About this blog

Blog on the Tyne is dedicated to bring Toon fans everywhere the most up to date NUFC views, opinions and comment.

The author Lee Ryder, proudly born and bred on Tyneside, has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.

From the high octane atmosphere of St James' Park to the Premiership grounds up and down the country and into Europe - this Blog has been there.

But the coverage doesn't stop at first team level.

Blog on the Tyne is also proud to be there to witness the future of the club with regular coverage of Newcastle United's reserve side, as well as all things black and white.

Recent comments

Recent Posts

Sponsored links

Archives

Links

News Now
For Love Not Money

Advertiser

Sponsored links


That's Zoggy sorted, now for Oba

Posted by Lee on September 5, 2007 1:00 PM | 

Charles N'Zogbia's decision to extend his contract has to be considered great news for everyone connected with Newcastle United but the discovery of a new minder in Geremi is just as important.

Zog has performed superbly at left-back since the season kicked off and also chipped in with two cracking goals and he's now a Toon player - we hope - until 2012.

Already a French Under-21 international the left sided player is clearly looking up again rather than behind him, which was beginning to become a cause for concern.

When N'Zogbia scuttled past the Press BEFORE the game kicked off at Watford on the last game of the season, it was thought Newcastle fans would never see him again.

The reason was because Charles was texting during the pre-game meeting in a week which had already saw Oba Martins go AWOL and Glenn Roeder resign.

The death of his father last year and the exit of his close pal Jean Alain Boumsong really did set Zog back somewhat and his performances dipped badly, naturally for such a young player who had been hit with a hammer blow like that.

A bad knee injury against Chelsea also didn't help with the player already distracted by the arrival of Damien Duff.

Now though with the youngster showing strength and maturity under Big Sam, it looks like he is going to live up to the promise that has already made him a potential star at United.

Geremi has so far proved to be a father figure for Zog and has taken the player under his wing, his performances of late justifying why Allardyce wanted the Cameroon star as skipper this term.

The contract news will hopefully be followed by a string of good performances and it will be interesting to see whether he keeps Jose Enrique out at left-back or Damien Duff on the left wing when he gets back from injury.

And with one contract sorted for Zoggy, perhaps now is the time for Mike Ashley to come forward and reveal a new deal for Martins that will keep him here for many years to come and WITHOUT an escape clause.

It's amazing, that two players who stormed out of the Toon camp at Watford may turn out to be big stars this season under Big Sam.

But that's what we learn to live with in the crazy world of Newcastle United!

Comments (4)

Mark in Washington DC wrote...

Totaly aggree with Zobs coming back to form but Sam is still miss using him and again did a roeder at the weekend. 4-3-3 does not work,loads of pace but no width AGAIN so no gaps to exploit AGAIN, demonstrated by the fact that our goal came from Martins taking it WIDE and making the cross. This is exactly what we should be letting Milner (on the right) and Zobs (on the left)do and not playing, probably our best two wingers out of position. I am sorry but the player who should be covering the back should be Geremi. Watching the match against Wiggin every time he got the ball the game slowed down. Looking at our squad I can't see, with everyone fit, how he is going to hold his place in the line up. He has not got the set up ability of emre or Barton, nor has he the tackling ability and work rate of smith, and as a wide player sorry Milner and Zobs are way ahead of him. Come on Sam you should be commended for putting together a solid squad, now it is time to starting using it correctly. 4-4-2 works if you put the players in the right positions 4-3-3 just cuts out half the pitch. You have the players to do the jobs on the pitch so stop putting in a painter to to a welders job. If I am honest I am a little concerned at the fact that the team seems to stemed around getting Geremi (in a position he would prefer against one he would'nt) on the park when lets faced it, captain or not there ar better players for all of his positions in our arsenal. Come on Sam not a bad start to the season but hand on heart if a few tactical changes had been made I beleive it should have been better, even to say we should be sitting with maximum points as we have and lets be truthful only played the minows of the league upto now.

Posted by: Mark in Washington DC  | September 5, 2007 6:14 PM

mag in boro wrote...

martins has never once said he wants to leave and think he will sign a new deal also i doubt whether any more buy out clauses will be seen in toon again after the media circus of this summer(of course not by yourself lee )
lets look forward to showing the gooners what they could have had

Posted by: mag in boro  | September 6, 2007 9:26 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

N’Zogbia was bought for under £1m and can cross, shoot and run with pace.

Im not sure about his tackling ability, but he’s surely done well enough at Left back to guarantee a spot in the line up.

Duff is out for at least another month so Enrique must be put in at Left Back and Zoggy given the wing role.

Milner, N’Zogbia, Butt and Geremi, what a midfield!
Great news and lets hope Martins follows.

Zog on the Tyne!!

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | September 7, 2007 6:31 PM

Nigel Welsh wrote...

I must say I am as impressed with the signings Sam has made. They pretty well all seem to fit to a plan, however I am extremely concerned that when everyone is available the formation used (4-3-3) will not do justice to players. We have excellent wide players and 2 big men to use up front. Why then do we not play 4-4-2. This formation offers width, more attacking options, better cover for the defence and is more interchangeable for the players. It is a more exciting way to play for the crowd and offers a more solid feel to it. This 4-3-3 is something we are getting away with if only because we have 3 defensive midfielders who offer better cover for the centrral defenders but this does leave the full backs high and dry. Anyone at the Villa game will remember Ashley Young bombing on down the wing will little opposition until the final third of the pitch. Any team with wingers and pace is going to rip into us. Please start with 4-4-2. Also, The team are really slow going forward. Much like last season we are to methodical and allow defences to reform before pressing home attacks. What happened to the fast slick pacey attacking flowing football NUFC played only 5 years ago. Under GS & GR this dissappeared and it looks like it will not come back soon. Maybe with 4-4-2 it will return with the thug Barton in middle and using the pace of Charlie Zog and Martins. Lastly may I say I am impressed with Martins improved control and he is looking up for the pass alot more than ever.

Posted by: Nigel Welsh  | September 11, 2007 11:59 AM

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Advertiser