How concerned are you?

scott willis wrote...

there are about 9-15 points i can see that if we dont pick up we dont deserve tobe in this division .
really cant see us going down .

ohh and after the abuse keegan's getting today im starting to belive the press in thinking we have a bunch of idiots for fans .

Posted by: scott willis  | February 9, 2008 8:47 PM

MiMo wrote...

The way it's looking with the fixtures I'd say 12-14pts is going to be a very difficult target. After gaining 3pts from the last 27 and only two clearly winnable games left in the final 12 matches it's looking very bad. Of the away games only Birmingham looks a possible result and in every other tie we will be playing as underdogs. At home 12pts would be a very difficult target out of six games with Man Utd, Chelsea, Blackburn and the Mackems to boot. Personally this is the first time since the Premiership years that I have ever really believed that the Toon were going down.

Posted by: MiMo  | February 9, 2008 9:08 PM

Every Toon Fan wrote...

KK - None of this is your fault. Your job for this season is to keep us in the Premiership. After that, it is your job to get rid of the players that are just so obviously not up to it. Then, you can bring in the players you want, and bring back the good times.

Posted by: Every Toon Fan  | February 9, 2008 9:40 PM

Ivor Clark wrote...

I said when KK was appointed, what odds on him going down with the Toon?. I guess those odds have shortened quite a bit after today. Sadly he has inherited a squad short on collective ability, confidence and dare I say it goals. We are also rapidly becoming relegation fodder. KK really has to do some magic in the next 2 weeks before THAT game with ManU. What will Sir Alex be thinking??. Just lucky for the Toon that Derby are down already and Fulham got beat again, and Reading are in free fall, remember we only finished 4pts above relegation last season, so the warning signs were there. Allardyce tinkered with the squad, but it was not much better when he left, then the African Cup came along...oh dear here come the excuses...change of manager mid Jan, no time to get decent signings...this will be what we read come the end of the season!......

Posted by: Ivor Clark  | February 9, 2008 10:02 PM

Robert Parker wrote...

Sadly the club has been on a downward spiral ever since Sir Bob was fired by the Fat Flockmeister.
This present struggle was evident to me earlier this season as this is the slowest Newcastle team I have seen since the days of Mark McGhee Roy Aitken Kevin Brock and co.
We now have a team of one paced plodders and what pace we have was rarely utilised by Allardyce as he often left Martins on the bench and played N'Zogbia at left back instead of his playing his own £6m left back signing Jose Enrique thus depriving the team of Charlies surging runs forward.
The mess the club is in was not caused overnight and will take ages to put right.
Lets hope that we dont have to endure relegation to put things right though I fear it may come to that.

Posted by: Robert Parker  | February 9, 2008 10:33 PM

Jezza wrote...

After today, I've given up all hope. We are going down, that is a fact. There is a long standing and deep rooted malaise within the ranks of the Newcastle first team squad and nothing short of a wholesale clearout in the summer will rectify it. I genuinely can't see us winning a single one of our remaining 12 games. We are headed for the same kind of losing run that Sunderland had a couple of years ago when they went down under Mick McCarthy. I'm right behind Keegan, but worryingly, in his five games so far, he's made no difference whatsoever to results or performances and his team selection today beggared belief. Whether he will walk after relegation or stay for the rebuilding job and promotion challenge next season remains to be seen. In any case these are very bleak times for Newcastle supporters and I can't see things improving any time soon.

Posted by: Jezza  | February 9, 2008 10:35 PM

Big Boro Bonga wrote...

Hello there Bonny Lee, it's the big Boro Bonga here one more time; couldn't resist intruding on private grief after watching what was a truly abysmal collapse at Vanilla Park today. I thought I had tuned to the Paramount Comedy channel!
But I come on not to jest, merely to say I don't see NUFC getting relegated. Much as the prospect would amuse me, the reality is there are three or four poorer teams than your lot already embroiled and as Derby have already gone there's only two spots to worry about. And looking at it another way you are only 12 points (four wins) from the magical 40 and certain safety. Even though your beloved Keg makes less & less sense in his press conferences and his team selections are as odd, even I can't believe he can't squeeze that much at least from the squad.
PS I will be interested to see how our large-ended Antipodean off-load reacts to having spend 90 in the chair when he knows he should have been on the pitch - I sense another calf strain coming on!

Posted by: Big Boro Bonga  | February 9, 2008 11:12 PM

Anonymous wrote...

I'm not a Geordie, but I want to see them win. I like the name Newcastle, I like the colors of the team and their uniforms, and I like their stadium from the TV. But the Managers can't pick a starting line-up worth an American dime. I think the club needs a manager to train the players and 1 person to pick the starting line up. Is that possible? Will a Manager ever let their ego take a backseat to that idea? I think not. They need a win! Man U is coming and they aren't nice people.

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 9, 2008 11:14 PM

syroll wrote...

The "KK needs time excuse" is wearing a bit thin. Of course he needs time to build his own team, no one would disagree with that but the all-important question is -is he making best use of the not very good players he has? I, and many other fans, think not. I am beginning to wonder if the "messiah" is the man he once was.

Posted by: syroll  | February 9, 2008 11:24 PM

duncan baines wrote...

ifwe go down, dont just blame smith - blame his bonkers fans! i never believe the 'it is the fans fault' argument we see in the media - but surely the fans who howled and booed robert even after he scored giving smith a standing ovation when he came off vs the smoggies proves they choose the wrong players to champion.

moreover, we have duff, butt, smith, barton --players who never score!

Posted by: duncan baines  | February 9, 2008 11:26 PM

Sy wrote...

Good question, Lee.

I'm not concerned by the relegation issue, and am very thankful to our better than usual start to the season for that. Mathematically it's possible, but I have to believe that somewhere in those 12 games we'll do enough to get the points which will see us safe.

No, my biggest fear is for the "big signings" promised this summer. The longer this rot goes on, the harder job KK will have to persuade the world class players he wants to come here. Thierry Henry? Not even a snowball's chance in hell. It would've been hard enough persuading this type of player to drop out of European competition for a year, but to join a team which is potentially going to finish only a handful of points above the relegation zone leaves me with little optimism.

And let's face it, we are in desperate need of new blood. I fully support KK, but cannot understand a couple of his selections today. There's no way Stephen Carr should play at left back. If Jose Enrique was fit, surely he should've played if for no other reason than he has a left foot. With this season a write off, stick the lad in for the next 12 games no matter what happens, it'll do him the world of good.

Next, although Alan Smith does make an effort and did put himself about in the air against Laursen early on, he provides nothing in an attacking sense, and was effectively invisible for the second half. Again, if Viduka was fit, he surely had to feature at 2-1 if not before.

James Milner continues to be the player who impresses me most, and the only one whose commitment cannot be questioned. Damien Duff seems to be improving with each game under his belt, although in these wide areas there's far too much over-elaborating which results in promising situations coming to nothing. My biggest issue is our centre midfield which is woeful. For a holding/defensive midfielder, Nicky Butt's passing has been terrible for the last two months, whereas Joey Barton is still to show me anything that warrants his wage and starting place ahead of a very patient Emre who should walk into our creatively-inept centre midfield.

