There had been speculation suggesting that a move could be on the cards, and that speculation apppears to be coming true as Routledge looks to be heading South to aid QPR in their push for the Premier League. He will be fantastic at that, as he was for us last season, but it does leave us looking rather light on the wings at the moment.
I think it’s fair to say that Routledge is not a Premier League winger, which is strange considering he has pace to burn, can cross a ball and can shoot as he demonstrated last season. When Routledge joined us he was immense and really helped to push us across the finishing line. He assisted loads of goals and added balance to the team in the run in.
Still, this isn’t the first chance that he has had at trying his hand at Premier League football. He has tried, and failed, at Fulham, Tottenham and Aston Villa previously, and it looks as though he can add Newcastle to his list of failed attempts at Premier League football.
I still like the lad, and if he can get his head right and start playing with the confidence to run at and run past people he could still be a Premier League player in the future. A player with that much pace will always be a threat, if they have the confidence and knowledge to use it well.
Yoda moment over, the attention will no doubt turn towards who we are going to get in as a replacement. The fact that Routledge is apparently being allowed out on loan would suggest that Newcastle have something in the pipeline, or it could just as easily point towards Dan Gosling returning to fitness. To me that is unlikely though as Pardew has always maintained throughout this window that he is looking for a winger.
Rumours of players like Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adel Taarabt will no doubt surface now, although time will tell if we are actually looking for a replacement or whether we’ll just stick with Joey Barton, with Dan Gosling as cover, for the rest of the season. I have a feeling that something is in the pipeline though, but time will tell if my gut feeling is right.
Anyway, nothing is confirmed yet and the only real source is the infamous Sky source, although Wayne Routledge did post on his Twitter earlier suggesting that something was up when he said “Why does January cause so much chaos… #sighhhh”. Make of that what you will.
Now we’ll just have to see what happens!
IF it is Taarabt, he’s certainly got goals in him Toonsy; check this out, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQPHGgdNJEA&feature=related
all in the same game as well…
DevonMag(Quote)
Aye, but to be fair, Routledge scored in that game aswell
toonsy(Quote)
was that last season was it? Thought it were this! Ha, that’s interesting. Routledge scored a couple beasts for us in CCC, perhaps he didn’t have the confidence in the prem… always thought he’d be alright playing off Carroll. Would certainly cause a few problems for the weaker defences a la West Ham et al
DevonMag(Quote)
isn’t ben arfa gonna be back soon?
Routledge position can be played by ben arfa,with Gosling as cover till end of season.
But atm,Either Gosling starts RM all the way till ben arfa returns or barton continues playing there.
Kinda relates barton to Beckham now. 😆 😯
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
AOD dont think we can expect anything of benny this season m8,lets give the lad a chance a no go this season imo,lets hope we are safe and he can return with no pressure
icedog(Quote)
I’m very doubtful about this. Routledge has been better, in my opinion, than people are giving him credit for. His move from starting 11 to the bench has been brought about more by the need to accommodate Barton (quite rightly) than his own lack of ability.
My feeling is that he helps us to score goals when he plays, even if his end product sometimes needs work. I believe that the gap between where he is an what he needs to be for the Prem is down to training rather than any innate limitation.
Keep him, work with him, polish the talent – he’ll come good.
Also, like it or not, he is our only specialist right winger, and I don’t believe the club would let him go. Sky are as bad as the red-tops these days, so large handfuls of salt needed.
Whumpie(Quote)
How much experience does Gosling have on the right? I thought he was (yet another) central, attacking midfielder. So that’s Barton, Nolan, Benny, Gosling, Guthrie, Vukic, Lua Lua all after the same spot!
IMHO, sticking a natually central midfielder out wide never quite works. Barton’s been great out there, but we’ve inevitably lacked width as a result at times and end up relying on his passing accuracy. As we’ve seen – the wheels soon come off when he has a bad day.
If anything I’d expect to see the CM ‘stock’ thinned out with loans and another specialist winger coming in. If we need another CM, it’s a defensive one to cover for Tiote – unless Guthrie comes to the fore, of course – but that’s not really his game.
