To me there is no better sight than seeing a winger burn up the wing, get to the byline, and put a pinpoint cross into the box.
Possibly the best two players I’ve seen capable of this in a black and white shirt both happened to be playing for Newcastle at the same time – David Ginola and Keith Gillespie. Granted Ginola had more strings to his bow and could do more than just beat his man and cross, but for Gillespie that was his forte. The pair of them set up endless goals for the likes of Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand directly as a result of their wing play.
Times move on though and things change. Not only has the personnel changed, but football has changed. Is there still a place for a conventional winger like a Keith Gillespie in the modern day game? Or must they have more strings to their bow like a David Ginola to succeed and thrive in the modern day Premier League?
It’s fair to say that a lot of people want to see our wings strengthened. Rumours of Charles N’Zogbia and a return to Newcastle continue to circulate, along with fresh names like Tranquillo Barnetta in the last article, and you can tell by the reactions that there is an urgency to see our flanks improved.
Now I’m going to be a bit radical here and suggest that there is no place for a player of the likes of Keith Gillespie these days, unless you have a pair of strikers who can take advantage of the service of course. It’s unlikely we’ll find those strikers over the summer, so for the good of NUFC I’m going to suggest that our wing play, in terms of crossing at least, isn’t really that important.
That is not to say that we should completely ignore it, but in my opinion we need wingers who are more than just wingers if we are to see some success coming from our wings next season. We don’t really have a need for someone who can get to the byline and whip a ball in. If they can do that then great, but for me we need wingers with that little bit extra, with Charles N’Zogbia or someone of that ilk fitting the bill nicely.
What we need are players who can cut in and do something different. N’Zogbia is one of those, as is Hatem Ben Arfa although it’s been said that he is our new playmaker in the hole. Look back at some videos of Hatem Ben Arfa at his previous clubs and you will see that most of his damage is done when he cuts in from the right, not from him putting balls into the box. That is the kind of thing I mean.
It adds more value to the team in my opinion, and with so many teams like Wolves, Blackburn and Stoke, who will just eat up crosses all day, in the Premier League these days it’s my opinion that you need to have a different angle of attack. If you have two wingers who can cut in effectively then you can almost have four strikers on the pitch in certain phases of attack as the two wingers occupy more defenders allowing more room for others to attack. Simple really.
So that’s my two-penneth on conventional wing play and why I don’t think it’s that important. Now let’s have yours!
Bobby,
I think what you said is fairly obvious though. Of course the likes of Smith, Nolan, Barton, etc. were going to be targeted. They each have a weekly wage that is about the same as 3 of our other players combined. Coloccini and Jonas are going to have the same issues too, what with them being over 27 years of each and being on silly money.
Look at the contracts we are giving to the new guys like Tiote, Ben Arfa and Cabaye, all the contracts take them to at least 28 years and at most 30 years of age.
These guys will either leave for a huge profit or leave for nothing at the end of the deal. I doubt they will get a new contract from us.
We don’t want anyone over 29 or 30 it seems unless it is on terms that we can break easily.
Ashley has his “Arsenal Model” after all.
funkyjesus(Quote)
So do you want the good old days of FFS who bnearly bankrupted the club paying himself millions bringing mediocrity to the club. Or was it the Halls that were so much better. Who do you want to take over Americans, Chicken farmers, Oil sheiks, Perhaps you should buy a club and show us how it should be run. Better yet write a blog going into the history of NUFC finances and examine the options. I hgave been researching this area as part of a searis of blogs that I am writing for this site, but happy to set step aside and read anything constructive that you may have to say.
After all anybody can slag something off, positive critisism and custructive suggestions takes a bit more.
Premandup(Quote)
Bobby…Steve Wraith is told what other people want him to say, he’s a puppet
witters(Quote)
@Andrew
You say;
Just didn’t like how you branded me ‘someone who sits in his bedroom posting on a blog’
Sorry Andrew my predictive text kicked in and it was meant to read, ***** in the bedroom and not the bog. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
@witters
Another assumption 🙄
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Newkie, exactly, like I said there’s times to be negative and by all means be negative but how can people like that have ‘the interests of the club at heart’ when there’s something to be positive about but they never are.
Like you say as well about Benny and Cabaye!
dan4toon(Quote)
Bobby 😉
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
What assumption would that be?
witters(Quote)
@funky
You would be surprised at how many people on here told me I was wrong for predicting Nolan, Barton and Jose would be gone.
This is the poor version of the Arsenal model as we don’t have Arsene Wenger at the helm.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Spit on premandup @ 77 , looking forward to that article already
Johno Toon(Quote)
FJ,
Funny thing is, if you are from Newcastle and go up to Scotland you are more akin to the regular English. Can’t understand the hate on t’other site. (not that I have looked, just going by what you said – the daft Racists)
I just get told I am from ‘Southern Scotland’ all the time 🙄 🙂
Moreno(Quote)
@witters
Your assumption;
Bobby…Steve Wraith is told what other people want him to say, he’s a puppet
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Well said at 77. I look forward to reading your articles.
