One player who we think is going to benefit greatly from being extra fit and will likely blossom under Big Sam’s guidance will be an unlikely one to many fans – but we think Peter Ramage could well be the surprise of the season for Newcastle.
He had an excellent first half partnering Rozehnal last Thursday and with Taylor again injured we think the central pairing of Rozehnal-Ramage could well get the nod from Sam in our first game at Bolton in a couple of weeks.
We’ll explain the logic of our choice.
Peter Ramage
Yes – we know we are bringing in new center-backs and Peter may be struggling to get his place in the team once new players get settled in – but we think Peter’s a little like Aaron Hughes. Aaron was hardly ever injured and kept playing game after game with solid if not spectacular performances. Aaron racked up more than 200 appearances for Newcastle before leaving the club for Aston Villa two years ago.
Peter’s similar in that he always puts in steady if unspectacular performances. Ramage says he’s never been fitter at this point before a season opener – and while he thought the Austria trip was really tough – nevertheless thought it was well worth the effort.
Sam has already challenged both Huntington and Ramage to play so that it will be hard for Sam to drop them when they are in the team. Sam said a couple of weeks ago:
“I have no problem with Ramage and Huntington – they had massive parts to play here last season.†““They were in the team last year and gained some valuable experience.†“I would expect that would improve them for this season.”
“They should make the team better and make themselves better because of their experience.†“The challenge for them this season is to get in the team.â€
“I need to improve my defensive line. Everyone is talking about defenders, but I want those two to say ‘hey gaffer, once I get in the side, you won’t be able to get me out’.” ““That will be a very good competition, if I can build it like that.†““I have got that on the front line, but I think we are still light of three or four players.â€
Peter is the type of player Sam was himself and what Sam wants his defenders to play like – don’t mess around, put safety first and do as little as possible before clearing the ball to a team mate.
We think Peter fully understands this mind-set – and how he plays the game in any case. Ramage has and always will be 100% committed to the Newcastle cause – being a lad born in the famous football town of Ashington. This is an important season for him and we hope he’s the surprise of the season for us – because we’d like to see him continue his career at Newcastle and not somewhere else in the Premiership.
Only time will tell.
We know this may not be a popular view of Ramage for this coming season – but that’s what we think – and comments are very welcome.
41 comments so far
Obafan
Jul 28, 2007 at 5:46 PM
Comment #1No way!! He just is not good enough for the EPL. BS will see this in a few months and he will sell him.The quicker the better; don’t like him.
Ed Harrison
Jul 28, 2007 at 5:55 PM
Comment #2Obafan – we’ll see – we expect some comments similar to yours – but this boy can become a good no-nonsense defender under Big Sam we feel.
Stu
Jul 28, 2007 at 5:59 PM
Comment #3Aaron Hughes is and was average at best, and so is ramage. He may be okay backup for the first team during an injury crisis, but I can’t see him getting good enough to be in the starting XI. For a player who doesn’t mess around and puts safety first he panicks a lot and does a lot of dodgy passes!
aaron
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:00 PM
Comment #4you are the most positive person i have ever heard. every player we are linked with you say will be a “great addition” , common man get a backbone some players we are linked with are rubbish, and some on our books arent too good either!
gordon
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Comment #5another average player a sherman tank can turn round quicker than him.
apan
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Comment #6his not first eleven material in EPL, but will be a find backup player for the squad..i like huntington more hehe
Soren
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:13 PM
Comment #7I agree with Ed. Ramage is still fairly young, and has lots to learn. But I think he has shown good potential to be a solid centre back who can always be counted with. With the guidance from Sam and a solid and more experienced partner like Rozehnal, he could be a good solid player. Yes he may not be the most intelligent player on the pitch, but he gives himself 100% and hes a good tackler. His marking also is a point where I think he will be better under Sam, as he can give him some pointers. He’s still a work in progress, but I’m confident in him.
Greg P
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:19 PM
Comment #8Ramage is still young and wasn’t 100% fit last season, yet still put in some solid performances. He’s no world beater, but as with Hughes, he’ll not let you down. I for one thought letting Hughes go when we had a weak defence was a joke (remember many of his appearances came at full back), and think we could do a lot worse than big Peter.
valle
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:26 PM
Comment #9Aaaron Hughes isnt the type of player we would want to buy back to take us to that next lvl he is now?… And Hughes is way better than Ramage so where does that leave him?… Apperently you can go a long way as long as you are born in Newcastle. It dosnt matter that he cant play football boys, see he is a local lad and willing to bleed for Newcastle. Well i say BS!!!!, i would bleed for newcastle to, and i would tackle through 2 players if needed. Problem is that i aint good enough and the same applies to Ramage, so try and forget he is local and demand to same from him as you would from any other, cos even Boumsong is better and only difference is that there will be no club like Juve to take Ramage of our hands.
