The Toon Army thread

[moomba]

Not rubbing it in but this from the Grauniad.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2180872,00.html

Already deflated after seeing their team thoroughly outplayed, Newcastle United's fans will not be exactly thrilled to learn that the Brazilian playmaker who did so much to make this visit a chastening experience could conceivably have been playing in their own club's colours.

Sam Allardyce had Elano Blumer on his list of possible summer transfers, but interest had to be put on hold while the club changed ownership and Manchester City got there before them. Allardyce is not a man to be consumed by what-ifs, but it is fair to say it might become a permanent source of regret.

With Martins, Owen and Viduka in front of him he would have been very useful at the Geordies, although it is a good sign for your lot that he is the type of player Allardyce was looking to recruit.

 

[ShearMagic9]

And to rub more salt into the wounds:

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton will be out of action for another month.

The 25-year-old is yet to make his competitive debut for the club after fracturing a metatarsal in a pre-season friendly at Carlisle just weeks after his £5.8million move from Manchester City.

Barton revealed last week he had set himself a target of being back for Sunday's visit of Everton and has travelled with the squad to their last three away games to add moral support.

However, on the day England striker Michael Owen returned to the club's training headquarters to begin his rehabilitation from his double bout of surgery in Germany, manager Sam Allardyce wrote his summer signing out of his plans until well beyond the forthcoming international break.

He said: "Joey Barton has got no chance for Everton on Sunday. It will be four or five weeks, or at least three or four reserve games."

http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...prem&TEAM=NEWCASTLE&RH=Newcastle&PREV_SEASON=

By that time, he will almost certainly be locked up in jail

 

[CarterS]

A month is overstated, surely, 3 weeks maybe but that means he'll only miss the next match against Everton. With he and Emre back our midfield should look a fair bit more potent and we will be on the right track.

 

[ShearMagic9]

A month is overstated, surely, 3 weeks maybe but that means he'll only miss the next match against Everton. With he and Emre back our midfield should look a fair bit more potent and we will be on the right track.

Well he played a half for our reserves on Tuesday night, along with Emre, Enrique and Faye in a 2-2 draw with City.

So I think he'll be back in time for the Spurs game, which is 18 days away from now anyway.

 

[CarterS]

Time has come to slot Enrique in at left back in the first XI, and move Zog up the field in the left side. Once everyone is fit there will be some tough choices in picking the midfield.

 

[tige19]

Has anyone played FIFA08?? not a bad game actually, its just interesting to see the ratings of players. Emre is only rated 76, Martins is our best at 83 and Joey Barton is our best midfielder at 78, Zog is only 74 or 76, Viduka 80 and Owen 83, Beye is rated at 80. To give you an idea on how stricht the ratings are Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are the games best players both rated at 90. Just thought id post that, their are a few interesting ones in the game, Schev has gone from like a 90+ rating last season to a 81 this season, pretty much mirrors his dismise as a footballer.

Anyway moving onto this weekends game, is Cacapa back?? big Steven Taylor looked out of sorts at the centre of defence, no doubt he is our long term and future England central defender but atm I feel more comfortable with Cacapa. We will get 3 or 4 put past us if our defence does not improve on last weekend, Andy Johnson and Yakubu are deadly and Arteta is also dangerous going forward, they are very quick and we are slow, either 1 of Butt or Smith needs to be relegated and Zog to the wing and Enrique to LB. At least our midfield will have some pace and flair to with Zog on 1 wing and Milner on the other.

Our side for the weekend

Given

Beye Taylor Rozehnal Enrique

Milner Geremi Emre Nzogbia

Viduka Martins

Subs: Harper, Smith, Faye, Butt, Pattison, Edgar

 

[ShearMagic9]

Not a bad looking side, but you and I both know that Sam will persist with N'Zogbia at left back.

BARTON UPDATE

From the Manchester Evening News, Thursday:

Former Manchester City player Joey Barton appeared before Trafford Magistrates today accused of assaulting a team mate at the club's Carrington training complex.

The 25-year-old, now playing for Newcastle United, was dressed smartly in a blue suit during the brief hearing, which was adjourned until November 22 when Barton will re-appear at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.

Barton, is charged with section 47 assault on Ousmane Dabo.

Oh and Cacapa is back, the players that won't feature are:

Ameobi, Babayaro, Barton, Carr, Duff, Owen, Ramage

 

[CarterS]

Emre needs to be in the first XI otherwise with GEremi, Smith and Butt in a 3 man midfield are have no creativity, a lot of scrapping but not much else.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Emre needs to be in the first XI otherwise with GEremi, Smith and Butt in a 3 man midfield are have no creativity, a lot of scrapping but not much else.

He got another 90 minutes for the reserves so hopefully thats a sign.

The problem with Emre is that when he's off, he is really off.

However, when he's on, he's on.

Probably worth the risk.

