Now Where Have I Heard That Before David?

Commulus wrote...

So football reporters do talk ‘hyperbolic-twaddle’, and ‘footballers speak’ is rehearsed ‘diplomatic twaddle’, football manager’s talk ‘semi coherent idiotic meaningless, twaddle’, then you have Alan Hansen who stands alone in majesty as the one who really knows!

Then in the course of truths narrow margins, ‘that opinion isn’t the truth’, but if you are involved in any shape or form with a football you must proclaim your genius by telling as many people as you can, that you alone know the truth, even though you know in your pure heart of consciousness, that it’s a lie!

The real truth is that the orcs are once again at the gates of the shire and dark riders have been seen menacing the populous despite ‘the return of the king’, and has Mr, Hansen or the Evening Chronicle mentioned this even once?

Note From Luke
I don't believe they have no. I assumed it was you Commulus so, although you had not put your name in and left it anonymous, I put it in for you! If it isn't Commulus, ytou really should remember to leave your name in the future.

Posted by: Commulus  | February 5, 2008 2:45 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

Well Rozehnal will go down as one of the most erratic players we have signed.

He wasn’t bad, just not particularly good, he always seemed on edge and, inkeeping with our recent history of defenders- dare I say it- slightly thick and docile in the art of defending.

If you look at the likes of Bramble, O’Brien, Dabizas, Rozehnal, they were actually decent defenders, even Bramble everyone must admit he largely played a great 89 minutes, but all of a sudden he would lose all poise and concentration and swipe at a ball moving 5mph and end up kicking one of the stunt doubles in The Sixth Sense.

O’Brien, one of my head targets for criticism in those heady Sir Bobby Robson days, never did anything special, but played a solid 25 games out of a 38 game league season, as did Dabizas, who scored plenty goals, including one against those who lose their key’s so often. Plus Olivier Bernard who was one of the best full backs we’ve had in ages.

Then there’s Aaron Hughes, what a mistake it was to rid ourselves of this overrated buffoon- yeah right. He was a great lad and a good defender as well. Still we got nearly £2m for him and we spent it wisely on that outstanding football talent that was Amdy Faye.- SCORE!!

Neither would take the side to the top, although they all played in the Champions League with us, but were solid enough to get in the side present day.

Heaven forbid we had a back four of Bernard, O’Brien, Dabizas and Hughes today.

When we all find out who will be part of the Keegan revolution second time round, we can all feel secure that any player that leaves will be replaced by someone better than what we have.

That’s Keegans speciality, his ability in the transfer market, after all every manager since himself, has had a catalogue of bad buys to show for their efforts in the transfer market, even Sir Bobby bought badly at times, however, some managers have had considerably worse moments than others.

Dalglish :- Carl Serrant, Georgios Geordiardis, Andreas Andersson, Stephane Guivarch, Des Hamilton.

Ruud Gullit:- Marcelino, Alain Goma, Frank Dumas, Keiron Dyer,

Sir Bobby Robson:- Daniel Cordone, Diego Gavilan, Hugo Viana, Carl Cort, Titus Bramble, Stephen Carr, Patrick Kluivert. Christian Bassedas

Greame Souness:- John Alain Boumsong, Amdy Faye, Celestine Babayaro, Michael Owen,

Sam Allardyce:- Geremi, Alan Smith, David Rozehnal, Mark Viduka, Joey Barton,

I doesn’t matter who spent the most, but it’s a heck of a lot and most we made a CONSIDERABLE loss.

Paul.

Note From Luke
I'm not sure all of the above were bad signings and I'm not sure how many of the above were actually bought by the manager and not someone above them under a previous regime at NUFC! But Keegan will have to do well in the transfer market because the squad he has at the moment isn't good enough. How much longer will the Alan Smith continue for example?

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | February 5, 2008 8:00 PM

David B wrote...

I feel Rozehnal will have many chances to perfect his new club acceptance speeches as he moves around and no doubt down the ranks of the various European leagues. To David at least all will be finer that the last as he readies himself for his next challenge. I have no doubt that he will be an orator of Churchillian gravitas by career end.

As a general point am I alone in finding it remarkable that the Italian league pursues players such as Rozehnal and Boumsong? Clearly they see something I don’t. I know the play is a great deal slower but surely that have to tackle someone at some point?