Carr, Butt and Smith would be the first lot I'd ship out in the summer.

All that said, I'm still much happier watching the team since the return of KK, at least we get into the last third these days, and in spurts today we put together some nice moves. We just need to work on producing an end result.

Posted by: Sy  | February 10, 2008 12:13 AM

philip wrote...

What an embarrassing and disgusting performance last night. Nobody moving off of the ball to get open for a pass, and too much standing around. We never looked like we believed we could win, and once AV got the lead no one played with any sense of urgency. Another Saturday in which the Black & White came home the Black & Blue.

On defense, Cacapa and Taylor still look uncomfortable in back, and we need a natural left back. In attack and in midfield, no ingenuity or positive, direct play. Why not start Faye, Emre and Viduka? Unless there were injury fears, they would have outplayed Cacapa/Taylor, Barton and Smith.

At some point the manager has to call the players out for what is unacceptable play at this level. Although he had his shortcomings, too, Big Sam was starting to criticize the players for pitiful efforts on the pitch, which I don't think is a bad thing. From a managerial perspective, it is good to be friendly with subordinates or employees, but the boss must also let people know when the job they do is unacceptable.

Frankly, KK looks way out of his league. When AV tied the game and then pulled ahead, rather than standing up on the sideline and trying to motivate the team, or shouting new marching orders to implement a change in strategy, he sat looking dejected. Maybe he misses the football circus? By comparison, O'Neill was active throughout the game, urging his players to play better, communicating strategy and praising and haranguing as needed. Watching O'Neill gave me the impression he cared more for the result than KK, who seemed disinterested at best.

Frankly, if the team continues to play out the season like they have the past dozen or so games, they don't deserve to avoid relegation. Several other teams around Newcastle in the table are playing harder than the Magpies, their Front Offices made signings in January to excite the team and the fans, and they seem to recognize the stakes of performing poorly on the pitch. Newcastle players continue to play like they are a mid-table team with nothing to play for, but they need to understand this care-free attitude has left them shockingly close to the drop.

Posted by: philip  | February 10, 2008 12:20 AM

Anonymous wrote...

At this rate I would be happy with 4th bottom - he stated that he had inherited a great team but now I think he has realised how inept some of these players really are. I couldn't believe he played Carr at left back when he had a fit Enrique on the bench. Dare I say it round pegs in square holes. Nobody has mentioned it that I've noticed but how many times do we let opposing midfielders, cross, shoot basically do whatever they like without charging the ball down. Last week a against Boro, Downing thought it was Christmas and again today. Finally Alan Smith? striker, midfielder, goal scorer, NOT! as far I have seen all season this guy is a waste of space - booked 14 times 110% of effort which is ineffective rubbish. Rant over..............

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 10, 2008 12:20 AM

RAY WILSON wrote...

Hi Lee -think we are now very worried -I think capitulation would be the word to describe the Villa second half performance -too many players look as though they have already given up and are not prepared for a fight. -Casaca,Carr,Duff,to name just three-Milner was the only player to come out of that game with any credit. We all knew this last season -that we were not good enough-and I blame Allardyce for the mess-he spent millions on players at the start of the season -and where has it taken us-Kevs got one almighty task ahead of him now -and its not his fault-I think Big Sam bought very sub standard-We are definitly in a fix and we are in free fall-this season has been a disaster and its going to take all the nerve in the world for us to survive-Kev has somehow got to get them wanting to win and some have got to go now -was I the only one who noticed Cacapa stop running completely once he was beaten-This is the hallmark of a team waiting to go down-and Kev needs all our support to help keep us up. It was a bad day for us the day Allardyce came to town.Lets hope Kev can scrape some effort from them otherwise playing like we did at Villa means the drop this year-it is certainly a strong possibility after what we have seen this season and I must repeat THE BLAME LIES WITH ALLARDYCE FOR THE RUBBISH HE SIGNED.

Posted by: RAY WILSON  | February 10, 2008 12:48 AM

damo wrote...

Has Keegan told the defence to try and emulate Capello's lot - and pass their way out of danger? Cos if so they're crap at it. At Villa our defence had MULTIPLE chances to deal with today's more critical problems and simply did not demonstrate the clinical application required. In those tight situations, surely, just hoof the bloody thing! We ain't brazil (especially you Mr Cacapa.) And Damien Duff clearly need's a stern lecture on the values of staying glued to the back post. Did he spot a four-leafed clover in the six yard box or summat?!
Still can't see us in a relegation tussle come May. Owen is sharp now and the service has to come with sensible experimentation and players returning. KK being judged one iota on the previous few fixtures is a joke. What did we expect? Let's be honest, given the next fixtures, our season starts at Brum on the 15th march.

Posted by: damo  | February 10, 2008 2:11 AM

ascot7 wrote...

hello,
Sam has made rash decision's on the defence and they are all flop's.

So Keegan will have to reurect the team in the championship. They Newcastle seem to win the Championship. But never the Premier league title.

Keegan will have to bring on all the new young player's, and the best of reserve's against Man-u. who will wipe them out if they do not become radical in measure.

Posted by: ascot7  | February 10, 2008 4:44 AM

Peter Dawson wrote...

I think if we can get people back from africa and injury we can scrape enough points to avoid relegation. I dont think we will climb any higher in the table certainly. It really shows how bad we are when the smogs leap frog us. They are an awful team, i dont rate southgate and i fancied them to go down this year. With the fixture list ahead you have got to be worried. Teams below us are picking up points. Looking at the table there is only really one relegation spot left which helps a little. With any luck a relegation struggle will convince MA that a major investment and overhaul of the first team is needed. We have got to turn this around to prove the rest of the nation the WE ARE A BIG CLUB! its tough to read some comments in the press and other blogs. Us geordies have gotta get behind the team now and show the haters why we are the best fans in the land.

Posted by: Peter Dawson  | February 10, 2008 4:47 AM

Phil wrote...

First of all - I'm a great admirer and supporter of Kevin Keegan. He has an incredibly difficult job. I've always thought we have some good players, but they are not a complementary bunch - the mix is not there. We need more skill, guile, strength, and power. Faye looked good in his last game, and may help plug the back. Beye is good too, but the weak players are dragging the rest down. Smith, Barton, and Viduka have been huge disappointments. Obviously we need pace and power up front to ruffle feathers, plus some skill in midfield.

We are still sufffering from Fred's, and to a lesser degree, Sam's legacy of poor overpaid signings. Add to that, the pressure on Keegan to "entertain", and not put too many players behind the ball, and it spells TROUBLE.

Offloading poor players who are on HUGE salaries won't be easy. Attracting top players will be a real challenge, but one plus is having Kevin Keegan to attract them. Nowadays we also have the handicap of location, as many young stars "want it all" with a London location and the South Coast facilities and weather. If Kev can persuade a couple of world stars, it will help to start his revolution, and lift our better players such as young James Milner.
All hands to the pumps! Fighters and workers needed! Survival is the goal, till King Kev can put it right next year.