MDS(Quote)
Oh er, BSn9. Somebdy calling you an idiot? A loony?
How perceptive!
lesh(Quote)
premandup…
Bang on post there. Stability is key at the moment and I am a firm believer of better the devil you know. Can’t start pushing to win the league with a billion pound war chest just yet 😉
Moreno(Quote)
dan-exactly, it’s a ridiculous ethos to hold about your club.
“Foreign players are dodgy, lets stick with tried and tested Premiership players like Alan Smith and not try our hand at unearthing new talent like Tiote…oh wait he’s brilliant? Umm…Oh the club are trying to mug him over, they won’t give him more than 20k to keep him here…oh wait…”
He does come out with some absolute toss, hope he eats his words if Cabaye proves to be a revelation, although I’ll put money on us never hearing another word from him about it.
Newkie(Quote)
@premandup
The sad fact of this club is the one big opportunity we had was blown when Ashley tried to ridicule the now owners of Man City when trying to sell this club. 🙄
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
In January 2011, Ba refused to travel to Hoffenheim’s training camp as he wanted to move to West Ham United.
Hoffenheim announced that Ba would be punished.
However, Ba claimed that Hoffenheim had assured him that he would be allowed to leave the club under the current conditions.
In January 2011 a proposed move to Stoke City fell through after Ba failed a medical.
He completed his move to West Ham on 28 January, signing a three-year deal that will take him until June 2014
The transfer fee was undisclosed but is dependent upon Ba’s appearances for West Ham.
Ba made his West Ham and Premier League debut on 6 February coming on as a 75th minute substitute for Robbie Keane in a 1–0 home defeat by Birmingham City.
His first West Ham goals came on 12 February when Ba, making his full debut, scored twice for West Ham in a 3–3 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
Ba scored two goals against Wigan Athletic on 15 May 2011, giving West Ham a 2–0 lead at half-time. West Ham lost 3–2 and were relegated from the Premier League.
He finished as West Ham’s top scorer in the Premier League with seven goals from twelve games.
The last sentence surprised me. 😯 😈
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Scottish people on a whole like Newcastle a lot more than most English places.
Newcastle is a place, historically, of graft, hard work and honesty. It also has a feel about it that doesn’t fit the rest of England, it’s almost like it’s only little individual zone.
I, personally, think Newcastle and it’s soul as a city have a hell of a lot more in common with Scotland than England. That isn’t even taking into account the geography of it being closer than Scotland than pretty much any city worth noting in England.
I apologise if English people on here take offence to that comparison, it isn’t meant as an insult in anyway. I just think if you get a bunch of Scottish people and English people, Geordies will likely get on better with the Scots.
funkyjesus(Quote)
@Lesh
There goes the first one. Thought it wouldn’t take long. 😆
Mind, to be fair, that’s one of Lesh’s longer posts. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
My post above is a reply to Moreno at message 90, by the way.
It wasn’t some random post at nothing, lol.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Bobby…it’s an opinion. I thought we were all allowed to have them…
If you take the AC / Wraith thing…you see that as true & him being forced out, I see that as AC covering his @rse & he knows Wraith will help him. Either could be true, I’ll never prove it & nor will you!
witters(Quote)
@newkie
I don’t know who your post was meant for because they certainly aren’t my views.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
@witters
But you believe he wasn’t forced? True?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby
That is the impression I get from Wraith, that’s all.
Newkie(Quote)
Bobby @ 92 , you would like owners like man city?
Johno Toon(Quote)
fj,
you just reminded me of something actually…. 🙂
Moreno(Quote)
I did?
Why do I have a feeling I am going to regret that, lol.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Newkie, totally agree.
dan4toon(Quote)
@johno
Too bloody right I would like owners like Man city!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They will win the European cup within a few years.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
BSn9
but the problem is that the hatred skews reality and people constantly try to put a negative spin on everything to make Ashley look bad, but what they don’t realize is that they make the club look bad as well.
People need to get through their heads that no matter how much they moan and twist truths and blatantly make stuff up, none of it will make Ashley leave.
All it does is split the support and makes people hold back from fully supporting the club.
I would wager that there are quite a few “supporters” out there that want to see cabaye fail just so they can have a go at Ashley and scream “we never should’ve sold Nolan!” and that to me is disgusting and disgraceful…
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
@dan and newkie
Incredible interpretation you make. Absolutely and totally off the mark.
