Injury Problems And Transfer Trouble
Sam Allardyce has learnt some valuable lessons about managing Newcastle United this week. Trying to get top international players to the North-East isn’t easy anymore and, no matter how fancy or scientific you are in your preparation, injuries have a nasty habit of biting you on the backside.
I can imagine Glenn “I’m not bitter� Roeder was cackling into his cauldron over the weekend when news filtered into his east London lair that Joey Barton had broken his foot against Carlisle,
Lest we forget - and how could you given Roeder’s ridiculous attempt to claim he never used injuries as an excuse despite mentioning them in every single interview - injuries have been a bit of a problem for managers at St James’s Park in recent years.
Graeme Souness lost Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer, Charles N’Zogbia and Titus Bramble in the second half of an Uefa Cup quarter final against Sporting Lisbon and then had to do without his three of his summer signings, Albert Luque, Emre and Michael Owen for lengthy periods the following season.
As for Roeder, well he moaned and whinged about injuries the whole time. Mind you, he also had to do without Owen, the club’s record signing who has offered about as much value for money as a package holiday to a building site Skegness, and several other key players throughout his miserable tenure.
Allardyce knew all that when he arrived and was at pains to stress he would be doing everything he could to avoid a repeat. This meant thorough preparation, better conditioning and so on.
So what happens at Carlisle in only his second game in charge? Barton breaks his metatarsal - the world’s most famous football injury since David Beckham suffered it on the eve of the 2002 World Cup - and will be missing for at least six weeks. Biggest signing of the summer already ruled out for the start of the season. Nice touch.
James Miler is also struggling with a groin problem, Emre hasn’t figured because of a sore ankle, Steven Taylor is carrying a knock, as is Shay Given. New manager, same old problems.
It is all rather worrying for Sam. With Kieron Dyer apparently on the verge of a move to West Ham or Spurs - but don’t rule out Sven Goran Eriksson and Manchester City - the Newcastle squad is looking a little lightweight.
So far, David Rozehnal is the only new defender to arrive and, while he looked accomplished at Carlisle, he needs time to adjust to the English game and was beaten in the air for the Cumbrians’ goal.
Newcastle need at least three more defenders before the start of the season, but Sam was forced to admit last week that he is finding it difficult to get players with Premiership experience because they don’t want to come to Newcastle.
If Dyer goes - some of you will be very happy if he does - and with Barton injured, are Newcastle also looking a bit short in midfield as well?
Sadly, gone are the days when the Magpies’ name and reputation was enough to attract the best players. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are the favoured destinations and, without the offer of even the Uefa Cup next season, even the likes of Tottenham are more attractive.
Newcastle will make more signings, but they are likely to be foreign defenders who, like Rozehnal, will need time to settle That could be months rather than weeks. When you are building a new look back four, ideally, you’d also like to give them the time to work together as a unit, but Newcastle could go into the start of the Premiership with a back four who hardly recognises each other. Worse still, they might have to play Celestine Babayaro.
After all the optimism of Sam’s arrival, the impressive start he made in the transfer market and the removal of Freddie Shepherd, Newcastle have lost a bit of momentum, but there is no point getting too disheartened.
After all, the last time the Newcastle squad looked a bit weak, Roeder signed Antoine Sibierski on transfer deadline day! Somehow I think Sam and the new owners will do rather better than that don’t you?
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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.
Barton, Viduka, Geremi and Rozenhal for a net GBP2m, not bad at all. Player got rid (so far), no problems there either.
Not bad considering we still have 3ish weeks until our first competitive match and 6ish weeks before the transfer window actually closes...we need another 4 players in, should be alright.
So, compared with the last few seasons, a better squad overall (so far), better boardroom, better manager, better prepared and better chance to do well this coming season, better stay positive.
There is no need to panic, although we probably need five new players if Dyer is going to leave. I hope they aren't all foreign because as you say Luke, they are going to need a settling in period and that would mean we lose ground of other teams in the Premiership while they do that.