Barry Bumhead
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:31 PM
Comment #10Ramage is still fairly young… er not in football terms he aint, he is 24.
Our defence was caught time and again the other night against Celtic by over the top balls and we were caught in 1 on 1 situations several times as well. To me they were playing on Ramage as the weakness in our defence!
Ramage is devoid of pace and has very little skill. He is a championship standard player at best and I would wager that BSA will have Ramage out of the doors as soon as he gets his required signings in.
He is a 100% trier but ultimately isn’t good enough for a team with aspirations of playing regular European football.
nightfall
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:49 PM
Comment #11maybe sam’s just saying this, ‘cos there’s no funds…
Rob Kirton
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:54 PM
Comment #12I don’t think Ramage is going to make the grade at the top level with our club, though admittedly some are late developers.
He’s 23 and on the fringes of the team. He has to contend with Taylor, Huntington and Edgar who all play in the same position and are all between 2 and 4 years younger, and arguably showing more promise than him. He is a better centre half than full back, this argument also applies to the other three.
I reckon that, Wigan will try to ask for their money back on Bramble, even they got him on a free. Instead they will then try and sue us for damages for inciting him to move there and we will settle out of court by selling them Rammy for 1 or 2 million :0)
Valle
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:57 PM
Comment #13That last comment by Valle is a bit harsh.
I thought Hughes did great for us and always put in 100% unlike some players in the current squad.
I think Ramage will always put 100% in even if he is backup for the likes of Roz and whoever else we bring in at the back.
There is no harm in keeping Ramage and seeing how he develops under BS.
Its not as if hes being paid ridiculous amounts of money such as the greedy players we have such as Dyer who have no loyalty even if he has been at the club 8 yerars. Dyer did great when he came back from injury but he soon lost the love and slipped down to his usual 60% performances towards the end of the season when things got tough.
Ed Harrison
Jul 28, 2007 at 6:59 PM
Comment #14aaron – I do have a backbone – it just gets a little wobbly at times with Newcastle.
Ed Harrison
Jul 28, 2007 at 7:05 PM
Comment #15Barry – Peter Ramage was born November 22nd 1983 – so he’ll be 24 in November.
Ed Harrison
Jul 28, 2007 at 7:14 PM
Comment #16Valle – interesting comparison with Boumsong – and we don’t think we need another club to take Ramage off our hands – he cost us nothing – unlike the other guy you compare him with. Yes, you’re right about treating local lads to the same standard as others – don’t disagree with that and we should do that – but it’s always nice to have a local lad break through – just like Taylor is doing now.
Yes – it may be a long shot for Ramage – but let’s see what happens next season – and we’ll see how much Peter improves under Big Sam this season – still think he could be a pleasant surprise. In May remind me what was said here – once we know how the team and Ramage have performed.
Jon
Jul 28, 2007 at 7:15 PM
Comment #17Ramage…….. err no, just not good enough you muppet!
Ed Harrison
Jul 28, 2007 at 7:19 PM
Comment #18nightfall – i’m sure there’s funds available at Newcastle – think it’s just that Sam is having trouble persuading some of his targets to come here. If it’s because we’re not in Europe we should remember that the other teams with the big money and billionaire owners – West Ham, Aston Villa, and Manchester City also cannot offer European football next year.
doug
Jul 28, 2007 at 7:58 PM
Comment #19I hope the article is proven to be correct
valle
Jul 28, 2007 at 8:00 PM
Comment #20i see i cant keep my tag for myself anymore lol… Anyway perhaps i was a bit harsh, but i still maintain that homegrown talent is great, but it shouldnt be at the cost of skill… I loved Aaron Hughes when he was here, i remember us playing Liverpool in the cup about 10 years ago and Hughes actually ran Owen up. Today he aint good enough tho and neither is Ramage but dont worry, we still have Taylor and Ameobi who is local and 2-3 of the young ones who could still make it.
brian t
Jul 28, 2007 at 8:40 PM
Comment #21the guy is just not good enough he is a championship player we need players with quality.
noel
Jul 28, 2007 at 8:49 PM
Comment #22I would rather have someone in my team who would run his heart out for the team, hoof the thing rather than thinking he was gods gift to dribbling, knew he wasnt quick enough so made sure he was in the right place at the right time, would play in any position he was asked to …. but Jamie Carragher plays for Liverpool… so why are we bagging the one player who played every game last year as well as he could..Ramage was a rock last year and this blog is very unfair in that respect… without Ramages efforts we would probably been relegated and as hes not world class , as you lot have so kindly reminded us, and as that makes him fairly cheap and as we should show as much loyalty to our players as they do to us, I would rather pay ramages wages that some of the others who cop a sulk and wont play cause someone called them a name, or stut off and go awol cause they aint on the team sheet.
