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So what is our strongest starting 11?


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What, drop the one player scoring goals and the one player whose fitness and confidence actually seem to be slowly improving from game to game?

 

yeah, I like to see  the team score goals.

 

Both Martins and  Viduka  still have more goals this season than Owen--they're the team leaders in fact. And they should start.

 

Owen's scored in the last couple of games... whoopidy-f******-do

:idiot2:

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And also that frankly misleading stat fails to point out how since Owen has come back we've had a hard run of games where Martins' and Viduka's at the start of the season were against much easier opposition.

 

Boro? At home?

Bolton at home?

Tougher opposition? 

 

Give me a break.

 

 

 

 

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              Given

 

Beye Faye Taylor Enrique

 

Milner Barton Zoggy Duff

 

      Owen Martins

 

Swap Taylor with Cacapa and at the moment I'd probably go for that. Actually thinking about it I don't want to commit right now.  :lol:

 

Cacapa has been poor. Unless you are basing your opinion solely on the fact that anything Keegan says, you believe?

 

I'm basing my opinion on what I've witnessed this season, and you may believe Cacapa has been poor, I believe Taylor has been worse.

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Guest rebel_yell12

Actually, Martins has 7 goals this season, and Owen 6, while Viduka has 5.  Viduka has scored in three matches (all EPL), Martins in six (five EPL) and Owen in six (four EPL).  Martins has contributed 5 points, and Owen six points in the league by virtue of their goals.  Not sure where the argument that Viduka has provided more than Owen is coming from -- unless you're counting flick-ons or the like.  And Owen's been doing a lot of tracking back in the last couple matches, including making three or four tackles in a row on Saturday at one point in the first half.  He seems to be working very hard for the team and has been one of the best on the pitch since Keegan's arrival. 

 

As for Owen scoring in the last two matches -- he's the only scorer in the Premiership for NUFC since 29 December.  Still want to drop him?  And for that matter, the last time Martins scored was 8 December, in any competition.  That's hardly, imo, a ringing endorsement to drop an on-form player whose work-rate, goals and general attitude seem to be improving since Keegan's arrival.  How can you slate Owen for not proving himself/earning his pay, and then when he begins to do just that, drop him for an out-of-form and/or inferior player?

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Actually, Martins has 7 goals this season, and Owen 6, while Viduka has 5.  Viduka has scored in three matches (all EPL), Martins in six (five EPL) and Owen in six (four EPL).  Martins has contributed 5 points, and Owen six points in the league by virtue of their goals.  Not sure where the argument that Viduka has provided more than Owen is coming from -- unless you're counting flick-ons or the like.  And Owen's been doing a lot of tracking back in the last couple matches, including making three or four tackles in a row on Saturday at one point in the first half.  He seems to be working very hard for the team and has been one of the best on the pitch since Keegan's arrival. 

 

As for Owen scoring in the last two matches -- he's the only scorer in the Premiership for NUFC since 29 December.  Still want to drop him?  And for that matter, the last time Martins scored was 8 December, in any competition.  That's hardly, imo, a ringing endorsement to drop an on-form player whose work-rate, goals and general attitude seem to be improving since Keegan's arrival.   How can you slate Owen for not proving himself/earning his pay, and then when he begins to do just that, drop him for an out-of-form and/or inferior player?

 

Martins has only played 45 minutes for us in 2008 tbf, not that I'm saying Owen should be dropped for him after his recent run of form, as a pairing I thought the team done well with them up front against Spurs and I'd like to think Keegan will give it another go.

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              Given

 

Beye Faye Taylor Enrique

 

Milner Barton Zoggy Duff

 

       Owen Martins

 

Swap Taylor with Cacapa and at the moment I'd probably go for that. Actually thinking about it I don't want to commit right now.  :lol:

 

Cacapa has been poor. Unless you are basing your opinion solely on the fact that anything Keegan says, you believe?

 

I'm basing my opinion on what I've witnessed this season, and you may believe Cacapa has been poor, I believe Taylor has been worse.

 

Interesting, that. I think Cacapa has been very disappointing, although i have not been surprised that he lost the captaincy at his last club. I think Taylor has not been great this season (i think he can becoem a really good player, but he's clearly nowhere near yet), but i genuinely feel Cacapa has been poor.

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Guest rebel_yell12

What I meant, Baggio, was that Martins hasn't scored at all since 8 December -- not in the EPL nor at the ACoN, or in the FA Cup draw with Stoke.  Just clarifying that.  Viduka's hardly been fit in all that time.  I just can't understand dropping the striker who is actually scoring, for one who isn't -- rather than dropping the player upfront who doesn't even have a shot on goal in how long?  Let alone an actual goal. 

