Roeder's miracle complete!
It's official, the Glenn Roeder tenure has carried the Toon back into Europe! Again, we can reflect on the remarkable turnaroud that started only a handful of months ago.
But there's other news worth pondering, too. First, it's not completely clear that left wing was the position where the Toon most needed fortification, with Milner and N'Zogbia possibles. Sure, Duff is a good player who's probably got three quick years left, but is he going to provide the cutting edge we so desperately need?
He can play up top, but it seems more likely that he'd slot behind as a 10. Until Owen gets back (and after he gets injured again), Roeder may be contemplating a sort of 4-2-3-1 with Amoeba on the point, and then Duff flanked by Zog and Luque, with Emre and Parker cleaning up the back. It could also be 4-1-4-1 with Parker alone as sweeper and Emre or Nobbie pushing up.
TDH would be tempted to play 4-1-3-2 with Dyer and Amoeba as strikers, then Duff-Emre-Luque and Parker in back. The main thing is, we now have a surfeit of decent midfielders - Duff, Zog, Luque, Emre, Parker, Milner, Nobbie, Faye, Butt... - while lacking striking talent and a certified defensive rock. Sure, Amoeba's only 24, but he's not A-grade yet. Let's see some transfer action better suited to the squad's needs.
And a question - where can TDH pick up one of those swanky pale blue shirts the lads were wearing in Norway? They're nowhere to be found in the club website.
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Bits and pieces:
Go plucky Maribor! With Riquelme out of action (probably to increase his transfer value), Villareal looked as impotent as an 80-year-old eunuch. They were lucky to score the one.
Chelsea lost approximately three million pounds on Del Horno - chicken feed for King Roman, and a small price to pay compared to the damage he did on the pitch.
No Argentine teams left in the Copa Libertadores, with only lowly Estudiantes coming close before losing on penalties. TDH didn't shed many tears, though. Gallardo was sent off for River, which made TDH chortle. And let bad luck follow Simeone wherever he goes.
Finally, did it occur to anyone else that want-away Lua Lua might make a nice addition to the Roeder squad?
But there's other news worth pondering, too. First, it's not completely clear that left wing was the position where the Toon most needed fortification, with Milner and N'Zogbia possibles. Sure, Duff is a good player who's probably got three quick years left, but is he going to provide the cutting edge we so desperately need?
He can play up top, but it seems more likely that he'd slot behind as a 10. Until Owen gets back (and after he gets injured again), Roeder may be contemplating a sort of 4-2-3-1 with Amoeba on the point, and then Duff flanked by Zog and Luque, with Emre and Parker cleaning up the back. It could also be 4-1-4-1 with Parker alone as sweeper and Emre or Nobbie pushing up.
TDH would be tempted to play 4-1-3-2 with Dyer and Amoeba as strikers, then Duff-Emre-Luque and Parker in back. The main thing is, we now have a surfeit of decent midfielders - Duff, Zog, Luque, Emre, Parker, Milner, Nobbie, Faye, Butt... - while lacking striking talent and a certified defensive rock. Sure, Amoeba's only 24, but he's not A-grade yet. Let's see some transfer action better suited to the squad's needs.
And a question - where can TDH pick up one of those swanky pale blue shirts the lads were wearing in Norway? They're nowhere to be found in the club website.
---
Bits and pieces:
Go plucky Maribor! With Riquelme out of action (probably to increase his transfer value), Villareal looked as impotent as an 80-year-old eunuch. They were lucky to score the one.
Chelsea lost approximately three million pounds on Del Horno - chicken feed for King Roman, and a small price to pay compared to the damage he did on the pitch.
No Argentine teams left in the Copa Libertadores, with only lowly Estudiantes coming close before losing on penalties. TDH didn't shed many tears, though. Gallardo was sent off for River, which made TDH chortle. And let bad luck follow Simeone wherever he goes.
Finally, did it occur to anyone else that want-away Lua Lua might make a nice addition to the Roeder squad?
posted by Daniel Altman at 11:49 PM
5 Comments:
I may be in a minority, but I think JRR has found his niche at Villareal - no other european team could get more out of him, and nor would he prosper so greatly at another.
Are Newcastle the new tottenham? what on earth will they do with all those midfielders???
yeah, i would've thought the left hand side of our midfield is the area that needs the least attention. Although, when a player as good as Duff becomes available you've got to snap him up really haven't you? I would have thought Roeder would persist with a 4-4-2, with Dyer as a shadow striker. Although the talk in the papers is of the floodgates being opened, transfer-wise, with our UEFA qualification qualification and Duff's capture. A Klose - Kuyt - Shola front 3 anyone?
Oh and I don't think those black- sky blue way kits are available to buy. just like those bright yellow euro-only away kits from a couple of years ago weren't for sale ( I don't think). Strange, not like Freddy to pass up a chance to rinse more money out of us. I too would have been tempted to buy it.
Klose looked brilliant for much of the World Cup. He'd be a superb buy for the Toon.
Yeah, Klose's exactly the sort of non-glamor, get-the-job-done workman we need up front. But we'll never get him. After all, he probably figures he has a better chance of playing European football in the spring if he stays at Bremen. I still harbor some hopes of Ruud. I don't think Kuyt is such a priority. He's not really a target man - in the World Cup he played more of a Duff/Luque role. Not what we need.
Attention, Palms - never underestimate the cupidity of our man Freddy. I received this reply from the online shop:
Dear Sir
Thank you for your recent email. Those shirts, the new third shirts for Europe will not be in sale until September. Please continue to check our website for future information.
Kind Regards
Ben Baxter
Mail Order Advisor
Newcastle United Direct
That's fine with me. I'm glad to make my small, long-distance contribution to the transfer kitty.
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