easier to mark in free play which limited our options a bit.

While Shearer is in the lead for this honour, it could also be argued that he was our worst signing. We were a team heading for the stars, from the 2nd division to challenging for the title. Once our 'local hero' arrived it pretty much went downhill. In my lifetime, I've seen a few good local players, Beardsley, Waddle and Gascoigne. All three wee much better for Newcastle than Shearer ever was.