Lovenkrands Treble Could Help Newcastle Land Beckford
It was one of their best performances of the season - albeit against one of the worst teams they have faced - and Newcastle United should be happy with the manner in which they booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
I'm still struggling to get away from the feeling the FA Cup remains an unwanted distraction. It seems ridiculous to say that about any competition, but I can still remember watching Sunderland reach the semi-finals in 2004 where they lost to Millwall and then in the play-offs to Crystal Palace as their games in hand failed to take them into an automatic promotion slot.
However, Newcastle can't simply go out and deliberately lose. They would be slaughtered for it. Winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds victories so perhaps we should just accept the FA Cup as more of a pleasant distraction, a nice break from the pressure of the league.
Of course, Newcastle can't win it. Well, actually that isn't impossible, they haven't been knocked out yet so, in theory, they could win it couldn't they? No, that's highly unlikely, but while the cup run lasts we should stop worrying about it and enjoy it.
There were less than 16,000 people at St James' Park to see them dismantle Plymouth - a reminder that there is still plenty of disillusionment surround the club and the way it has been run by Mike Ashley - but they were treated to an excellent performance and a thoroughly deserved hat-trick for Peter Lovenkrands.
The Dane has been a bit part player for much of the season and has the horrible predicament of trying to cope with the news his dad has a life-threatening illness while trying to concentrate on a job playing football so it was a nice moment for him.
For the first time this season he looked truly match sharp and profited from some excellent approach play from Jonas Gutierrez for two of his three goals.
He looked like a predator, the sort of striker Newcastle haven't got as both Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi are better with their backs to goal and Nile Ranger remains raw and struggles when he is asked to start games.
Newcastle will still sign another forward this month, Chris Hughton confirmed that after the game, but I wonder whether Lovenkrands' performance will suggest to him he might be better off going back in for Marlon Harewood rather than play games with Leeds United over Jermaine Beckford?
Beckford is a similar sort of player to Lovenkrands, younger and quicker perhaps, but if Leeds are going to be stubborn and try to extract more money than is reasonable out of Newcastle, why not tell them you are willing to look elsewhere and see if that changes things?
Beckford has played along with Leeds so far, but he might start to toss the toys out of the pram if it looks as though Newcastle are going to turn their attention elsewhere during this transfer window.
Let's see how Leeds cope with a massive strop from their star player, after all Shay Given played ball for a while last year before effectively telling Newcastle he was so unhappy he had to leave as he wouldn't be able to give his all on a matchday. A few days later he was off to Manchester City.
But back to the cup. If I had to choose between the two, I'd take three points against WBA in the league game on Monday night and a defeat in the cup game the following weekend.
But hey, let's be positive, two wins and a Fifth Round derby at St James' Park against Sunderland to look forward to!
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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.
That is possibly the worst article i've ever read. How exactly could that help land Beckford you didn't exactly make it clear? And the FA Cup maybe a distraction but it's a welcome one. We haven't won in a little while so it's nice to do that, plus a cup run would be good for us fans who have watched our club fall to pieces and still continue to be run by a moron.
Erm, read the thing again Anthony, take you time, take it all in, it might help. I merely suggest that if Newcastle start looking elsewhere and rely on Lovenkrands to perform the role Beckford has been earmarked for, it might encourage Beckford to agitate to be released by Leeds. As for the FA Cup, I actually go on to say we shouldn't see it as a distraction!
Fair point Luke, if Leeds think we have other options that are real and viable then they are more likely to take the offer on the table rather than stretch the game out til the end of January
Cheers
Mike
Anthony-go back to school-its not hard really, is it? he means Lovekrands' hitting form gives Leeds something to think about, ie Newcastle mite not be as desperate as Leeds think for Beckford! Hence, they mite lose out on a substantial amount! hello! Luke, dont worry mate, we know what you meant! hahaha
I'm with you Anthony - thought that was a load of rubbish!
