Scottish Mag 3 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 SAM ALLARDYCE is banking on his Brazilian international Claudio Cacapa being ready to return to the Newcastle United side against Everton at St James’ Park on Sunday. The former Lyon central defender missed out at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday and there is no doubt he was badly missed as the United defence fell apart in that 3-1 defeat. The 31-year-old, who has taken out French citizenship, limped off late on against West Ham on September 23 with a groin injury and failed a fitness test in Manchester last Saturday morning. The Hammers game was the last time Michael Owen wore the black-and-white shirt and, if the little striker does not make Sunday, then he will have been out of the United picture for exactly a month by the time Spurs come to St James’ Park on October 22. And, bearing in mind the Owen situation, Allardyce told me very much tongue-in-cheek today: “Claudio has a groin injury but he doesn’t need a hernia operation.” However, Big Sam was deadly serious when he added: “We gave Claudio a test on Saturday morning. He wasn’t ready. “That, for me, was a big miss because he brings a huge amount of experience, as we’ve seen. “The last time he played, we beat West Ham 3-1 and we didn’t see that type of defending from anybody against Manchester City. “I think he’d have taken a grip of them with just Emile Mpenza up front. He’d have been able to read the situation much better, but it wasn’t to be. “However, he should be OK for Everton.” If Cacapa has suddenly emerged as a key United player, he is certainly being missed at Lyon, where he spent six successful years. For since Cacapa left to join United in the summer Lyon have let the water in, never more so than in their 3-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of Rangers in France this week. Meanwhile, Allardyce would love to pair Cacapa with fellow Brazilian international Edmilson, who is now nearing fitness at Barcelona following knee surgery. The Chronicle revealed in the close season that Allardyce had made a secret trip to Barcelona to talk to the man who is expected to be the Brazilian Wold Cup captain in 2010 in South Africa. This impressed Edmilson, and United went to the front of the queue for his services. But if Allardyce does not get the backing from the United hierarchy he will lose out on the Barcelona defender to either Inter Milan or Seville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Bad news for 'future England captain' Steven Taylor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted October 4, 2007 Author Share Posted October 4, 2007 But good news for us. From what I have seen of Cacapa I think he is class and whilst many were raving about Rozenhal it was always Cacapa that stood out for me when they player together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Patrokles Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 If it happens then Edmilson and Cacapa would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Cacapa looks the mutt's nuts tbf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol 0 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 If it happens then Edmilson and Cacapa would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 cacapa has looked very good so far. rozenhals better than the rest of the centre backs we have imho, except for in the air which is strange given his height! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Cacapa has looked class from the first moment he started here and hopefully will be a fixture in the team for a good while to come. Also like Woodgate i think he will improve the players alongside him in the back four. I'm looking forward also to seeing Enrique get a few game sudner his belt and seeing Zog on the left wing in front of him where he can cause havoc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONTEMPI 0 Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I wouldn't mind seeing a Cacapa/Faye partnership with maybe Rozza in Butt's holding role as he's quick and is a good passer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I wouldn't mind seeing a Cacapa/Faye partnership with maybe Rozza in Butt's holding role as he's quick and is a good passer. I think Rozenhal is a sweeper and would get found out in the middle of the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONTEMPI 0 Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I wouldn't mind seeing a Cacapa/Faye partnership with maybe Rozza in Butt's holding role as he's quick and is a good passer. I think Rozenhal is a sweeper and would get found out in the middle of the park. What you mean like butt has in the last few games? I think that role is sweeperish in it's nature just in front of the back four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I wouldn't mind seeing a Cacapa/Faye partnership with maybe Rozza in Butt's holding role as he's quick and is a good passer. I think Rozenhal is a sweeper and would get found out in the middle of the park. What you mean like butt has in the last few games? I think that role is sweeperish in it's nature just in front of the back four. Butt played well against West Ham imo. Either way, if you don't play Butt there, I see Faye and Geremi as better options. I just think Rozenhal's strength lies in reading the game from a deeper position. You'd probably find he wouldn't pass the ball as well as he's have less time on the ball too. I also like the look of Cacapa and him together at the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 they complement each other well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 0 Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Cacapa and Abdoulaye Faye I'd like to see, with Rozehnal in defensive midfield. Cacapa is an amazing defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Cacapa looks the mutt's nuts tbf. So true I had to quote it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontoasey 0 Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 One things for sure our defence is a lot more solid and composed with Cacapa in it, hope he is fit to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplayerjj 0 Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Cacapa and Abdoulaye Faye I'd like to see, with Rozehnal in defensive midfield. Cacapa is an amazing defender. This I would really like to see also. PSG fans have said that some of Roz's best performances came from DMC and I can really see this. He uses the ball so well for a defender, has two very good feet on him, and his composure in this position would be interesting to see. Cacapa and Faye would be a really physical no nonsense force to be reckoned with at the back =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Cacapa and Abdoulaye Faye I'd like to see, with Rozehnal in defensive midfield. Cacapa is an amazing defender. This I would really like to see also. PSG fans have said that some of Roz's best performances came from DMC and I can really see this. He uses the ball so well for a defender, has two very good feet on him, and his composure in this position would be interesting to see. Cacapa and Faye would be a really physical no nonsense force to be reckoned with at the back =) I think i saw an interview with him where he said he played alot of last season in midfield, so its certainly an option to consider sometime for Big Sam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally 0 Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Cacapa certainly is the dog's bollocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Cacapa easily the best defender I have ever seen in a Newcastle shirt. That includes Woodgate tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontoasey 0 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Aye he was great yesterday, hope he stays fit though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio 0 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Cacapa easily the best defender I have ever seen in a Newcastle shirt. That includes Woodgate tbh Woodgate was a far better defender for us than Cacapa tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22147 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Cacapa easily the best defender I have ever seen in a Newcastle shirt. That includes Woodgate tbh bold statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 wrong answer. good stopgap though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 He looks class and the more he plays the more i suspect we will love havign him here, but as it stands Woodgate is still number one, i've never seen anything like when he was here at his best. But like Woody, the effect Cacapa has on the rest of the back 4 and keeper is imense on top of his own outstanding performances! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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