No wonder you hate him. You best do somemore research before commenting again or that will make you both look like lunatics. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Too bloody right I would like owners like Man city!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They will win the European cup within a few years.
by Bobby Shinton number 9 on Jun 16, 2011 at 20:31
And the heart would be ripped out of the club and all the success would feel empty and cheap.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
I think he wrongly asked for an improved contract so soon after signing a new contract, I think that was refused, I think bids were declined, he may have told that the only way the club would sell him was if he put in a transfer request, he put in transfer request, bid accepted & he’s gone. You could argue that it was engineered by Ashley to happen that way but I also think it would cause issues / undermined their authority if they’d relented & given him a new contract & I happen to agree with that. You should never accept being held to ransom in my humble opinion…
Ultimately if he didn’t want to go as much as he told Wraith he could have stayed, it was his decision to put in the transfer request, no-one elses. Money talked & he walked.
There was also an interesting link on here the other day regarding the AC transfer, Nolan, Nolans agent & several unanswered questions about the AC transfer. All very murky…
witters(Quote)
cwarr07 Colin
Fixtures out tomorrow, Arsenal at H 1st game……Mmmmmm #nufc
10 minutes ago
3hourswasted(Quote)
@jersey
That may be the case but not my view about wanting Cabaye to fail.
I’m defending Steve Wraith and I have no evidence that is what he wants. Have you?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Dan-
Did you see my question at the top of the thread?
Wondering where we’re at with menez?
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
@jerseyG
You say;
And the heart would be ripped out of the club and all the success would feel empty and cheap.
You ask the Man City fans how they feel when they are European champions above Barcalona.
Do you really see us having a heart at the moment. It’s barely beating.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby, before we signed Cabaye when their manager said he was coming he said ‘doubt it’ and then when he did come he said ‘well he might not be that good’.
It’s things like that where if he had the club at heart he wouldn’t say that or if a different owner had of signed him he would of been praising them.
JG, not sure mate, doesn’t look like there was much in it to be honest.
dan4toon(Quote)
@witters
Your post is full of “I think”
I think you don’t know and assuming again.
Steve Wraith spoke to both Carroll and Nolan and I prefer to believe him .
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
BSNr9 ..you’re always good for getting plenty of hits on the blog….toonsy should pay you a bonus mate… 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
BSn9
no I wouldn’t assume anybodies intentions without solid proof.
But I have no doubt that there are some people out there that have that opinion. Who they are idk.
But i know your a smart bloke and I know that somewhere in your conscience you know that some of your opinions and that of wraith’s are purposely spun negatively due to the fact that you hate Ashley.
And in my opinion it’s deconstructive and pointless.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Bobby
How do you know he spoke to both Carroll and Nolan? I choose not to believe Steve at all 🙂
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
BSNr9 has officially banned “I thinks” from all future posts…
I think…so I am…
Munich Mag(Quote)
“Cabaye may be a good player, but I was told that Albert Luque and Silvio Maric were going to be good players,”
Yes, and we were told Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano were going to be good signings,-and oh wait-yes they were brilliant. What a bloody depressing view to immediately think “oh he’s a foreign player, so he might be ****” completely unfounded negativity, and its that more than anything that gets me about Wraith. The fact that even you don’t agree that our wages are as low as 20k says it all about Wraith really, he’s a madman 😆 😆 😆
Newkie(Quote)
I’m pink, Therefore I’m Spam
Premandup(Quote)
ok lads been trying to get back on for weeks but my lap decided to get a virus and not let me on the internet 👿
look like mr ba could be signing 2moro , hope his knee holds out has any body heard any news on zog would love it if we sign him back 😀
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
@dan4toon
I was a bit like that regarding Cabaye. When his name was mentioned I hadnt heard of him but it didn’t take long for our dreamer fans to start raving on about him.
I thought this player must be a world beater and there would be loads of big clubs chasing him.
It turns out hes had a few caps for Feance, appears to be a good player who has blossomed over the past season or so but nothing out of our league at £4m and not much club competition.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby…okay as you asked what I believe, change ‘I think’ to ‘I believe’…either way it means exactly the same thing & I think/believe you’re grasping at straws when you can only pick up on my English… 😛
Carroll & Nolan told Wraith what they wanted to tell him…no more & were probably advised to do so by their PR team
witters(Quote)
See Barry Fry’s interview about Hoots for Brum job…I think Barry Fry is class like, he is totally bonkers
Moreno(Quote)
@newkie
Where has Wraith said anything along those ridiculous lines ? Please direct me to some link.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
for the life of me, I cannot understand the need to discuss the credibility of this bloke Wraith’s statements…. 😕
He may be anti-Ashley…but surely he’s entitled to it…obviously certain people seem to hang onto his every word, BSNr9 for example…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Bobby, that’s my point, that’s fair to assess him and then you think he’s a decent player, not great but Wraith will instantly say ‘are well look at all the other foreign lads that failed’
Why go straight to that.
dan4toon(Quote)
Bobby Shinton number 9
just been readfding your comments and every thing u say makes a lot of sence , only thing ashley wants is profit your right
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
Premandup@121 😆 😆 😆 glad someone got it…
Munich Mag(Quote)
I’m gonna sound like a pillock here, who is Wraith ??? 😐
Colm Rose(Quote)
this is all madder than discussing Sellic on .org… 😥 😥
Munich Mag(Quote)
@witters
You totally miss the point . Whether you say I think or I believe is irrelevant . 🙄
My point is I would prefer to believe someone who has had direct contact with Nolan and Carroll than someone who hasnt, as in you.
