What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

One less squad player available who can cover for Ben Arfa or Barton; however, we made a profit and he wouldn't have gotten too many games.

Wish all the best to the lad - not the greatest player but made a valuable contribution during his time.


As for cover for Barton and Ben Arfa, Jonas can be moved to the right giving 3 options. I would prefer to see us bring in an alternative though, as Barton isn't naturally a right winger and Ben Arfa is an unknown quantity (don't know how many games he'll play this season).

Official then?

And did he really refer to a GK's pace?!

He really made the difference in our promotion season but just a shame it didnt work out. Will always get a good reception. Lets hope the 2m goes towards another player.

LOL too say lee camp has pace is insane surely.

Fair play to routledge i always liked him as a player,but his most valuable asset is his pace? everything else he does is pretty ordinary. Good luck to him.

Leroy Lita,

My mistake I was typing it up whilst reading two different articles on two different stories

Edited now

good to see him go, Gosling is also able to play in that position adn Richardson is there if we really need him!

Now that we have him of the wage bill hopefully we will get closer to signing players for other positions

Very disappointed. He was brilliant for us and for QPR in the Championship. Still unproven in the Prem, but still brilliant in the Championship.

He's played over 100 games in the PL. I don't think he's up to the standard. This does, however, lighten our squad-the last thing we need. Also, how does this go through with a club that played us dirty re: N. Taylor? I'd have told them either he comes the other way or f00k off. It's only 2M after all and there would have been other interested parties.

Despite the 100 games stat I don't think he quite got a fair crack of the whip here, I think he could go either way at Swansea. We might actually have needed him a bit with Barton going, but nevermind.

As for the Naylor thing, put some cash on the table and all is forgiven when it comes to our owner.


Get regular updates from one of TyneTalk's mintest posters, follow: [www.twitter.com] @adameverett92

Would you honestly be pleased having routledge in our team next year ? Dont you think Jonas or Marveraux would be a better option on the wing ?

Routledge has failed at every prem team he has been in: Fact.

Good luck to him at Swansea, thanks for the games he has played but goodbye.

Quote:

AndrewThe Mag
Would you honestly be pleased having routledge in our team next year ? Dont you think Jonas or Marveraux would be a better option on the wing ?
Routledge has failed at every prem team he has been in: Fact.

Good luck to him at Swansea, thanks for the games he has played but goodbye.

If Barton is gone, and either Jonas or Marveaux is hurt, would you rather have Routledge, Lovenkrands, or Ryan Taylor on the wing?

I'd rather have Routledge, as at least his pace can be threatening. Not every player on the squad can be a first team player, you have to have squad players too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:05:03:25:55 by waffles.

i'd rather have ferguson on the left wing and jonas on the right than Routledge, he's proven throughout his whole career he isn't a prem league standard and he is in the group of players we have/had to get rid of!

There are plaenty of guys in the squad who can cover on the right and probably provide more than Routledge, take away his pace and there's very liitle else on offer and even with his pace 9 times out of 10 he runs the ball out of play anyway!

So we need players in the squad to cover if our first choice and second choice and reserve get injured ? Routledge would be 4th choice RW at the moment and you honestly think you would keep him ?

Barton, Gutierez, Marveraux, Routledge ?

Leave the space for the development of some youngsters. Am sure sammy Ameobi has played out there sometimes for us, and thats before Raylor too or even HBA wouldnt look too out of place over there.

Quote:

i!
put some cash on the table and all is forgiven when it comes to our owner

Amen, brother.

I still think a lot of you guys are expecting way too much out of the kids. It's too much pressure. It's not good for their development. And however good they are, there's a reason they're not getting Wilshere/Sturridge/Balotelli-level hype.

Quote:

AndrewThe Mag
So we need players in the squad to cover if our first choice and second choice and reserve get injured ? Routledge would be 4th choice RW at the moment and you honestly think you would keep him ?
Barton, Gutierez, Marveraux, Routledge ?

Leave the space for the development of some youngsters. Am sure sammy Ameobi has played out there sometimes for us, and thats before Raylor too or even HBA wouldnt look too out of place over there.

Barton isn't allowed to train with the squad right now. From what I've seen of the preseason, Marveaux's right foot is worse than Gutierrez's left. Right now our RW choices are:

Gutierrez, Routledge, Guthrie, Ryan Taylor, and Peter Lovenkrands. Guthrie looks awful out wide, Ryan Taylor can deliver a free kick, but that's about it, and Lovenkrands is actually left footed and looks like a deer in headlights when played on the right flank.

i cant get over this whole idea that its going to hurt the younger members of the squad to get some first team experience!

Throwing them in away at Manchester United could severely dent their confidence, they might not recover from being at fault for a couple of goals. I think the only ones ready to be involved regularly in the 1st team squad are Ferguson and Vuckic.


Get regular updates from one of TyneTalk's mintest posters, follow: [www.twitter.com] @adameverett92

It's also quite possible that games at this level will simply pass them by, when they could be actually taking part in reserve matches. Remember the cup game against Arsenal last season? Did our kids look up for it then? (And that was against Arsenal's B team.)

Quote:

i!
Throwing them in away at Manchester United could severely dent their confidence, they might not recover from being at fault for a couple of goals. I think the only ones ready to be involved regularly in the 1st team squad are Ferguson and Vuckic.

Abeid looks up for it, and might see playing time if Tiote's form from last season continues (i.e. suspended a lot). Gosling and Guthrie are more attack minded like Cabaye, so Abeid is the more natrual fit. I'm going to assume Barton is not in the mix until further developments.

Haven't seen him play so can't really comment, heard he's alright though and he'll probably get a few games.


