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!
Everything in this extract is fair comment by Wraith and I am of the same opinion.
By ROSS GREGORY
Published on Thursday 16 June 2011 12:30
FANZINE editor Steve Wraith has told the Toon Army that they shouldn’t trust Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley.
Wraith was speaking in the wake of Kevin Nolan’s shock move to West Ham United, after Ashley decided to cash in on the club captain.
Wraith, who runs Players Inc magazine, worked with Nolan at a charity dinner for the NSPCC last month, and admits to being unhappy with the sale of the Magpies skipper.
Coming so soon after Andy Carroll’s £35m move to Liverpool, it has reignited talk on Tyneside about what Ashley’s true intentions are for the club.
While United seem intent on lowering the wage bill and the average age of the squad, a feeling persists among some supporters that the club’s controversial owner is asset-stripping in a bid to recoup some of the money he has invested – an opinion shared by Wraith.
“I’m against this regime, against Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias,” he said. “I don’t value their ownership of the club.
“The club is saying that these players have been offered deals to stay, but no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.
“The only way to balance the books and get Ashley his money back is by getting rid of the high earners.
“Fans may say that Nolan didn’t have to leave, but I feel as if he was hung out to dry by circumstances.”
Nolan’s exit came hard on the heels of Newcastle’s first signing of the summer, Yohan Cabaye, who now looks set to forge a midfield partnership with Cheik Tiote.
Nolan’s departure, and United’s apparent policy of recruiting young, unproven players from Europe, has divided opinion among the Toon Army, some of whom feel the side needs fresher legs and more mobility in the centre of the park than Nolan was able to offer, despite him finishing as the club’s top scorer last season with 12 goals.
“Cabaye may be a good player, but I was told that Albert Luque and Silvio Maric were going to be good players,” added Wraith.
“Ashley is constantly splitting the fans.”
A lot of fans don’t see the bigger picture, and until they realise that this current regime is only in it for themselves then it will be like an abusive relationship where they keep getting slapped around but keep coming back for more.”
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
I never liked Gillespie. Probably because we got him for selling Andy Cole and 7 million to Manure. Cole the goal would have been an all time hero with us had he stayed and i venture to say we would have won the league had we kept him as well.
mikeandderekslovechild(Quote)
lol it was funny Munich Mag @ 150 no apology necessary 😆 and thanks 🙂 im on the same footing as you guys now i think 😆
Colm Rose(Quote)
@colm Rose
Is that good enough .
He’s the Godfather of reality. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
If Nolan and Barton are replaced by Cabaye and Barnetta…Well, I think it puts to bed any notion that MA isn’t trying to improve the club.
~ El Toro ~(Quote)
Bobby@145….Steve Wraith probably IS hanging on your every word.., watch out mate.. 😆
Which opinions have you had for years ? The ones about Ashley, or the ones about Richard Dinnis ?.. 😆 😆
Poor lad being lumbered with supporting the toon, once black and white, always black and white, that’s the way it goes !
Munich Mag(Quote)
Moreno- I’m gonna beat him to it 😐
Play nice lads 😆
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
@Moreno
I’ve just had a blaw of Troy joint.
Aaaaaah that’s better. Chilled.
My eyes are like Toonsys bald patch noo. 😯
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
But Bobby it was ridiculous a couple of minutes ago when Newkie quoted it…
witters(Quote)
Bobby Shinton @154, that is a fine summary indeed, and I most certainly agree about Luque, he cost us like £10 million and was tipped to shine in the prem, and god was he awful !
Colm Rose(Quote)
Colm…welcome mate…hope you enjoy the crack on here…!
Don’t worry about Bobby Shinton Nr 9 being Steve Wraiths’s love child…. 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Man U accept 9.2m for Berbatov I’m told!!!!
Rodzilla(Quote)
Bobby@154…..
“Godfather of reality”…excellent mate, but you should have kept that title for yourself….. 😆 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
lmao Munich Mag @ 161, its cool, im kinda the love child of Tim Krul 😉
Colm Rose(Quote)
@jerseyG
Passionate words about the Toon but no less passionate than me.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
my mate who work for the chronicle reckons we got fulham first game not sure if its the truth or not ??
but take it with a pinch of salt lads just saying what he said
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
@MM
No I’m just plain God. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
sorry lads, mate winding me up 😳
Rodzilla(Quote)
And another thing…were luque & maric signed during Ashley’s tenure? Have I missed something…?
witters(Quote)
and he said it was home lol
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
@witters
Newkies interpretation of wraiths account was a million miles from what he actually said. 🙄
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
El Toro@155…agree there mate, and if Ashley can improve the playing side of things whilst reducing the overall wage bill, and still push for a top ten finish, then I would consider that a success.
