Team v Spurs

[Guest Patrokles]

Milner is hardly sub-standard. And that's coming from someone who used to dislike him as a player. All he needs to work on is crossing more consistently. In my opinion he's been better than N'Zogbia this season.

[gram 0]

A few people Crumpty and HTL have never really rated Parker tbf. The rest seem to be knee-kerk-tastic comments though. I like him though, I must admit, but I agree with SLP.

I think that may have a lot to do with who signed him!

 

I've never really rated him either. I couldn't see what the fuss was about in his first year, and he's done little to convince me of his worth as a player or captain. I suspect people like him because he gives so much effort, but technically I just don't think he's good enough. He doesn't score, holds play up too much, and it's simply a fact we play better without him in the team. If he plays on Saturday, I don't think we'll win.

 

Agree that too many people are easily pleased by a bit of effort. We continue to see it with real substandard players like Milner and Ramage. I always worry about players when fans bring out daft stats. Watching either of them its fairly obvious that they are lacking. Neither are good enough for the club which is something I wouldnt label Parker with.

He's not my favourite and certainly isnt as good as many would have us believe but thats football fans. However, depends what you mean 'technically'. Hear everyone say it (more so after some newspaper uttered the words 'technically inept') and never sure if the people saying it actually understand what it means. If it means his ability to control and pass a ball then I will disagree if its some mystical thing that I dont understand then I will accept that. Not a dig by the way Renton. Just curious as to what it means.

If he plays then I suspect we will be fine. It depends on the combination though. If we go back to the Arsenal game then Butt and Parker did very well together. If its Parker and Emre than I am less sure. I havent seen the facts that say we are a better team without him. Those games coincided with a bit of pace and confidence coming back into the side and he was part of that at the beginning. If we had a full squad and we saw all the complimenting players able to play together then I think thats a better indication than a few games where a once hated player has done very well.

Having said all of that I would play Dyer and Butt there.

 

OK, I probably used the wrong word when I said technically, because I agree with your definition. I would clarify then that he is limited and he is not an intelligent football player, despite being at his prime now (unlike Milner or Ramage). It may be a cliche, but rarely has headless chicken been more appropriate to describe a player. If we are going to build our team around him then that is a major cause for concern imo.

Yeah I agree he isnt one to build a team around. Hes not a bad (squad) player though. Nb: Parker is light years ahead of the other two which is worrying

[gram 0]

Milner is hardly sub-standard. And that's coming from someone who used to dislike him as a player. All he needs to work on is crossing more consistently. In my opinion he's been better than N'Zogbia this season.

N'Zogbia has been very poor this season. Better than very poor isnt enough. In my view he is never gonna be anything other than a journeyman footballer. I think we deserve better. His crossing is generally appalling, lacks pace, doesnt contribute on the score sheet etc etc...Seriously though he just doesnt have the attributes to be a Newcastle player. we deserve those just short of top level and the odd one at the top level. Other clubs will cherry pick the very best. Milner wouldnt get a sniff in Arsenals Coca Cola team. That sums it up really.

[Guest Patrokles]

Milner is hardly sub-standard. And that's coming from someone who used to dislike him as a player. All he needs to work on is crossing more consistently. In my opinion he's been better than N'Zogbia this season.

N'Zogbia has been very poor this season. Better than very poor isnt enough. In my view he is never gonna be anything other than a journeyman footballer. I think we deserve better. His crossing is generally appalling, lacks pace, doesnt contribute on the score sheet etc etc...Seriously though he just doesnt have the attributes to be a Newcastle player. we deserve those just short of top level and the odd one at the top level. Other clubs will cherry pick the very best. Milner wouldnt get a sniff in Arsenals Coca Cola team. That sums it up really.

 

I disagree. I used to think exactly the same as you, but he's been one of our better players this season. Simply put, if he can sort out his often apalling crossing, we'd be laughing.

[Ted Maul 0]

I hate Parker, I think he's massively overrated.

 

There was a moment against Chelsea where he won the ball and turned on it, then turned on it somemore, then turned on it somemore, then turned on it somemore before nearly getting tackled and then finally passing it to someone. I wanted to put my foot through the fucking screen.

[gram 0]

Milner is hardly sub-standard. And that's coming from someone who used to dislike him as a player. All he needs to work on is crossing more consistently. In my opinion he's been better than N'Zogbia this season.

N'Zogbia has been very poor this season. Better than very poor isnt enough. In my view he is never gonna be anything other than a journeyman footballer. I think we deserve better. His crossing is generally appalling, lacks pace, doesnt contribute on the score sheet etc etc...Seriously though he just doesnt have the attributes to be a Newcastle player. we deserve those just short of top level and the odd one at the top level. Other clubs will cherry pick the very best. Milner wouldnt get a sniff in Arsenals Coca Cola team. That sums it up really.

 

I disagree. I used to think exactly the same as you, but he's been one of our better players this season. Simply put, if he can sort out his often apalling crossing, we'd be laughing.

at how slow he is?

[Ted Maul 0]

Milner is hardly sub-standard. And that's coming from someone who used to dislike him as a player. All he needs to work on is crossing more consistently. In my opinion he's been better than N'Zogbia this season.

N'Zogbia has been very poor this season. Better than very poor isnt enough. In my view he is never gonna be anything other than a journeyman footballer. I think we deserve better. His crossing is generally appalling, lacks pace, doesnt contribute on the score sheet etc etc...Seriously though he just doesnt have the attributes to be a Newcastle player. we deserve those just short of top level and the odd one at the top level. Other clubs will cherry pick the very best. Milner wouldnt get a sniff in Arsenals Coca Cola team. That sums it up really.

