Vying for No.9 at Newcastle United? – Part Deux.
Posted on January 12th, 2010 | 129 Comments |
The No.9 shirt is almost as synonymous with Newcastle United, as St James’ Park, the black and white stripes or that deed funny accent we’ve got. It’s been made particularly special in this part of the world because it’s been worn by some of the best players this country has seen. The likes of Gallacher, Milburn, MacDonald, Cole, Shearer have graced that shirt and it will undoubtedly always be a big shirt to fill.
Ironic then, given that the No.9 shirt and the prestige it carries with it is currently up for grabs, that we have a group of strikers who fall somewhat short of the standards we’ve come to expect from our centre-floorboards, and that none of them look like earning that honour just yet, particularly in this current barren spell…..
So how far short have they fallen so far? As with my review on the rest of the squad, I’ve only included the lads who have played at least a couple of games so far and I’ve just added to my initial review from back in October.
Shola Ameobi – What can you say about this young (?) man that hasn’t already been said a million times. An undoubted talent, with plenty of awkward and unpredictable ability but one which needs a rocket up it’s ar*e to perform. In the past, he has had to make do with sitting and waiting in the wings as the big names and big earners kept him out. And when called upon, he usually did enough to encourage us. But given longer periods to impress, his laidback and nonchalant approach was not appreciated by the Toon faithful. However, this season started differently and while tormenting Championship defences he couldn’t seem to stop scoring, that was until he got knacked. Come back soon Shola, we love you really (Update) Came back with a bang actually and scored in his first game and then two out of the next four games. Undoubtedly capable at this level, but even now seems to have relaxed back into his lazy ways in recent games. Will he still have enough to fire us to promotion?……..
rating so far – 8/10
Andy Carroll – Gangly, awkward and seems to spend a lot of the match on his backside. But he’s a trier and for every utterance I make at games about his ineffectual displays, he answers me swiftly by smashing home a volley within minutes. So he’s picking up that knack, we hoped he had, of scoring goals. If he could improve his hold-up play and lead the line more effectively, he could be a big player in the future. My only worry is that we just play to his main strength, his heading (although you wouldn’t think it, if you’d been at the Doncaster game). (Update) Caused as much trouble off the pitch as he has on it recently, and while his last goal was fantastic, he’s failed to score since early November. Still gangly and awkward and not pretty to watch but bloody effective at times, though not the prolific striker we’re crying out for but perhaps due to a lack of the type of deliveries he needs? I fear not……..
rating so far – 7/10
Peter Lovenkrands – Made an impact with his pace when we signed him last year, when we were crying out for something different, and scored a couple of decent goals. Didn’t seem that keen to stick around following relegation but with no other prospects on the horizon, and following an offer of a contract, he signed back up for us. So far, I think it’s only fair to say, he’s been a bit of a let-down. (Update) Looked a little brighter since coming back, after he had some time away due to personal reasons. Scored a couple of goals and looked sharp but maybe still not had enough consecutive games to get into any sort of form? ……..
rating so far – 6/10
Marlon Harewood – Big, strong, fast, and an appetite for some action. No, it’s not Ashley in his favourite restaurant. I’m talking about Marlon, or at least I should be. After bundling home his debut goal against QPR at St James’, his loan spell from Villa couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. However, amid rumours of a fallout with staff and given his lacklustre approach, his horrendous touch and inability to use the pace and strength he obviously has to his advantage, he’s just yet another striker proving to be a major disappointment. If you don’t wanna be here Marlon, we can fetch you a taxi to the airport (Update) Somehow grabbed some important goals by managing to be in the right place at the right time, but never effective enough in the role he was given. Didn’t work hard enough, though improved slightly and wasn’t making the ball stick when pinged into him. I don’t think Hughton intends to change the style of play to potentially get more out of him, as a different type of striker (i.e. with wingers), so perhaps unlikely to make a return but it’s definitely not out of the question……..
rating so far – 6/10
Nile Ranger – Perhaps, at least in my eyes, the one with the most obvious potential to be able to do that famous No.9 shirt justice. Everytime I see this lad, he impresses me and I only wish Hughton would let us see more of him from the start. His maturity and composure is beyond his years but he still has that youthful enthusiasm and with his strength and height, he is a genuine threat all of the time. All he needs now is to score (Update) – Since he got that elusive first goal, and where I think some of us probably hoped and expected he’d then score bagfuls, his form has dipped a little. Still showing potential and huge amounts of willingness but is possibly suffering from the very thing meant to protect him. A lack of games……….
rating so far – 7/10
It’s probably just as crucial to get a creative midfielder or two in during the transfer window and even mix up our style of play, but that seems unlikely reading between the many lines of fact and conjecture. It’s more probable that we’ll try to secure the services of a switched-on and hopefully pacy (and cheap) striker to get the balls we’re missing in the channels upfront. Either way, we need to start scoring goals. People have even contemplated Xisco returning (this is where I fall off my seat laughing…).
So once again, I’ve rambled, enough of my reviews.
What do you lot think?
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
None of the above are worthy of the sacred No 9.