Injuries Done Us Again?

By groundhogdaze
December 19 2004

Groundhogdaze posts his views on the messege board about Newcastle's poor fortune.

Taylor, Hughes, Butt, Shearer. Bellamy withdrawn before the start and we had to start with a 1/2 fit PK. Bad enough to hurt a team with a large squad of players however it devastates us when we have that many injuries/suspensions.

Andy O is not an emergency right back in any shape or form - just goes to show how well Hughes did in that slot last year and how far Taylor has progressed that we missed him today. Bernard is going backwards, Baros skinned him several times today, Elliott is not a CB and Bramble's confidence visibly drained once the own goal went in.

Milner and Ambrose at present still have a lot to learn but I'd give them time to develop. Bowyer suffers on the right wing and is far better inside which is where I'd play him.

Dyer - by name and nature. Contributes very little and is keeping far better players out of central midfield. He hasn't improved in 5 years - get rid now.

Robert - same as Dyer. We can't start with him because we don't know what kind of game he will produce. We do know defensively he's a liability. If we bring him on when the defence is under pressure and we're behind then we put even more pressure on them if as usual he's disinterested. Sell him.

Bellamy - we miss him as much if not more than Shearer or Kluivert. His pace and aggression terrifies defenders.

PK - different kind of player, his touch and awareness is second to none and if there was one "luxury" player I would keep it would be him. When he's fit his partnership with Bellamy looks like it will produce the goods.

Shearer - we miss his leadership, aggression, ability to hold the ball up and bring other players into the game as well as his scoring record. However it's something we have to overcome as he won't be here next year.

Ameobi - sorry to say for me he's not reaching the heights every manager say's he can. SBR, Sven and Souness all say great things about him. He must do wonders in training but for me he doesn't produce it for the Toon. Is he good enough to be one of the main strikers? Sorry but not for me.

We have been very badly affected by injuries/suspensions and we have had to use a lot of younger players still learning their trade in the last few games but that still can't justify completely the run of results we have had. Certainly I think we can write off this season in terms of CL football next year so we may have to be patient this season and get behind the team but we need to clear a few out and buy some new blood in January.

Obviously we need defenders - CB's and possibly a new left back or two if Bernard goes (which I think he will). Two winger's to come in - not players with potential but established players and perhaps an extra striker - certainly as cover for next season as Al's leaving.

So that's what we need in, deadwood to clear out - Dyer, Robert and one or two other possibles depending on who wants to leave and who we can sign.

I haven't given up on the team - just my honest appraisal of the season so far and our current situation.

Fat Freddy needs to spend more in January and the summer than he has in a very long time if we are to challenge for the top 4 next year.

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