However, ***** over, I actually do wish that this headline was an April Fool, but unfortunately I fear that it’s not. Yes, it’s a sign of how desperate we are for strikers at the moment, but we aren’t in a position to alter that now. We were, back in January, but we didn’t so I guess we just have to deal with the fact that our only in-form forward could quite conceivably have kicked his final ball of the season with eight games still remaining.
Best was already doubtful for the weekend visit of Wolves after reporting, injured, to the Republic of Ireland squad and breaking down in training after being instructed to report solely to register his injury and have it verified as per the rules of internatioanl engagement.
Now it seems that this troublesome ankle ‘knock’ could be more serious than first feared with talk of specialists and unknown time frames and the like being mentioned. Now call me cynical, but I just don’t like the word specialist. To me it translates to something akin to what a Thai hooker would say – long time! At this point it’s worth refreshing everyone with what has been said about Best’s injury by Alan Pardew:
“We have got to get him seen on Monday by a specialist to find out exactly what is the problem because it is just not right. But I do not think it was anything to do with the extra training he did with Ireland,” said Pardew.
“We will have to wait and see with Leon. Are we talking weeks or months? I have no idea at this stage how long he could be out. When he has had this injury before, he has had an injection and it has seemed to go away, but he has had another injection this time and it has not gone away. We might go down the line of having a second injection, I just don’t know.”
Sounds pretty serious when it’s put like that doesn’t it? Perhaps this is the reason for the recent charm offensive regarding Nile Ranger?
Look, I know Leon Best is not the striker that we all aspire to see playing up front for Newcastle, but he has done rather well since the departure of Andy Carroll and is arguably our only realy main goal threat left. The fact that he has scored one less Premier League goal than the other three strikers combined is an alarming stat, but it does also highlight how key Leon has become to us in the second half of the season.
Now I don’t buy into this guff about how selling Carroll has ruined our season. It may have dented team spirit, but he wouldn’t have been available for the bulk of the matches since Christmas anyway. We needed a striker in January regardless, but we didn’t get one which is why we are here now debating how losing Leon Best is such a blow.
The bottom line is that we need to score goals, and Best has done that when he has been afforded the chance. Lovenkrands hasn’t, Ameobi hasn’t and neither has Ranger, which is a concern.
They better take their chances soon though as it looks as though they’ll be getting enough of them if my reading between the lines turns out to be accurate.
Rant over!
We have the topscoring midfielder in the country in Nolan so hopefully he can chip in with a few from a few loose balls before suspension inevitably kicks in.
Ireland coming in will be significant in some attacking presence and hopefully just one of our 3 fit fowards can hit a little bit of a purple patch.
Even if they score one goal and we win a game 1-0 we can get our confidence back.
Easier said than done though but here’s hoping
LiamTheMag(Quote)
Maybe Ranger will grab the chance with both hands.
I have confidence in the lad to push on after he bags his 1st goal, and maybe regular games will help him sort himself out .
It is funny that we have had both himself and pards coming out in the last couple of weeks saying how he has turned things around and started to pull his weight.
Big Dave(Quote)
No one would have batted an eye lid a couple of months back, He had a chance when Carroll and Ameobi were injured and did well still frustating as hell like, Ranger has far more ability and deserves a run in the team like Best and Lovenkrands have to show what he can do.
2-1 us Nolan and Shola…
CC(Quote)
wolves seem to have a few injury problems too ime pleased to say.
just cannot see where our goals are going to come from 😕
icedog(Quote)
three words….. for fecks sake
Jobey07(Quote)
How did it get so bad that, Newcastle get worried about Best being injured?
Would love to see Ranger step up and show his talent, but if he doesnt, why not give one of the other youngsters a shot? Cant Vuckic play up front aswell?
milkman1993(Quote)
MILKMAN,thats been the problem most of the season,lack of decent strikers mate
icedog(Quote)
I think the reason we’re lamenting Best’s absence is primarily a good one – Best has been better than we all expected. As Toonsy’s said, Carroll would only just be back anyway – but how different would the last 8 games look right now with him ready to play for us? It’d certainly change the bookies’ odds on relegation!
But we have what we have. Perhaps it’s time to go 4-5-1 and let the midfielders have their day? I’d be tempted to have Shola or Ranger alone up front, as much to hold up play and lay off as to score, then hope Nolan and Barton can do their bit.
Whumpie(Quote)
Oh, and Ireland if he plays. He can find the net. Usually against us in the past…
Whumpie(Quote)
Isn’t it about time Saylor scored some? A couple of seasons ago he got a decent tally if I remember right. Good with his head from corners.
