Newcastle United
Newcastle is off to a great start with the Toonami booing them off at halftime of their Intertoto Cup match against European super-power Lillestrom of Norway:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=203673&cc=5901
Wasn't it only a few years ago that they were always in (or pushing) the top 4 (granted, only to get blown out of the Champions League)? Well this team has been headed in reverse since those heady times. Yes, they had a nice little run in the 2nd half of last season under Glenn Roeder, and yes they are a big club (with a large, loyal fanbase), but I think with their current roster, they might want to focus on the Prem (and possibly FA Cup).
In back, they have the killer B's - Bramble, Boumsong, and Babayaro. I don't like any of them (or Ramage, Eliot, etc for that matter - Steven Carr is OK, but I think on the way down). I can't believe they are trying to sign Beckham and Malbranque - they should be spending money on the back 4. If not, I foresee another very busy year for Shay Given.
Up front Ameobe does not cut it for me - he is just so inconsistent. If he was ever going to be a meaningful, effective striker, I think we would have seen it by now. I guess they are hoping for a lot of goals from an aging and injury-prone Michael Owen.
Keiron Dyer - ditto on the inconsistency- just barely there during long stretches of matches. Whenever I see Dyer go on a beautiful, mazy run, I think, "This guy is great." Then I don't see him again for a month. Yeah, he has great speed and ability, but what good is that if you are using it 1/20 of the time?
The only field players I like on their current squad are Scott Parker, Nolberto Solano, and Charles N'zogbia - and I wouldn't say I'm crazy for any of them. Maybe Emre can stay healthy and find his Inter Milan form again.
On the plus side, Scott Parker has been a feel good story culminating in his appointment to replace Shearer as Toon skipper. I thought Parker was going to be another cautionary tale of a young player doing well at a small club (Charlton), and leaving that nurturing set-up to languish on the bench at big club (Chelsea). (Ask SW Phillips if he regrets his Man City bolt for Chelsea - bet if he had played at Man City we might have seen him at the World Cup.)
Parker has found a home at Newcastle and shown himself to be a very skilled, hard-nosed warrrior in the center of the field. The Toonami deserve more players like him.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=203673&cc=5901
Wasn't it only a few years ago that they were always in (or pushing) the top 4 (granted, only to get blown out of the Champions League)? Well this team has been headed in reverse since those heady times. Yes, they had a nice little run in the 2nd half of last season under Glenn Roeder, and yes they are a big club (with a large, loyal fanbase), but I think with their current roster, they might want to focus on the Prem (and possibly FA Cup).
In back, they have the killer B's - Bramble, Boumsong, and Babayaro. I don't like any of them (or Ramage, Eliot, etc for that matter - Steven Carr is OK, but I think on the way down). I can't believe they are trying to sign Beckham and Malbranque - they should be spending money on the back 4. If not, I foresee another very busy year for Shay Given.
Up front Ameobe does not cut it for me - he is just so inconsistent. If he was ever going to be a meaningful, effective striker, I think we would have seen it by now. I guess they are hoping for a lot of goals from an aging and injury-prone Michael Owen.
Keiron Dyer - ditto on the inconsistency- just barely there during long stretches of matches. Whenever I see Dyer go on a beautiful, mazy run, I think, "This guy is great." Then I don't see him again for a month. Yeah, he has great speed and ability, but what good is that if you are using it 1/20 of the time?
The only field players I like on their current squad are Scott Parker, Nolberto Solano, and Charles N'zogbia - and I wouldn't say I'm crazy for any of them. Maybe Emre can stay healthy and find his Inter Milan form again.
On the plus side, Scott Parker has been a feel good story culminating in his appointment to replace Shearer as Toon skipper. I thought Parker was going to be another cautionary tale of a young player doing well at a small club (Charlton), and leaving that nurturing set-up to languish on the bench at big club (Chelsea). (Ask SW Phillips if he regrets his Man City bolt for Chelsea - bet if he had played at Man City we might have seen him at the World Cup.)
Parker has found a home at Newcastle and shown himself to be a very skilled, hard-nosed warrrior in the center of the field. The Toonami deserve more players like him.
posted by the idiot at 1:39 PM
3 Comments:
You know I have never been as sold on Shay Given as everyone else - I am by no means a good judge of keepers, so I accept your (and most experts) opinion that he is awesome. He certainly gets plenty of action and rarely makes mistakes (though a few howlers, or at least half-howlers, last year as I rememeber ).
Yeah, Owen is older than his years. And totally agree re: reliance on quickness. I think Owen is still among the quickest to loose balls in the box (reads situations really well), but not on the burst or the through ball. Owen seems like a such a down-to-earth guy for what he went through at a young age - I do root for him, just wouldn't really want him as my go-to-guy.
I'm gonna try to avoid doing picks as a necessity, but will throw in certain picks or ideas if I really like them. It's a peave of mine that all these sports shows now always have a "Picks" segment - I am firm believer in the wisdom of the market and I just rather look at the odds on a sports exhange (and bet a few $ there too) then have Max Bretos or Boomer Esiason tell me who he thinks will win. I will say I like when Bobby McMahon throws in an idea for an upset in the prem - rather they just do one a week or so.
I think of the movie "Major League", when I heard about some of The Villa complaints (w Doug Ellis as the bitchy owner who cuts off the hot water). I know they are your boys, but it just seems ripe for a disastrous season.
Btw, forgot to mention Lee Hendry - a guy I love. With him you will always get either a beautiful goal or a red card. Sometimes both.
Boris,
that's so funny I was just reading Simmons and writing him an e mail.
It seems to me the business plan of the New York/NJ MLS franchise has focused on coming up with the worst possible names. New York/New Jersey Metrostars? Just rolls off the tongue. The Greater Metroplitan Red Bull?
I really don't know much about the MLS, so I can't comment on the appointment. You clearly know more - what do you think? Btw, if Red Bull puts out a decent product, I think you should back them - let them know what puts (and what doesn't put) people in the seats.
Well, half the Villa problem is gone. Unfortunately, the tougher half to dislodge remains. O'Leary's axe makes me even more pumped for this coming season.
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