 

I think Owen and Martins could work, if the lads continue to move away from the long-ball, ten feet in the air passes up to the forwards.  Martins has a good leap on him when needed, and as Owen has proven of late, he's not exactly sh*** in the air either.  Plus, Martins has that whole headless chicken movement and unpredictableness that could create space for Owen to exploit.  Assuming, of course, that the squad doesn't just punt the ball forwards, but actually tries to keep it on the ground.

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              Given

 

Beye Faye Taylor Enrique

 

Milner Barton Zoggy Duff

 

      Owen Martins

 

Swap Taylor with Cacapa and at the moment I'd probably go for that. Actually thinking about it I don't want to commit right now.  :lol:

 

Cacapa has been poor. Unless you are basing your opinion solely on the fact that anything Keegan says, you believe?

 

I'm basing my opinion on what I've witnessed this season, and you may believe Cacapa has been poor, I believe Taylor has been worse.

 

Interesting, that. I think Cacapa has been very disappointing, although i have not been surprised that he lost the captaincy at his last club. I think Taylor has not been great this season (i think he can becoem a really good player, but he's clearly nowhere near yet), but i genuinely feel Cacapa has been poor.

 

Cacapa has been poor, hes not a premiership defender. To be a success in EPl you need 2 out of Pace, Strength and Aerial prowess. Cacapa has none of these things.

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I'd like to see given a go:

 

              Harper

 

Beye Faye Cacapa Enrique

 

Milner Butt Emre N'Zogbia

 

        Owen Martins

 

No idea if it's our strongest though, seeing as they've never played together under Keegan.

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Guest Urban Fox

Whatever the team, we have to drop cacapa, butt and smith if we're going to get points.

 

Harper will make good saves, Emre will provide quality balls, Faye aerial presence, Beye defensive nous, N'zogbia running at people and creating space, Martins likewise, Owen still knows where the net is given service.  These players must all start.

 

 

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Keegan saying Viduka has a key role to play... (this season)

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/02/12/viduka-has-key-role-to-play-72703-20465170/

Viduka has key role to play

 

Feb 12 2008 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle

 

KEVIN KEEGAN has revealed that Mark Viduka still has a huge part to play for Newcastle United this season.

 

The Aussie striker sat out the 4-1 defeat at Villa Park on Saturday, but emerged from the dressing rooms with his chin up to pour scorn on talk that he had been involved in a bust-up with his manager.

Mark Viduka

 

Instead, the former Leeds United and Celtic star will now push for a place in the starting line-up against Manchester United on February 23 as Newcastle try to kick- start their campaign and lay the foundations for next season.

 

And on the eighth anniversary of the 3-0 win over Man U at St James’s Park, Keegan backed Viduka to shake off recent calf problems and make an impact.

 

He told the Chronicle: “He’ll be a massive asset.

 

“He’s very focused, and we’re working on his sharpness.

 

“He’s had a couple of setbacks in the last three weeks, but his training has been excellent.

 

“There’s no doubt about it, he’s getting his sharpness back every day.”

 

Viduka has grabbed five goals in his 11 starts for Newcastle since joining the club from Middlesbrough in the summer and is unlikely to repeat his 19 goals for the Teessiders last year.

 

But with 10 of those strikes coming in the last three months of the season, Keegan is confident he can rekindle the form that leaves the Aussie just 10 short of 100 goals in English soccer.

 

Keegan added: “When he’s fit and feels ready, he’s a handful in any league in the world and certainly in the Premiership.

 

“He’s certainly proved that.

 

“He’s the best at what he does in terms of holding the ball up and his strength.

 

“You give it to him and it’s like putting the ball in the bank as far as I’m concerned.

 

“You give him the ball and he very rarely loses it. He can manipulate goals out of really tight situations.”

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Strongest 11 on acid

 

 

                Reid Richards

 

The Flash    The Hulk  Cyclops  Popeye

 

 

                      Darth Vader

 

            Wolverine

 

 

Luke Sykwalker                          Mary Poppins

 

                     

                    Mr Spoon

 

                              Spider-man

 

 

 

In reality

 

 

 

            Given

 

Beye    Cacapa  Taylor  Erinque

 

            Faye    N'Zogbia

 

 

Milner                            Duff

 

                Owen

 

          Martins

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