What Can Be Done With Current Newcastle Squad

Kevin Keegan has largely utilised the same players that BSA selected, despite their continuing failure to perform.

I’ve posted on two consecutive ‘verdict’ posts something to the effect that continuing to play 4-4-2 with Butt and Barton in central midfield is simply not going to bring about the improvement we need. So, what alternatives does he have?

Well, for a start he could tell Steve Harper he is his first choice for the rest of the season. Whatever the reasons, Given is a shadow of his former self, and has become an integral part of ‘the problem’.

N’Zogbia is our most creative influence, and is not only wasted at left back, he is a liability there - as evidenced by ManU’s first goal yesterday. If KK doesn’t feel he can trust Enrique at left back (and like Viduka, he wasn’t even on the bench yesterday), then I’d personally go with a pure defender in David Edgar.

Midfield is the at the core of our problems imho. Barton is offering nothing - he is pedestrian in thought and deed, continually gives the ball away, and imo should be dumped. Despite not being a midfielder, I think Alan Smith actually offers more than Barton.

Geremi is way too slow for the PL, but could possibly be used in a defensive holding role, as an alternative to Butt. Despite now attracting a lot of criticism, I still feel Butt gives something to the team - at least until he runs out of steam as he did yesterday, by dint of trying too hard to cover for the inadequacies of ‘others’.

The best performance we’ve seen from our midfield this season was when we play against Stoke in the FA Cup replay, after Emre was sent off. Milner, Duff and Zog played really well as a trio.

I’d be sorely tempted to use these three in a narrow midfield, with a defensive player behind them with a brief to sit in front of the back four. I might actually use Emre instead of Duff in this formation, assuming he is ever fit to play again.

Up front, it looks as though KK has, not unreasonably, written off both Ameobi and Viduka, which rather limits our options. It may be worth giving a try to Owen and Martins up front, supported by Milner, Zog and Duff from midfield. Carroll would provide the alternative if things weren’t working with the two midgets.

It seems to me that our best chance in the coming games might come from something like:

Harper

Beyer - Taylor - Faye - Edgar

Butt

Milner - Zog - Duff/Emre

Owen - Martins

Whether KK opts for something akin to this, imho he simply has to try something different. The current formation and personnel is a busted flush.

2 Responses to “What Can Be Done With Current Newcastle Squad”

1. Sukmono on February 27th, 2008 1:00 am

   Agree, but I rather have Cacapa than Taylor in the central defensive role. Cacapa might have a problem with speedy strikers but he have an excellent positioning.

2. Chris Reding on February 27th, 2008 3:49 am

   What’s happened to the lads that did us proud under Roeder? Where is Ramage, Huntingdon and Edgar? Ramage is a scrapper. These lads are proud to play for the toon unlike the rubbish that ponce about at the mo. Give Big Andy a run and get rid of Michael Owen. Drop him. He’s not doing it for me. How is he quicker than Martins? Keegan is not ruthless enough. Change nothing nothing changes.

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