Posted by: Phil  | February 10, 2008 5:35 AM

Siomi wrote...

Well Lee, these are worrying times. But worrying in the sense that Kevin seemed to have made some poor decisions regarding team selection and substitutions yesterday.

I have no idea why he persists with the inadequate Carr, as mentioned by many in your previous match Blog, he clearly demonstrated why he doesn’t and shouldn’t have a place in our team.

Smith (and Butt) had a poor game, and leaving Viduka on the bench does nothing for his reported enthusiasm to get stuck in. The mystery that is Enrique goes on unexplained. Is he not ready? Is he being protected? It seems like he needs some match practice to build experience and confidence. Barton is a special case and not one I think we should be wasting our time with. Why invest in a team structure, organisation and coherence when one part of it my well be off to serve time?

There were glimmers of hope in the first half, when the Villa were being booed for not holding on to the ball and not mounting any serious attacking options. We showed some good movement and some slick passing and a desire to win the ball. But it all fell apart, with the stitching mainly unpicked by the ineffectual Carr.

Kevin really needs to get stuck in now and roll up his sleeves and get these players focused and determined, and he has to help them to see how to work together as an effective team. I am certain that the departure of Nigel call-me-vinnie Pearson is an important first step, but Kevin needs to do more, much more, or it will be VERY worrying times indeed.

Posted by: Siomi  | February 10, 2008 8:51 AM

Peter Harper wrote...

I was one of those who prayed for the return of KK but suddenly the enormity of the job seems to be wearing very heavily on his shoulders.
In his first spell at SJP KK was incisive, decisive in everything he did.When things went wrong during a game he could pinpoint the problem and his use of substitutes was nothing less than superb.
Suddenly he looks tired, the energy and enthusiasm appears to have waned.Terry Mac looks the same and they cut a forlorn sight on the bench.
I fear that being the honest person he is,KK may admit second time around has been a huge mistake by him in accepting the job.
We all have our time in life when our star is at its highest.I fear the twinkle in KK's is beginning to fade.
There is,and always will be, only one Kevin Keegan.

Posted by: Peter Harper  | February 10, 2008 9:19 AM

carl.s. wrote...

When kk was appointed I felt like I was the only person on Tyneside who wasnt was seemed to be paralyzed with joy at kk coming back. The reason being my memory reaches back futher than 3 weeks and I can remember vividly kk faults the first time around. First I want to point out that he did a great job getting us where he did but unlike managers like Ferguson, wenger etc. when plan A isnt working kk doesnt do anything, or he cant do anything. He has proved That he is a god squad builder getting 3 teams promoted but he has also proved that he aint that good when plan A doesnt work.
I really hope I am proved wrong I just think now like I did when he was appointed that it will end in geordie tears.
carl.
ps. Aston Villa make two subs, they make a huge difference, we have the players to make a difference on the bench, but nothing till its 3-1 and then its pretty much like for like. Im afraid its a sign of things to come.

Posted by: carl.s.  | February 10, 2008 9:28 AM

Ole - Norway wrote...

Disgusted!! Loosing 4-1 to Villa.. What a shame!! This club is free falling!! Smith, Butt, Carr, Barton and Cacape has to go!! Not even close to being good enough for Newcastle!! - This season is allready gone, if United doesn't pull itself together, a relegation battle may be closer than we think..

Posted by: Ole - Norway  | February 10, 2008 10:18 AM

Reigate Geordie wrote...

We had a great start a good first half and then disaster. But why was Viduka left warming his butt on the bench. I thought Smith was getting nothing right, coud not win a header and kept giving the ball away, Viduka should have replaced him at half time. I also thought KK was going to play Emre every game as his playmaker!!! Why wait until we were 3-1 down to bring him on!! Come on KK get it right or we WILL go DOWN. Let us hope two weeks rest is what the players need to get the fire back in their bellies. Howay the Lads

Posted by: Reigate Geordie  | February 10, 2008 10:20 AM

John Elliott wrote...

Butt, Smith and Barton might as well be dropped now; along with the smog reject because not one of them is fit for the fight that is going to be happening over the next few months. I'd rather play youth who have a bit of spirit than the 'experienced premiership' players that are currently surrendering in every second half they hear the whistle for!

We don't need world stars for gods sake, we need someone who can pass the bleedin' ball or standup to an on coming striker; it's not rocket science!

Posted by: John Elliott  | February 10, 2008 10:51 AM

Grey wrote...

Yesterday was a shocker. I cant remember seeing a team just give up the way we did after we went 1 down. This team has no heart remaining.

I cant see us getting anything from the next 3 or 4 games and the confidence is going to crash even more.

I think we are going down. Cant see us coming back from that with the games we have coming up

Posted by: Grey  | February 10, 2008 11:29 AM

mag in boro wrote...

well we all may as well throw in the towel now
yes we were as poor for 45 minutes yesterday as at any time this season
yes seemingly mistakes in selection were made
but its easy to single out individuals we are all in this together from each and every fan upto ashley and at moment the lack of confidence is the lowest ever
home games v blackburn fulham reading and the scum away games v birmingham west ham and im being generous to teams like pompey spurs and everton who we should take points off
anyone failing to see that any moaning directed at the management is going be jumped on by the press and magnified beyond belief have said in earlier posts STOP GIVING THEM THE REASONS TO PRINT BULL****
we got 2 weeks til man u and hopefully oba fit to return which to me is a double boost top scorer back which should coincide with smith relegated to the bench
But anyone thinking they gonna be watching championship football next year must be considering getting a season ticket down the road at the stadium of shite

BRITISH BY BIRTH
GEORDIE BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Posted by: mag in boro  | February 10, 2008 1:41 PM

Rushabh wrote...

H Man U
H Blackburn A Liverpool A Birmingham H Fulham A Tottenham H Reading A Portsmouth H Sunderland A West Ham Utd H Chelsea A Everton

These are our remaining fixtures.From the next game onwards we will be having a full squad to choose players from.Our present form will surely sent us to the championship..Its the time for the Messiah to deliver his magic..he will have Two weeks to sort out the problem.From his past 5 games he must have realized that the Players like Carr,Cacapa,Smith,may be Butt should not
be at our club.Let Us Hope that he gives
the players the confidence they need and
we all know that he is capable of motivating them.If We hit a good form and with this team i dont think we will have any problems in avoiding relegation.
Given
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique

Milner Geremi Emre Duff

Owen Viduka
Substitutes
Harper
Martins
Zog
Barton
Cacapa

If we can get the form we can get 4 points from our 3 home games against Blackburn,Manu and Chelsea.we can get6-7 points our Remaining Away games and with some improvement and confidence we can get the wins against Fulham,Reading and Sunderland.Thus we can really get 19 points.If we Take of the last 3 wins i have mentioned then also we will be safe.So no reason to panic.let us hope that we will be back where we belong..Howay The Lads

Posted by: Rushabh  | February 10, 2008 2:34 PM

Sandy Love wrote...

