As we’ve mentioned before we’ve just taken 3 points from the last 8 league games and we must get a win in the league soon.
Kevin Keegan - we haven’t been good enough on the day
While we are not worried too much about relegation right now, any continuation of the streak without a win will do us no good whatsoever.
Kevin Keegan talked to the Evening Chronicle today about the state of things on the playing side. The conclusion we have to draw from what Kevin says is that for the last 4-5 games we just haven’t been good enough on the day. We’d have to agree with that, and until we do improve, things will not get any better, that’s a certainty.
Kevin said today:
“The reality is we know we have had a difficult start.” “Boro was tough and so will Aston Villa be – and then we have Manchester United!”
“It is a tough league, but we have been here before.” “I am realist and, while we would have loved to have scored three or four goals in each game, reality tells me that would not have happened.”
“When you look at the nature of the teams we have played you can see that.” “Bolton were always going to make it difficult for us, but I thought we’d win that game because the crowd were with us.”
“But on the day we just weren’t good enough.” “Then in the two games against Arsenal you knew it would be difficult to go there twice in four days and get anything, especially after they put a strong side out in the cup.”
One player who has suffered more than most, from Newcastle’s lack luster season, is England striker Michael Owen, who didn’t even make it as a substitute in England’s 2-1 win last night at Wembley against Switzerland.
Michael’s key contribution is always going to be scoring goals, and he’s scored only 6 this season for Newcastle. We haven’t been able to create too many chances during the last few games either, which is getting to be a major concern. That’s why we are pleased that Barton and Emre are back and in the team.
Keegan continued and talked about Owen:
“To Michael’s credit he has worked hard to make something out of nothing.” “We can provide more invention in the team.”
“Lack of confidence is probably another factor where players are just scared to risk the ball.” “They see the pass but they just don’t want to give the ball away.”
“They think ‘I don’t want to give a bad pass’, but if they think that, you can’t hit a good one.” “You’ve got to risk the ball to score goals and you have to take a chance.
“That’s all because of where the players are at the moment.” “It’s not because of anything we’ve said to them.” “It’s because of where they are and what they are seeing on the football field, having had a difficult few matches.”
Some time very soon we will need a league win, and of course a win against Villa on Saturday would be just great. But we need 3 points very soon.
Comments very welcome.
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37 responses so far ↓
1 nufctj // Feb 7, 2008 at 13:32
1st post!!!! now I feel stupid
2 nufctj // Feb 7, 2008 at 13:37
Granted Fulham beat them at Craven Cottage, but I think Villa are top four pretenders, and I believe we are fully capable of earning 3 points on Saturday. The Africans are back!
3 Griff // Feb 7, 2008 at 13:48
That was the problem with england yesterday, scared to give a pass incase they lost it. But then they kept loosing it with the simple passes aswell!
Difference with England is that at the end of the match they were hitting the passes right; quick and accurate.
Newcastle havent acheived that yet.
4 Sales Growth Consultant // Feb 7, 2008 at 14:13
Keegan is right - the passing has been weak.
We really struggle to break down packed defenses like Middlesborough. We pass it around for a while looking for openings - but when the ball eventually comes back to our centre-backs or defensive midfielders it’s either lost, hoofed up, or just played back to Shay. There are no really incisive passes coming from there, or any decent runs centrally - it all comes from the wings (and in the case of Boro, ended up on the heads of their giant centre backs).
Ian
5 thelongshanks // Feb 7, 2008 at 14:47
Off the point here,but just wanted to say with players like nzogbia saying he wants to move to london and jenas describing newcastle as a fish bowl.Its great to hear emre who has had a very hard and tough time here coming out saying his future lies with newcastle and he is lookin forward to the future.
These are the type of players we need to have cuz this is what gets us going,and i agree with the point in an earlier post that players see newcastle as a big payday e.g. luque.So i think with a good mix of top players who actually want to join and the rising talent in our youth we may start becoming an top attacking european team sooner rather then later.
Toon army!
6 nightfall // Feb 7, 2008 at 14:49
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SkyNyg7uVZw
enjoy
7 Leo* // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:26
i hope this passing thing is not a way of getting butts confidence up for playing!
i dont want to see BUTT on the pitch for newcastle ever again
8 CJ // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:29
Thelongshanks- Zog has never came out and say’s he want’s a move to London and Emre’s agent say’s he want’s to leave in nearly every transfer window.
9 thelongshanks // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:30
Everytime commentators talk about newcastle they always say butt is the only constant preformer for us all season.Didnt know there were that many commentators smoking crack.
10 Leo* // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:31
thelongshanks good one, i actually think you might have something there
11 CJ // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:34
On crack and i assume there mates with Alan Oliver.
12 thelongshanks // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:42
CJ Why then has keegan come out and said he is trying his best to convince nzogbia to stay?I would love the man to stay as he is our biggest prospect at the mo.
13 CJ // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:49
What i am saying is Zog has not come out publicly and said he is unhappy KK has said he is not as happy as people may think. He may be unhappy but he never asked to leave the club and i would agree he is the best prospect at the club.
14 nufctj // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:53
Butt gets treated as he does by the media, for one reason and one reason only, he was once a red devil, ManU can do no wrong!
15 thelongshanks // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:55
Man utd should buy boumsong and prove that theory.
16 CJ // Feb 7, 2008 at 15:56
nufctj- Correct
17 ende // Feb 7, 2008 at 16:15
Ed, how many of the same type of post are you going to make on here???
18 Steeley // Feb 7, 2008 at 16:16
“Lack of confidence is probably another factor where players are just scared to risk the ball.” “They see the pass but they just don’t want to give the ball away.”