 

[CarterS]

We also need to revert back to the 4-4-2, surely Enrique is ready to start at the left back position and we can then use Zog further up, the team that tige19 put in earlier this morning is the same one i would go for, probably except with Cacapa in for Taylor if he is fit.

 

[tige19]

Emre just put together the best 15 minutes of football almost in the history of this football club just then, he has single handedly won us that game. This guy is a deadset gem, if he is not starting next week and for the rest of the season the Gallowgate stand will be brought down.

Almost the perfect performance, defence was solid for most part the only blunder really was Given with that own goal at the death and when Enrique was good chasing his opponet on the right, lucky Cacapa was their.

If you didnt stayup lads all I can say is look up Emres goal on Youtube, absoloute scorcher.

Great game.

 

[Masss#10]

i stayed up and i tell ya what emre's goal was a bloddy gem...watching it live it didn't look like it was going in but when that net rippled and emre was running with his hands in the air i was happy for him and relieved...

owen capped it off with an excellent header from emre's free kick...remember everton are a good side and they dominated early in the second half...so it makes the victory even more sweeeeet...good job lads

 

[Portmanteau]

That Emre goal was freaking orgasmic. I almost had a heart attack.

How stoked was Mowen after his goal!?

 

[tribey]

Would love to see Emre dominate midfield like that more often - but at the very least, having him demand the ball as he did completely transforms us as a side.

Gives us back our shape and sorts us out, rather than the Butt/Geremi hit and hope-a-thon while Milner and Zog run around like headless chickens completely unsure of what to do.

Jose Enrique looks a jet as well. Give him another season in the shirt and he will be monumental.

 

[tige19]

Would love to see Emre dominate midfield like that more often - but at the very least, having him demand the ball as he did completely transforms us as a side.

Gives us back our shape and sorts us out, rather than the Butt/Geremi hit and hope-a-thon while Milner and Zog run around like headless chickens completely unsure of what to do.

Jose Enrique looks a jet as well. Give him another season in the shirt and he will be monumental.

Emre could and should be in the top 5-6 central midfielders in the EPL, his performance for that last 15 minutes the other day was nothing short of sensational. A wounder goal and an assist, this guy has some freakish talent.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Reserves:
Joey comeback gathers pace

Newcastle Res 3 Wigan Res 1

Having appeared for 45 minutes away to Man City last week, Joey Barton continued his comeback from injury with a runout at Kingston Park on Monday evening.

And the midfielder opened the scoring for Newcastle before leaving the field on 65 minutes - by which time we were three ahead after Frank Danquah and Matty Pattison also netted.

18 minutes had elapsed when Barton found his way into the Latics box and steered a net right-foot shot beyond Mike Pollitt.

And that lead was then doubled on the half hour after good work down the left from Mark Doninger saw him centre for Frank Danquah to finish strongly - the young striker's first goal at this level.

A thoroughly dispirited Latics side then trooped in for half time three behind, after Matty Pattison's speculative shot on 43 minutes took a strong deflection that stranded Pollitt.

Things were more even after the break, with the visitors pulling one back through Chris McCaughtrie in the closing stages - the prolific youth team striker having hit the bar in the first half.

Academy defender Matthew Grieve made his debut at this level and had a steady game, while other the standout was Kazenga LuaLua, who three times made mazy runs that had the Wigan defence back-pedalling, only to over run the ball and lose possession.

NUFC: Forster, Bertram, Lough, Doninger, Grieve, Morris, LuaLua, Pattison, Danquah, Barton (Marwood 65), Godsmark.
Subs n/u: Wrightson, Patterson, McLaughlin, Henderson.

WAFC: Pollitt, Moore, King, Cywka, Pearson, Ashworth, Hampson, Montrose, Mahon (McCardle 63), McCaughtrie, Bouaouzan.
Subs n/u: Holt, Horn, Routledge, Mustoe.

Ref: J.Waugh.

Crowd: 691 - more than turned up for either of the early season games at SJP. Half of the small stand was open to the public tonight, with the rest of the fans standing in front and behind the goal in the covered end.

Should hopefully be back for our next match against Tottenham

 

[tribey]

Emre could and should be in the top 5-6 central midfielders in the EPL, his performance for that last 15 minutes the other day was nothing short of sensational. A wounder goal and an assist, this guy has some freakish talent.

His NUFC sojourn to date reminds me too much of Laurent Robert to be honest.

On his day he was world class in the truest sense. Some ridiculous goals both from open play and the deadball, sublime trickery and a creative spark that allowed us to compete on an even keel with the likes of Man United, Arsenal, Inter and Juventus.

However 8 or 9 games out of 10 he'd comparatively do nothing. Wouldn't track back, often get himself booked for sheer petulance and when the manager or his teammates would demand he pulls his finger out he'd just shrug his shoulders.

Bottom line, Laurent played when Laurent felt like it - often when he felt he had something to prove, or a contract renewal/potential transfer away was on the cards.

