Smoggie Ranger?News emerged yesterday suggesting that Middlesbrough could be looking to take Nile Ranger to The Riverside on loan.
Now apart from all the jokes about empty seats at their ground and the less than glamorous surroundings of Middlesbrough, I actually think that this would be a good move.
I don’t know about you guys and gals, but I’m getting increasingly fed up with what is looking to be some of the best youth talent we have had on our books for some considerable time not getting as much as a sniff of the first-team. Highly coveted youngsters like Ranger and Haris Vuckic will just stagnate if they aren’t given the opportunity to flourish.
First-team football should be part of any young players development. No amount of Under-18 games or reserve matches will beat the cut and thrust of playing in the first team. A case in point being Kazenga Lua Lua who is currently plying his trade at Brighton, and is earning numerous pladits for his performances by all accounts. (more…)
Krul, Harper and Forster - Sorted.I have always felt United have been spoilt for choice with goalkeepers, for the last ten years at least, with Shay Given being and Steve Harper battling for the No.1 jersey. And now, even with Given being No.2 at Manchester ‘Abu Dhabi’ City, United are still blessed in this position.
The fact that our No.3, Fraser Forster, made his Celtic Park debut this weekend as The Hoops cruised to a 3-0 win over Hearts means that the 22-year-old could potentially add an SPL winners medal to the League One winners medal he already holds after a superb season with Norwich City last season.
Even if he did return with the two Championships to his name he will be far from guaranteed even a spot on the bench next season with United also having Dutchman Tim Krul, who has been fantastic whenever he has been called upon for the first team. (more…)
Fraser Forster off to Celtic?Newcastle look like they are about to send one of their stars of the future out on loan for the whole season.
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was at Celtic watching them beat St Mirren 4-0 yesterday and is set to join the SPL outfit after a recommendation from Neil Lennon’s former team-mate, Paul Lambert, who had the 6ft 7ins stopper on loan at Carrow Road last season.
I’m in two minds over this move to be honest. On one hand it could be very good for Forster, if he is starting in goal every week. But on the other hand, what is the point in sending the player to a team where he might just sit on the bench? The lad is at a point in his career where he needs games to develop, and I’m not sure whether he will get them at Celtic. (more…)
Krul, Harper and Forster.Newcastle are preparing for life back in the Premier League and are looking like they are going about the business of strengthening the squad in the required areas. But what about the areas in which we are already too strong?
Now there isn’t many of those areas and by process of elimination you will probably get which area I am alluding to.
It is of course our goalkeeping situation, and just what is going to happen with regard to giving our top three ‘keepers the playing time required to keep them happy and continue their development. (more…)
Tim Krul - The future Shay Given?It was revealed yesterday that Steven Taylor is set to be offered a new contract at Newcastle sometime in the near future, which is good, great in fact.
However, Taylor isn’t the only player who we risk losing at the end of the upcoming season as Dutch ‘keeper Tim Krul also enters the final twelve months of his contract.
Krul has been tipped to reach the top for some time now, and the Dutchman is still only 22 years old. As a goalkeeper, his potential is undoubted and you would have to say that he would be knocking on the door of the first team a lot harder at some other clubs than he is a Newcastle. The problem is that Krul has been a victim of playing in one of our most well stocked positions. We had Shay Given for years, then he left and Steve Harper came into the frame, which leaves Krul next in line for the number one, but will he be around for long enough to claim it for himself? (more…)