Get regular updates from one of TyneTalk's mintest posters, follow: [www.twitter.com] @adameverett92

its right throwing young lads in against top clubs may not be ideal but it happens and the young lads cope with it, Aaron Hughes was amazing against Barcelona!

Its a situation which needs to be managed!

Before anyone starts about Pardew's ability to manage this,would you rather have Hughton who would play any player he could out of position rather than give a young lad a chance to play in the first team in his preffered position!

As for the comment about tiote's bookings, i dont think he'll get as many this season, he knows the game a lot better after his first season and also he's going to have players around him more this season who will take on defensive responsibilities unlike last season when he had nolan playing out of position next to him!

Mental, in his 3 preseason games in the US, he was booked 3 times...

I remember watching Jon Obi Mikel f00king dominate the U-21 WC...and then he came to Chelsea and didn't adjust to the pace of the PL for two full seasons...I remember Nemanja Vidic looking like a third-choice pub league CB in his first half a season in Manchester...and you all expect Abeid to come in and do a job for Tiote? Really?

Oh, and to answer the question-I'd still rather have CH managing here than AP. Any day.

At least Abeid's got a bloody visa. Tunyc's right of course, don't expect anything yet, Hughton over Pardew any day also.


Get regular updates from one of TyneTalk's mintest posters, follow: [www.twitter.com] @adameverett92

Is Abeid even a holding midfielder. From all the noise of him coming in he was sold as a attcking mid who can also play on the wing. Think Cabaye could sit a bit better than him.

Quote:

Biffins Bridge
Is Abeid even a holding midfielder. From all the noise of him coming in he was sold as a attcking mid who can also play on the wing. Think Cabaye could sit a bit better than him.

Based on what I saw in Kansas City and I heard from Columbus, he is definitely a holding midfielder. He didn't push forward much in KC, but he put in a lot of hard tackles and was looking to pass the ball wide.

Quote:

tunyc
I remember watching Jon Obi Mikel f00king dominate the U-21 WC...and then he came to Chelsea and didn't adjust to the pace of the PL for two full seasons...I remember Nemanja Vidic looking like a third-choice pub league CB in his first half a season in Manchester...and you all expect Abeid to come in and do a job for Tiote? Really?
Oh, and to answer the question-I'd still rather have CH managing here than AP. Any day.

Tunyc, there's a difference between me saying "he looks up for it and might see some time" and saying he's going to be a starter. Tiote is going to have to sit a couple games out, because of accumulation. It might not be as many as last season, but I'm sure he'll miss at least 1 or 2. What I'm saying is that based on what I have seen, Abeid is the better option to fill that gap than Guthrie or Gosling. He's quicker and tackles better than Gosling. Is he as rock solid as Tiote? No, he's not. He's not as patient and controlled on the ball, and that's what makes Tiote so much better. However, I do believe that he is capable of putting in a workmanlike 90 minutes once every 2 or 3 months, much the way Ferguson put in 3 or 4 solid performances for Enrique last year.

The young players have to play at some point, but that doesn't mean I'm asking for them to play 4 straight matches in the middle of the season. You give a young lad like Vuckic, Abeid, and Ferguson 10 minutes once every 3 weeks or so. That way, when the **** hits the fan and they are the only cover remaining, they are calm enough to be slotted in.

They don't have to be at every game, and even if they sit on the bench for the full 90 minutes, reserve games last season were almost always Tuesday or Wendesday. Name them for home games only if it means they can still get half a training session in, but at some point, they have to be prepared. I'd much rather have Abeid replace Tiote than Alan Smith, and if he doesn't see first team time prior to Tiote's suspension, it won't be pretty.

Quote:

waffles
The young players have to play at some point, but that doesn't mean I'm asking for them to play 4 straight matches in the middle of the season. You give a young lad like Vuckic, Abeid, and Ferguson 10 minutes once every 3 weeks or so. That way, when the **** hits the fan and they are the only cover remaining, they are calm enough to be slotted in.
They don't have to be at every game, and even if they sit on the bench for the full 90 minutes, reserve games last season were almost always Tuesday or Wendesday. Name them for home games only if it means they can still get half a training session in, but at some point, they have to be prepared. I'd much rather have Abeid replace Tiote than Alan Smith, and if he doesn't see first team time prior to Tiote's suspension, it won't be pretty.

Fully agree that some of the kids need to start getting time on the pitch, and they are ready to come in and do a job, if not then they are not good enough and should be moved on. Ferguson looked good in the games and I would be happy to have him as back up. Abeid I haven't saw much of him but would rather have him than the likes of Alan Smith or R.Taylor getting a game, as both should be allowed to leave the club. Vuckic has been rumoured to be the next big thing, and unless he gets game then we will never know, and he has had a good pre-season

We need cover. That's my point. Plan B, what we do when we get one solitary injury, shouldn't be to push whatever kids we have on hand into the team. Someone like Vuckic, who's been in our system for a few years and has already played as a full international may be a legit candidate for some sub appearances. Abeid maybe is some kind of wunderkind but he did just arrive here from the reserves of a team in a weaker league. If I'm managing, my starting assumption is that he will not be ready and therefore I need to have some real cover there. The reason we have to do these things and have come to consider them normal is that for the last several seasons, we've had an actual effective first team squad of about 21-22, whereas most PL teams have 24-25. Last season our senior squad was 23 players including Campbell, Routledge and Xisco. The only u-21 players to get significant time were Carroll and Ranger. So that's a base of 21 players from January, and only 23 players before that. That makes our squad the same size as Everton for the first half of the season and actually smaller in the second half. And everyone knows EFC's squad is too small...