Has Fabio Capello done Newcastle a favour?

John Elliott wrote...

I think that may be wishful thinking above mate. I think the only thing Capello did last night is confirm that Owen WILL be leaving the club this summer for either Villa or Man City. However, I don't think in our position this would be such a bad thing.

Posted by: John Elliott  | February 7, 2008 10:27 AM

mani wrote...

To be honest, I can see this going the other way. Owen now has the perfect excuse to leave Newcastle "in order to preserve his England ambitions". He's now in a difficult position - stick it out at Newcastle while they're in the transition period, scoring few goals in the meantime due to a lack of quality service and consequently damaging his England chances further, or decide to leave in the summer (which I, personally, would welcome), in doing so alienating himself from the fans and proving their long held suspicions about the true motivation for his move to Tyneside correct.

Ryder's reply: He's going nowhere for the next four months

Posted by: mani  | February 7, 2008 10:27 AM

John Elliott wrote...

That's True Lee, but England don't have a competitive game for four months either. Having said that I really hope your right and this knockback gives him a kick up the backside and he starts dropping deep when there is no available pass!

Posted by: John Elliott  | February 7, 2008 10:56 AM

PauliesWalnuts wrote...

Owen owes Newcastle a massive moral debt,his Nufc career has been wrecked by his England career, he should remain at Newcastle as long as he's wanted, for his £5 million+ per year he owes Us that.

Posted by: PauliesWalnuts  | February 7, 2008 11:05 AM

Jason wrote...

I had exactly the same thought and I hope we are both right. As for some people hoping he leaves I can't see that at all, if he had had the gilt edge chances Martins has been presented with NUFC/Owen and England would have been much better off. Anyway who would want him that is bigger and better than us where he is guaranteed to start if he is fit and things will only get better as KK starts spending Uncle Mike's millions.

Posted by: Jason  | February 7, 2008 12:19 PM

NORTHSHIELDSMAGPIE wrote...

I'd personally have craig bellamy in my team any day, it was a tradgedy when we sold him, he offered & gave so much(i didnt care what he did off the field) he never hid for 95% of the game, and to just expect the ball to be put on a plate, like owen does. My opinion is that Owen offers the team very little,and prob the majority feels that way too,Whats owen with out his old pace? 6 yrd box player. and in respect of his wages, it would be good for him to go,give them wages to someone who puts in a shift and scores a few! take the £9 mil and replace him with a younger, hungrier striker. Newcastle have been bled dry by players who are living off their names alone, and still are in that respect , my opinion, butt,geremi,owen,smith(smith am not actually sure about)viduka, get rid, its only my opinion. Forgetting the keeper and defence, but when geremi, owen, viduka & butt are playing together wheres the legs coming from? tut!
Its a new era, so it would be a nice time to start a new trend, so out with the old and in with the new please.

I hope Keegan still has the eye for a thirsty player, whom is keen to prove himself on a stage like newcastle. also i hope Keegan doesnt get too sentimental with this current crop and can be brave enough to show the door.

Posted by: NORTHSHIELDSMAGPIE  | February 7, 2008 1:19 PM

Phil M wrote...

Dont you think we need a catalystic signing as our first signing? A player who will give out a statement of intent to other potential signings.What about Kaka? The cost could be offset by his Beckhamlike marketing potential by Mike Ashleys business.I think we need 6 or 7 world class or potential world class players just to keep up with the big 4 never mind overtake them,but we need a catalyst.....your thoughts would be appreciated

Ryder's reply: In my humble opinion I think we need to sign players who are right for this period. Kaka would be great but is it realistic to expect a player to sign for a team not in Europe or a player who you would have to pay extra wages to make up for that? When Bobby Robson got us into the Champs League in 01/02, it was the likes of Bellamy, Robert and Distin who helped do it. When Keegan finished third in the Prem in 93/94 it was people like Andy Cole, Scott Sellars and Lee Clark who were the main men, none of them before that time were huge stars.
Maybe the key is develop some of the players we have, the likes of Taylor, Carroll and LuaLua and bring in a few who have been around to go with them, plus get more out of Duff, Milner, Butt, Beye and Faye etc etc.
It was only when we signed players like look what happened last time we signed a mega star in Kluivert.....

Posted by: Phil M  | February 7, 2008 2:14 PM

Ben wrote...

I would personally Like people to get behind Owen and get of his back, he IS a world class player and IF we can keep him fit he will be a huge asset to the club. Yes he has has injury problems and has NOT been good value for money as yet, but lets be honest, if Owen goes who are we going to be able to attract of the same quality??? And before people start spouting this name and that off, we wont be able to attract top players if we are seen as a mid table club who are offloading the few big name players we actually have.