Note From Luke
I just don't think it's as physical or direct, so lightweight centre backs like Boumsong and Rozehnal are able to cope better with the style of football. Graeme Souness once said the problem with foreign defenders is that they are fine when the ball is in front of them, but hate being turned and facing goal. It's why continental sides often used to play with a sweeper. English football puts in a lot of balls behind flat back fours, turning centre-backs, who aren't used to worrying so much about people running in behind them. Buy hey, what did he know?

Posted by: David B  | February 6, 2008 9:20 AM

Mike Ashburn wrote...

Stock comments and bland phraseology are basically all you should expect nowadays in this day and age of the catch-all mentality of a media designed to feed a public that is in a frenzy to suck dry anyone who dares to say anything that smacks of realism and/or (dare I say it)the truth as that indvidual sees it!
There,finally got it off my chest,I'm going to have a nice cup of camomile tea now!

Note From Luke
And you deserve it Mike. I'm going to suck someone dry! Erm, actually I'm going to retract that last comment. I'm just going to do a phone interview with Kyle Coetzer, the Durham batsman!

Posted by: Mike Ashburn  | February 6, 2008 11:04 AM

Mike Ashburn wrote...

P.S.
Further to my little rant earlier,you have to admit that there's a defensive wall built in to commentary made by most sportsmen nowadays(or has it always been that way?)that suggests that training doesn't just mean working with a football,cricket bat or whatever!
A chocolate digestive now I think!

Note From luke
Couldn't agree with you more

Posted by: Mike Ashburn  | February 6, 2008 11:40 AM

kinseyharris wrote...

I have read most of the comments and alot I agree with. The euphemisms and opinions applied by footballing pundits, and players to excuse their inherant lack of ability to earn what for most geordies is a years wages in one week in the ability to keep their eye on the ball and put body foot head in the way, then to direct it or block it, is in itself inexcusable.
The repartee of football professionals should be confined to the pitch & not to making excuses.
We have had enough of excuses, and I hope KK doesnt find one to leave

Posted by: kinseyharris  | February 6, 2008 12:55 PM

David B wrote...

Luke - I accept that the Catenachio tactic of the Italians are somewhat different to the Premier League but it still amazes me that clubs of the stature of Juve and Lazio would welcome defenders that attract derision from the terraces of SJP. For me a great defender is an individual who reads the game, is a step ahead of the forward as opposed to a step behind. We respect bravery in England but too often bravery is a tactic of desperation as opposed to preparation. I have to say that I’m a little concerned that Taylor currently values the former ahead of the latter, but he’s young and I’m confident that he’ll (a) learn, and (b) be an excellent NUFC captain some day. The best I’ve seen – well Woodgate just stands head and shoulders above the rest in my humble opinion, league and style of opponent irrelevant. Gutted that he’s a now a Spur but encouraged that KK recognised the quality and tried to get him back.

Anyway to the general point of the verbal squits. History has shown that all will be tolerated if the guy has talant. Sir Alex put up with Cantona’s seagull following the trawler nonsense and I’d happily sign David Ike if he could play. We’d do well to consider this when we have a pop – me included.

Note From Luke
I actually thought Rozehnal read the game well, he just lacked aerial ability and the physical strength needed in the PL. He is first-choice entre back from the Czech Republic and they are considerably better than England!

Posted by: David B  | February 6, 2008 1:51 PM

Paul Wait wrote...

Whatever David Rozehnal has said, I would think the main reason for him leaving would be playing out of position. He was bought as a specialist centre back and if memory serves me right, started well, got blamed for the Man City away result and was dropped. Since getting back, he's played in virtually every position in defence and midfield.

So, he was originally dropped for making an error (his first since joining I believe!) in his specialist position yet was later deemed good enough to play in positions he knows little about, gets fed up and leaves. Hardly good man management regardless of your occupation. If we all turned up for work only to be told we'd be doing something different everyday then we'd soon feel under valued and want out. Some people can adapt but it's unfair to criticise those that can't - their manager is at fault not them!