Whumpie(Quote)
whumpie – routledge is **** man & is going back to his level.
you’ll cotton on one of these day’s – am shewwer.
roy cropper(Quote)
ROY once again your reet mate 😀
icedog(Quote)
ice – you can rely on me when a numpty needs correcting m8.
roy cropper(Quote)
Whumpie – ”Routledge has been better, in my opinion, than people are giving him credit for.”
Where I am concerned that’s totally un-true…as I haven’t given him ANY credit at all.
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno 😆
richietoon(Quote)
ROY true m8 true 😆
icedog(Quote)
I had high hopes of Routledge to be honest and thought he would take this chance. The team this season is much the same as last. The only difference is the opposition.
toonsy(Quote)
Rich – Internet Explorer still working aye?
toonsy(Quote)
🙄 🙄
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/853010-mauro-camoranesi-up-for-transfer-as-newcastle-and-spurs-express-interest
toonsy(Quote)
RICHIE forgot to tell you,batty has two asda bags packed with teashirts/shorts at the door ready to go with you to spain,hes trying to make a quid 😀
icedog(Quote)
Its a shame coz Routledge is actually quite a pacy and skillfull player, he just lacks some confidence and technique. He had 2 games where he was starting to play at this level. Despite what some are saying I think he deserves better than a total slagging and I would rather have him on the bench than some spotty kid.
DJG(Quote)
TOONSY my I.E. still working fine 😆
icedog(Quote)
i think routledge going is clearing space for Donaldson and Gosling to be able to play on the right-hand side.
The Goose(Quote)
How many assists has routledge had this year? I can’t remember a single one, but my mind is admitedly burnt
Even still, I can’t see us sending lil Wayne on loan unless it was to push the taarabt deal through. Hopefully we still have a winger ready to come in. Maybe the seb deal isn’t dead yet?
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
TOONSY sure batty will have a couple of crutchs to help him oot 😉
icedog(Quote)
Nah, sorry – seen this too many times before. A load of people on a blog gradually build up each-others negative opinions of a player, then they move on to the next poor undeserving sod.
Routledge can skin a defender down the wing in a way nobody else in the team can. Including Barton. Yes, his crossing needs to be better, but his pace and ability to actually beat players (rather than passing past them, as per Barton) opens up gaps in front of goal for strikers to work from. I’m not saying he’s quite there, but if Barton’s injured (or suspended, as will happen frequently) who exactly are you proposing we put out there instead?
Whumpie(Quote)
For that matter, who are you going to put out on the right if Nolan’s injured and Barton is needed in the middle? Another CM out of position?
Barton’s only out there because he’s just that damned good and we have to fit him in without losing Nolan. He isn’t a winger. Routledge is our ONLY right-winger. Why the hell would the club loan him out??
Whumpie(Quote)
WHIMPIE,funny old game footy,everybody has a view 😉
icedog(Quote)
Even if we’re getting Taarabt or Larsson it makes no sense to ship Routledge out (unless it’s the only way to get Taarabt). You need more than one player up for a position, and frankly neither of those to can be assumed to be any better than Routledge.
Whumpie(Quote)
Routledge’s problem is he wastes his speed. He gets too far in front of the play & is not available unless he comes back, gets the ball, turns and then tries to figure out what to do. That is contrary to the beauty of Jonas, who looks like he is dallying, but he gets the ball, has an idea (maybe not a good one) and is ready to move down the pitch. He can hold up play for the rest of the less pacey to catch up & make his pass or cross at an available body who may also be on the move. If WR could learn that, he might be an answer.
BeeGuy(Quote)
I doubt anyone is coming in, especially not from QPR. I can’t help but think this is penny pinching, (QPR will pay his wages for the rest of the season and if they get promoted have agreed to pay a fee for him). Well what happens if Barton’s injured again, and it’s normally when, not if, Barton gets injured. This is a daft move if true IMO. People who are slagging Routledge wanna consider what we were like before he came in last season. (We had one winger at the whole club and it was an absolute joke). Get ready for that again. 😐
DJG(Quote)
Whumpie,
Routledge could skin all 11 players 58 times without losing the ball and I still wouldn’t care because there was no end product. A winger needs to put accurate crosses in and chip in with the odd goal. By-passing the full back is obviously an advantage there which he has on his side but he just hasnt done well this season.