If owen stays fit and we actually start to create things he WILL score goals , the Boro game was a fine example he scored 1, 2 disallowed(one wrongly). Lets start to make him feel wanted and try to get the best out of a player that could set us apart from the clubs around us.
We need to start getting behind players and trying to lift them that extra bit,Its a negative atmosphere to play at SJP at the mo and that needs to change if we are to keep the likes of N`zogbia and hopefully attract new players of that ilk.

Posted by: Ben  | February 7, 2008 2:36 PM

Daryl wrote...

Although there isn't much left to play for this season, it's important for KK to show everybody how he plans to continue next season; current and potential players. It gives current players a chance to stand up and give a good account of themselves to avoid being a casualty in the summer and KK the oppurtunity to show potential players why they should come to Newcastle next season.

I have to agree with Lee; Owen is going nowhere for the next four months and if he has to be in form for Capello to pick him then it can only be a good thing for Newcastle.

I think Owen is one of the current players who will give a good account of himself for the rest of the season; whether that be to stay here next year or to show other managers why they should buy him. For the moment at least, we should give him the benefit of the doubt and get behind him.

Posted by: Daryl  | February 7, 2008 3:00 PM

Dave B wrote...

I’ve had many ‘energetic’ discussions with mates about the merits of our Michael. Now I know the idea is to give unlimited support to everyone who wears the black and shirt but put simply I’m not an 8 year old anymore and the older I get the more realistic / cynical I get. We all have a favourite player and ergo a player who’s far from favourite. Owen is mine. I don’t particularly like his PR, I don’t like his clear preference for the national team, and I didn’t like one little but the one eared salute he gave the Gallowgate earlier this season when he actually managed to stick one in the onion bag.

Despite all this I’m going to cheer the loudest and the longest whenever he plays. Why? Because the only way anyone is going to give us a decent sized bag of magic beans for him in the summer is if he’s scoring goals. Everyone wins, Michael gets his move, we get his goals and a decent price and even the environment saves on helicopter carbon emissions.

So all together now….There’s only one Michael Owen……. one Michael Owen…….

Posted by: Dave B  | February 7, 2008 3:28 PM

adam wrote...

to the guy who thinks we are sorted in goal - you are having a laugh. what a load of rubbish. given has been poor this season. his kicking is abysmal, his catching is non existant due to trying to punch everything, he doesnt command his area or communicate with the defence (as seen numerous times this season). people keep saying he is marvellous, the chronicle included, i say cash in. he has been a great servant but in harper we have a better all round keeper who deserves his chance.
as for players in, we need to be realistic. no top notch player is gona come to us after we narrowly escape relegation. we need a right winger, 2 centre mids (creative/box to box) a good centre half, and a left back.

Ryder's reply: I wouldn't sell Given for all the tea in china behind Alan Shearer he has been Newcastle's most important player in the last 10 years, he'll get better as he gets older as well being a goalie.

Posted by: adam  | February 7, 2008 4:02 PM

jonathan wrote...

One thing that really bothers me about Michael Owen's signing is that from day one people have been sounding the bandwagon that Michael never really wanted to sign for Newcastle, that he only signed because he beloved Liverpool didn't want him. That's the biggest shame of his Toon career barring of course his unfortunate inuury at the World Cup.

Now come on!! Let's put that behind us now. He's now our skipper. He has a bright future to come at Newcastle under Kevin Keegan with plenty of Goals to come. We have one of the worlds finest strikers in our possession. Let's get behind him, use him and act like we actually want him playing football for Newcastle United!

Posted by: jonathan  | February 7, 2008 6:40 PM

medan wrote...

Well what an irony, Capello to his credit does not go by reputation picks players who are in form while SAM played players he liked or he signed or based on reputation instead of picking players based on current form. I am hoping KK does not fall into that trap becuase Owen has not being inform since the beiging of the year but was automatic first team select if he is not injured and made captain as a reward, so the question is then should't the same principle that only players in form should be picked apply at the club level including at Newcastle? If so owen will have a hard time making the starting 11 every game.

Posted by: medan  | February 7, 2008 8:23 PM

richie mitchell wrote...

get off our CAPTAINS back , i want him fit scoring goals in black and white .....him and henry up front next season....go on kev go make our dreams come true!

lee- world class mega stars are always welcome aslong as there thirsty and hungry for sucsess unlike Kluivert whom was just thirsty for beer and hungry for big macs

Posted by: richie mitchell  | February 8, 2008 10:52 AM

medan wrote...

Richie, get off the dream wagon and face reality besides I did not hear you crying when we rightly so argued against Smith and Geremi being made captains when they did not even deserve to be on the field based on thier Form. Are you saying MO is too special to be critized, we need to make excuses forhim every time he does not perform like he is not fit yet, not getting the service he needs blalabala.

KK needsto build the team around young talent and players with a pedegree of new football you speak of Henry playing for us. Henry can not play with MO that be a total mismatch

Posted by: medan  | February 8, 2008 11:50 AM

Anonymous wrote...