Blimey. Straws. Clutchy, clutchy…
Whumpie(Quote)
Apparantly Pardew was on SSN saying Ireland wont play against Wolves, Then he cant play against Villa so its another couple of weeks before hell play…
CC(Quote)
icedog, yeah I guess it has been like, but never been a massive worry with carroll. I reckon if the likes of Ranger had have had more starts they would be much more confident players, I reckon Ranger will pick up after his first few goals, athough he should be on about 3 or 4 by now like.
Whumpie, I agree with the 4-5-1, but then again arent we short on wingers aswell, Ireland just returning from injury, Barton has had a few knocks recently, off the top of my head I can think of about 5 or 6 experienced midfielders that we have, if one of them picks up an injury, then we are donald ducked to play the 4-5-1. I dont think Pardew has a clue about what formation best suits the team anyway like
milkman1993(Quote)
icedog- To be honest he is a decent striker, what is it 6 in 8 or 9 games good enough for me like. But i know were you are coming from though, he isn’t exactly a Tevez 😆
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
MILKMAN,havent seen you on this blog mate,are you new or just a new nick ❓
icedog(Quote)
Yeah only joined like last week mate 🙂
milkman1993(Quote)
Nor u didn’t milkman, dont lie, you’ve had about 10 accounts on this 😕
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
DAN4 its goals scored from now thats going to save teams at this stage of the season,ime just worried who is going to put them in the net,its all right scoreing 1goal but then its a hanging on job which does the nerves “in” for fans and players
icedog(Quote)
Here Dave, what you on about!? I anly joined the other day
Lies like that will get you dropped from the team son 😉
milkman1993(Quote)
icedog u talking to me coz its davidtoon4life not dan4toon 😯 😯 😯 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙄 🙄 🙄 😎
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
MILMAN- LIES UPON LIES UPON DECEIT. DISCRACE 😎 😎 😎
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
Why are we paying 60 odd grand a wek for Ireland (Who i rate but has been a waste of time) when the likes of Keane, Ba and Sturridge were available for loan in the transfer window and even the likes of Beattie and Ewerthon were there for nowt and would have done us a job.
CC(Quote)
sorry mate comment in reply to @13,no offence meant mate
icedog(Quote)
No bother icecat 😉
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
😆
icedog(Quote)
CC, Ireland’s apparently on Pay-As-You-Play. Less of a problem, but still want him back. Especially since he can’t play against Villa.
blip(Quote)
CC I totally agree mate, how much we’ve paid him so far aswell and he’s yet to kick a ball for us. Surely we couldve gotten cheaper players who could have played the season out, as opposed to a few games at the end, seems like a waste of money
milkman1993(Quote)
Have to admit canny whitty that wasn’t it Icedod 😆 😆 😆
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
Ah well if hes on a pay as you play then it isnt so bad. But still there are players who couldve played and done more for us
milkman1993(Quote)
ha just messing Icedog mate, predication for the mora?
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
I’d love to see the toon win tomorow more than anything. But i hope that Joey B dishes out the aggro for the ridiculous challenges that were going in on him at the beginnning of the season against wolves like
milkman1993(Quote)
If Best is out we need to push Nolan up front. We need goals and Shola/Ranger doesn’t seem like they will break any scoring records soon. Then we need Ireland to be fit to take Nolans place in midfield.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
AlanPardewProject 4-5-1 or 4-4-1
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
*4-4-1-1
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
I like Ireland, I want him to sign permanently because he is top class when he is in a team he gets on with (same applies to most players really) but this loan deal is really doing my head in.
We have him for 5 or 6 months and he will play about 4 games at best. It’s a farce.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Well pay as you play isnt bad but i still reckon there were players available in january who we should have attampted to sign, I forgot about Vela who west brom signed another player who would have done a job.
Even with Carroll on our books i wanted another striker to play off him, Without him and still nee fecker coming in is stupid.
CC(Quote)
“DAVID4” dont do forcasts mate,they come back and bite your ***
icedog(Quote)
There is no proof we have a “pay as you play” deal, that is a rumour that hasn’t been confirmed.
The only positive from this is that Ireland will have seen how we have treated Ben Arfa and how we are seemingly happy to have him here even though he isn’t playing and it is likely to make him push to move here in the summer. Especially if Houllier keeps Villa up and stays on as manager.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Icedog true, never is a game when you can safely predict so… I’m off to college see you later 😀
Davidtoon4life(Quote)
Pardew told the chron this morning
CC(Quote)
He did?