We’ll see what the summer brings though, disrupting the heart of the team, and bringing in only foreigners is a risky business.. might work though..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Well one team we surely cant get the opening game is Man U , because we have been given them first game for the last 2 prem seasons we have been in (08/09 and then 10/11) 😯
Colm Rose(Quote)
@witters
I’m starving!! I still haven’t eaten my words yet. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby
Am I going to get a reply 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
Colm…if you’re the love child of Tim Krul you’re up pretty late tonight…get to bed… 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
How is it a million miles? Do you deny Wraith is behaving in a massively negative manner regarding a new signing? One who is also on more than 20k a week…
Newkie(Quote)
@johno toon
Love you to bits fella but I’ve got to dash. The wife has actually put my supper out.
Words on sauce!!
Back tomorrow to keep the reality train steaming on!
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
😆 @ Munich Mag (176)
Colm Rose(Quote)
Bobby@167… 😆 😆 no you’re not god….that’s toonsy…Deepak said as much so last weekend 😆 😆 😆 “king of blogmasters” or summat.. 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Bobby, the things is though that there is NO GUARANTEE that any player will be any good. Shevchenko was a European player of the year and did nothing at Chelsea, Tiote was not too well known but did great last year, Kezman couldn’t stop scoring in Holland but did little at Chelsea and Solano was bought for 1.5m and turned into a NUFC Legend. My point is that there are examples of good players who couldn’t cut it in the premier league and there are examples of so called average players who went on to do good things in the premier league. We just won’t know until we give them a chance. Regarding Cabaye, he was bought for 4.3m because there was a clause in his contract that not too many teams knew about and he was only recently a french international because their midfield had the likes of Nasri, Vieira, Diaby, Diarra, Gourcuff, Ribery, Zidane, Malouda, Makelele etc who were all regulars for long periods. Just give the lad a chance before bringing up the likes of Luque and Maric too.
Ahmed4nufc(Quote)
Bobby Shinton number 9
whats all this about eating words ?
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
Newkie…Bobby bottled it … 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Pavel…he’s better off eating shorts… 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Bobby…as per previous comment.
Wraith is using signings not made by Ashley to discredit Ashley & completely undermines his point…
What newkie did (in my view) was provide some good examples of previous transfer albeit not transfers that ashley was involved in either.
witters(Quote)
Standard Shinton, its not the first time he’s fecked off after I’ve asked him a direct question, bless him 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Bobby…you said it was ridiculous then you did a massive U-turn & agreed! Youve already eaten your words but I have a few for you if you’re still hungry!! 😆
witters(Quote)
😉 ha ha ha i see
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
@ Ahmed4nufc (181) you make a **** fine point, it seems it was just the same when concerning Obafemi Martins, who cost us £10 million and had a great first season with Newcastle (when fit) but really let us down from then on, and im sure you will all remember Antoine Sibierski, who joined on a free transfer the same season and could not stop scoring in the UEFA cup, and became a bit of a hero at St James Park ?
Colm Rose(Quote)
Bobby @ 158. Cheers for that mate. I couldn’t exactly help being mauled by a dog when I was five years old. If your going to take the **** at least know the facts big man. You got personal there and I’m not mad keen on that.
toonsy(Quote)
Colm…big money signings aren’t always guaranteed to be a success, that’s for sure.
Munich Mag(Quote)
178Bobby Shinton number 9
Posted June 16, 2011 at 9:14 PM
@johno toon
Love you to bits fella but I’ve got to dash. The wife has actually put my supper out.
Words on sauce!!
Back tomorrow to keep the reality train steaming on!
Does that mean Im your favourite? 😯 😳
Johno Toon(Quote)
Just on Sky News, Richard Branson Considering to bid for Northern Rock !! Conections??????? Posabilities
Porciestreet(Quote)
only just seen that @158 I divint no the details like, but thats just to far bobby, I doubt your perfect.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Indeed Munich Mag @ 191, the premier league has been ”graced” by many of these flops hehe, i mean there have been so many ! 🙄
Colm Rose(Quote)
I’m also gonna ban the decking word Wraith 😆
toonsy(Quote)
toonsy…you should post more sellic things mate, before you know it you’ll be getting 100’s of posts….did wonders for .org…. 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
I agree with Ahmed but in bobby’s defence he didn’t bring up luque & maric..that was Bobby’s bumchum Steve Wraith 😆
witters(Quote)
Johno – He might nit be after his little personal jibe @ 158 mate.
Fucking fuming. Once again the same guy pushes it too far, this time by getting personal 😡
toonsy(Quote)
Colm…I don’t think the present regime aren’t gonna fall for the big pay day marquis signing scenario. That’s the route that took us to the edge of bankruptcy a few years back.. Mind it was still fun at the time being linked with all the big money signings… 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
I too, think Ashley is bad news for the future of the club, lets face it, he doesn’t exactly help himself when it comes to learning from his mistakes does he? An example of this would be the atrocious communications, PR etc. You can’t really blame fans for acting suspicious, sceptical or cynical towards an owner and MD who have been proven in court as blatant liars. That said, I sincerely hope that they prove my opinion wrong and I will gladly give them credit for having done so. Till then I remain to be convinced
Neil N(Quote)
The majority of fans on the chronny web site don’t seem to be too despondent with Nolan moving on… 😉 …kind of along the lines of …”thanks for the effort….next”…..