I think we can stay up but only if Carr, Smith and Barton remain on the bench. We need Martins to find form when he is back from injury and we desperately need Faye to be playing again as he has been our best defender by far. Butt I think has been good but hes too much of a liability. The fixtures we have are incredibly tough but we just need to get behind them and hopefully Enrique, Emre, Viduka and Faye will be played.

Posted by: Sandy Love  | February 10, 2008 4:36 PM

Bill wrote...

I am very worried/concerned about our present situation but the signs were there months ago with defeats to Derby, Reading, etc. Our season basically hinges on four games - B'ham(a), Fulham(h), Reading(h) and Mackems (h). If we don't win these games we will be relegated because I don't see us picking up any points in the other eight games. Considering our form over the last nine games - 3 points out of 27, five goals scored and 19 conceded - we can't look forward to the reminder of the season with any confidence. As fans we need to give our team full and committed support, partic at SJP, to have any hope of staying up. The merest glimmer of hope is the form of Reading and Fulham- but we mustn't/can't depend on them.
PS Is it me but I thought we looked like a team of midgets agst AV! And why did we play Carr at LB with Enrique on the bench? When the score was 3-1 why did we bring on a midfielder and not Viduka? And why did we have one unused sub at the end of the game?
Howay the Toon!

Posted by: Bill  | February 10, 2008 6:20 PM

micepie wrote...

You would certainly think players like Butt and Smith are the type of players to put faith in at a time like this but the truth is that we have looked hesistant, clueless and stale for ages. Surely we have to go with Emre, Faye, Enrique and even give longer sub appearances to Carroll and Lua Lua. We need freshness, pace and ideas.
I'm pleased Martins will be back soon.

Keegan could do with taking the whole squad off somewhere for a few days now, try to refresh them and get themselves believing in themselves again!

Right now it feels like 50-50 whether we;ll stay up!! It's only if the two above Derby lose virtually every game that we can afford to breathe at all freely.

Posted by: micepie  | February 10, 2008 6:35 PM

aditya wrote...

If the poorest of d fans can understand this..why not these old people sitting around the sidelines and scraching thier heads after we suffer a usual trouma..FAYE,EMRE must play and indeed they must..anyone who is not playing them ahead of current first team is committing a serious crime..then may it be king Kev..but wat i think is the real person behind these hopeless strategies is terry mac n should be sacked..
As far as the villa match is concerned there are mistakes that Keegan can see(only if he is no more listning to t.mac)in every goal we conceded..
1st goal:Beye was handeling Young well on left as soon as intelligent Martin O'niell switches him on right out of sorts carr can't handle him ball comes from that move to left and then the goal..common if Enrique is not match fit even Edgar is better
2nd Goal:Faye has the best headers in the whole defence but just doesnt play..why? no clue!!diststr's as life is nowadays of a geordie fan..poor old Cacppa just manages to kiss Carew's shoulder and ball ends in the net..n so on Nicky butt clears the header in his own penalty area..Duff can't guard his post..its so embarassing..
When will a geordie think tank pick a proper line up..and then expect to avoid relegation and sign world class player and the other crap...

Posted by: aditya  | February 10, 2008 6:44 PM

Daiv wrote...

Kevin keeps picking the magic 3 Butt, Smith and Carr. WHY? Smith has not scored a goal in 26 matches but gets the nod ahead of Viduka. I can understand why Viduka looked really fed up on the bench. We all know the best team. Keegan does not. Is McClown picking the team? If Keegan continues to pick the same three players, we deserve to go down with the clueless manager.

Posted by: Daiv  | February 10, 2008 7:20 PM

Tardonicus wrote...

Up or down, the task at hand is to remain committed to the Club. After the chaos of the last few years, it might even be a good thing to find ourselves in the Championship for a chance to purge all that has gone wrong. Maybe a second coming of Keegan requires a second coming to the Premiership. We need a chance for a TEAM to come together, not a series of players who are on the way through Newcastle on their way up or down THEIR careers, stricly because we spalshed out the most cash on them.

We can ridicule the Mackems all we like, but 4 home wins on the trot... one can only be envious. They play like a team. They'll finish ahead of us, I suspect... and they'll deserve it.

Like a rider on the rollercoaster, I am ready for the stomach-churning drop to the bottom of this season's ride and I believe, I do believe, that we will not crash at the bottom. But if we do, we just have to pick ourselves up with pride and begin to assemble a team with the confidence in themselves to play for every minute of every game of the season.

Kev, just get the team to go out and play for a full game, damn the results. We are NUFC, we will be back. It takes time to scrap a ship and this one needs scrapping now. Do whatever it takes, I'm behind you.

Posted by: Tardonicus  | February 10, 2008 7:52 PM

nnatlofthouse wrote...

KKs appointment was a bit rushed and I think made more for sentimental reasons than hard logic. It's easy to see how that could be but a hard headed business man should avoid sentiment. The Denis Wise appointment is difficult to understand. Again poor decisions which will bring poor results

Posted by: nnatlofthouse  | February 10, 2008 7:56 PM

Jonnie wrote...

Well of course I am deeply concerned. Obviously there's no magic wand. There's no quick fix. Kevin Keegan has got a big, big job on his hands.

Well at least we've got Michael Owen scoring goals again and match sharpness is coming back to him bit by bit. But as time goes on and we keep on throwing games away then we run the risk of losing him. This would be disastrous as he is clearly a world class player.

I think a big part of yesterdays defeat was team selection. Having N'Zogbia, a natural attacking winger play at Left Back is bad enough, but when he isn't available, and we have Enrique, please tell me... why we have Steven Carr a natural *RIGHT Back* playing in the left back role is beyond me. As far as I'm concerned, we lost the game already when he put in LB. We must get that sorted.

Also Can someone tell me just what Sam Allardyce is playing at since he left Newcastle.

After first getting the chop he played the nice guy act but it doesn't take long for some to admit that he is "smarting" about his sacking. Now for pity sake he claims the Job was too big for him. What a load of nonsense!!!

Losing Sam was the best thing that could have happened to us all season. We were going nowhere. In return we've got back the man we all wanted to run the first team and that's Kevin himself.

Now let's not kid ourselves. We still have a lot of problems to sort out. We get a goal up and then mess it right up again. Lose our bottle. It's a sad but familiar story.

We've got a tough set of fixtures ahead. We will not get relegated this season but we need all the points we can get to save some face and keep our best players.

Posted by: Jonnie  | February 10, 2008 9:48 PM

david russell wrote...

where are we going!
the team selection still seems all over the place are they being picked out of a hat!
under what circumstances does carr play out of position, in place of a left back who cost £6million and who is fit enough for the bench. we continue to play a striker who is yet to score this season(smith)who trys hard but is being asked to play as a target man which he is clearly not able to do. while viduka (not my favorite) but who at least has some height and physical presence sits on the bench and shola is no where near
emre ommision from the starting line up also seems at best surprising.
we all know keegan needs time but at present we seem to be going backwards at a rapid rate confidence is lower than ever and its hard to see where the next win is coming from.
it was team selections like this and performances like yesterdays second half which got sam the sack.
I am not sure we are any better off!

