You Won't Win Anything With Kids
According to Glenn Roeder, he would rather â∠Âgo to warââ¬? with kids. According to Freddie Shepherd the kids have a â∠Âburning passion to wear the black and white shirt.ââ¬?
Firstly, I wouldnâ≢t want to go to war with kids. That is morally dubious and unlikely to be successful. Iâ≢d rather go to war with a state-of-the-art army, air-force and navy, ideally backed up by some secret laser weapon which zaps people from space. Secondly, I donâ≢t think anyone would be willing to set themselves alight just to wear a black and white shirt.
Oh, I get it, Newcastleâ≢s manager and chairman are talking about how well the clubâ≢s young players have done this season. War, obviously being a common analogy drawn in football - in the trenches, aerial bombardment, attacking forays, the list is endless - and â∠Âburning passionââ¬? is presumably a metaphor for those who feel strongly about things.
Well, they are right, the â∠Âkidsââ¬? - strictly speaking anyone over the age of 18 is an adult - have done very well this season, helping to dig the club out of a crisis while proving that, after years of under-achievement, the Newcastle Academy can spot talent and develop them into Premiership players.
For the ÃÂã10m it cost to sign Obafemi Martins, Newcastle established their Academy. It does not take a mathematical genius to work out which is the better business.
However, as is my normal occupation, I would like to put things into context if I may because, if Newcastle believe the kids will be good enough to win silverware this season - and surely this is the objective at St Jamesâ≢s Park - they are mistaken.
Look, I know Alan Hansen was wrong when he said Manchester United would not win anything with kids ten years ago, but does anyone actually believe that Newcastle will win the FA or Uefa Cups this season with their current defence?
I will be bold and brave and declare that they wonâ≢t. If that means I am forced to dance naked in the Bigg Market when Scott Parker lifts the Uefa Cup after Paul Huntington has scored the winner against Seville, then so be it. I will, for one time only, be thrilled to have been proven wrong.
Huntington, Steven Taylor, David Edgar and Peter Ramage have done superbly in difficult circumstances and they and Roeder will, in the long term, benefit enormously for the first team experience they have gained this season. But please donâ≢t make the mistake of believing they provide an instant solution to the problems in the squad.
I know I keep repeating myself like a drunken uncle at a wedding, but Newcastle need a left back, a centre back and a striker to give the squad the strength it needs to compete with the teams that will lift trophies at the end of the season.
The main reason why the youngsters have got their chance this season in the first place is that United went into it without the necessary strength in depth to cope with injuries to senior players.
Just because the youngsters have done well in recent weeks - the results against Manchester United and Tottenham were fantastic given the circumstances - that should not be allowed to smudge the real picture.
Just a thought and if Hansen can still work for the BBC after his blunder a decade ago, Iâ≢ll take my chances by predicting the same for Newcastle this season.
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Luke, I don't think any of us are expecting these "kids" to bring home any silverware this season. In a way I guess you could say that they already have in the way they that they are performing at the moment (silver in the way of saving us money).
The other thing is I know we need to build the squad, but I fully understand if GR wishes to wait until the summmer.
Let's build for the future. This means taking our time and choosing right.
All the best!
Left back, centre back, striker. Left back, centre back, striker. Left back, centre back, striker. Left back, centre back, striker. Left back, centre back, striker. Right, now I'm blue in the face!
So 18 days into the transfer window, and following last nights hummiliation, will someone in the local press please press the Manager and Chairman on this issue? As admirable as you're comments on here are Luke, the message clearly isn't getting through to the fat man. If last night didn't set the alarms off, I don't know what will.
I'd also like to add, that I don't know when FS will emerge from his pit to spout his "proud Geordie" rubbish again. But I want someone to ask a question, and I want it made clear that this is coming direct from a fan.
How much longer does he think he can get away with his bad decision making and poor running of the club?
And if he defends his reign, remind him, for every Owen there's a Boumsong, a Luque and a viana.
For every Bobby, there's KD - Past it (proved at Celtic). RG - Never had it and GS - only FS though it was a good idea.
For every night in Rotterdam, there's a Cardiff, a Stevenage and a St James' Park 17/01/07
And of course, for every "I always back the manager" there's a ""Keeping the Powder dry".
Except, I'm guessing this is exactly the type of scenario you're not allowed to ask. Which makes everything all the more pathetic!
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