" he'll get better as he gets older as well being a goalie."

Not in terms of commanding his area for a cross, nor in terms of his kicking, which, if anything, has got worse. I don't think we should sell him, but rotating him with Hraoer might keep him on his toes.

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 8, 2008 12:55 PM

Anonymous wrote...

I'm hoping KK doesn't fall into this trap too - that's why I'd like Beye back instead of Carr and either Emre of Charlie to start in midfield instead of Barton.

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 8, 2008 3:52 PM

John Best wrote...

For the past 2 seasons, I have been concerned over Given's demise.He is becoming a liability and Harper is NOT the solution...WE NEED A BIG KEEPER;who commands his box and has the ability to save the occasional penalty.The HUTH goal last weekend, was a joke,Every match he gets something seriously wrong; it could be due; to him playing behind a useless defense , for the past 10 years.

Ryder's reply: I'm astonished to hear such an attack on one of Europe's best goalkeepers - he kept Brazil out for much of the game for the Republic the other night!

Posted by: John Best  | February 8, 2008 5:19 PM

Siomi wrote...

I agree with you about Given Lee and am shocked by some of these comments. He has been an extra man on the field for us so many times and he has been consistently excellent. Probably too consisitent. We forget that all players (not just strikers) go through lows where their confidence gets a bit of a knock. Maybe he has made the odd mistake, but what goalie hasn't? I am quite sure Kevin will put his arm around Given and Harper and will come to an excellent understanding about his, our and their expectations.

With regards Owen, I think you are spot on. He isn't going anywhere this term, and barring any more injuries I think we will see a hungrier, and thanks to Kevin, better supported Michael Owen. I don't mind him being captain (Shearer captained from the front), but again, I do hope Kevin et al will give him some pointers on how to be a good captain on the field - and this means talking to colleagues! Using breaks in play to motivate and encourage, and also to calm players down (with Smith, Barton, Butt, Emre and more recently Zog in the team, this seems quite important!).

Posted by: Siomi  | February 9, 2008 5:33 AM

STEVE wrote...

ALL THIS CARRY ON ABOUT GIVEN.....?its surprising to hear and near where i sit in the gallowgate there is an anti-given sect who probably wouldnt be happy with whoever we play in goal.And old shay HAS had a moderate season,some of his kicking HAS been poor,he HAS punched when he should have caught and at times he HASNT looked to be in command of his area......BUT,playing behind the defence(s)and non-backtracking midfielders that he has had to put up with in the last 2+ years is it any wonder that there at some point will inevitably be a confidence crisis... even p.schmeichel would have playing behind that lot.LEST WE FORGET..SHAY GIVEN has been one of ,if not THE form keeper in the prem consistantly for a long time now,so when he doesnt perform to his usual high standards we should not start having a go....where would we have been without him...probably relegated.him and shearer carried us for a long time and were as instrumental for us as schmeichel and cantona for manu.He could have walked and left us in the lurch years ago to win trophies but unusually for a modern day player he stayed loyal.When Toldo was asked why he didnt get as many Italy caps as he would have liked he replied that unfortunatley he played in the same era as the great Buffon......When steve harper retires he could say similar about playing for the toon and shay given.FORM IS TEMPORARY,CLASS IS PERMANENT...........re: michael owen....dont care if he stays or goes....he has never really produced for us for one reason or another....just as long as he keeps finding the net...opinions will fade away.

Posted by: STEVE  | February 9, 2008 9:07 AM

Denise Williams wrote...

I have a problem with all this regarding Capello not pcking out of form players or on reputation. If this was the case please tell me how Wayne Rooney or Ashley Cole get into the England team as both as any Man Utd or Chelsea fan will tell you are playing very poorly for their clubs. Bearing this in mind someone please tell what they are being selected on if not reputation. Also Capello dropped Beckham citing a lack of match fitness yet he then picks players like Peter Crouch and Defoe neither of whom have been playing a lot of football in recent months.

Capello now tells us he does not need to see Michael Owen play as he knows all about what he can do. Presumably he does not need to see him train either as Owen was not allowed to train on the Tuesday. Instead he was forced to stand on the sidelines and watch everone else train. To me this begs the question if Capello does not need to see Owen playing or training why select him in the squad at all? Surely he would have been better off training with Newcastle.

Personally I fail to see what we as a nation learned from Wednesday's game. Capello never altered from a 4-5-1 formation all night. So all we learned was that Rooney cannot play as a lone striker. Big deal we are paying Capello 6 million pounds a year to tell us that. Well I am no football manager but I could have told the Football Association this two years ago and free of charge. As usual we are being ripped off and are paying through the nose for the privilage.

Posted by: Denise Williams  | February 9, 2008 12:52 PM