Posted by: david russell  | February 10, 2008 9:49 PM

Mat wrote...

The more I watch these guys the more it becomes obvious how incompetent MA is and how lucky he must've been to have made his millions. KK... useful for a few years when the competition could be won with a few bucks and a bit of motivational speak. The Prem League is a lot more professional these days - everyone's got cash and with cash and fat salaries, motivation ain't required. MA, you fat numpty - lost in the past you are

Posted by: Mat  | February 11, 2008 4:38 AM

Mark Blades wrote...

Comment from Mat about MA,
Yes indeed it is worring, Feye and enrique in at back, drop casapa(please) Zogs attacking down flank, bring n martins drop smithy and barton, we will be ok i hope

Posted by: Mark Blades  | February 11, 2008 8:12 AM

Reigate Geordie wrote...

In reply to "Jonnie" Yes Big Sam said that he was to big for the job not the job was to big for him. But look at the facts, Big Sam has gone and KK is in. Still the team are losing that must tell you that the problem is with the team NOT the manager whoever he is. Having supported NUFC for over 45 years I would love to see them win another trophy, any trophy, before I am taken to the stadium in the sky. We live in hope and support them till we die, let us wish for the results to keep us in the Premiership so KK can sort it out in the summer. Howay the Lads and as Mag of Boro said BRITISH BY BIRTH
GEORDIE BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Posted by: Reigate Geordie  | February 11, 2008 9:30 AM

Tony Poolan wrote...

We were already going this way as a result of 'Allegedly Big' Sam - the performances and results were worse at the end of his 'reign'. I have been worried since we last won in December we are fast becoming 'the club that gets sucked in' as happens to one team every season. There are some things I can't understand about Saturday - why did he play Carr - he is clearly not capable at left back I have to say looks finished and therefore shouldn't play for the club again. Why didn't KK bring on Viduka and Emre/Faye when we went 2-1 down - or even at 1-1? The look on Viduka's face suggested that there had been a falling out? Let's face it if players are fit enough to be on the bench they are fit enough to play or shouldn't be there. Kevin was like a rabbit in the headlights it seemed - paralysed until we were 3-1 down. Oh and one final thing Shay Given needs a break - I thought he was very poor on Saturday and does not dominate his area - mind you has he ever? I do like Shay he is a great shot stopper and massively committed to the cause - but his ability to deal with crosses has always been suspect and he really doesn't look right at the moment.

Posted by: Tony Poolan  | February 11, 2008 9:33 AM

Bryan Mac wrote...

We are doomed and it's all Ashley's fault. He thought running a Premiership club would be like Monopoly meets Championship Manager, but it's far more complex than that. The more this fiasco of a season drags on, the more it seems clear Shepherd was a preferable chairman. As far as the manager goes, he looks finished already; the nonsense about Wise, about Pearson and the non-participation in the transfer window just all add up to the club being on a downward slope to oblivion. Frankly I hope we go down. There is a persuasive case for the formation of an NE version of FC United as our club, as we knew it, has been killed.

Posted by: Bryan Mac  | February 11, 2008 9:42 AM

STEVE wrote...

OF all the remaining fixtures,i look forward to none of them.If we finish 4th bottom i will be ELATED.Could go on all day about who should/shouldnt play, and why we are so poor but if its so obvious to me,you and all toon supporters,why isnt it to the people who pick the team???

Posted by: STEVE  | February 11, 2008 9:52 AM

dexter wrote...

I believe we wont get relegated as there are teams below us who are worse and our run can't go on for ever.
The lack of fitness of our players worries me, they seem to have little energy. I would love to see us bring in players like Sidwell, Bullard ets. Forget big name signings, we won't get em. We need players with heart, passion and determination before we go for guile and creativity. Cacappa, Rozenhall, Carr, Viduka should go. Butt is past his best and can't pass but at least he gets stuck in.
I was surprised to see Faye on the bench as he is nails and just what we need to protect the defence.

Posted by: dexter  | February 11, 2008 10:01 AM

John Fowler wrote...

I'm afraid i agree with 'Carl s' I didn't share Tyneside's excitement at the return of KK.It's almost as if Mike Ashley is treating ownership of a football club like a Boy's Own Adventure,signing a manager who had modest success a decade or so ago 'cos maybe he remembered the good ol' days too.But it is 2008 & we needed a manager who had won some trophies,would repair our rubbish defence not a manager who we remember fondly from once upon a time.And who will inevitably leave,but with his reputation in tatters.KK admitted he'd not seen a match for a couple of years & it shows.Why was Mark Viduka not brought on? Why is Alan Smith up front? Why don't our defenders tackle the man with the ball instead of watching him? I have followed Newcastle since childhood & will continue to follow them until i die,but it's hard work at the moment.

Posted by: John Fowler  | February 11, 2008 10:28 AM

Dave B wrote...

We should install a set of those magnetic goalposts that they have at the Stadium of Light. We need all the help we can get at the minute.

Posted by: Dave B  | February 11, 2008 10:45 AM

al jardine wrote...

This kind of capitulation is a disgrace. Players like Barton, Smith, Carr and Butt and have no business being at this club. To be honest, Smith and Carr (along with Shola and Geremi) aren't even Premier League footballers and I'm getting nostalgic for Scott Parker, who, on the occasions that he was fit, never gave up thge way Barton does. They were a disgrace on Saturday and I can't for the life of me understand why Enrique wasn't on the left and why Emre and Viduka (if he was fit) weren't on from the start. Villa were poor in the first half and we allowed them to bully us in the second.

I wonder if the rumours that Keegan only rates four of out first team squad are true. Let's hope these three aren't among them.

Posted by: al jardine  | February 11, 2008 11:24 AM

Bo Bedre wrote...

The chairman must out from the stand and back in the office- it is not a circus but proff. football the players must se it is serious- Newcastle have the players, but they need a serious Chif!!

Posted by: Bo Bedre  | February 11, 2008 11:37 AM

Bill wrote...

Dear Tardonicus
I cannot accept that going down into the Championship will give us a chance to sort ourselves out. There is so much money associated with P'ship that it would be a financial disaster if we are relegated. How many players would we attract to a Ch'ship team? How many of the present playing staff would stay with us? And sadly, how many of our present season ticket holders would renew before the start of the season?
Full support for the team at every game and praying to every deity on this planet is the way forward. We must not be relegated!

Posted by: Bill  | February 11, 2008 11:41 AM

medan wrote...

Well, it is a sad state of affiars I am hoping admiting we are close to a relegation fight will put fire in the belley of this gutless bunch of players.
It is good to see MO is back scoring I wouldlike to see Oba back paired with Owen as he adds the pace and danger factor including scoring we are missing we need 2 strikers who can score. I do't want to hear this big and small striker combination rule crap as we have tried it the whole season unsuccesfully. Right now even with MO scoring our attack looks awful partly to our midfield being static non creative but also we do not have pace as I said before there is flow we score only from crosses or set pieces not good enough we need to attack increase our shots on goal put thier midfield and defense under pressure instead of allowing other teams to totally dominate us.

