Interestingly I remember the same debate being had around about this time last year, and we didn’t end up too bad in the scoring department did we?
So in an attempt to try and look at where the goals are going to come from I thought I’d look at the way the team, in my opinion, is likely to be setup and how we are hopefully going to nullify the loss of Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll’s goals. After all, it’s mentioned fairly frequently that we’ve lost our two top goalscorers from last season, yet I don’t see many people trying to come up with a way around it, so here goes.
Demba Ba is obviously going to be our main striker. He will be the man who will be tasked with getting us his fair share of goals as that it his main job – to score goals. He can do it, and he can do it in the Premier League so as long as his fitness holds up (which is a concern until we really see him in action and get a bit of confidence in him) then he should be able to hit the back of net at least ten times this season. In fact he has the potential to hit many more than that given the supply lines that are likely to be carving out opportunities for him.
You can’t just rely on one person though, which is why it’s interesting that we are still in the hunt for a striker. Speculation continues over the potential arrival of Mevlüt Erdinç, but to me the name isn’t important. What is important is the type of striker we are looking at to fill that second spot – a nippy, tricky striker who will, hopefully, chip in with a few goals. Think, attitude aside, Craig Bellamy. That type of player.
The interesting thing for me is the role of Hatem Ben Arfa. During the Kansas match he was indeed the No10 – or Trequartista – playing behind TWO strikers. To me that gives us a fluid attacking trio with plenty of pace and movement combined with the power of Demba Ba which will hopefully result in goals.
If Demba Ba and A.N. Other striker can get ten goals each, with Ben Arfa chipping in with three (or any combination that reaches 23 goals between them) then we’ve just replaced Caroll’s and Nolan’s goals.
Of course much will be made of Hatem Ben Arfa’s injury and questions will be asked of just how often he will be missing due to being too good for certain opposition defenders who will just hack him down, but people forget about Yohan Cabaye if that scenario actually happens. Remember Cabaye used to play in the attacking midfield role for Lille and had his best ever goalscoring season there (15 goals I believe?) so all would not be lost.
Of course much of this depends on getting another striker in that is better than what we have in reserve currently. If we can do that then I don’t think we’ll have a problem in scoring goals, and I think we’ll play some cracking football along the way to boot.
Isn’t that what it’s all about?
We defo need another quality striker in to support Ba. If you were the opposition and Ba was injured you would be looking at facing Shola and Lova and thinking weak stikeforce few goals coming.
Keth Richardson(Quote)
Hatem would have to score 4 unless someone else is going to replace the goal he scored last year. Also Shola and Best have to get at least 6 each this season to replicate what they did last season otherwise there will be more of a burden on the rest of the team.
Steve(Quote)
I think Ba will get around 15 goals if he plays 30 of 38 games.
We now have HBA, Marveaux, Abeid and Gosling who have an eye for goal.
Cabaye too if he plays in an AM role.
We really need Erdinç or Sturridge. So we can play 4-4-2 if the 4-4-1-1 doesn’t work as well as hoped.
I think we’ll score more this season than last.
HWTL
geoff777(Quote)
Great article toonsy! I really think there are goals in the current squad, however, that other nippy striker definitely needs to be brought in so that the weaker parts of our attack aren’t relied on too much
AndrewT(Quote)
Even if we just get Shane long, I will feel much more comfortable. I really think Demba Ba could get a boat load of goals for us this season if he stays fit. But having that extra quality in the squad will obviously help so much
AndrewT(Quote)
The frustrating thing is that we’re almost there as a squad already (except that we keep getting injuries). Admittedly we do need one more striker.
Any trimming should be from our mf because we have a much bigger midfield than other areas. So loaning out a couple – such as Donaldson – and offloading Smith if we can…great. But we might as well keep all our current strikers and certainly keep Barton etc. Shame that Jose wants to go.
And then involve some of the more mature and promising kids more with the first team – Kadar, Tavernier, Moyo, Mehdi, Vuckic Airey etc etc. Even ten minute sub appearances here and there early in the season if possible.
Really we have most of what we need, if we can hold on to our best players and get that extra striker in. Some of our new buys look like they can score goals from mf too so I think our goals can be more shared out..
Adam(Quote)
Waste of time speculating about who might be signed – but otherwise a good article and that formation including Ba and Ben Arfa is encouraging. Our midfield looks good enough, a striker and a LB and we are looking nearly there.
nufckev(Quote)
Just a thought but didn’t Marveaux also score a load previously?
toonsy(Quote)
I think any new striker will play a RW role as like an inside forward. I think our tactics will be the same as the one we used in the darlington game 4-2-3-1.
We will have a very attack minded team next year with all our midfield and strikers chipping in plus S.Taylor’s goals 😀 (about 10 this year). We should do ok on goals this season its the defence im worried about.
As MDS said on the last thread we havnt realy had Nolan or Carroll’s goals since January, Nolan only scored 3 since Carroll left so we should be fine.