OMG
Jul 28, 2007 at 8:52 PM
Comment #23OH MY GOD!!! Not Peter Ramage……..
Tony
Jul 28, 2007 at 9:24 PM
Comment #24Just seen this comment from the other day:
From the Manchester Evening News report of Wigan’s friendly at Blackpool on Wednesday:
“…confusion in defence saw new signing Titus Bramble hand Blackpool an equaliser.”
Regarding Ramage, Huntington, Edgar et al. These lads are still young and learning. Carragher hardly set the world on fire when he first came into the Scally’s 1st team. These lads have been thrown in a bit at the deep end over the last season or so mainly due to injuries. It would be nice for us to have a decent bit of experience at the back to allow the ones to come through like the Grolsch, when they are ready!
And at least we don’t have to put up with Tight Arse at the back anymore…
valle
Jul 28, 2007 at 9:33 PM
Comment #25noel:
Rock of our Defense?, are u Ramage in disguise?… U cant have been watching the same games as i did, thats for sure. My mates that support other clubs even singled him out as one of our worst players when we watched Newcatle games. And who said that players with skill dont have any heart and wont run for the team? (Ramage has bottled it plenty of times btw, with Birmingham being one of them)…. Look at it this way… We could have a team of Ramages who are local but lack skill, but if u think about it and u are truly honest then u will accept that such a team would get us relegated for sure.
noel
Jul 28, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Comment #26perhaps you need to reread what i said….i didnt say he was the rock of our defense i said hed been a rock..period..in other words at least he was fairly dependable and you couldnt question his commitment… that isnt to say he didnt make mistakes. However to say he insnt good enough for the premier league is disparraging and unfair…Taylor made plenty of mistakes …like acting like hed been shot and diving to save the ball with his arm…but i dont see people saying he aint good enough…To fit in when we have problems and to do so without acting like a prima donna when not picked is a priceless addition to any team…Ask chelsea how valuable bridge is… man u how valuable solskar is…anyone how valuale sherringham was….
TOON1
Jul 28, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Comment #27Sorry peter just not good enough 1st team player ,we need better if we are to make progress!!!
valle
Jul 28, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Comment #28In ur post u mention that people seem to like Talyor better even though he to makes mistakes. I can tell u why, the reason is that Taylor has that charecter about him, an aura if u will. He is younger than Ramage and he is already better, and he has the strength in charecter to go on and become one of the great defenders of his generation. Ramage on the other hand will go on and follow the footsteps of Aaron Hughes, Andy Griffin and Andy O’Brian. Players who try their best but who will be forgotten when better players arrive… U mention we would have been relegated without Ramage, i challenge u to name 2 games on the top of ur mind where Ramage made such a contribution worthy of that statement.
Mac
Jul 28, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Comment #29Right these are the facts Ramage is by no way the worst defender Newcasle have ever had and then again he isn’t the best. He is a squad player and a valuable one at that ,especially the way our bare bone squad stands. We need and this is the bare minimum if you’re reading this Mort 2 CB,1LB,1RB and another midfielder. However you can choose not to put your hand in your bosses pocket and we can struggle to a mid table finish behind the Mackems and the Smoggies which will make you the most unpopular board in history. However bare in mind footballers are greedy but not stupid,Owen and Martins may see the fact we haven’t bought anyone in defence and say with a few days to go,you know the clauses in my contract i’m gonna see if i can use them,they both leave now we’re staring the Championship square in the face. Not likely but not impossible
Ed Harrison
Jul 28, 2007 at 11:48 PM
Comment #30valle – i know that – Steven is an obvious star of the future – not sure how good Steven Taylor can become – but it could be to awsome proportions – certainly England center back in next world cup. Hope so – and of course he’s now managed by the perfect manager for him.
apan
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Comment #31the easiest example is like fooball manager or championship manager football rating…ramage wud perform decently but the max he can get max is only 7 , his ok but u will only label him as as backup player rather than a squad player
evil dick
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Comment #32Give the lad some support! There’s no harm having him in the squad, if he doesn’t improve enough this season then BS will get rid.
And whoever had a dig at Ed about being too positive, I think it’s refreshing to have a newcastle angle that’s not doom and gloom.
ChrisL
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:52 AM
Comment #33Good article and I agree with it.
Ramage is decent when played in the middle (and not partnered with some complete Muppet), he’s no good at full back, which is what people remember and slate him for.
He’ll be a great 3rd or 4th choice for centre back this season and Chelsea would have loved to have had someone like him to call on towards the end of last season.
noel
Jul 29, 2007 at 1:00 AM
Comment #34“Happy Birthday Rammy
It’s not everyday that a player gets a special mention in the Press for his birthday.
But in this case we here at Blog on the Tyne feel it is a worthy one.