Bring back Emre and Faye in midfield.

Zog and Milner on the wings and Owen and Oba upfront.

Emre will create chances through the middle while Faye will add the hieght in the middle.

Posted by: medan  | February 11, 2008 12:24 PM

Steve Taylor wrote...

Three absolutely crucial home games against Sunderland, Reading and Fulham
and the away fixture at Brum. Need to get at least a couple of wins and a draw from them otherwise its trap door time. In the past we have had the knack of upsetting teams when our form suggests otherwise, espesh at home, but we are so consistently bad right now we cant even promise that sort of unpredictability. We look incapable of beating any teams above us and have taken some right hammerings off teams not even in the 'top 4'. Hence, future games away to Everton, Spurs, Liverpool, Pompey look unlikely to produce any good news and the home games against Man U and Chelsea will probably be best viewed between your fingers with hands covering your eyes!

Its time to stop "keeping faith" with players who are no use whatsoever. Carr is barely Championship level, Smith looks totally shot, Duff looks demoralised and incapable of creating owt for the most part, as for Cacapa, reads the game well at times but has zero physical presence and has been toyed with by players with nowt but brute strength in too many games. A very weak link. Barton looks barely interested and is a complete liability, Butt grafts but is on his way out. Beye has looked alright now and then but seems intimidated.

Its probably time to try and put some faith in the likes of Emre, Geremi, Viduka and Martins. All have much to prove but at least you know they have the ability and should give us more options. Also, get Faye back in the middle with Taylor next game and keep him there! He's no Woodgate but at least he's not intimidated, doesnt mind the rough stuff and he was the best player on the pitch along with Taylor in the Stoke cup game. Never say die and put himself on the line.

I see Big Sham has been in the press claiming he was in fact too big for the club. Well, he might not have been afforded unconditional backing in the transfer market but he still invested £25m + in many of the players mentioned above and at the time approved them all as "top, top players". He'll be another former manager appearing on Sky Sports, blameless for the debacles during his spell in charge and claiming the fans and "shadowy influences" cost him his job. In fact, why dont they get him and Souness on for our next live game where they can establish their own mediocre managers appreciation society and tickle the media fancy for Toon doom?! Come on, get real lads! You only had to trade a bit of bruised ego for several million quid, money that should be spent on buying PROPER players for the fans who chipped into that kitty!......

Posted by: Steve Taylor  | February 11, 2008 12:41 PM

Anonymous wrote...

Alan Smith is the worst player to have ever pulled on a Newcastler shirt.

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 11, 2008 1:10 PM

Anonymous wrote...

Some of the comments here are remarkable!

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 11, 2008 1:17 PM

Olle Sweden wrote...

It´s a painful situation for us fans watching our team fall, it doesn´t seem to be any branches to grab on to, just a free fall.
How it hurts.
What´s even worse, as I see it, is that the players seem to have no enthuiasm, no will, no drive, no energy, no spirit, no happiness on their faces,
They lack the will to win once behind, and to put up a fight to the bitter end even if it costs a tooth or two.
I´m worried, troubled by the way they have played since long back in December.
But being an optimist, I fear no relegation, I pray that KK can find a way to turn things back to what it used to be with the squad he has today.

Posted by: Olle Sweden  | February 11, 2008 1:17 PM

Matthew Page wrote...

Its going to be tight because we looked more like a pub team in the second half at Villa Park. The reality is our players have no self-confidence or belief, as soon as we concede we collapse like the Titanic.

Im all behind Keegan but should he be playing Carr, Barton and Smith ahead of Enrique, Emre and Viduka? I think not.

Posted by: Matthew Page  | February 11, 2008 1:29 PM

STEVE wrote...

I cannot go for this hope we get relegated crack,whats that all about? thats what mackems hope for us.Also NONE of this situation can be put down to mike ashley,all he is guilty of is going against his professional judgement and not getting rid of FSA immediately.Lets give him our support until he actually does do detrimental things to our club.....he cannot be as bad as freddy&co.

Posted by: STEVE  | February 11, 2008 1:39 PM

phil matues wrote...

So concerned I just bought some brown underpants!!....But I think we will stay up,and I understand from a friend in Germany that Keegan will go to his old club Hamburg and get Van der Vaart and Kompany in the summer.Class players Lee,have you heard anything about it?

Posted by: phil matues  | February 11, 2008 1:40 PM

Sy wrote...

Reply to:
Anonymous wrote...
Alan Smith is the worst player to have ever pulled on a Newcastler shirt.

I'm not Smith's biggest fan by any means, but one Silvio Maric takes that honour.

Posted by: Sy  | February 11, 2008 2:03 PM

Bill wrote...

"Anonymous wrote...

"Alan Smith is the worst player to have ever pulled on a Newcastler shirt."

Oh No, he isn't! Frank Pingle, Marcelino, Babayaro, Rob McDonald, Billy Whitehurst, etc, etc? In fact you will need a huge list before you get to AS!

Posted by: Bill  | February 11, 2008 2:47 PM

dave ryder wrote...

The coaching staff should have told KK that Faye has been our Best defender and defensive midfielder, as he has not seen him play.What is the likes of Steve Round doing for their money and so called expertise.I would personally play Faye in centre of defence or if Kk fancies him in midfield fine.Also how come David Edgar never gets a chance. Everybody knows Villa get good delivery in the box and Faye could have dealt with Carew better than any of the other cenre halves including Taylor and especially easily bullied Cacapa who although good on the ball does not like the physical stuff. A back line of six footers of Beye,Faye,Taylor and Enrique would have coped much better than Saturdays chosen back four...

Posted by: dave ryder  | February 11, 2008 2:57 PM

teessider (Dennis) wrote...

oh dear oh dear oh dear,

Just like to say a big thank you for taking fatduka of our wage bill, but honestly did you think that you would get more than five goals out of Alan Smith? I honestly was so glad when he opted to go to toon other than Boro.

In truth tho, and I do mean it, cant so toon going down,

But Id love it just love it..........if ya did!!!

ps Mr Ryder, do you fancy taking dong gook lee? you can have him for five million!

Posted by: teessider (Dennis)  | February 11, 2008 3:59 PM

Squidgy wrote...

Unfortunately, KK will be judged by his lack of activity in the January window and not by the poor performances of the team he inherited. However, I would play this team :-
Harper
Beye Geremi Faye Enrique
Milner Emre Nzobia
Taylor
Martins Owen

Yes, I would play Taylor just behind the front pairing of Martins/Owen to give much needed height to the attack (he has played up front before)

Posted by: Squidgy  | February 11, 2008 4:22 PM

US Magpie Fan wrote...

With Newcastle conceding 3-4 goals per match, what I want to know is, why the *%&$ is Keegan talking about buying Thierry Henry? WE NEED MIDFIELDERS WHO CAN DISTRIBUTE THE BALL CREATIVELY. We need defenders who can stop attacks. I haven't been a fan long enough to remember Keegan's previous tenure as manager, but let's just say I'm not overtwhelmed with excitement at how things have been going. We literally could not have done worse the past several matches with Big Sam in charge.