Oh well, this loan deal is super then
funkyjesus(Quote)
laters m8
icedog(Quote)
CC@35 “stupid” your being kind there mate 👿
icedog(Quote)
we might as well play nolan up front as hes the only decent finisher in the squad
batty(Quote)
david @ 32 – 4-4-1-1 I guess. We haven’t played well the times we have played 4-5-1 and I dont really see Nolan go box to box every game.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Aye mate i cannot say what i really feel thanks to Toonsys swear filter thingy
CC(Quote)
I see we are rejecting a £2m bid from Celtic for Forster.
I am not sure what basis we have to do this considering we have never deemed him good enough to play in a competitive match yet.
Seems slightly silly to expect more than £2m for a player we won’t even give a debut too. Why not expect £10m for Michael Richardson too?
funkyjesus(Quote)
fj – I just don’t think Pardew wants to sell or loan out any of the goalies. They will be fighting in the summer for starting gig, and before Pardew has had a good look at them all I dont think any will move.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Afternoon all 😎
dan4toon(Quote)
I have no problem with Forster staying, it’s just my reading from the comments are that they want more money, not that he isn’t for sale.
“I will not accept a £2M bid from Celtic. I do not want to bring a new keeper in because I expect the three we have got to start pre-season.”
If money wasn’t the issue, you wouldn’t mention the bid made, you’d just he isn’t for sale.
funkyjesus(Quote)
yeah ok I see your point. I just think you might be reading too much in to what he’s saying? Agreed he perhaps could have expressed himself in another way.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Play S Taylor up front,at least if he hands ball in the box,it will only be a free kick.
And if he doesn’t score he will be in good company.
Toonale(Quote)
Possibly, but this is the same guy who guaranteed Carroll wouldn’t leave until “it became too much to ignore”.
I am just not sure what is a realistic expectation for a goalkeeper we previously had no faith in.
Now a team want to buy him, he is suddenly a major part of our squad. It’s a blatent ploy to drive a price up, not a sign of faith in the player.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Afternoon all 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
DAN4 all reet mate
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy, stole my line 😉
ice, not too bad mate, seen you thought I was David before.. I bet he was loving it 😆
dan4toon(Quote)
So then who would everyone play up front now then??
Call it mad, but I reckon Kuqi would do a job against a physical Wolves side 😕
It’s just whether his legs could take starting after working lal night in Kuqi’s kebabs?
toonsy(Quote)
Kuqi should get time against a team that mix it up. Even if just to kill an hour to let Ranger run them ragged in the last half hour.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Wouldn’t be a bad shout Kuqi but I can’t see beyond Lovenkrands and Ameobi with Ranger coming on with half an hour left.
dan4toon(Quote)
It’s just this injury list is starting to take the **** a bit now. It’s never ending FFS!
toonsy(Quote)
lets play abit of hoof ball and put nolan up front just too get the points we need
batty(Quote)
Batty – I agree. **** free flowing footy. Just do what’s needed now IMO.
toonsy(Quote)
toonsy nolan is our best finisher 🙂
batty(Quote)
And top scorer. Play Ranger and Kuqi up top and get Nolan more advanced to get on the knock downs
toonsy(Quote)
Just put Williamson upfront 😆
dan4toon(Quote)
aye toonsy iam sure he would score 😉
batty(Quote)
DAN4 you saying use the big sam ploy of useing a c/h up front 😀
icedog(Quote)
I’m with Toonsy on this one. Ranger and Nolan looked good against the ****; it could work again. If Ireland’s still out, I’d go with:
————– Harps
Simpson – Colo – Saylor – Jose/Fergs
Barton – Guthrie – Jonas
———-Nolan——
—-Ranger
Or start with Shola then put Ranger on when they’re knackered from chasing those animated bagpipes around for an hour. 🙂
Whumpie(Quote)
Oops! Left Kuqi off the front!
Whumpie(Quote)
I fancy Saylor to get his head on one tomorrow. He’s overdue. Nolan for the other, or possibly Guthrie from a free kick. 2-1.
Whumpie(Quote)
TOONSY,could you say if MILKMAN is new lad on blog or not,seemed to be some doubt this morning,or is just a diff nick?
icedog(Quote)
Ice, 😆
There’s only Big Sam who not only think of putting Samba upfront but actually made him look good up there 😯
dan4toon(Quote)
Ice – New lad. He’s been on the forum before 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Well, I’m on the road tonight then due to sickness. Nice for a change 🙂
Burton, Stafford, Stoke, Wilmslow, Atrincham, Stockport, Macclesfield to come later 🙄
toonsy(Quote)
Ice I am new, just my friend Dave trying to be funny mate haha
milkman1993(Quote)
Ranger up front with Tugboat beside him, though I do think Cookie monster could do the job.
But i guess we will see Lovens and Bambie
Big Dave(Quote)