So......where is Enrique?

[Unlucky Luque]

Enrique's never been "bad" ffs. He was decent earlier in the season, but has adapted extremely well, and has been class lately for someone that young only starting a handful of games in the premiership.

[SAK]

Always believed in the lad even though early on in the season at worst his performances were average.  The reasons why I believed this is because he has the attributes to be a top left back e.g. well built physique and strength, height (useful against opposition trying to play the cross field ball over the full back) , pace, good control and passing.

 

He's not afraid to bring the ball forward to start of attacks (his drbbling is good as he has a turn of pace and good ball control). He links up well with midfield and the strikers with ball to feet or the ball over the top for Martins. Plus his reading of the game is pretty decent as well.

[gazza ladra]

I think that the "Enrique is shit" line was born out of Allardyce starting N'Zogbia in front of him at left back. And that says more about Allardyce than Enrique.

 

Note that the first change that Nigel Pearson made made after Allardyce was sacked was to return Enrique to the starting 11. And Keegan brought in Enrique almost immediately after he had a chance to watch him train and play. Pretty obvious to anyone who actually bothers to watch him  (Allardyce excepted),  that he's class.

 

Edit: But, then, Allardyce did buy him didn't he. 

[Colocho]

Certainly proved me wrong after a few car crash performances earlier in the season. Good player.

 

Honestly Which were his car crash performances? Liverpool at a push....

 

I can't remember any winger giving him a really tough time.

 

What's his name again? You know, that Man Utd player ...

[Parsley]

Certainly proved me wrong after a few car crash performances earlier in the season. Good player.

 

Honestly Which were his car crash performances? Liverpool at a push....

 

I can't remember any winger giving him a really tough time.

 

What's his name again? You know, that Man Utd player ...

 

OH, you mean the one that got a tough time off Enrique so switched flanks and pissed on Carr instead? 

[Teasy]

Certainly proved me wrong after a few car crash performances earlier in the season. Good player.

 

Honestly Which were his car crash performances? Liverpool at a push....

 

I can't remember any winger giving him a really tough time.

 

What's his name again? You know, that Man Utd player ...

 

OH, you mean the one that got a tough time off Enrique so switched flanks and pissed on Carr instead? 

 

Exactly, Enrique had Ronaldo in his pocket for most of the game, if only Beye had been playing right back the same probably would have happened on the other side when Ronaldo switched..

[Benwell Lad]

Taylor's been peddling the "Enrique is s***" line all season like many hacks who write their report based on what they expect and what they want rather than what they see. It's worse from her because she has an extra axe to grind, especially after her brave boys were humiliated again yesterday.

 

many in the media seem to think Beye is crap too, after the Reading match one of the pundits on SSN said newcastle played so well that "Even Habib Beye is starting to look like a bit of a player". 

 

Aye, someone in the pub mentioned that yesterday.

 

How do these people get work?

 

They do a two year apprenticeship selling Chronicles on Northumberland street then they get a job as a tabloid (or in some cases a broadsheet) sports reporter.

 

 

[Tisd09]

I have been impressed with all of our defenders lately, Faye looked shakey v Pompey at times. I am really taking to Enrique, I think he can develop into a top Premiership player. Looks a bit rash at times but this is his first season (half of it being fucked around).

 

Thinks are looking really promising.

[James]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

 

I think even though Enrique is quality it would be very wise to add another LB in the summer, we don't have any decent cover in that position at the moment.

 

Plus competition for places is always good.

[SUPERTOON]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

 

I think even though Enrique is quality it would be very wise to add another LB in the summer, we don't have any decent cover in that position at the moment.

 

Plus competition for places is always good.

 

will be Riise

[Disco]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

 

Needs to work on his positioning but that like most young defenders will only get better with age & experience.

[Baggio]

We need another left back and right back with Carr almost certain to leave.

[Baggio]

Heat is on for ace Jose Enrique

 

Apr 22 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle

 

 

NEWCASTLE United boss Kevin Keegan has predicted a big future at St James’s Park for his £6m left-back Jose Enrique.

 

But he warned the likeable Spaniard today that one of his close season targets will be a left-back.

 

And it would not surprise me in the slightest if Keegan was looking at the situation at the club where he is still legend – Liverpool – and wondered about John Arne Riise, with the Norwegian no longer an automatic choice at Anfield.

 

Apart from stressing how important it is to tie Michael Owen down to a new contract, this is the first time Keegan has talked about any of his summer plans.

 

With Charles N’Zogbia out in the cold and in any case preferring to play in midfield, and after the departure of Celestine Babayaro, Enrique has been given the chance to stake his claim for the United left-back berth – and he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

 

In fact, if you discount N’Zogbia, then the 22-year-old Enrique is United’s only senior left-back and this is something Keegan is very much aware of.

 

Speaking about Enrique, Keegan told me today: “It’s a bit of a mixed bag at the moment. The good things are good, and there are things he needs to learn, but he’s still only 22.

 

“Jose’s already doing some very good things, and his English is improving.

 

“He’s young and he’s come into the Premier League. He’s come into a club which has struggled, and that’s always difficult for any player.

 

“Jose is picking it up now, but I’ve still got to sign another left-back, as I’ve only got one at the club.

 

“That’s not to say I don’t fancy Jose, I do( ) but I need another left-back.”

 

Whether that other left back turns out to be Riise remains to be seen. The 68-times capped Norwegian international seems to have been on the scene for a long time after joining Liverpool from Monaco for £4.6m in 2001.