I am not slagging him because other people have, I just don’t think he is good enough to hold down a starting 11 place. He has had ample opportunity and never set the heather alight. The fact he is our only RW and still doesnt get a game says it all.
Moreno(Quote)
Ice – be pretty boring on here if we all thought the same, eh.
Whumpie(Quote)
Oh, and Jonas can play down the right, as can Raylor and Lua Lua when back from injury. Don’t just pay Rout’s wages for the rest of the season for the sake of a couple of games back up.
Moreno(Quote)
Can I just mention Wayne’s strike against Chelski? Gutted that it found the most brain-free and solid head in the Prem (Ashley Cole) otherwise it’d have been goal of the month. If it’d actually gone through Cole’s head on the way he may even have been in the new years honours list… 😎
Whumpie(Quote)
spot on WHUMPIE m8
icedog(Quote)
Maybe they just want to loan him out so they can nick the 10 off him and give it to a proper creator without hurting his feelings 😆
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
WHUMPIE maybe we could say the same aboot pancake,we kna how good he was 😉
icedog(Quote)
Whumpie – How many assists as Routledge got? How many goals has he created directly or scored?
None, nilch nada, zip, zero
How effective is that?.
toonsy(Quote)
Good points about the holes in Routledge’s game, but these things are fixable. You could pick holes in the game of most of the squad if you wanted to, but you don’t just ship ’em out – you get the coaches to fix the holes.
BeeGuy – totally agree with you, although you do have to wonder how our central attack (who don’t have the ball) are failing to keep up with Routledge when he’s got the ball and defenders to think about. I think they need better coaching to make better use of Wayne’s pace, personally. And both Wayne and Jonas need more support when they do end up surrounded by defenders. Too many times I’ve seen Nolan, Caroll and others standing 15 yards off him when it’s clear he can’t get a pass out at that range.
Whumpie(Quote)
Toonsy – short memory, mate. The stats can’t account for a winger opening up a gap in front of the goal, and Routledge has done that repeatedly. It’s the same with Jonas – when there’s 3 defenders trying to deal with him, there’s only one left in the middle. Now if only he could get the ball out….
As for Pancake: he had none of the abilities Routledge has; he was a lost cause. Routledge seems to be lacking in just one area, and that is no reason to get rid.
Whumpie(Quote)
Yeah Ok, now your talking about building a team around Wayne Routledges attributes and dedicating time for the rest of our team to adapt to work with him…..
Honestly, get a grip!
Moreno(Quote)
Toonsy’s quote
”He has tried, and failed, at Fulham, Tottenham and Aston Villa previously”
Exactly! How many more games, clubs, coaches is it going to take before he starts getting basic wing play right?
Moreno(Quote)
Good luck to Routledge, Without players like these helping us get promoted the likes of Colo, Enrique, Barton and Carroll would be away by now.
Also cheers to Brucie, Bent, Cattermole and Gordon for making a few dorty mackems squirm… 😈 😈
CC(Quote)
Whumpie – Not a short memory, mate. At all. The guy has had these holes in his game at Portsmouth, Fulham, Villa, Tottenham, us. Does that not say something? He hasn’t sroced in 100 PL games, does that not say something? He has racked up a massive 10 assists in those games, does that not say something? Should a winger not be creating more than a goal every ten games?
toonsy(Quote)
No, Moreno – I’m talking about every player knowing how to play with every other player. Our wingers get stranded too often, while every other attacker just assumes somone else is going to get in there and help. We lose posession far too many times that way.
Whumpie(Quote)
@Toonsy so it is none. Maybe I’m notbas burnt as I thought 😉
At this level, the manager and coaches are not there to teach a player how to cross a ball. I want to keep him as he is a good squad Player at the least, but if pards needs to loan him out to push I deal through, I’m ok with it.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Aye Toonsy a winger should be creating more goals than that but i suppose if you have caps for Argentina that makes you immune to such criticism… 😉
CC(Quote)
TOONSY did you see quote from beadsley on gosling after res game;jet heeled gosling ❓
icedog(Quote)
Certain sacrifices have to be made when playing Tiote in defensive mid, as he sticks to his role, and Nolan in attacking mid, as he sticks to his role. Neither of these players support the wingers much and it’s something the wingers have to adapt too, as they are 2 of our best players. Rather than them changing their games to accommodate mediocre wingers as you would maybe be suggesting.