Emre ticks all those boxes.

On his day, as with the other night, he can look fantastic. Creative, lethal and a class above.

But what about the other 2 years he's been here? Frustrating, underwhelming and poor. Often doesn't track back - which is a necessity for a CM in England - and all too often his radar is askew.

The visit of Everton was one of those occasions where Emre had something to prove - and he duly delivered.

Let's hope he maintains this sort of level of performance or close to it, and doesn't slip back into the habit of just doing enough to keep the paycheques rolling in.

 

[apollo_creed]

Most importantly, he's NOT Joey Barton.

 

[jod23]

How good is Michael Owen? It's interesting to see a different set of supporters appreciating him now. He dead set scores goals. Even with all the injuries he has never had a barren run. I think he scored 7 in 9 for your lot when he first joined then was injured, but everytime he comes back, he scores.

Came back for England, scores, has operation, comes off bench and scores. He is one of the most lethal strikers of the last decade IMO. He did it at Liverpool, he did it at Real Madrid despite being unfairly behind Raul all the time and now he is banging them in at Newcastle.

Dead set legend.

 

[moomba]

Even with all the injuries he has never had a barren run.

Eh, he has gone on quite a few periods where he couldn't buy a goal, usually ending with 2 or 3 against Man City followed by a resumption of normal service.

 

[tige19]

His NUFC sojourn to date reminds me too much of Laurent Robert to be honest.

On his day he was world class in the truest sense. Some ridiculous goals both from open play and the deadball, sublime trickery and a creative spark that allowed us to compete on an even keel with the likes of Man United, Arsenal, Inter and Juventus.

However 8 or 9 games out of 10 he'd comparatively do nothing. Wouldn't track back, often get himself booked for sheer petulance and when the manager or his teammates would demand he pulls his finger out he'd just shrug his shoulders.

Bottom line, Laurent played when Laurent felt like it - often when he felt he had something to prove, or a contract renewal/potential transfer away was on the cards.

Emre ticks all those boxes.

On his day, as with the other night, he can look fantastic. Creative, lethal and a class above.

But what about the other 2 years he's been here? Frustrating, underwhelming and poor. Often doesn't track back - which is a necessity for a CM in England - and all too often his radar is askew.

The visit of Everton was one of those occasions where Emre had something to prove - and he duly delivered.

Let's hope he maintains this sort of level of performance or close to it, and doesn't slip back into the habit of just doing enough to keep the paycheques rolling in.

In fairness to Emre, Robert was a full blown headcase, Emre has clearly a better head on his shoulders. I dont really think their has been a time when Emre has been 100% fit and has had a manager that showed real faith in him and his ability, besides when Souness first got him he has not been given a real pilots role in the midfield.

Hopefully BSA allows him to gain confidence make the central midfield position his own, he creates shots on goal by just being out their his vision is fantastic. Even if the guy is having an off game he stil has the bility to pick out that 1 right ball which could get score for us, if it was my way I would have him starting almost every week. Going to be interesting when Barton is fit, he plays both the attacking midfield and defensive midfield role really well, I would like to see a Emre-Butt combo and a Emre-Barton combo and have Barton tracking back more than pushing forward.

Ohh and Owen is a freak no doubt, I am not 100% if I would have him starting over Martins its a 50-50 in my book, Martins has been suburb just about every game his played and should have scored again on the weekend, only let down with Martins is at time he is a bit selfish but you can live with that.

 

[ShearMagic9]

I prefer Martins over Owen.

Yeah, fair enough Owen is a better finisher, but thats about the only facet of the game that he's better than Martins in.

We look so much more dangerous when Martins is on the park.

 

[tribey]

In fairness to Emre, Robert was a full blown headcase, Emre has clearly a better head on his shoulders.

You sure?

In the past 18 months he's had three separate racism charges levelled at him (Lescott & Howard, Diouf, Bangura) and copped a six-match international ban for kicking a Swiss opponent in a tunnel brawl.

Robert was a self-obsessed showpony sure, but he's got nothing like that on his rapsheet.

 

[apollo_creed]

yes Jod, lets wank ourselves silly over a couple of Michael Owen fluke goals.

the two I rembember (they must've been the only ones in the past 48 months) were,

1. bullet cross from Martins straight onto his head - 1 yard out
2. game almost over - 2-1 up - gets lucky with a header and almost ****s up as easy chance - 2 yards out

yeah Jod out comes the red carpet and tuna.

 

[tribey]

yes Jod, lets wank ourselves silly over a couple of Michael Owen fluke goals.

Yeah, the last one went in off his shoulder, he didn't celebrate and he's clearly more intent on playing for England.

That £17 million fee + £100k/week in wages was smashing business - expect to see him limp off against the might of Estonia for another 2 months on the sideline as the tabloids hang on his every move with their "f#ck Newcastle, Ingerlund expects" attitude.