nufc4eva Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Great if true Kevin Keegan receives blank cheque to restore Newcastle United’s former glory George Caulkin Kevin Keegan has been told that imagination should be the only limit to his rebuilding plans at Newcastle United, with the club promising him “ carte blanche” in the transfer market and beyond. The new manager, who once said he was “1,000 per cent” certain never to return to Tyneside, spent yesterday reacquainting himself with his former home and engaging in several hours of talks with Chris Mort, his chairman. Keegan entered the visiting dressing-room at St James’ Park when he endeavoured to greet his players on Wednesday night, but that proved a rare wrong turn. The next morning, the 56-year-old took his first training session, joining his squad for a kick-about and warm-down before turning to more substantive business. With the transfer window closing in less than two weeks, Keegan has limited scope to refashion his first-team squad. He has barely watched a match since tending his resignation at Manchester City three years ago and his instinct is to allow his present charges to prove themselves. He will lean heavily for advice on Peter Beardsley and Terry McDermott, his long-time acolyte and a Newcastle coach. Yet opportunities will be grasped if they present themselves – Newcastle have already been made aware of the availability of Wes Brown, Wayne Bridge, Jermain Defoe and Daniel van Buyten, the Bayern Munich defender – and, in the longer term, Keegan’s creativity will be encouraged. Significant funds will be forthcoming, although Ladbrokes are already offering 11-5 that Michael Owen will not be a Newcastle player next season. Keegan spoke yesterday of having “unfinished business” at a club who have been reenergised by his third coming. Negotiations with Mort lasted until well into the evening – Keegan left Newcastle’s Longbenton training ground after 6pm – and subjects for discussion, apart from potential signings, included enhancing the youth academy and make-up of his back-room staff. The biggest decision to be made is whether to offer Alan Shearer, the club’s record goalscorer, a substantive role. Associates of Chris Coleman, who played under Keegan at Fulham, denied that his resignation at Real Sociedad was connected to events at Newcastle; Beardsley and McDermott will be involved on the coaching staff, while Derek Fazackerley, Manchester City’s first-team coach and another Keegan confidant, is tipped for a role. Uncertainty last night surrounded Nigel Pearson and Steve Round, who were prominent under Sam Allardyce. Keegan’s official presentation will be at the stadium at 2pm today, but the former England manager has requested little fanfare and stands will not be opened for supporters. Keegan wants to minimise disruption as much as possible before tomorrow evening’s match at home to Bolton Wanderers, when his reception will be raucous. “I wouldn’t say it was a big decision – I love this club, so from that point of view it was very easy,” Keegan, who has agreed a 3½year contract, said. “I met the owner [Mike Ashley], I like him very much, I met the chairman and just asked them what they felt was needed at Newcastle – ‘what do you expect from your football club?’ “I spent an hour with them and that convinced me it is right to come back. I have certainly inherited a really strong and talented group of players, which is something I didn’t have when I came last time. Then we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium and that is not a problem here now – it will be trying to get a stadium big enough if we can put the football on and get any success here. “It is very, very exciting. My dad was a Geordie, so I know what they want and what they don’t want. As long as they are realistic and patient, I think we can help them have dreams again and possibly win something.” Why it might work Kevin Keegan’s appointment has triggered some extreme reactions; while Newcastle United supporters have embraced Mike Ashley’s decision to bring back their “Messiah”, others have questioned his sanity. Here are ten reasons why it might just work. Football, bloody hell Since when did logic make sense? Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill were the most qualified coaches in English football when they arrived at Sunderland in 2002. This is emotional, mad and brilliant; that’s why it’s perfect. Más que un club It was Sir John Hall who coined the phrase “Geordie Nation” and, just as with Barcelona, Newcastle is a place apart, geographically and spiritually. Other managers have not got to grips with the expectation. King Kev always has. Our friends in the North “My dad was a Geordie, I understand them,” Keegan said yesterday. So did Sir Bobby Robson. So does Alan Shearer. Newcastle’s playing kit features black and white stripes and hearts on their sleeve. The Persuaders Keegan got Shearer to turn down Manchester United. He told Rob Lee that Newcastle was closer to London than Middlesbrough. He tempted Nicolas Anelka to Manchester City. His name still resonates. Love it, love it Just think about the dross that came before under Sam Allardyce, Glenn Roeder and Graeme Souness. Now consider the contrast. Grown men are smiling again. Didn’t football used to be fun? Ten feet high and rising “He walks into the room and a player grows by 20 per cent,” Steve Harper, the goalkeeper, said yesterday. A squad featuring Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Damien Duff and Shay Given should not be eleventh in the table. Michael Owen Perhaps a more expansive style of play will bring the best from the England striker, whose spell on Tyneside is unfulfilled. Owen may, in turn, finally see the atmospheric club sold to him by Shearer. Pile it high Ashley is Newcastle’s owner. Keegan sells tickets. Sports Direct is Ashley’s main business. Sports Direct sells a lot of football shirts. So does Keegan. Do the maths and then count the money. Danger – genius at work Keegan picked Gareth Southgate as a central midfield player, but so had Terry Venables. “Everybody called Terry a tactical genius – when I played there for Kevin, everybody said he was a numpty,” Southgate said. You don’t have to be mad to work here, but . . . Freddy Shepherd, the former chairman, has half a dozen resignation letters from Keegan on his toilet wall; what some describe as mental fragility is actually creative tension. It took Newcastle to second in the league. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3207352.ece Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keefaz Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 1,000 percent? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Nice to see some positive press for a change... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufc4eva Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 yes apparently 1,000 percent is a good percentage. I think in 20 years we will think of him like robson who comes out with mental sayings Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Give Keegan a decent amount of cash and he will be a success, you really couldnt say the same about Big Sam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 "Negotiations with Mort lasted until well into the evening – Keegan left Newcastle’s Longbenton training ground after 6pm" Well into the evening..... 6 PM ?? Fucking hell... what time does he go to bed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thespence Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 It is the quickest way in football to become millionaire, be a billionaire that gives the Geordie One a blank cheque book & pen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karjala Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thats the best thing about all this, Ashley is thinking back to the good old days and what Keegan did for the club, and now he's appointed him I cant see him getting anything but bucket loads of cash to spend. If Kev can get us back in the top 6 and standing a chance in cup competitions, he will be a success. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasy Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 It is the quickest way in football to become millionaire, be a billionaire that gives the Geordie One a blank cheque book & pen. Are you suggesting we're going to spend £1001 million plus everything the club brings in, therefore leaving Ashley as a lowly millionaire with only 999 million to his name? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thats the best thing about all this, Ashley is thinking back to the good old days and what Keegan did for the club, and now he's appointed him I cant see him getting anything but bucket loads of cash to spend. If Kevcan get us back in the top 6 and standing a chance in cup competitions, he will be a success. i certainly can Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Redcar Mag Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Nice to see some positive press for a change... Good journo. He's from up here as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thespence Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 It is the quickest way in football to become millionaire, be a billionaire that gives the Geordie One a blank cheque book & pen. Are you suggesting we're going to spend £1001 million plus everything the club brings in, therefore leaving Ashley as a lowly millionaire with only 999 million to his name? Are you not Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karjala Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I really dont think our team is that bad, we need a CLASS creative CM, and we'll do alright: Given;Beye,Cacapa,Faye,Enrique; Milner,Butt,N'Zogbia,Duff;Owen,Viduka for now Midfield is the key for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thespence Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I really dont think our team is that bad, we need a CLASS creative CM, and we'll do alright: Given;Beye,Cacapa,Faye,Enrique; Milner,Butt,N'Zogbia,Duff;Owen,Viduka for now Midfield is the key for me. Not sure about creative, we need someone who stop attacks in the midfield & gives our attacking bods Duff,Milner & Zog a platform. Butt & Smith are not the men & if Faye moves into midfield it will mean Cacapa or Roz will play in defence Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jda3000 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I really dont think our team is that bad, we need a CLASS creative CM, and we'll do alright: Given;Beye,Cacapa,Faye,Enrique; Milner,Butt,N'Zogbia,Duff;Owen,Viduka for now Midfield is the key for me. so sam sorted the midfield then Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jda3000 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 milner, butt and viduka need to be replaced then! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 By Premiership standards, we have an average to sub-average team. Oddly enough, I wouldn't concentrate on buying central defenders or fullbacks despite the frailties. Cacapa and Rozehnal are not poor players, and one (hopefully two) will inevitably adapt to the league. Take a look at Bouma at Villa - he was shit in his first year, then improved drastically. Not the only example either. We need central midfielders with the criteria being creativity, pace and height. I'd like to see Zoltan Gera brought in, some might disagree. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowndsy Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 butt and viduka aye, milner no Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 "Well played, Kevin, but I'm afraid it wasn't good enough to win the big one...but never mind, cos you're talking home with you...the Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen!" http://www.geocities.com/lilysavage_uk/graphics/bbchequebook.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I've seen George Caulkin (author of this) slagged in the past, but I've found him a joy to read in the past few weeks. I've been reading mostly all of the broadhseets online, and he's stood out head and shoulders above the rest. He blatantly loves the Toon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicky Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 SSN just done a backpage review. All papers agree he's got a bottomless pit to spend, and names mentioned were; Ronaldinho, Kaka, Deco, Wright Phillips, Drogba, Bridge, Scott Brown & Wes Brown. Its going to be an interesting 2 weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_F Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 They've just previewed the back pages on SSN and it's all over them. The Star have got slightly carried away talking about Ronaldhinio, Kaka and Drogba !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 The Mirror going with the same story basically, Keegan picks a player he wants, Ashley goes out and gets him, although they're linking us with Defoe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 SSN just done a backpage review. All papers agree he's got a bottomless pit to spend, and names mentioned were; Ronaldinho, Kaka, Deco, Wright Phillips, Drogba, Bridge, Scott Brown & Wes Brown. Its going to be an interesting 2 weeks. I nearly fucking choked, i read the first 3 then for some reason skipped to the last name Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I've seen George Caulkin (author of this) slagged in the past, but I've found him a joy to read in the past few weeks. I've been reading mostly all of the broadhseets online, and he's stood out head and shoulders above the rest. He blatantly loves the Toon. Aye, I used to read the Times supplement "The Game" on a Monday morning and always liked Caulkin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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