Moreno(Quote)
I think even if Routledge hasn’t created much this season, he should get more than half a season at this level.
If you could take Routledge’s pace and touch, Jonas’s dribbling and stamina and add to that the crossing ability of Barton – yes whats your point… my point is we don’t have that sort of money, to buy wingers like that. We’ve got Benny, Barton and Jonas but we need depth in the squad with people like Routledge. Otherwise we’ve got a starting 11 thats never together and nowt else. 😡
DJG(Quote)
Toonsy – yep, that’s a more valid point. But my recollection of his involvement this season includes some very good contributions. And his stats aren’t much worse than Jonas’s, are they?
Mind you – we’ve been on his back too often enough…
I’d love a Gareth Bale type, but they cost £30m. In the real world, we have a £1m player who’s frustratingly close to being worth a start. All we’re arguing is whether he’s a lost cause, and personally I don’t think he is.
Mind you, as you’ve said – there’s quite a list of people who’ve thought the same, so…
Whumpie(Quote)
DJG: ta for making my point a lot better than I have! 🙂
Whumpie(Quote)
Toonsy, aye mate IE working fine, did ya hit something with a hammer? 😀
richietoon(Quote)
I can only assume we’ll be bringing in a replacement, otherwise it would be utterley ridiculous!
Even then we’ll still be in the same boat numbers wise.
Cannot quite understand it unless we bring in two new players, as Pardew has always said we’re short in attack.
Stuart79(Quote)
CC – True, but at least Jonas has the excuse of being double marked as most teams know that is our most dangerous side….
Routledge however?????
toonsy(Quote)
I am with Whumpie on this one. I think Wayne needs to be told to change his game a bit and he would be more effective. He is frightenly good at running with the ball albeit he is a bit light weight. He should probably be trying to earn us corners and freekicks with his pace more than he does. The only player I see as a complete waste of time is Smith as his legs have gone, sadly.
lacedaemonian(Quote)
If we are on the verge of getting taarabt I hope they know what there getting themselves into. From what Ive heard, I can’t see Barton getting on with him but also where does he fit in? He’s an attacking mid, yet we can’t bench Nolan Barton or Tiote. I doubt he’ll be ok with sitting on the bench. All reports that I’ve heard ( which aren’t many) say that he blows hot and cold and qpr have to manage him with felt mittens. Granted we are not talking about silly money so there is little risk, but I wonder if it’s worth losing one of our few wingers for the rest of the season.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
For me Routledge is a good player just lack of consistent
and it’s hard for him to provide good performance when not playing week in week out and he need to gain more confident in him.
Magpie_May13(Quote)
Ben Arfa is actually a specialist right winger. He played there for OM.
anyhow, I reckon Taraabt is coming in, fits Ashleys “plan” perfectly and we’ve just handed them a replacement.. Smells like dealings to me.
Whumpie, I wouldn’t say Vuckic, Ben Arfa and LuaLua are CMs mate.
Daverism(Quote)
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1656/nigeria/2011/01/14/2305756/nigeria-call-shola-ameobi-victor-moses-for-guatemala
Is this right !!??? 😆
Magpie_May13(Quote)
I still think this one is press bollox. Hope so, although I’d love to see another specialist RW in.
Whumpie(Quote)
Toonsy
I would say our most dangerous side is our right, Certainly since Barton and Simpson have played there…
Anyhoo im not saying he should stay he clearly isnt going to get into the team long term so let him leave, But is the slagging needed the lad was inspired last season and should be applauded for helping us up.