"wonder whether Lovenkrands' performance will suggest to him he might be better off going back in for Marlon Harewood" HAHA! have you been to St.James this year lad? As for Lovenkrands - yeh well done - long may if continue but surely it would make sense to have 2 forwards with pace and 2 forwards who play "with their back to goal" rather than 3 and 1... (excluding Ranger from all this)
Not that I'm desperate for Beckford to sign up...
You know what...normally i'm the one who will slate articles on here, and complain about them, but in this case i have to disagree with my namesake. I think that this is probably one of Lukes best articles that i've read so far, he really makes a good point on the Beckford subject. If we have strikers in form, and start looking elsewhere, then Beckford could start throwing up a stink at losing out on a first team spot playing for one of the greatest clubs (fair enough Newcastle don't always show that) just because they're playing hardball....and like Luke said about Given, when he starting throwing his toys outta the pram we let him sign for Man City. Maybe it'll be the same at Leeds. Beckford and Lovenkrands (especially when he's on form) would be a pretty amazing combo, the championship can't really deal with skilled players who have a lot of pace behind them...and that's what the two of them together would bring. As for the FA Cup being a distraction, yes sure theres the risk of injuries, fatigue and also less time to concentrate on league games, but you know what...the further we get the more our confidence will be boosted, which would most likely show in our league performances.
The one thing i disagree with though Luke is that we can't win the cup...if anything this year has shown anything can happen. Leeds beat Man Utd. Reading beat Liverpool...i mean providing we beat West Brom and go to the 5th round...we've proven in the past we have a good track record of beating Sunderland...whats saying we can beat them and go even further. Anything is possible in football these days. Who knows could be League and FA double for Newcastle this season...not saying it will happen...but still it's something to think about.
I don't understand why we need yet another striker, i mean we already have 4 with Shola, Carroll, Lovernkrads & Ranger, plus we have Nolan scoring for fun, so why do we need another one???
Toon for the cup, why not!!
Luke, IF we sign Beckford and he plays up with Lovenkrands, do you think that Chris Hughton will start trying to utilise their best assets, i.e. pace, rather than continue to plump for that direct style he seems to prefer at the minute? Or, will he have to sign a midfielder with pace and creativity (what we've lacked for a number of years) to stop the defenders launching it 50 or 60 yards whenever they get the ball?
Cyprus-Toon, the reason we need another striker is becasue the ones we have (Shola,Carroll and Ranger) are all big target men. The only one with a bit of pace is Lovenkrands and he aint all that quick. We are desperate for some real pace up front and a proper creative midfielder. I am hoping Joey Barton can fit into the latter. Might be just the test he needs to prove himself (again)
I don't think Lovenkrands will play alongside Beckford LLF. It will one or the other alongside one of the big men. The lack of pace in the side is alarming and will be even more of a problem in the Premier League, should they get back there come May. You've hit the nail on the head, the desperately need a creative midfielder with pace, probably two, one on the opposite wing to Jonas and one in the middle with Alan Smith just sitting as a holding player to allow the other three to bomb forward. That's how I'd play my football anyway! It works on Football Manager!
You must forgive me but I am of the old school, for the FA cup was always an attraction to me, never, ever a distraction. You have to go through the round by round grind to get there, because if you don't, you will never know the euphoria of winning a cup at Wembley. I do of course understand that for many of you this is , as yet, unknown experience, but believe me it is worth it.
Not winning the FA cup (or any other cup for that matter) is no guarantee that we will win promotion, the reverse of course, is also true. However, if you set your stall out to include but a single priority in a season, and you fail to achieve it, you will have failed completely in what you set out to do at the outset. If, on the other hand, you set three priorities at least i.e. to win promotion, the league and the FA cups you are much more likely to achieve at least a modicum of success by achieving only one of the afore mentioned priorities.
Success and failure are members of the same family, different branches, but the same family none the less.
We all have poorer, less fortunate members of our families, do we not?
Anyway, it is no good being poor - and looking it.
Looks like a deal for Beckford is dead given today's news! Maybe a good thing but it appears we will not be getting in reinforcements during January.