Personally, while I don't dislike Dyer as some people, I think it's the right decision for him to move on. He's stagnated at Newcastle and as long as we can get a suitable replacement I think it's a good bit of business.
Anyone agree that resigning gary speed as a short term replacement for joey might not be too bad, he was class last couple of seasons for sam I,m sure it would be better than playing unfit lads or players out of position???
Note From Luke
Good idea David. He could come in as a player coach as well.
When Shepherd was handed Newcastle United on a plate by Sir John he was given the 2nd best team in the Premiership.
What legacy has been handed from Shepherd to Ashley?
Ashley inherited a team that finished 13th in the league and closer to relegation than respectibility. We now seem to be in a position where one of the best stadiums in Britain which is normally packed to capacity yet the club appears to be unable to attract players.
Shepherd has a lot to answer for while he counts his pennies and lives in luxury for the rest of his life.
Ashley has worked miracles during his working life, I doubt he's ever faced the kind of challenge that this club has presented him with. We'll have to see how things go but this job will mark him as having been very lucky, or, if he pulls this one off a very good business leader, time will tell but nobody should under-estimate the job in front of him.
Why don't we quickly stump up the cash for luke young and leighton baines? this would not only get us two fullbacks with premiership experience, but also get one over on the smogs and the mackems respectively.
DOUBLE WHAMMY!
Note From Luke
I like your thinking. Boost your squad and wreck the plans of your local rivals in the process. I think both would be decent signings as well, certainly better than Celestine Babayaro and Stephen Carr
With the exception of Barton, all the other injuries are minor strains. It's nothing to worry about too much, is it? Where's the news of all these top Serbian players anyway? There's got to be a decent left back somewhere...
Note From Luke
Due to the excitement of the Exit Festival I failed to spend a single second looking for new players, although there was a kickabout in the park as I walked past. Sadly they were all bloated middle aged men who looked more like hooligans than the answer to Sam's left back problem.
Strong squad,looking ok,no panic buys... I`ve never read so much drivel in my life.We have to be the weakest we`ve ever been,talk of young Zog playing out of position now to fill in the left back role.I`m keen to see if BSA can do any better than GR.And now ppl talking of Gary Speed,Baines,Young as if they`d be a step forward...my oh my oh my are we Sunderland?
Note From Luke
You're right to a certain extent Steve. The squad doesn't look strong enough at the moment, with at least three new defenders needed and probably another central midfielder if Dyer goes. But there is still plenty of time left before the transfer window shuts, even if in an ideal world the new players would be given more time to settle during pre season.
I have to admit, I'm a little concerned by the lack of defenders. We don't want to go into the start of the season with a defence which has hardly played together before.
I think Sam has to use some big cash now! If those players cost 1-2 million more...so be it!
We need a few great players!
Well lets hope this is the start of the new money being spent as its getting a little late in the day to be scurrying around for defenders.
Anyway while Shepherd may have been a born and bred geordie, I can’t ever forgive him the comments made from a Spanish brothel about the female fans being “dogs�, describing striker Alan Shearer as the “Mary Poppins of football�, and mocking the fans for spending £45 for a replica shirt. The man should have gone then, but decided to stay to line his pockets even further.
Good riddance!!!
Note From Luke
I still find it incredible he was allowed to return to office after that and do the fans take some of the blame for allowing it to happen?
Just a thought, after selling players the net spend is £2M. Selling Dyer which looks likely will fund further purchases - if Big Sam can persuade players to sign.
Can anyone tell me what Mike Ashley has put into the club?
