TRon

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.

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.

So how many of these centre back partnerships is Taylor good enough to get into? About the same amount as Faye. The thing about Faye is he is at least a big strong physical b******, so he could handle the tougher centre forwards. Taylor quite often gets out-muscled, is average in the air, and his anticipation is s**** as was witnessed during his 360 degree turn when Ronaldo ran right past him in a straight line. He can do a job in the same way Aaron Hughes used to, that's about it. Faye is not a world beater, nor is Taylor but they are our best centre half's. I am sure Faye has made errors over the season & maybe the odd one against Man Utd (H) game. All of our defenders have been s*** in general over the course of the season, you dont concede that many if everyone was world class would you. How can you know they are our best centre halfs? We kept a clean sheet against Reading without Taylor last week, who's to say Edgar won't be ahead of Taylor by the time this season finishes never mind next? When fit they play & I also think are our best centre backs. I cant answer a question that can only be answered at the end of the season. Great argument that. Could have been used for Smith and Duff starting every week in which case we'd probably have been relegated.

So how many of these centre back partnerships is Taylor good enough to get into? About the same amount as Faye. The thing about Faye is he is at least a big strong physical b******, so he could handle the tougher centre forwards. Taylor quite often gets out-muscled, is average in the air, and his anticipation is s**** as was witnessed during his 360 degree turn when Ronaldo ran right past him in a straight line. He can do a job in the same way Aaron Hughes used to, that's about it. Faye is not a world beater, nor is Taylor but they are our best centre half's. I am sure Faye has made errors over the season & maybe the odd one against Man Utd (H) game. All of our defenders have been shit in general over the course of the season, you dont concede that many if everyone was world class would you. How can you know they are our best centre halfs? We kept a clean sheet against Reading without Taylor last week, who's to say Edgar won't be ahead of Taylor by the time this season finishes never mind next?

Considering there are now third generation muslims living in Newcastle, with parents born here, don't you think it's a good idea to encourage them to support Newcastle as their local football team? Alternatively they could be advised to fuck off and support Baghdad by tell-it-straight tabloid readers...

Really you want the dooks with all the motivation you can get. The man is prone to prolonged and severe descents into pie binges, which blunt his effectiveness for months on end. In fact, in about 10 years of being a #1 dooks fan, the only time I can remember him being truly fit was in the lead up to the last world cup, and in the season afterwards where he piled on about 15 goals or so for boro. I hope Kev replayed the classic Hiddink introduction of taking a handful of the big man's love handles and proclaiming "too fat" in front of everyone. Trust me, last summer he wasn't fit for Australia, he wasn't fit for NUFC, he wasn't fit for anyone. He went close to creating a small bathing pond in the centre circle at the start of each Asian Cup game just waiting for kick-off. But Australia and NUFC both had fat jokes of managers back then, and dooks wasn't coming up to the end of his contract. Before I'd heard these latest rumblings I'd assumed he was going to sit about on the bench next season, regularly trotting out the back for a few more chips and some extra tomato sauce. If he wants to play on though, that means he's going to want another contract and that's good news for everyone. If he wants to play on that's fine but I wouldn't want to rely on him as our only target man. Class player without a doubt (are you there Northern Monkey ) but I can't see him being fit on a regular basis. He might be fat on a regular basis, that's quite close, only one letter difference in there...

Portsmouth's record at home isn't great, they are more effective away from home. A 2-1 win for us I reckon.

The Pedro goal I always remember was the final goal in a 5-1 thrashing of Man City where he went round about 4 players and the keeper before rolling it in the net. Typical Beardsley close control magic

That sounds like Supermac alright

So how many of these centre back partnerships is Taylor good enough to get into? About the same amount as Faye. The thing about Faye is he is at least a big strong physical bastard, so he could handle the tougher centre forwards. Taylor quite often gets out-muscled, is average in the air, and his anticipation is shite as was witnessed during his 360 degree turn when Ronaldo ran right past him in a straight line. He can do a job in the same way Aaron Hughes used to, that's about it.

He's decidied to continue his international career which he's entitled to, but considering how shagged he was after playing for Australia last summer, we should definitely be looking to bring in a top target man for next season. That way Viduka can be used more sparingly and his fitness issues won't have such an impact.

So Oba's agent has told "Arsenal" to fuck off with their £15m, because he isn't interested in a cut. Riiight...

Since Taylor is better than Senderos, we should be able to sell him Arsenal for a decent fee. If Senderos is worth £2m then Taylor has to be worth at least £2.1m. I vote we insist Arsenal buy him as his value is clearly higher in this well reasoned scenario.

Beye and Feye would make an awesome tag team with the prospect of a catchy rhyming moniker.

Exactly. If he wasn't happy in London, I can't imagine a stuck up prick like that being happy here. Still with KK's persuasive powers nowt would surprise me.