 

I can't take that seriously, especially from someone who seems to rate Parker as a footballer

[Ally 0]

He's still a quality player, but we're putting in better performances and getting results without him. Wednesday night proved yet again that all 3 of them can't play together, it just becomes too tight. The facts are, Emre and Butt have looked different players when playing together.

 

Yeh thats the crux of it, not sure if Roeder is a strong enough manager to do it though.

[Guest alex]

Ramage has done well at centre-half to be fair to the lad. He isn't great in possession but then neither are Moore or Bramble and he and Taylor look far more assured at the back than them two.

He has been OK. Just dont think he is a lower level Premiership standard player never mind a Newcastle standard player. Bramble despite his errors is twice the player Ramage will ever be. Neither are consistently good enough. We need 3 centre backs at a minimum in the summer. Taylor, despite his improved form for half a dozen games, still has a lot to prove too. We have seen some shockers from him in the past and all too often we have seen the likes of Titus have runs like the ones Taylor is on right now. Not sure he has the pace tbh

Would prefer better than all 4 of them.

How old is Bramble compared to Taylor though? And I think Bramble has talent and physique in his favour over Ramage but Bramble lacks concentration, goes into his shell when he drops a clanger (I don't think I've ever seen more of a 'confidence player' btw), doesn't/can't organise those around him and you know the next clanger is round the corner. I always used to defend him but I've given up on him now as he's proven to me he isn't good enough. I'm not saying Ramage is the answer but there's no way he and Taylor should be broken up as a partnership until some new players arrive imo.

[Guest alex]

I hate Parker, I think he's massively overrated.

 

There was a moment against Chelsea where he won the ball and turned on it, then turned on it somemore, then turned on it somemore, then turned on it somemore before nearly getting tackled and then finally passing it to someone. I wanted to put my foot through the fucking screen.

Why weren't you at the game?

[Ted Maul 0]

I hate Parker, I think he's massively overrated.

 

There was a moment against Chelsea where he won the ball and turned on it, then turned on it somemore, then turned on it somemore, then turned on it somemore before nearly getting tackled and then finally passing it to someone. I wanted to put my foot through the fucking screen.

Why weren't you at the game?

 

I had a bad cold [/Leazes]

[gram 0]

Ramage has done well at centre-half to be fair to the lad. He isn't great in possession but then neither are Moore or Bramble and he and Taylor look far more assured at the back than them two.

He has been OK. Just dont think he is a lower level Premiership standard player never mind a Newcastle standard player. Bramble despite his errors is twice the player Ramage will ever be. Neither are consistently good enough. We need 3 centre backs at a minimum in the summer. Taylor, despite his improved form for half a dozen games, still has a lot to prove too. We have seen some shockers from him in the past and all too often we have seen the likes of Titus have runs like the ones Taylor is on right now. Not sure he has the pace tbh

Would prefer better than all 4 of them.

How old is Bramble compared to Taylor though? And I think Bramble has talent and physique in his favour over Ramage but Bramble lacks concentration, goes into his shell when he drops a clanger (I don't think I've ever seen more of a 'confidence player' btw), doesn't/can't organise those around him and you know the next clanger is round the corner. I always used to defend him but I've given up on him now as he's proven to me he isn't good enough. I'm not saying Ramage is the answer but there's no way he and Taylor should be broken up as a partnership until some new players arrive imo.

Agree with you. Still not convinced Taylor is the great white hope though. There are also too many players who seriously lack pace in the side despite their youth - e.g. Ramage and Milner. Neither will ever be good enough for the top end of the top flight for that very reason. Taylor isnt the quickest either for that matter. Neither Ramage or Bramble are good enough but Titus, sadly for us, is the only one at the back with any pace. Ramage has been OK but he sends shivers down my spine whenever he gets near having to look like a footballer.

Depsite the upturn in the last few games we are seriously shite at the back. Todays game is so much more athletic than it used to be. We have improved since we got pace and confidence back. No real coincidence there. Those who dont have have it have to be exceptional. Our lot arent.

Edited December 22, 2006 by gram

[Guest alex]

I would say Taylor is as quick as Bramble tbh. And I've seen oil tankers turn round quicker than the latter.

[gram 0]

I would say Taylor is as quick as Bramble tbh. And I've seen oil tankers turn round quicker than the latter.

Sorry Alex but not a cat in hells chance! Agree with the last point.

[Guest alex]

I don't think either are all that quick tbh. Bramble may be the pacier of the two but not that I've noticed.

[gram 0]

I don't think either are all that quick tbh. Bramble may be the pacier of the two but not that I've noticed.

Taylor isnt as slow as Ramage but he is lacking that real pace. Titus is actually fairly quick. Just very thick and very slow on the turn as you say. Its academic anyway. Think we need a clear out and fairly swiftly.

Looking forward to tomorrows game:

Given

Solano Ramage Taylor Babayaro

Dyer Butt Emre(or Parker) Duff (although would prefer Dyer in the centre)

Sib Martins

[Guest Patrokles]

I think there's some kind of speed perception weirdness going on with gram! Smoking pot before games, no doubt. 'everyone's moving so slowly!'

[gram 0]

I think there's some kind of speed perception weirdness going on with gram! Smoking pot before games, no doubt. 'everyone's moving so slowly!'

Except the opposition

[Guest alex]

I think there's some kind of speed perception weirdness going on with gram! Smoking pot before games, no doubt. 'everyone's moving so slowly!'

I think Craig Moore does the same thing.

[gram 0]

I think there's some kind of speed perception weirdness going on with gram! Smoking pot before games, no doubt. 'everyone's moving so slowly!'

I think Craig Moore does the same thing.

Forgot about him