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lovejoy

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    Shepherd plans Toon takeover - Doesn't make for pretty reading

    in Football

    Posted

    Im not so sure Souness was backed the way it looks on paper.

     

    From the start of his short stay with us, he wanted to play 4-3-3. That was the system he tried initially, a system he only changed when we fell behind to Herenveen and the chants for his head became loud - it failed because we simply did not have the players to play it. That was his "vision" for me, he tried to force it even without the right players, and along with buying already developed players, it was his "masterplan" for success with us. I remember him talking about the Chelsea system and admiring it, and I think thats the way he wanted us to go.

     

    In his last season with us, he spent most of the summer talking up the 4-3-3 system he wanted us to play. He targeted Anelka and Boa Morte as key signings, along with others like Joaquin, all players ideally suited to a 4-3-3. Very clear imo, even the midfield signings were tailored to this, because Emre was at his best for Inter on the left of a 3 man central midfield, whilst it seemed that Jenas was meant to stay despite the signing of Parker - that was going to be our 3 man central midfield, although Jenas himself wanted out.

     

    Even Luque's signing fits this picture. Luque peaked for Deportivo on the left side of an attacking trio for Deportivo - theres been alot of debate on here about whether he his position is as a striker or left midfielder, its a bit of both, ie the left side of the frontline in a 4-3-3. The signing of Luque himself has many a time been reported as the Shephard brothers' decision, and it does seem to be the case given that iirc news of a bid came a few days before the Souness comments about asking his mate in Spain about Luque (ie trying to save face and make it look like his signing).

     

    Yet the final few days of the transfer window undid everything Souness had planned for, and im dead certain that was down to Freddy Shephard. One year earlier, Shephard had put in a 22mill bid for Wayne Rooney without his manager's knowledge, a bid that failed. Clearly, it was Shephard who wanted to get an England international striker into the side, the long term replacement for Shearer. When the Rooney bid failed, who would have logically been the next best thing?

     

    Clearly, with Owen's signing, we were never, ever going to be able to play 4-3-3. And no doubt, that is why we also brought Solano in on the very last minute and got rid of Jenas, completing the switch to 4-4-2, a system Sounses clearly didnt want to play - hence why he had Solano tucking in all the time.

     

    Therefore, I think Souness was not backed, in fact he was undermined in that he had absolutely no control over who was being signed. Shephard wanted to replace Shearer with a big name international forward, it was his decision to go for Owen (and it was no doubt his decision to make a bid for Torres - seems like Freddy's been watching a bit of La Liga, credit to him for that). Unfortunately, that decision has backfired miserably, not only did we pay a huge amount for a striker with a teenage boy's frame (similar to Dyer, stick-men) with a poor injury record, we also undid everything Souness had planned for and made some of his signings useless.

     

    In his own world, Shephard no doubt means well, but hes simply not fit to be making these footballing decisions. His world clearly lacks any kind of depth with regards to football,

     

    I remember how when we signed Bowyer on a Bosman as our only transfer in 2003, Shephard was boasting about adding an England international to the team. I can see exactly what he was thinking - "We have just finished 4th, added Woodgate in the previous window, and have a good young squad that had a very good CL and domestic season - therefore we should improve with experience alone - hence, adding an England international would represent a significant improvement, so money can be saved for other things". Thats exactly how I would expect a business man with little footballing knowledge to think, because he wont have followed the form of the player closely (Bowyer completely off form for a few years and far from an England international, having only appeared once and looking out of his depth at that level), or the needs of the squad/manager to improve the competition and add different options. But thats the way he thinks unfortunately, again its no doubt that type of unanalyzed hypothesis that had us appointing Souness, its also no doubt the reason why he lost faith in Sir Bobby ("ive given him this amount of money,  hes spent big on some players that havent performed, therefore he is not good at signing players" - everyone knows how all top managers spend poorly on a consistent basis).

     

    Shephard controlling things in his own world is always going to land us in trouble, unless he hands the reign over to a manager talented and competent enough to run the club the way it should be.

     

     

    geat post apart from this bit.

    dyer, martins and given back

    in Football

    Posted

    Newcastle's bid to begin a relegation revival this weekend has received fresh impetus after it emerged that three of Glenn Roeder's most important players are all in contention to make their first-team comebacks at the City of Manchester Stadium.

     

    The Magpies have slipped into the Premiership drop zone following a run of seven league games without a win but, having secured a dramatic Carling Cup win at Watford on Wednesday evening, shattered confidence has been restored in the United dressing room.

     

    Having excelled in knock-out competitions this season, Roeder's men know they must take their cup form into the top-flight if they are to recover from what has been a difficult start to the league season. Their efforts will be aided by the imminent returns of Kieron Dyer, Obafemi Martins and Shay Given - with all three expected to be in contention for Saturday's encounter with Manchester City.

     

    Dyer has offered to make himself available for Newcastle's last two fixtures, despite having suffered a bizarre eye injury that threatened to have serious implications for his long-term vision. The 27-year-old has explored the possibility of wearing protective goggles in order to expedite his comeback.

     

    And although Roeder has vetoed such a course of action, he is hoping the specialist overseeing Dyer's recovery will be amenable to the prospect of the midfielder playing some part in Manchester. "We are waiting for the green light from the specialist," explained the Magpies boss, aware that a fully-fit Dyer could transform the complexion of a stuttering Premiership campaign. "We are totally in the hands of the specialist, he will make the decision. If he says Kieron can head the ball and go into challenges in which there is a danger of a bump or a bruise without any ill effects, then he will be straight back in."

     

    Dyer damaged delicate blood vessels in his left eye when he ran into a post during a routine training ground accident two weeks ago; the England international is expected to visit the specialist within the next 24 hours and although he has not trained fully with his team-mates for a fortnight as a precaution, Roeder is confident his general fitness will not prove problematic.