Posted by: US Magpie Fan  | February 11, 2008 5:45 PM

medan wrote...

Agian it is easy to blame the defense but I put my money on it you put a very good attacking/controlling midfield and attacking strikers with pace this defense would look good if not very good. That is excatly how Aresenal and Man U take all the pressure from thier defense, he who controls the midfield and pose danager with attacking football thus putting presure on the other team will control and win the game.

How many times has our midfield and attack lost the ball in dangerous areas and we were hit by counter attack and the fact that other teams defenses do not fear our attack means they can play up and put us under constant pressure.

Yes we could improve the defense but it does not mean much if our midfield and attack is pathetic.

Posted by: medan  | February 11, 2008 6:36 PM

johnny t wrote...

bring back freddie and sam. KK should have stayed with the other circus not this one. Hopefully all the toon fans that were pleased with kk appointment will realise that this chairmans judgement is no better than the last. pearsons departure is as bad as wises appointment.Square pegs in round holes at Villa and viduka on the bench all game says it all Championship here we come. ITS WHERE WE BELONG SPORTS FANS>

Posted by: johnny t  | February 11, 2008 7:00 PM

Anonymous wrote...

Look at our squad - do they have what it takes for a relegation scrap ( which we ARE already in). Remember Viduka and Smith went down with Leeds, Butt was with Brum when they went down, the likes of Beye, Faye, Geremi, even Owen, have never had to scrap for survival. Add to the mix the injury to Given, Harper conceding sackfuls, Taylor out of his depth, Barton heading for jail, Rozenhal jumping ship, and then just look at the remaining fixtures......aye but then Toon being Toon will beat Manu, Chelski and Pool!!....

Posted by: Anonymous  | February 11, 2008 7:28 PM

Harris wrote...

chill guys, chill... we will not get relegated!!!

Posted by: Harris  | February 11, 2008 8:30 PM

yusrer wrote...

i think michael owen will be like carloz tevez of west ham last season...

MO will save newcastle from relegation but sadly he will move to bigger clubs....

Posted by: yusrer  | February 11, 2008 8:37 PM

Cox wrote...

I had a dream where I saw an empty St. James park with just few people on the sides, that's where I see this club going.

Every season hopes of Champions league spot (not mentioning title dream's) ruined and another season over when it never really began.

The players are better then we had, but still not good enough, you can't buy 6 players every season and expect them to preform like a team. And players we buy are not wanted by the clubs we measure our selfs with?

Go for quality but buy fewer players, would be happy with Huntelaar, Quaresma and another solid back, cuz enrique needs time, carr is just not good, zoggy playing LB ? imagine KK putting Ginola there during his last time in Newcastle, no way!

Wes Brown ? Biggest joke in Man U, did you see his last preformance in England team? Would not take him for free!

Give Bayern 10 mil. for Lahm or go for Rafinha in Shalke 04, give as much as needed, we got the money right? I hope for a good DMC too , can't see Butt preform next season, too many bad passes, just as Barton which quality's are yet too be seen. Man City don't miss him for sure...

Posted by: Cox  | February 11, 2008 10:31 PM

Paul Douglas wrote...

Regarding the comment by Mat at 4.38 Feb 11th -

Are you for real slagging off Mike Ashley and making personal comments? Don't forget who appointed Sam Allardyce in the first place - one Freddy Shepherd, the bloke who milked Newcastle United in his 10 years as Chairman. I suggest you read up and check nufc-finances.org.uk
The fact is that Sam was Shepherd's appointment and until we give Mike Ashley's appointment time, we can't judge. This season is a write off, we need to concentrate on survival then start rebuilding, there is no quick fix.

Also - So players don't need motivated do they? What a bizarre comment! I suggest we all SUPPORT our team rather than slagging our team off, the Southern based media are there to do that!

Keep the Faith!

Posted by: Paul Douglas  | February 11, 2008 10:55 PM

mark Blades wrote...

Dave Ryder, i have to agree, and im really looking forward to the next line up if everyone is fit this will determine the rest of the season for me.i must also say some of the comments on here are just irrational(sp)at best, although we're all agreeing worrying times indeed yeh, Martins goals will save us, if KK can restore his confidence within two weeks ??
Howay the lads

Posted by: mark Blades  | February 12, 2008 8:55 AM

STEVE wrote...

Andy Carroll scored again for the reserves in the 1-1 draw at home to man city......Smith is rubbish and if Viduka aint up to it(to me oba is the best cf at club)theres a lad homegrown who would bleed for the cause...

Posted by: STEVE  | February 12, 2008 9:22 AM

Dave B wrote...

The recent capitulation in games is very disturbing. Mentally the players are not in a good place at the minute but if anyone can get them out of the downward spiral it’s KK. I remember Warren Barton saying Keegan’s defining characteristic was that he got players to believe in themselves. Well he sure needs that ability now.

The physical side I find more disturbing. We seem to run out of steam by the 60th minute in most games. Clearly we’re not good enough to kill games off with a third to go - only two or three in the Premiership are. We need to up the fitness levels and use our subs cleverly in the interim to backfill the effort needed to see the 90 minutes through.

If the above can be addressed – and I think it will be – then Keegan will have matched his last start as Newcastle manager by saving the club from an unimaginable fate (an achievement that will far outweigh any UEFA cup / Champions League qualifying slot).

Then I truly believe it will be onwards and upwards.

Posted by: Dave B  | February 12, 2008 9:48 AM

Duncan Baines wrote...

Maric set Shearer up for his 2nd goal against spurs in the FA Cup semi final 1999 - this alone was more than Smith has ever done for Newcastle United!

Posted by: Duncan Baines  | February 12, 2008 12:32 PM

alex wrote...

I wonder what effect the constant change of manager has on the mentallity of the players, each change brings a new training and playing regime, I know if we had as many changes in management as NUFC we would be looking for new job and wondering what the hell was going on, apart from the money it looks like playing for NUFC isn't so different from real life. This club needs stability, will it ever happen??

Posted by: alex  | February 12, 2008 1:16 PM

Ben wrote...

Lets be honest we all have to be worried,its a fact were right in it, But now is the time we need to all stick together, Lets be honest we may be pressed further into trouble in our next game, But its the games after that which could determine the clubs future, thats sounds dramatic but its true, I personally think we will get the points required to stay up as we do have home games to do so in, Fulham, Mackems, and reading as well. And I think the return of Faye and Oba will also give us a boost, hopefully enough to keep us up and look fwd to the clubs first pre- sheppard season next year .

Just a quick question for Lee, I think part of the problem we have at the moment is the lack of Leaders on the pitch(and off it), I think it says it all when young players like Taylor and Millner are the ones coming out after the game, And our Captain wont comment due to his Sunday commitments? whats your take on this Lee?