Note From Luke
As I've said, I didn't think Rozehnal was a bad player, he just needed time to adapt and didn't get it. What did annoy me was seeing him trot out the same old cliches about Italian football as he did about English football a few months earlier!

Posted by: Paul Wait  | February 6, 2008 4:50 PM

Johny wrote...

i agree about the whole cliches, but then most of the foreigners probably tell people what they want to hear to try and make instant friends.

I also agree that rozehnal never had the physical attributes to succeed this season, but for alot of overseas players it takes awhile to settle in, yet if he's going to complain after 6 fairly ordinary months then best getting rid. i thought he looked a classy player at first but was soon found out, i feel big sam let him down though as he made a mistake and he was straghit out, not great for confidence, when these were sam's signings. this afterall was a guy he had fought tooth and nail (apparently) to sign and someone he had earmarked as building his defence around. another disappointing buy but prob get near enough our money back and not good enough on this seasons form.

hopefully faye & beye will carry on where they left off as this season peters out, ready for the all familiar 'summer re-building', lets hope these foundations last!

Note From Luke
You're right Johny there have been more rebuilding projects at St James's Park than the pyramids. Let's just hope Newcastle aren't dragged into a relegation battle because they are too worried about what's going to happen to the team at the end of the season.

Posted by: Johny  | February 6, 2008 7:12 PM

Little Lord Fauntleroy wrote...

Paul Patterson forgot Dalglish's other Donkey signing... Jon Dahl Tomasson.
The same fella who went on to play for AC Milan and win accolades in Germany with Stuttgart.

We've discussed foreign defenders on this blog, but why do foreign forwards look so poor here, yet so prolific in other countries?

Note From Luke
Probably for the same reasons, pace, physical and direct nature of the English game compared to the continent. I think all foreign footballers need time to settle, it just depends how much. Some of course are just crap and should never have been signed in the first place!

Posted by: Little Lord Fauntleroy  | February 7, 2008 9:36 AM

ronnie lambert wrote...

I love the English game like I love erm Halle Berry, especially Newcastle United who I've watched for years. I know I can do a great job as erm striker as I love the physical side of the Premiership..like I love Cheryl Cole..erm Tweedy. I always respected the erm Gaffer who done a great job here this season erm tha fans here are special. The board is great like and money has got nothin to do with me coming here erm and the fans is magnificent like I said earlier an I just wanna gerron the park and show them why the boss signed me to play for this great club with it's erm history of erm great fans. An' I'd just like to thank me mam an' dad who I wouldn't have nothin if it weren't for erm them and me erm agent Willie Decoy for settin this magnicifent deal up with these magnificent fans an' the club an the gaffer like I just said earlier like.

Note From Luke
Did you use to play football Ronnie?

Posted by: ronnie lambert  | February 7, 2008 11:26 AM

Paul Wait wrote...

Sorry Luke but I can't believe that you've got annoyed at the fact David Rozehnal trotted out the same cliches to both the English and Italian press. Surely all fans and (battle hardened) reporters know that footballers only seem able to talk in cliches and only say what the fans want to hear. One exception recently is Lassana Diarra who on joining Portsmouth, allegedly claimed he was using the club as a stepping stone and by all accounts it didn't go down very well with the fans or the press. Being honest in football doesn't seem to win you any friends!

As for Jon Dahl Tomasson being mentioned on this board, yet another good player who Newcastle didn't get the best from due to him being played out of position. Regardless of our manager, we seem to make a habit of it although KK appears more aware of it than others. Happy people tend to perform better and give their best, if that's not good enough then replace them but they should at least be given the chance. I do agree though that the physical nature of English football doesn't suit everyone!

Posted by: Paul Wait  | February 7, 2008 12:25 PM

ronnie lambert wrote...

Erm.....at the end of the day..obviously,like you know...I would have to say that Pelaw B. wasn't er..the same Pelaw that Chris Waddle played for obviously like. But the gaffer/player Rob Shanks did sign me up originally to play lead guitar in his band Purple Frizz, which never actually performed anywhere, or rehearsed come to that, but I did play at left back for a season before being transferred for 10 Embassy to Leam Lane. I could've been a great striker if they'd let me wear my specs cos I was blind as a bat, but very fast.

Posted by: ronnie lambert  | February 8, 2008 9:27 AM