CC(Quote)
if this deal is on does it mean they are pretty sure on new deal for j.b.strange like ❓
icedog(Quote)
what about a midfield, attacking line up of:
Barton Tiote Nolan
Ben Arfa AC Tarrabt
that would scare alot of defences, and midfields, with the power and pace. that is if we are even looking to sign Adel. One things sure on his day he is unstoppable, granted in the CCC
rambo87(Quote)
Lil Wayne had plenty of time to get consistent at the start of the season when he started the majority of games and he produced Nowt.
We cant count on Benny for this year. We need to cover that spot now as we don’t know when he’ll be back and what kind of form he will be in either. He’ll probably only be available for the 2 last months. We could be in trouble by then.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12606_6666057,00.html
Love him
Magpie_May13(Quote)
Rambo, quality line up. Even replacing Taarabt with Jonas could be tasty. Big fan of the 4-1-2-3 like!
Daverism(Quote)
Not slagging really, CC. Just pointing out that the lad isn’t up to what we need right now. You’ve just said that yourself really when you said our right midfield is more dangerous when we have a central midfielder out there!
Thank’s a lot Wayne.
He really helped us out last season (as I said in the article) but he has done nowt this year and has shown why he has been sold from EVERY Premier League club he has been at, with the exception of the ones he has been on loan at.
He has Darren Huckerby syndrome. Too good for Championship, but too ineffective for the Premiership.
toonsy(Quote)
Not sure the backline and harps would like that line up 😆
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
haha darren huckerby syndrome toonsy i like that 😆
daverism, i personally think jonas may be on his way in the summer if a decent bid comes in. lack of end product for a winger like routs, just hope that if he leaves doesnt upset the apple cart regarding the spanish contingent!!
niko could be a steal for us if not tarrabt and hes a good solid player, who would be more effective than jonas and lil wayne!
rambo87(Quote)
Keep hearing about him needing more time etc. I used to agree until the Stevanage game. Fair enough, everyone was poor. Wayne was utterly abysmal.
He has had so many chances at this level (not just with us) yet has been moved on. Surely, if it was as simple as you suggest in that the coaches try to tweak or add to his game….why hasn’t it been done before? I am pretty sure that throughout WR career, coaches have thought the same thing.
My theory is that people have tried with him, he just won’t learn or can’t take it on board. He isn’t 19/20 like Ranger and can use that excuse, he should be a developed player by now. One trick pony if you ask me and although all players who contributed in promotion last season deserve acclaim, I don’t want him starting another premier league game for us. Bit harsh but I don’t believe in 100 chances, the proof is in the pudding
Moreno(Quote)
off for food later
icedog(Quote)
Can’t see Jonas leaving, fair enough he can’t cross, he offers a lot more than that though, his turning and changing pace allows Enrique the freedom to push up, allowing him to deliver crosses and even shots, the one he nearly scored at west ham would have been a goal of the season contender.
Then the Spanish connection on top… Just can’t see it.
Daverism(Quote)
thats the beauty of this place i suppose, differing opinions.
i agree about what you say in terms of bringing enrique into the game though, he cant shoot for **** though (ok vs barnsley last year exception) and fluffs his lines.
if we were offered 7 million for him would you take it? if you were the fat man of course 😛
rambo87(Quote)
Jonas wins plenty of free kicks in good positions too
Moreno(Quote)
£7m? No chance. Simple as that.
Who can replace him for 7m?
Why risk upsetting our stand-out defenders Colo, Enrique for a few mil?
Daverism(Quote)
In my opinion this lends further to the weight that Pardew isn’t up to it.
Every blind man can see Routledge has the ability – it just needs tempering. He can fly past all defenders, granted he then seems to lose a tad composure when in this league. If you can cross a ball in the CCC you can cross it in the PL. If you can pass a ball in the CCC you can pass it in the PL – I say that specifically to Routledge as he has the speed to make space and therefore the time.
It is obviously a confidence problem, not helped by the madding crowd and flock mentality.
Pardew should have “coached him” and invested in psychological coaching.
Its too easy, lazy and crowd pleasing to ship him out.
Routledge has it in him, after all his bad injuries its no wonder he is a little fragile mentally – after being told by he can’t make it by those who ignore the consequence of those injuries, or age at the time.
One thing certain a certain manager we recently had would have got the best out of him – had he too been given time!
Stardust(Quote)