Realy hope we get Mevlüt Erdinç
Santii(Quote)
Ranger will get goals. Forget his learning year. he will be electric this season.
One can always hope and dare I say it BSN9 dream
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Ranger will get goals, but not at Newcastle 😉
toonsy(Quote)
We would all like to have 5 or 6 new players in and i dont see why we can’t achieve this and have plenty money to make a profit.
We should be looking to get the poor players on the big wages out the club:
Xisco 50k p/w
Smith 50k p/w
Routledge 20k p/w
Lovenkrands 25 k p/w
Perch 20k p/w
Enrique wants out so nothing we can do about it. 50k p/w
Thats 215k per week we could use for new better players wages such as
M’Bengue 40k
Zog 60k/Barnetta 35k
Sturridge 50k Loan
Doumbia/Roux 40k
Clyne 10k
Also with transsfer fees included we could only be spending about 10-15mil net, hate it people are saying we havent got the money to go into the market. Our squad would have much more quality if these changes or something similar happened
ryanteah94(Quote)
@toonsy – in 09/10 Marveaux got 10 in 33 starts and 2 sub appearances
afan(Quote)
Toby le Rhone, do you like triangular chocolate?
…also, bit off topic but:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2011/07/22/scattering-ashes-at-st-james-park-to-be-banned-72703-29101233/
….maybe a mischievous spirit has been cursing the players, and that’s why we get so many injuries. Should get Derek Acorah rund. 😮 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Just a thought, but has anyone thought of it in terms of points?
If you look at it in terms of how many they scored and in which games, hat tricks give a false outlook. Do we want Nolan scoring 12 goals in 8 games, or Ba scoring 12 goals in 12 games? We are more likely to get a better points per game ratio where the strikers are scoring fewer goals more regularly than sparsley with a hat trick or two every now and then.
What would the stats be on that?
Raffo(Quote)
I really think we’ll be getting more goals from midfield and even our center backs this season with the quality that we’ve added already
AndrewT(Quote)
Ryan everyone knows that we have the money. It’s just that nobody thinks that Ashley will actually spend any of it on the transfer market
AndrewT(Quote)
Lots if but’s and maybe’s in your analysis there toonsy.
Stuart79(Quote)
But I obviously believe that if we can just shift the deadwood we’ll be in great shape to vastly improve the squad. The hard part is actually getting rid of those players.
However, may I just add that I don’t believe we should get rid of lovenkrands. His style of play could fit in perfectly with our new-look squad, so I would let him have this final year with us in the prem. It’s not like he ever cost us anything to sign.
AndrewT(Quote)
Oh wait, I forgot about the agents fees, first years wages, and the huge signing-on fee! 😉
AndrewT(Quote)
Stuart79
July 22, 2011 at 13:41
“Lots if but’s and maybe’s in your analysis there toonsy.”
Much there is in yours or others who are worried.
IF we sell anymore
IF we don’t bring any in
IF they get injured
🙂
toonsy(Quote)
I love Lovenkrands mainly because he is a Rangers legend but for us he has done his job with no fuss. Think we should keep him, he is versatile and can score goals if given game time. I think he is a great player to have as a back up.
Santii(Quote)
I’m worried about ben afra picking up another bad injury, he’s to fast for himself 😆
I can never remeber players like Ronaldo getting hacked down?
Oh and Toonsy, dont want to keep on, but the fantasy football on the official website has been updated, you can now sign up, make leauges, pick your team ect ect.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Were is that Spence?
Santii(Quote)
toonsy says:
July 22, 2011 at 13:44
Stuart79
July 22, 2011 at 13:41
“Lots if but’s and maybe’s in your analysis there toonsy.”
Much there is in yours or others who are worried.
IF we sell anymore
IF we don’t bring any in
IF they get injured
I thought I said I guarantee’d the squad would different than today’s come the end of the window? No if’s there.
Stuart79(Quote)
Completely agree santii! Could play very well in a wide attacking role with HBA or Cabaye in the center
AndrewT(Quote)
http://fantasy.premierleague.com/
there 😀
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
@stuart
There is no way you can guarantee that so your just wrong lol Its like 95% certain to change butthere is still an IF there.
Santii(Quote)
Cheers spence
Santii(Quote)
Where are the goals going to come from??? LEON MOTHER TRUCKING BEST!!!!
Shearers Receeding Hairline(Quote)
Spence what league are you joining is there like a toonsy blog league 😀 or what?
Santii(Quote)
Santii-I think toonsy’s planning on making one.
I’ve made my team just waiting for him 😀
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
SRH- 😆
I really do think if he played a full season he could get 15-20.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Spence/Santii – The code to join my league is 119955-41341
I’ll get an article up about it 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
If Best got a decent run-out, I think he could get at least 11 goals this year
AndrewT(Quote)
I also think that with a more mobile partner in midfield, tiote will be taking a few more shots to add to his one (but glorious) goal this past season
AndrewT(Quote)
I think better service from MF will be key. Ben Arfa, Marvaeux and Cabaye should beable to provide that.
