In my opinion, Keegans tactical failure was very clear a decade ago and its going to be very apperant in 2008 where european coaches have changed the premier league into a more tactical league. Being a great attraction to players and getting the best out of your players, which are keegans strongest points IMO, wont be enough in the premiership these days. For the sake of Newcastle, I hope Keegan strengthened that area of his management ability.
Now, a realistic look at what Newcastles ambitions should be. Should they be in the top half ? Definitely. Should they be in europe year in year out ? Definitely. Can they be in europe year in year out as things stand ? No. You got the big three, then the two liverpool sides and City. Those are six teams that are likely to be in europe in a constant basis for the next few years. Everton have the stability that Newcastle badly lacks and City have the defensive backbone that Newcastle desperately need. Then you got teams like Spurs, Portsmouth, Villa and Blackburn that are showing that they are good enough to get into europe.
Newcastle have money to spend, well I hate to break it all to you but almost every premiership side has money to spend. Eriksson has an open check from what I hear. Villa, West Ham and Portsmouth are spending crazy money. Heck, even Sunderland and fulham have spent 30 million each. what will work in Newcastles favour is the fact that they have a 50,000 seats stadium and decent history. That should attract good enough players.
Now to the team. I think they have a very decent squad, its not as disastereous as some people make it up to be. Given is as good as any one and their strike force is pretty good. Its what in between thats not good enough. At right back I've been impressed with Beye. Strong, quick, reads the game well and is decent going forward. Faye should start every game. The guy is a rock, a very good defender. Now people have mentioned Steven Taylors name, I havent been that impressed to be honest. A couple of years ago he looked like a player who would develop into a top top defender. Thats not happening though. I'm not saying he isnt decent, cause he is, but he hasnt improved and he is not a top6 club material. Theyre going to need a leader at the back. Someone like Rio, Dunne or Ledley King. Up to them to find someone of that class and that amount of leadership. I havent seen enough of Enrique to judge him, but he's the only left back theyve got so Id think of bringing in another. How good the other one should be depends on how good Enrique develops into.
Midfield is a mess. Duff, Milner, Nzogbia, Butt, Emre and Barton are all very good players. But I don't know, for the past few seasons Newcastles midfield dont seem to click really. Is it lack of tactical and techniqual training ? I truely dont know. But theyre going to need a creative midfielder, someone who can make things happen. And an another right sided midfielder to offer Milner some competition.
People have to be realistic about the players they target. I think someone on this thread mentioned Dunne as a possible target ? Why would he leave city for Newcastle ? He is the clubs captain, Id say that City are as big of club as Newcastle. Not the same but close enough. They are 4th in the league, they have one of the best managers around and a chairman that is going to spend spend spend. Newcastle are going to have to work to get quality players in, cause they havent done that well in a long time.