“They think ‘I don’t want to give a bad pass’, but if they think that, you can’t hit a good one.” “You’ve got to risk the ball to score goals and you have to take a chance.
Absolutely spot on!!! The amount of times I’ve seen players with a great pass on, or with plenty of room to run into, but actually ending up playing the ball backwards (the safe option) is unbelievable!! Cacapa, Butt and surprisingly, Carr have been the main culprits so far this season!
19 Geordie Matriarch // Feb 7, 2008 at 16:17
Great video, Nightfall. Is there one like that with just great Newcastle goals? If so, KK should play it nonstop in the dressing room. Surely that would do something for their confidence.
20 Marty // Feb 7, 2008 at 16:53
Talking about passing,we could do with Bentley as he definitley had a spark last night-keen to get the ball and pass and move.Was just thinking “if we only had someone like him on the right wing”….Any1 else notice this about him???
21 toonfan1 // Feb 7, 2008 at 17:12
i think the team for villa should be:
Given
Beye Faye Taylor Enrique
Milner Barton Emre Duff
Owen (c) Viduka
Subs: Forster or Harper, Cacapa, Butt, Smith and Lua Lua
22 Geordie Matriarch // Feb 7, 2008 at 17:33
I agree Marty, Bentley was great. Everybody will want to sign him!
23 petworth magpie // Feb 7, 2008 at 17:48
Gotta love Emre with his last interview. Good to hear players saying the love the city, clun, fans and want to stay on as long as possible. Really hope he is the linchpin that turns this season around for us.
Bentley would be worth a big money contract. 15M lets get him in.
24 Bill F // Feb 7, 2008 at 18:57
I don’t think Bentley will be leaving Blackburn in the near future, is there any reason why he should?
25 Yorkie Dave // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:09
So nightfall how bout this for a team
Henry, Van Baston, Maradona, Messi, Giggs, Carlos, Zidane, Mendieta(spanish form). Seedorf, Gerrard, Beckham…..
No need for Def or Gk
26 Yorkie Dave // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:26
realistically id be happy with the following squad for next season
GK
given
harper
DEF
taylor
MICAH RICHARDS (would be amazing and worth 20-30 mill)
beye
faye
cacapa
enrique
WAYNE BRIDGE(needs regular football to get into england side)
MID
STEPHEN SUNDAY(great midfielder who could build attacks from back of midfield, watch this space new viera)
emre
MASCHERANO(with ashleys connections we could push this through before liverpool get there)
milner
nzogbia
duff
SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS (worth a bid as A GRANT will bring in more players this summer)
FWD
martins
owen
BERBATOV(again not much chance here but worth a cheeky bid of 30mill)
ASHTON(every chance here)
this would easily push the team top 6 and challenge for forth place.
Richards is going to be England cb soon and there for next 10years just imagine him with taylor when they have learnt their trade fully)
Bridge is a great left back and can teach Enrique a thing or two and every chance of getting him
Sunday is a great DM and technically great also very strong!!
Shaun Wright-Phillips as we saw on wednesday a real classy RW
Mascherano well his form this year been ok but young and very good already
Ashton is a great forward just getting killed at west ham not suited to there play and would relish the prospect of the toon.
Berbatov well i need not say anything bout him apart from i reckon he lovess the toon as much as we all do.
Then keegan needs to get a load of young ones in and get them ready in a few years to battle the first team
27 AlexW // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:30
why dont u add ronaldo ronaldinhio, messi, kaka, rooney and lilian thuram to that list yorki dave
we av no chance for any of them players, maybe ashton if we r lucky
28 AlexW // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:30
oh and good news everybody, geremis not coming home yet YAY
29 Yorkie Dave // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:32
Ashton YES, Bridge YES, Sunday YES not really with the rest but worth the paperwork for a bid maybe to be accepted and with the vision of the management maybe. but just them 3 would make our side soooo much more potent and successful
30 AlexW // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:37
yeah agree 100% but i cant see bridge coming up, dont no sunday, wer he play?
31 Yorkie Dave // Feb 7, 2008 at 19:38
valencia,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y75jvnrwFmA
quick skillfull strong very very good
32 roscoe // Feb 7, 2008 at 20:14
i would like to see:
ashvarin
queresma
huntelaar
edmilson
bridge
COME ON THE TOON!!
33 Tom_Toon // Feb 7, 2008 at 20:18
Maxwell - LB/LW
Rolfes - CDM
Kahlenberg - CAM
Bentley - RW
Marica - ST
Reaslitic enough.
34 roscoe // Feb 7, 2008 at 20:33
hows this team and formation…….
……..owen…….martins
………….ashvarin
…..carrick…….barton
Nzog…………………..Beye
…..Cacapa Tayls Faye
35 nightfall // Feb 7, 2008 at 21:10
for our next match i think kev should try:
given
beye faye taylor enrique
milner barton emre n’zogbia
owen/martins duff
i think partnership owen-duff could work…or if duff would play as RW and milner up front… i think milner could be as good (as a striker) as ashton..if not better…
36 toonfan1 // Feb 7, 2008 at 21:46
nightfall- zoggie is suspened so duff will defo play left mid.
37 nightfall // Feb 8, 2008 at 0:16
ups..sorry…then i guess i’d play martins-carroll up front…i mean…smith’s not good enough, we don’t have a decent partner for owen, shola’s also not good enough and viduka have too many problems with injures… and martins-carroll did great in pre-season matches…they work well together…all other strikers had chances lately and couldn’t score (they scored 1 goal in how many matches?), so…why not…
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