Ryder's reply: I think the captain has a duty to come out and speak as do all senior players. It's difficult for everybody involved but by more experienced players talking to the media it would protect the younger lads.
That said both Milner and Taylor are also entitled to a view after qute a few years in the game even if they are youngsters.
95% of the Newcastle squad are normally happy to do interviews from the Chronicle's point of view, which is a figure you don't get at other clubs.

Posted by: Ben  | February 12, 2008 1:39 PM

Rob(Surrey) wrote...

kk's best eleven?
Harper
Beye Taylor Faye Edgar
Milner Geremi Emre N'Zogbia
Viduka Owen.
Should just about get us out of the proverbial.

Posted by: Rob(Surrey)  | February 12, 2008 2:37 PM

Margaret Thelwell wrote...

I can just see it coming: Michael Chopra scores the goal that relegates Toon. Wonder whether he will celebrate? Agree that it is a very difficult time right now and guess that KK is probably amongst the people with least idea what to do to save them. Fulham are also in free fall but at least they still seem to be fighting for their manager.

Posted by: Margaret Thelwell  | February 12, 2008 3:59 PM

GH wrote...

"Mentally not in a good place" about sums it up for me. What struck me at Villa was a lack of responsibility or leadership. There wasn't a single player on the park in the second half who tried to make something happen for us.

Taylor, Cacapa, Carr, Beye aren't bad players - but they need to take control and launch the attack rather than playing hospital passes to teammates 5 inches away.

Butt, Duff, Milner, Barton is a decent midfield - but they have an "after you" attitude which means the final ball is always wasted.

Personally, I think the issues aren't so much personnel as personality.

Posted by: GH  | February 12, 2008 4:46 PM

mark shoesmith wrote...

I don't worry about any thing about the toon. We have to remember, KING KEV has adopted someone elses team. These players won't play they should be sacked unless they forget about themselves, to me they are money grabbing wasters. Long live the king.

Posted by: mark shoesmith  | February 12, 2008 8:47 PM

MArk back from Washington wrote...

Having been back in the UK for sometime now and been to the home games I think the comment 'give the manager time' is even more appropriate at the moment. I think the fans have to remember that KK is not only going to have to build a team but also reinstall and build the confidence that were erroded away during BS time. I think that once we get a good solid performance and a win then we will see the players becoming the players we know they are. We all know we have a half decent squad but what a lot of fans fail to remember that it is a young squad and needs to be nurtured some that they will be the fruit of the future.

Posted by: MArk back from Washington  | February 13, 2008 2:26 AM

jac mills wrote...

Lee

I read in today's Chronicle that KK said Viduka "still has a key role to play for NUFC." I will accept your expert opinion no matter what you tell me, but for the life of me I cannot see that. The big striker has lost ALL of his pace, is too cumbersome and except for now and then being able to flick a pass or head the ball down, he is not the threat he was playing for Middlesbrough. Surely KK can see that. He has been completely ineffective in the games I have seen on TV, but maybe he has played well in games I have not seen, although I have not read glowing reports of that. Doesn't KK have to accept that players such as Viduka, Butt are at the end of their careers -- good as they may have been --and have to be replaced for NUFC to be a team of consequence in the PL? I am afraid Kevin is saddled with an unhealthy pack of Clydesdales.

Ryder's reply: It's a tough situation Jac but Viduka's game has never been about pace in my humble opinion, perhaps the odd burst here and there but there are few better at holding the ball up than Viduka.
His presence is also a major factor too but sadly we haven't witnessed enough of that this year.
He scored 19 goals for Boro last term, so you have to ask yourself has he become a bad player overnight?
I don't think he has but I may be proved wrong in the last 12 games.

Posted by: jac mills  | February 13, 2008 11:22 AM

Charles wrote...

A few loses and all the fans come crying down the street. It's beginning to strike like a virus even till here.

Many of you don't take a look a little lower than expected. You judge all players by the name of the team instead of thier credibility. Smith is hardworking, but ultimately even hard work doesnt seemed enough.

For me, Smith to go for some other stiker than can score and control better. Maybe Carrol will suit the roll, what have we got to lose? Play him against Manu, we've going to lose anyway...metaphorically speaking, of course (We can still win)

Midfield? Play Milner and Duff on wings while Emre and another youngster, I don't care who they are; at least they're better than the seniors at that position...

Owen is doing what he is suppose to do, just need a few more sparks and more attitude to do-it-yourself...

Game againts Manu? Maybe 1-0 to us, or maybe 4-0 to them...

Posted by: Charles  | February 13, 2008 12:35 PM

Jack Doolan wrote...

kk's best eleven?
Harper
Beye Taylor Faye Edgar
Milner Geremi Emre N'Zogbia
Viduka Owen.
Should just about get us out of the proverbial.

That might just work, though I'd give Enrique a chance or he might end up like Viana - a promising player asked to play 5 or ten minutes at the end of a game who got so p'd off that he didn't seem to bother when he was asked to step in when one of the favoured sons was injured. What worries me about Viduka is that this may be a season too far for him, like when we bought Rush or persisted with Shearer (in fact, we had to persuade him to stay on, didn't we?) in his final season instead of buying in another striker. We should've got Viduka when Souness or Roeder wanted him. He may well hold the ball up, but the effort isn't always there. Still, better him than Smith. In fact, I'd have Rush aged 50-whatever back instead of Smith!

Posted by: Jack Doolan  | February 13, 2008 12:46 PM

Jac mills wrote...

Lee:
Thanks for your comments on Viduka. I understand what you are saying. I first saw Viduka play in Australia, and he was as quick a scared chicken then, a joy to watch. I followed his career with interest, saw his progress at Leeds, and last season at Boro where there were signs of lack of desire and loss of pace. Age does that to a player, as you know, and it rears itself in different forms. But I wish him well.

Saw a headline in today's Chronicle also about Duff, hitting ("101 in a 70mph zone.") Pity we can't see that kind of increased velocity on the pitch. He is another of my choices for replacement at NUFC.

Posted by: Jac mills  | February 13, 2008 5:13 PM

jac mills wrote...

Newcastle United Fans, Unite!!!!

The Hatchet Man in today's Daily Mail is saying that NUFC will NOT win another game this season. He probably is from the south, so what does he know? Send him a BLAST from the Northeast.

Posted by: jac mills  | February 13, 2008 5:18 PM

pjm wrote...

The club and the players are far too big for 'the championship'. However should relegation complete this miserable few years for the toon then at least the possibility of many wins, an opportunity to build a confident team, should augur well for the future. It took KK 1 1/2 seasons to build 'the entertainers' last time round, but lets not forget the confidence gained by important 3-0 and 4-0 wins against Liverpool and Wimbledon in KKs first season as premiership manager, both these games had questionmarks against them in the Grobellar/Segers/Fashanu match fixing case and quite possibly contributed much to the gung-ho spirit of the team in those distant times. We need a winning team (players and staff)to breed the confidence to challenge the top 3 and if that team has to be built in the championship then so be it. I hope it doesn't happen, but I think if it does it will be a fair demonstration of the legacy of Freddy Shepherd

Posted by: pjm  | February 13, 2008 8:02 PM