     

    "He's not training fully yet because of the contact aspect," he said. "But he has been working hard on keeping his fitness levels up on his own. Fortunately, we have been able to keep Kieron fit and his physical fitness, his football fitness, is not a problem. He has chance for the weekend. But that's all it is at this stage. A chance."

     

    Martins is also closing in on his comeback, having missed United's last four first-team fixtures with the hamstring problem he suffered two weeks ago during Newcastle's Carling Cup win against Portsmouth.

     

    The £10m Nigerian is determined to resume action in a black-and-white shirt and, given the paucity of striking options Roeder has at his disposal, the progress the club's number nine has made in recent days will be a welcome bonus. United's medical staff will monitor Martins closely over the next 48 hours to make sure that his problems are truly behind him.

     

    "With it being a hamstring injury, we have to be absolutely certain he's okay, especially with it being him because he's such a sprinter," said Roeder. "But he's back out running on the grass again and he's a possibility for the weekend."

     

    Given is also hoping to return to the first-team squad having missed the last two months as a result of the bowel problem he suffered during United's win at West Ham - their last in the league - on September 17. Roeder added: "Shay is back out there training fully and that's very pleasing to see."

     

    is the link not enough?? or are you a forum copper???

     

     

     

    bluebigrazz.gif

    SWP/Lennon

    in Football

    Posted

    i still think we will move for swp on loan in january.

     

    jol, do you think there is any chance we could swop martins for defoe? bluebiggrin.gif

     

    Would rather keep Martins tbh.

     

    im not so sure i would, im concerned about the time it is taking him to 'adapt'.

     

    would have rather spent the same £ on defoe who is proven in the prem.

     

    hope i am proved wrong though

    SSN, Exclusive interview with Freddy Shepherd coming up..

    in Football

    Posted

    On Five Live, saying we couldn't change the game (the Sheff Utd fixture). Sounds fishy, that.

     

    Playing the ****ing Geordie card in every bastard sentence too. 'I'm a Geordie' - so ****ing what, doesn't stop you being incompetent.

     

    Liar, he's not a Geordie, the fat mans from Cumberland.

     

     

    via byker bluebiggrin.gif bluebiggrin.gif

     

     

     

    Try Gilsland.

     

    he's from scotts street, byker, the shepeherds lived opposite my granny before the estate was pulled down

     

     

    (or am i on the verge of a whoosh??)

    £8m For Emre?

    in Football

    Posted

    The Parker +  Emre CM pairing reminds of of England and the Gerrard + Lampard pairing, both great players but together it just does not work.

    They cannot decide who will push and who will stick and by the time they decide  on it we lose the advantage gained, for me Parker starts and Emre should be Parker's cover.

    Parker at Charlton is the kind of player we need him to be, a box to box Bowyer type without the temper, but that means we need a midfield player that will hold and be dedicated to the holding role like Claude Makelele is.

     

     

    diop

    £8m For Emre?

    in Football

    Posted

    I would only prepare to sell him if Dyer is back in the team for a few games and looks as if his injuries have gone. Emre is the only player we have who is remotely creative in centre midfield unless you play Zog there but that doesnt suit him. Saying that £8m is big money for him and more than he is worth so I wouldnt blame us getting rid.

     

    thats his position actually

    £8m For Emre?

    in Football

    Posted

    Will Emre wait until Jan? he did say in the story where he let the Bayern story slip that the club wanted him to stay and he wanted to stay also. He may not want to go over there and play but its a great offer for an injury prone player who has not shown his best form here.

    I really hope Fred plays this out right though, Fergie needs to be offering way more than Rossi for the rest of the season. Wedon't need to look happy to sell I want Fergie to beg.. :D  bluelaugh.gif

     

     

    he doesnt have a choice due to the transfer window

    Reserves Vs Blackburn

    in Football

    Posted

    Its great Sibi is back, he could play upfront alone I reckon, so pack the midfield and see if we cant drag out a 0-0.

    Cannot belive I am goign for a 4-5-1 but I am.  blueeek.gif

     

     

     

    ------------------Harper

     

     

    Carr------Taylor-------Moore------Baba

     

    -----------------Bramble

     

    Nobby----Parker--------Butt------Duff

     

    --------------------Sibi

     

    playing bramble there instead of butt with zog alongside parker is madness imo

    Zoltan Gera?

    in Football

    Posted

    todays journal:

     

     

    Meanwhile, Newcastle have been credited with an interest in Zoltan Gera, with reports in the West Midlands last night insisting that West Bromwich Albion officials are bracing themselves for a January bid for the Hungarian.

     

     

    With Aston Villa's interest in James Milner understood to remain intact despite the collapse of a proposed transfer in August, United's scouts are reported to have identified Gera as a potential replacement.

     

     

    Nigel Pearson, Roeder's right-hand man, worked with the 27-year-old during his time alongside Bryan Robson at The Hawthorns

     

     

     

     

     

    would much rather keep milner tbh

    Here we go again - No Upson

    in Football

    Posted

    have to say im glad, i think upson is very very average, better than what we have like, but he would cost a canny bit i reckon

    he is out of contract in the summer so should not be that much and would be ok as a second defender

     

    well if we could get him in cheap then that wouldnt be so bad

    Reserves Vs Blackburn

    in Football

    Posted

    Soooo looking forward to relying on him against the form Italian side come Thursday

     

    After this performance we may as well play 4-6-0.

     

    Nice logic of NUFC to risk our only fit striker 3 days before a Uefa Cup tie.

     

    more a case of giving him an hour to keep his match fitness up imo

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