Guts and Fighting Spirit a Requirement at Newcastle
Newcastle have three games left of a disappointing season - starting with the game at Reading on Monday. These games still count although to get a place in the Inter-Toto cup is now very dubious - and it certainly looks like we will not be playing in Europe next year.
Newcastle are now at a point where they can go forward or fall back and news today suggests that Roeder will still have that clear-out of players in the summer he has promised.
It seems certain that Moore and Bramble will leave, when their contracts expire in the summer and that Oguchi Onyewu will not be signed and presumably will return to Standard Leige. So there could be a lot of comings and goings in the summer.
Our biggest weakness – in term of player personnel - is of course the defense - and it’s going to be very interesting to see who Roeder brings into the squad in the summer.
However, when you look at what happened this season – it was something very simple that let us down. Following the Liverpool game - when the team fought to a well earned 2-1 win - we were 9th in the table and only five points off 7th place – held by Portsmouth.
In the eight league games since then we have lost 4, drawn 3 and won only a single game – at Sheffield United – so we have amassed only a meager 5 points from those eight games. It’s also very worrying that this happened after all the injuries we had - when players were starting to return - or actually back in the team.
We lost many of those games for one reason – the team did not show 100% commitment or fight and consequently were turned over fairly easily at times. To me this is the period when our season went south. A return of say 12 points from those games (4 wins in 8 games – not unreasonable) would now see us challenging for a UEFA spot now.
Could it be that the more experienced players at the club do not show the fight and spirit that the youngsters have shown when they were in the side? it certainly looks that way. If everbody applied themselves like Taylor and Solano do (as two examples) - we wouldn’t be in this mess.
One thing we cannot tolerate is players who do not give 100% and whoever they are let’s hope Roeder rids the club of them in the summer - and brings in players who want to come and play for the club and put us on the road to success again.
If Roeder could have rallied the troops and got them playing in those eight games – as if their lives depended on it – this season would not be the disaster it has turned out to be for Newcastle fans.
So that’s the first requirement next season – 100% commitment and effort – otherwise they don’t play.
If Roeder can bring in fresh blood and the attitude is put right – next season could be a good one for us – for a change.
Let’s start at Reading on Monday and see if we can’t collect the full three points there – and good news is that it seems that both Michael Owen and Ameobi will play some part in that game.
It would be good to see Ameobi up front starting with Martins – and look for Owen to be introduced as a substitute at some point. Three points on Monday will ease the pain this season has caused a lot of us.
Ed Harrison writes exclusively about Newcastle United on the Newcastle United Blog.
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Discussion - 8 Responses
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Ed, i agree with everything you said, but for me its the same rant every single time. every article you write is about how they show no passion and no desire like the youngsters. granted its a very valid point and you are right but mate, passion and desire is only one aspect of it. you got to look at roeder too. newcastle at times dont seem to have too much of a game plan and all his signings, duff, sibierski, martins are all attacking, and even a blind man could see defense was the biggest problem. since the time of souness, the defense has been rubbish and the fact that your best defender is a right midfielder converted to a right back is proof of that. It shows lack of planning as much as anything else and you got to ask questions of the management as much as of the players.
Aren’t guts and fighting spirit a requirement at all sides? I think at this point only United and Chelsea are displaying the sort of fighting spirit that’s expected from them, which is why these two teams are at the top of the table.
Arsenal haven’t shown it, Spurs have shown it only in patches, and other teams show it in patches as well.
A - Roeder ‘did’ bring in Gooch. There’s a defensive signing for you. Other than that, injuries were a problem this season but like Ed’s said elsewhere, that cannot be used as an excuse anymore next season. The squad simply must have enough depth (and if its necessary bring in the kids from the academy but don’t complain about it) to cope with any crisis.
I think Roeder’s future could very easily be measured by the defensive signings he makes this summer.
However, if you’re talking about replacing him, you should either replace him at the end of May or at the end of next season - bringing in a new man and not giving him the chance to buy / sell players in unfair on him.
And while we’re at it, this article by Ed written in early November 2006 is very interesting.
Maybe Newcastle can actually win on Monday night but they are way off the UEFA and Inter-Toto cup places after today’s results.
Guts and fighting spirit is true for any - yes - but look at Sheffield United as an example - they have no class players - but can give anyone a game - and have - Newcastle have a lot more class than Sheffield - but have failed to turn up for matches this season.
Trying to say that is a basic fundamental requirement of any team - and Newcastle right now - don’t meet the requirement - maybe that’s a better way of saying it.
Yes - I understand all about the tactics side - but you also have to let the guys play - good example of how tactics can stifle a team of great players is what McClaren has done with England - if the English players were told to go out and enjoy the game - bet they would have played a lot better than they have done recently.
Upward and onward
Look im not saying disagreeing with what ed wrote, or that fighting spirit isnt important, its the most important thing. all i am saying is that it was easy to see what Newcastle’s biggest problem was. My point is that Roeder knew just like everybody else but he decided to buy 3 attacking players, and ahmed gooch was a december loan signing, why didnt he sign anybody during the summer ? and tell me whats the point of keeping a 12 million pound luque and not playing him ? why didnt he just sell him if he knew he didnt want to play him and bring in a defender ? i agree that roeder’s fate will be decided by the players he brings in this summer but my point was that as a supporter of a club like we all are, you got to turn around and look at the bigger picture and not only blame players and at times this season it has been evident that roeder’s lack of planning has also gotten them into trouble.
Shepherd and Roeder will have chance this summer to get rid of some of the chaff - and plan for next season - we’ll see how they do this time - last summer was not good.
Hopefully Babayaro, Bramble, Gooch, Moore and of course Luque (keep forgetting about this guy) will go - and then he needs to bring in at least 2 center backs and a left back ….. and more - so we have bigger squad - in case of injuries although no Europe next year.
Signing Steve Sidwell would be very nice.
Looks like he will keep Carr - today’s news has Roeder praising Carr for playing left back and working well with young Milner.
Would be nice if they made their signings early - so the players can settle in.
Last season looks like they ran out of time - since there was panic on Aug 31st - the last day - and Shepherd said that 3 center backs they were after - did not get signed - wonder who they were.
http://soccerlens.com/newcastle-set-to-pay-the-price-for-too-small-a-squad/1417605.html