This post doesn’t mean to look for who’s telling the truth or who’s training method is the better one for Newcastle United. I just feel that this is an interesting stuff to discuss in here.

In an interview, Damien Duff said last week in an unprovoked assertion that practice sessions under the new manager had become more harder and intense.

“I know Big Sam used to say that we were the fittest around, but I think we were far from it,” United winger said. “I don’t think we were the fittest when the new gaffer came in.”

The previous manager, who was parted by United chairman last January, responded to Duff words as criticism of his working practices. “There was nothing wrong with the match fitness when I was there, so I think that’s a little bit of an excuse,” he said. “Sometimes fitness is a mental thing and I think mental fatigue can hit the players more than anything else.”

I can see he is telling the truth, and agree that his former employers are in the match fitness according to his style of play which is not needed more energy to achieved. I don’t think any Newcastle players need to make more running in each of United game under the old boss who loves to play long-ball, and that’s why there’s no need harder practice in training like what Keegan now dispatch to the lads.

Since Keegan took charge, no argue that Newcastle first half performance was brilliant. The lads do more running through the field, playing nice one-two passes and chasing the ball more often. But then, in the second half, their performance was dropped as their match fitness was not fit enough into Keegan’s attacking style of play.

I admit that I only see one live Newcastle game, against Aston Villa last month. I can see we’re doing great and leading into half time with Michael Owen’s goal. Then in the second half, we can not repeat our first half performance and were thrashed out by four goals.

Back to Damien’s interview, quoted from Times Online, Keegan just saying that his predecessor was perhaps “coming from a different angle”. Keegan was also pointed out that “my way is for players to train quite hard” and made the observation that a lack of confidence was palpable on Tyneside.

“If Duff thinks the training is harder, then wait until pre-season,” Keegan said. At this point I believe in his way to develop the new fitness standard for each of Newcastle United players. They are being too lazy under the old boss and now its time to wake them up and training even more harder to save our Premierships status.

Apologies for PROBABLY starting an uneccessary post, anyway, I digress. Just had an argument with a mate of mine and I reckon it could apply to a few on here as well?

We play Duff at outside left and we play Zog at left back. The reason is obvious, our current and previous managers feel that they MUST find a place in the team for both players.

Result of not playing both would result in either Duff and most definitely Zog demanding a transfer if they were to become a permanent fixture on the subs bench.

Most professional players (and I have heard Shearer say this) is that you MUST play your best players on the pitch, even if that sometimes means that occasionally it has to be out of position.

The argument with my mate stemmed over the fact that Zog is being played at left back - however he is a big fan of Duff playing on the left.

My argument with him is that if he wants a ‘natural’ left back to play in that position - i.e. the one we have just paid £6m for, then what does he expect to do with Zog, because he doesn’t want to drop Duff for Zog but he feels that Zog is too good a player not to be found a place in the team?

I jokingley suggested to him that we perhaps play them both as left wingers and do away with a right winger altogether? Or perhaps play either one of them on the left and the other as a right winger, designed to cut inside, a bit like we played Milner on his ‘wrong’ side on the left?

Trouble is, my mate doesn’t want to drop Milner either and feels he should be found a place in the starting eleven as well.

With hindsight, we should never have bought Duff when we already had Zog, but I didn’t hear too many complaints from this BBS at the time when we did sign him. However, now that we have both and as I say, both experienced professionals now and neither would settle for the bench, one of them has to go in the summer.

Probaly Zog cos he is making the most waves to get away. To sum up, next game against Blackburn, if we were to play a natural left back and drop Zog to the bench, would you be happy? Or if we played a natural left back and played Zog outside left, would there still be people complaining that he didn’t play Duff?

The mini crisis we are in this season, should see BOTH players accepting what is best for the team. Whatever that is? You tell me? Comments are welcome!

Damien Duff is telling the truth when he said people will immediately think about European football as soon as United doing great, but if for some games we are not doing right, that same people will turn their back against the club and said that everything is wrong at Newcastle.

Duff has praised gaffer Sam Allardyce on the official site for his positive attitude during difficult period for the Magpies. Big Sam and his players have found themselves back in increasing pressure following United’s disappointing return over the festive programmes.

From a possible of nine points, Newcastle only can collect 1 point from a draw against Derby at home, while on the boxing day fixture, the Magpies failed again to breakdown bad records. For most of the last 10 years, Newcastle was never had any win games on Boxing day while playing away.

Duff said how Big Sam is reacting positively after the Man City game. He said “Let’s stick together”, which is what we have to do. The Irish winger admits United situation over the past few weeks haven’t gone smoothly, he’s concerned about it, everyone is, and the gaffer included.

“We are working hard to put it right. He’s a good man. We are all desperate for him to do well and the team.” Duff added, “We are all going to stick together.”

Duff is also believe that Newcastle have the ability to win something in the coming seasons if it was not this year. He knows United are having a long way to go to the same level as Arsenal or Manchester United, but he want Newcastle to get back challenging for the Champions League.

“We’ve got players who belong in the top six - we have one of England’s greatest ever strikers - and I know the manager is looking to strengthen.” Damien said, “Top players belong at Newcastle. I asked for a five-year contract when I signed. I’ve only had three clubs in my career and I want to keep it that way.”