Glenn weighs up Euro gamble

[Scottish Mag 3]

Glenn Roeder must decide how far he should gamble in search of European football next season before picking his team to face Portsmouth.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday's news about Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi's long-awaited returns to fitness partly disguised the fact that in the short-term at least, Newcastle United's injury list has lengthened.

 

While the strikers were playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Gretna, the club's medical team were at work on Craig Moore, Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker, Antoine Sibierski and Shay Given.

 

Moore seems likely to play at Fratton Park on Saturday, having been left out of Monday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal as a precaution after recent groin trouble. Roeder has said Dyer (hamstring), Parker (knee) and Sibierski (knee) all "have a chance" of doing likewise, but his cautious tone so close to the day of the game suggests there could be an element of risk involved.

 

How prepared the Londoner is to take that risk might reflect how realistic he feels his side's chances of reaching this summer's Intertoto Cup are.

 

The Magpies are currently tenth in the Premier League, five points off what looks likely to be the Intertoto Cup spot.

 

Assuming Manchester United and Chelsea win their FA Cup semi-finals at the weekend as expected, the teams placed fifth to seventh will qualify for the Uefa Cup, leaving the rest to fight it out for a place in the Intertoto - the tournament Newcastle "won" this season by virtue of progressing the furthest of the 11 finalists to reach the Uefa Cup via it.

 

Roeder has already gone on record as saying Newcastle would be prepared to play in the competition again this year, but with English clubs starting to realise the value of a competition which was once widely derided, they will probably have to finish eighth to do so.

 

Bolton Wanderers, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have all said they would take part if they were to drop out of the top seven by the end of the campaign.

 

Eighth-placed Portsmouth are yet to announce if they plan to do likewise. Harry Redknapp was manager of West Ham United when they won the tournament in 2000 and has spoken recently of his desire to take the south coast club into Europe for the first time in their history. Pompey go into Saturday's clash with a five-point cushion over the Magpies. Of the likely contenders, only Reading have dismissed the possibility of playing in the competition.

 

Blackburn Rovers, who could still qualify for the Uefa Cup if they can reach the FA Cup final, are a point behind Newcastle with a game in hand, away to Tottenham.

 

Roeder must weigh it all up before deciding who should play at the weekend. Ordinarily he would not want to take any risks with players, particularly one with Dyer's dubious fitness record, but a lack of strikers could force him to field someone who is less than 100% fit.

 

While Owen and Ameobi both came through their training ground work-out, Roeder was quick to point out the pair are "a million miles away" from being ready for Premiership football.

 

So if Dyer and Sibierski were both to miss out, it would leave the Magpies without a senior striker to partner Obafemi Martins - except forgotten man Albert Luque. The Spanish international is yet to start a domestic game this season and there seems little reason to believe he will end that run in United's remaining five matches.

 

Given seems certain to miss out at Fratton Park after picking up a groin injury on Monday but, with Steve Harper available, United have a more than competent replacement at the ready. Harper has started 18 games this season.

 

Defender Peter Ramage could also be in contention to play on Saturday. The versatile 23-year-old was not included in the reserve team which entertained Manchester United at Kingston Park last night.

[Barney 0]

Dyer's hamstring gone again?

[Gemmill 47353]

If Dyer's having hamstring bother, no point in gambling on it. Will be good to see Shola and Owen back though, although I'd rather Owen came back at a home game.

[Fop 1]

Dyer's hamstring gone again?

 

 

Other one to the one that's caused him all the trouble apparently..... dunno if that's good or bad though.

[Guest alex]

Roeder weighing up whether to risk the long term good of the club and its players to keep himself in a job another year?

[TheMoog 0]

Roeder weighing up whether to risk the long term good of the club and its players to keep himself in a job another year?

 

That's a bit Souness-eque isn't it?