 

But he is still only 27 and he has the quality that Keegan is looking for.

 

I believe Keegan has already had one disappintment as far as his summer plans are concerned with the decision of the verstaile West Brown to sign a new four-year contract with Manchester United at Old Trafford, as the England defender was one of his main targets.

 

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/04/22/heat-is-on-for-ace-jose-enrique-72703-20799495/

[Shearergol]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

 

Needs to work on his positioning but that like most young defenders will only get better with age & experience.

 

I think his positioning is his strength. Weird how people can see completely opposite things in players.

[Dokko]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

 

Needs to work on his positioning but that like most young defenders will only get better with age & experience.

 

I think his positioning is his strength. Weird how people can see completely opposite things in players.

 

His positioning is excellent.

 

For me all he lacks is experience.

 

 

[Guest alex]

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle:

 

Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

 

Needs to work on his positioning but that like most young defenders will only get better with age & experience.

 

I think his positioning is his strength. Weird how people can see completely opposite things in players.

Me as well. NM reckons he's good going forward but not so good defensively. If anything it's the opposite imo.

Is that Taribo West Brown we missed out on btw?

[NG32]

Good news, we'll need cover for Beye as well.

[Guest alex]

James was castigated a bit for this but when he said "could Enrique by converted to a footballing centre-half" perhaps he wasn't that far off the mark because while I like Beye and Enrique I don't think either of them are that comfortable in the final third and KK likes his full-backs to have excellent attacking ability. I know Beye in particular gets forward but he isn't great there. That sounds hypercritical perhaps but I'm seeing it more from KK's point of view rather than my own as I think both are very good full-backs. I think both could play at centre-half too although I doubt you cuold play them there together in the PL as they might lack that physicality / aerial ability (I know both are quite big and strong but perhaps not by the standards of your average PL centre-half).

[TRon]

James was castigated a bit for this but when he said "could Enrique by converted to a footballing centre-half" perhaps he wasn't that far off the mark because while I like Beye and Enrique I don't think either of them are that comfortable in the final third and KK likes his full-backs to have excellent attacking ability. I know Beye in particular gets forward but he isn't great there. That sounds hypercritical perhaps but I'm seeing it more from KK's point of view rather than my own as I think both are very good full-backs. I think both could play at centre-half too although I doubt you cuold play them there together in the PL as they might lack that physicality / aerial ability (I know both are quite big and strong but perhaps not by the standards of your average PL centre-half).

 

Part of the reason we haver looked so strong defensively lately is that both Enrique and Beye provide great cover for the central defenders. Lose them and I doubt we'd look as solid as we have done lately.

 

[Guest alex]

James was castigated a bit for this but when he said "could Enrique by converted to a footballing centre-half" perhaps he wasn't that far off the mark because while I like Beye and Enrique I don't think either of them are that comfortable in the final third and KK likes his full-backs to have excellent attacking ability. I know Beye in particular gets forward but he isn't great there. That sounds hypercritical perhaps but I'm seeing it more from KK's point of view rather than my own as I think both are very good full-backs. I think both could play at centre-half too although I doubt you cuold play them there together in the PL as they might lack that physicality / aerial ability (I know both are quite big and strong but perhaps not by the standards of your average PL centre-half).

 

Part of the reason we haver looked so strong defensively lately is that both Enrique and Beye provide great cover for the central defenders. Lose them and I doubt we'd look as solid as we have done lately.

 

I agree there actually but I think that's also more necessary with the 4-3-3 / 4-3-1-2 we've been playing which I don't really see as being KK's long-term plan. Rather it's a pragmatic solution to the lack of midfield creativity / getting the best out of Viduka / Owen / Martins.

[TRon]

James was castigated a bit for this but when he said "could Enrique by converted to a footballing centre-half" perhaps he wasn't that far off the mark because while I like Beye and Enrique I don't think either of them are that comfortable in the final third and KK likes his full-backs to have excellent attacking ability. I know Beye in particular gets forward but he isn't great there. That sounds hypercritical perhaps but I'm seeing it more from KK's point of view rather than my own as I think both are very good full-backs. I think both could play at centre-half too although I doubt you cuold play them there together in the PL as they might lack that physicality / aerial ability (I know both are quite big and strong but perhaps not by the standards of your average PL centre-half).

 

Part of the reason we haver looked so strong defensively lately is that both Enrique and Beye provide great cover for the central defenders. Lose them and I doubt we'd look as solid as we have done lately.

 

I agree there actually but I think that's also more necessary with the 4-3-3 / 4-3-1-2 we've been playing which I don't really see as being KK's long-term plan. Rather it's a pragmatic solution to the lack of midfield creativity / getting the best out of Viduka / Owen / Martins.

 

Funnily enough, I doubt Keegan would have bought either Enrique or Beye, but for me they could provide the answer to Keegan's achilles heel. His sides have sometimes been too attack minded. Having a really solid back four would be a good combination with a flair midfield and strike force. I do worry that Keegan will practically want wingers at full back and we'll see us getting hit on the break while everyone's up the other end of the pitch.

[McCormick]

Bump

[Dokko]

Bump

 

i'm hoping KK has dropped him temp since he's made a few gaffs in pre season (that's what i gather from off here mind) and it might be effecting his confidence and didn't want to risk him against Manu.

 

We might see him against Bolton, i hope so if it gets Milner off the right wing, Jonas in his place and zoggy at LW.

[Yorkie]

KK loves Milner, can't see him being out the team any time soon.