Not only can you not choose the right word but you can’t read. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Colm….you pillock… 😉 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Bobby’s about to eat his words…hang about lads!!! 😛
witters(Quote)
Bobby Im sure a few people said tha about chelsea a few years ago and they havent won it the champions league yet.
I think it would be crazy to risk the future of the club for a few trophies , I think the club needs to built slowly and we are building basicly from sratch. Lets be honest about it we were shocking when we went down and its going to take time to get the club where it belongs. I would say after another 5 years , if we continue to do what we are doing I think we could be challenging for top honours.
Now in 5 years time I wouldnt be surprised if Chelsea arent around at all , ( I know we were talking about City owners but ill start with the orginal billionaire play thing ) , Mr Abromich has made some very silly investments outside of football and with the **** kicking the euro zone is about to take in th next 6-18 months dont be surprised if Roman is broke.
Citys owners have a seemingly endless pile of cash but oil aint going to last forever and from a region going through turmoil whos to say the people wont turn on them? Im sure the old city owner and thailand presidant Sinawtar ( I know that aint how you spell his name but too lazy to google it 🙂 ) thought his coupleof billion was safe….
Just for the record that last bit I wrote is complety hypthical and I say has less than 0.00000000000000001% chance of happening but I would worry for chelsea.
Johno Toon(Quote)
He said what I quoted at the top
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/black-white/fans_warned_against_trusting_ashley_1_3485183
There ya go, coming out with blatant negativity on our new signing. I really hope he doesn’t know the players that well, because if I was Cabaye and he came and said that to me I’d feel pretty insulted.
Newkie(Quote)
You ask the Man City fans how they feel when they are European champions above Barcalona.
Do you really see us having a heart at the moment. It’s barely beating.
by Bobby Shinton number 9 on Jun 16, 2011 at 20:39
I could give fck all about what man city fans feel.
Newcastle is not man city.
The club means far too much to the city and it’s supporters around the world for it’s success to come as cheaply as it may at man city.
If they are happy with that, well on them.
But Newcastle is bigger than that. I am more proud of my club and it’s lack of success than some of these supporters who have success on a regular basis, because the passion is what drives this club, not money.
Newcastle will win something big some day and even if it’s the only thing we ever win again, it will taste 100x sweeter than anything man city win with their money.
The heart of the club will always beat strongly because we will NEVER LET IT DIE!
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
@colm Rose
Best line all night . Timing is perfect. Even if it was unintentional ! 😆 😆 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby…& I’m saying I wouldn’t & I’m not asking you to believe me. You asked what I believe & I told you…
witters(Quote)
“You ask the Man City fans how they feel when they are European champions above Barcalona.”
Have I missed something?
I was under the presumption there was massive in-fighting between big time charlies…..their captain who carried them and single handedly won games wants to be away and they have spent fortunes on players like Dzeko who are absolute rubbish.
No manager will ever get back and stick around long enough to put his stamp on a team as the demand for success will be too great (see Chelsea for details)
Moreno(Quote)
Do you know what lads I think i just went off on my own bleeding tangent there 🙂 why didnt anyone stop me? 😯
Johno Toon(Quote)
@ Munich Mag (134) 😆 i’ve never heard of him, who is heee ? 😯
Colm Rose(Quote)
JG @138
Class!
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
@Munich mag
To be honest I don’t hang onto his every word. I’ve had these opinions for years. I’m finding it quite unnerving cos I think he’s hanging on my every word. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
and @ Bobby Shinton number 9 (139) 😆 I have never heard of this man !
Colm Rose(Quote)
Cheeses wept. I can’t keep up with all the questions. Slow down fella’s. 😯
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Ok Bobby Shinton @ 147, answer mine ! Wraith, who the f*** is he ? 😆
Colm Rose(Quote)
My question to you Bobby is…~
Why not make yerself a cup of tea and have a lie down mate?
Moreno(Quote)
Yalright Colm, sorry mate, no offence intended with my stupid comment… 😉
Maybe Bobby Shinton Nr 9 can put you straight as to who Steve Wraith is. I know very little of him, but is apparently a toon fan, who has some access to players at the club. In fact, I believe he is the bloke involved in the Andy Carroll “I didn’t want to leave the toon” texting story…. though again BSNr9 will put you straight on that…
Munich Mag(Quote)