For today is the 23rd birthday of Peter Ramage.
You wouldn’t think that for one so young he had played in just 50 games.
Yet at the minute he is playing like a man above his years.
And going into the Celta Vigo game it’s no bad thing with just three senior defenders available due to an injury crisis at St James’ Park, and one of them is younger than Ramage in the shape of Steven Taylor.
Like every player making the grade at United, Ramage has made mistakes since making his debut 50 games ago but he doesn’t let it bother him and gets on with his job of working for the team.
He didn’t grumble too much after his mistake at Old Traffford last season and he didn’t grumble when Glenn Roeder told him he needed a rest at the end of the 2005/06 season.
Instead Ramage rolled his sleeves up and got on with the job.
He even requested to play in the reserves against Blyth Spartans in the Northumberland Senior Cup final, with the Toon winning 2-1 against the non-leaguers.
And after joining in the celebrations he handed his winners medal to long-serving kitman George Ramshaw in a great gesture.
He started the season again in the reserves but has worked his way back to the first XI.
Perhaps his best moment this season came at centre-back at Upton Park during the 2-0 win – a performance that even Bobby Moore would have took his hat off to.
And despite being switched across the defence he keeps going.
Off the field Ramage is one of the first to turn up at supporters meetings, junior club presentation nights and he is one of the last off the field when clapping the away support.
In addition to that Ramage also faces up to the Press to get his point of view across to the fans no matter what the result even though other a minority of senior figures look the other way.
In truth United have never seen a similar player since the likes of Steve Watson and Lee Clark during the 1990s when two of the best local lads broke into the team.
He’s still got some way to go if he wants to follow them – but he’s certainly on the right road.
And it’s also a triumph for the club’s Academy when they produce a player that serves the senior side so well.” Blog on the tyne Nov 2006
208 Peter Ramage D 48.56% -0.68 Times statistics 2006 -7 season Ramage rated as 208th best player out of 403 player
admittedly taylor and moore higher however admittedly he does top the blame count for goals conceeded but Newcastle had infact still do have players who take much more money and put out much less effort…just think some of you are a little harsh
Phil
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:05 AM
Comment #35On every article I’ve ever read on this blog (and on many others) people sing the praises of the players they like regardless of how good they are and call them donkeys when they don’t like them regardless of how good they are. I wonder, where does this actually get us?
Fortunately BS gets to pick the team and not us lot and while he may not think Ramage is the best centre half at the club, I’m pretty sure he won’t think he’s useless and I would think at the moment stands number 3 behind Rozy and Tayls. We need at least 4 center halves and probably more if we were in Europe so he’ll probably be here for a while yet and until then, come on Rammy!
Phil
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:07 AM
Comment #36I should have added by the way that of course that is what these blogs are for!
I always thought Shearer was shite and as for Beardsley, well! Mind you that Marcelino could play a bit…
PaulTheMag
Jul 29, 2007 at 6:26 AM
Comment #37I don’t care whether he’s ‘good enough’. If he gives 100% for the team, thats good enough for me. I hope he doesn’t get a game. That would mean we have better players in his position. At the moment, it looks a bit bleak on the transfer front. If we don’t sign anyone else, Ramage won’t let us down. He may not be world class, but he has the heart of a Geordie. He will do his best, he will fight for everything, fight for his club. Thats more than some would do.
Paul
Hog
Jul 29, 2007 at 9:35 AM
Comment #38I wish I had your optimism ed……..
Gateshead Glenn
Jul 29, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Comment #39Ed, not sure about Ramage having an ‘excellent first half’ versus Celtic. Our defence was as bad as their’s —- only difference was we took most of our chances. I remember one occassion when Ramage got caught-out on the wrong side and let their striker in behind, clear on goal. I thought Ramage then dragged him back but fortunately the ref gave him the benefit of the doubt. In a proper game it could easily have been a red card.
On the plus side, Ramage is a good character, he’s very committed and usually quite steady, tho’ there were times last season when his confidence fell apart. Currently, I rate him as number 3 CB at the club, ahead of Huntington and Edgar. However, by the time the season starts, I hope he’s 4th or 5th choice due to new signings, or we’re in trouble!
I agree with your comparison with Aaron Hughes. Ramage can be a valuable utility defender as cover in the squad. I doubt he’ll ever be better than that but he can do a job, at least ’till we get better players in.
P.S. —- I wish BSA (like Roeder) would stop using Hunty at LB. It’s gonna kill the kids confidence and makes him look like a really bad player. He’s like a fish out of water there positionally + no left foot. Use him at CB or possibly RB if we’re desperate. Carr, Edgar, Zog or even Ramage can do a better job at LB at last ’till we find a real one —- soon I hope!
Shaun Dean
Jul 29, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Comment #40ramage is shite