Munich Mag(Quote)
I certainly hope not Munich Mag @ 200 (well done being number 200 😉 ), although Ashley may have done some ridiculous things in the past, i dunno, naming our stadium sportsdirect@stjamespark, taking control of Keegan’s power in the transfer market, he knows what must be done and what must not be done finacially and i respect him for that alone
Colm Rose(Quote)
Wraith is a fan like the rest of us and entitled to his opinion tho I feel he likes to think he speaks for the Geordie nation which is complete bollocks
Squad def needs an overhaul tho replacing all at once is drastic and presumes that everyone is gonna settle in immediately
Out and out wingers still have their place but they need a team setup for goals to be scored, we don’t all want to become arsenal ….. Pass pass pass pass pass fvck all
4411(Quote)
Neil N…that’s the problem with the poor communication from Ashley. Ashley says nowt, what Pardew says no-one believes, and the fans are left to fill in the blanks… 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Toonsy @ 199
Fully agree with u , nobody should be making personal comments , regardless of if meant in jest or not , about anyone who comes onto the blog. I dunno but maybe have a little section of rules toonsy so it can be clear what you can and cant say. That is not me tryin to ruin banter or anything like that. But personal comments r a no no.
Johno Toon(Quote)
Johno shut up small feet 😉 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
On the subject of mentioning Ashley, i understand that Demba Ba turned down a new £50,000 a week deal at West Ham accompanied by a £500,000 signing on fee, is that because he wants to play in the premier league or also because he wants more money ? If so, is Ashley going to be willing to match Ba’s wages if he is after more than £50,000 a week…..? 😕
Colm Rose(Quote)
Johno – Its in the rules mate. “Racist, libelous and insulting comments will nit be tolerated”
toonsy(Quote)
@witters 53
circumstances ….Rush
behind closed doors….rise against
stay…shakespeares sister
sandancer(Quote)
Colm Rose…didn’t you know there’s a wage cap?!? We all reckon it’s about £20k a week…
witters(Quote)
Sandancer…quack quack oops! You can guess again if you wish… 😆
witters(Quote)
See previous thread as there as a report that we are paying £75k pw
premandup(Quote)
Yeah witters @ 211 i knew there was a wage cap, i remember that being talked about when we went down, i was not however sure what the limit is, but surely its more than £20k ??? When Carroll signed a new 5 year deal at the start of this season just gone he was on something like £25k a week, and newpapers quote Nolan (was), Barton and Enrique are three of the clubs highest earners, and no doubt they are (was in Nolans case) on perhaps something like £40-£50k a week ???
Colm Rose(Quote)
@at all
I’ve got to dive back in, if only for one post, cos I’m making love to Mrs Shinton.
Shes facing the other way so can’t see me texting.
@toonsy
You really are a sensitive soul. I’ve no idea if you have a bald patch or not but you’ve brought more attention to yourself by biting. Howay fella, lighten up. 😆
@newkie and witters and others
Wraith was only using Maric and Luque as examples of foreign players bought for big money who came with great reputations and flopped.
He’s not saying it will happen to Cabaye but merely pointing out caution or a reality check as to what can happen.
Wraith will never have a chance with people who twist others words to suit their own ends.
@johno
I was apologising cos I didn’t have time to answer your question, but to be fair youre certainly higher up my Xmas card list than many on here. 😉
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby – lighten up? No. You take a decking hint will. Tome and time again you push it too far. Once again, rein it in.
toonsy(Quote)
Ah get rid of Bobby already. He’s better of brawling with himself in his bedroom instead of commenting on this blog 😉
He’ll be more than welcome at the (dis)United For Newcastle site I’m sure 🙂
Thad(Quote)
Toonsy, don’t ban the word “Wraith”.
You’ll ruin my conversation about Stargate Atlantis 🙁
funkyjesus(Quote)
Colm Rose…I think I have to apologise as I was been tongue in cheek.
We’ve had much debate with certain someone about whether there’s a wage cap & what the amount.
So far we’ve failed to come to any agreement…except that Bobby’s wrong regarding his views on the great wage cap debate. 😆
witters(Quote)
lmaoo Thad @ 217 😆
Colm Rose(Quote)
@4411
He doesn’t speak for anyone but himself and always clarifies that when asked.
When you give your views I wouldn’t say you were representing everyone’s view so why do you accuse Wraith of doing it? 🙄
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Evening lads just a quick question; who actually cares what this wraith chap says really if he’s stupid enough to get personal let him but lowering to his level won’t help;
Personally I think he’s the sort of immature journalist who generates discontent among the fans just to keep a reaction…
Anyway any transfer news lads other than ba?
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Thad – he is very lucky I’m in Exeter, put it like that.
toonsy(Quote)
Bobby…that was quite a long message given you were hanging out the back of your wife! Did you do it twice?? Either way, you’re on fire tonight my son… 😆
witters(Quote)
@LST
He’s not actually a journo in fact, he’s just a semi celebrity who chums up with a couple of the players and thinks he knows a thing or two about the club.
Other than that, just as clueless as the rest of them.
Thad(Quote)