Note From Luke
Apart from the 70 odd million needed to buy the club not much so far. Time will tell if the takeover has given Newcastle greater financial clout
good signings so far but i think that everyone would be happier if we had 2 or 3 more defenders/players by the end of the weeek. I t is a bit worrying watching players like baines who are better than what we have leaving the market. Also the lack of being linked with players is worrying, at least then there is something to speculate about.
i think situations little bit difficult now for nufc. remember how GR mocked how club's raise the price if we put a bid for a player? Maybe they have same situation there when table a bid for defender coz such a need like this? i dunno what happen there coz i from indonesia, far far away from location. so there's only my wild thought of what happen.
I agree with action steve, luke young and leighton baines are talking to the smoggies and mackems and not even a sniff from the toon. Although there not as big as some of the players that have been mentioned their both solid premiership players in positions we have struggled with. I also like the sound of this 6 foot 4 inch norwegian centre back, one thing we've always lacked is a big commanding defender and the crack is this boy is that and alongside the skill and pace of either Rozenhal or taylor it could turn out to be a good signing but only time will tell.
Brede Hangeland isn't too far away from us, according to different newspapers. Been very good at Copenhagen and the National team this year. Think he's got what it takes to become a success at SJP.
Note From Luke
Unfotunately, when I asked Sam about him yesterday he didn't seem at all interested in signing him. Think it might just be his agent trying to hype him up Hans
I wish BSA would stop the public moaning about not getting players in and just crack on with it. Results aren't just about a scoreline, we need them now. Luke Young to Boro at 2.5m - a missed opportunity - Boro now have Woodgate and Young in a good looking defence - we still can't sort out Carr and Babayaro - we could be signing Gareth Southgate as a stopper at the current rate. If you don't sort it Sam, we won't be in Europe the season after next, and then you'll have a few problems trying to sign players. Fans don't want to hear pessimism - they want realism and they want quality. It's not happening quick enough for us and it needs fixing - can't believe we're being outgunned by the likes of West Ham, Portsmouth, Fulham and Derby - our net outlay matches that of Birmingham at this point in time. Becoming a bit of a joke - actually no, becoming a bit like Bolton - it's not a place I want us to be.
Joey Barton, David Rozenhall, Mark Viduka,Geremi and in a sense Albert Luque all brought in! That makes 5.
Titus Bramble, Scott Parker, Moore and Gooch all left, that makes 4.
I haven't counted Bernard because he never played even once. I also didn't count Srnicek because we don't need another keeper and he was no way near being a first time regular.
Shay given's statement in todays journal dosen't make sense as the squad is healthier than last years, i.e. there are more AVAILABLE to play.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with his sentiments with regard to the defense but not the inferences to the squad as a whole.
We will acquire at least 2 defenders before/on thursday. Then at least one more will arrive after that.
As for Kieron Dyer leaving I think we have a lot of strength in depth in that area anyhow.
Luque often played attacking midfielder, just behind the front two, for Deporto, Geremi looked class in that position and it is also Nzogbia's 'true' position. Add to that Barton and Emre when they return to fitness and we have incredible strength.
Last year Roeder made an interesting statement. "I won't buy for the sake of buying"
As a result of this wisdom there were times when we were putting out teams with an average age of 12.
Now Big Sam has made the same statement, which while admirable in sentiment actually means we'll end up hamstrung through injury again, when a few good "squad players" (I hate that term) would go a long way towards alleviating the problem.
Souness and Roeder were both plagued by injury, and both had limited depth in their squads. What they would have given for 4 players on 30K a week rather than one on 120K.
So for Sam to stand there and say "I wont buy for the sake of buying" followed by "we're short staffed" just doesnt make sense.
Middlesbrough have got a brilliant defence for next season come on sam bring the same talent boro brought in young, woodgate, huth, pogatetz, taylor, arca they'll be sorted next season if they get a good striker to i think they'll be top side in north east shambles!
dont worry about the toon they will finish top 6 this year and thats a definate, they have a amazing attack force with michael owen, martins, viduka and smithy with ameobi as back up and when emre and barton are in the team they will be plenty of flair glad dyers gone skillfull player but could not hit a barn door from a yard away.