AndrewT at 35- agreed
MDS(Quote)
Andrew, i think best can get more, he got 6 in 11 should have been 7, thats more than 1 in 2. Obviously I dont think he would maitain that form all the way through the season.
Also I dissagree on tiote, whenever he took a shot it went miles wide or over the bar, apart from the one against @rsenal obviously.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
I see the club have stopped supporters spreading their ashes at the ground. What the fck is these mongs heads? Next they’ll be knocking the ground down, making us play in Sunderland and change our name to Sunderland reserves!
Stuart79(Quote)
toonsy ive joined ya league , how many can get on it?
Army69(Quote)
Stuart, the talk of them moving to gateshead had my p!ss boiling, also, if one of my faimly had there ashes spread there, I wouldnt want them being coverd with tarmac, ide fecking go off on one, all this stuff about ‘sealing them in’ is bollocks, because if they wanted to be sealed in, they would have been buried, you have your ashes spread so you’re free.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
army- you had your tat yet mate?
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
getn it dun end of month bud
Army69(Quote)
spencer im in your league? whats yor team?
Army69(Quote)
Spence who is moving to Gateshead?
Johno Toon(Quote)
What’s everyones team like it won’t let me look at them
Jobey07(Quote)
Any of you guys fight fans on here? Wondering what people your way think of Khan…
MDS(Quote)
Jobey- I divint want you copying me like 😉
Johno, there was that talk of the stadium moving a few years back, it was all BS anyway imo.
army- I dvint want you copying me either 😉
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Oh right spencer! Worried me there for a sec 😳
Johno Toon(Quote)
why we’re you worried mate? 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Spencer – I want to win, not come last 😆
Jobey07(Quote)
Jobey- You wouldnt be saying that if you saw my team, I took £50 in the world cup one of my mates, mind you, most of them gave up after the group stages cos they couldnt be @rsed 😆
whats yours mate? Who you got in the net like?
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
A bit of good news from the chronicle I see:
“Whether Ben Arfa returns within his own specified time frame remains to be seen, but sources close to the club don’t expect his lay-off to be anywhere near the three-month period initially feared.”
Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/07/22/nufc-star-hatem-ben-arfa-eyes-early-return-72703-29100872/#ixzz1SqK5f1xk
MDS(Quote)
Spencer – fully shiting myself after that comment. Hart, you?
Jobey07(Quote)
aye, you should be 😉
schwarzer, went for the cheap option, rather spend more on players who are going to get me assits and goals.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Clean sheets get you as many as goals – poor choice.
Jobey07(Quote)
Love having nothing to do so I can watch Jeremy Kyle 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
New thread up 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Fulham got only 4 less clean sheets than man city did, also I still have time to change it, the team I have at the minute wont be the team I have come the first game of the season.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
@MDS I think Khan is the best British boxer by a mile think he is the best in his division aswell. Since he joined freddy roachs camp he has looked unbeatable and he is still young and learning every fight. it wont be long before he steps up a class and is fighting manny and all them other big guns.
Santii(Quote)
Spencer – aye it must be good watching your family on the telly 😉
Jobey07(Quote)
SPENCERTHETOON
July 22, 2011 at 15:00
Jobey- I divint want you copying me like
Johno, there was that talk of the stadium moving a few years back, it was all BS anyway imo.
army- I dvint want you copying me either
😆 😆 dont need to copy u man my team is cracking 😉
Army69(Quote)
I was impressed with his skill the first 2 times I saw him but questioned his heart and chin. he proved me wrong in the Maidana fight. he should be able to dispose of Judah i would think.
MDS(Quote)
Brilliant Jobey..
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
I seriously dont know, why we talking about how much goals who can get… 1st of all we can only play 1 or 2 striker so count your 11players on the field and if they are all fit count the goals and take 70-80% off it and you get a rough minimum goals per season! so i say we will score 50+ goals this season… no matter who plays or not… the squad needs to be improved but first of all kick the deadwoods away as most of us and am sure the Ashley boys are trying but they also have a target price they want for the deadwoods…. lets hope some fkn team come’s and gets Smith, xo, prech, and etc…. and bring in 1x belemy type striker and 1x LB and improve the team by rotating players on game by game basis… because against the bottom teams we did really bad because they knew our team in advance and broke our play of style and pinned us at home and away. look at our record last season …. just need to find that person who can analyse players and opposition style and players and get the best fkn team to suit the style of play… then we will fkn win some games 1-0 (stoke, bolton, blackburn etc) hard playing and tackling players were needed and play defensive to bring their backline up so we can run at them…. we need a fkn manager that can technically see the game too…..
Max-T-million(Quote)
@MDS yeah i think his chin is his weak point but he can still take a good hit and his overall defence has improved so much since he joined roach.
Santii(Quote)