Just got to stay there now ;-)

Latest quotes from Albert Luque taken from the News of The World, Sunday.

"My situation is now desperate. It is incredible that I was not picked for Watford.

"The final decision is with the coach and, if he is not interested in me, the best solution is for me to go, probably in the winter market.

"I'm very unhappy here."

Good luck mate. It is indeed a disgrace that he wasn't even near the pitch Saturday as we played a player who by his own admission needs an operation. One rumour had Barcelona of all people interested. The fact that isn't entirely incredulous should tell you something about Luque before we got our hands on him. Once again this club has taken a player with an abundant of talent and entirely wasted it due to what can only be off field differences. If we ever make it back to Europe (ha!) expect Luque to turn up and score a hat-trick against us.

Whilst the back leaks though the front seems to have become completely bunged up. Here it is not just the players who may be questioned but also their management. What purpose bringing in the obvious unfit Ameobi served, other than to lumber around the pitch entirely uninvolved, is beyond me. What is even more baffling though is the selection of substitutions. Ameobi was never going to last 90 minutes (arguably he couldn't last one) so why was there no replacement?? Instead we had a bench full of midfielders. While this squad may be overly supplied with them surely Carr's injury shows a covering defender might not have been a bad idea, and Rossi or Luque to play when Ameobi inevitably limps off. And why, with all those midfielders having a sit down, was Duff not withdrawn earlier---it's not like anyone would have noticed his absence; you'd have to have noticed his presence for that.

So with no strike force (once Ameobi was off we yet again had no forward on the pitch) and a leaking defence it seemed inevitable that we'd eventually capitulate and Man City could have the three points they deserved. Then came that last five minutes, in which we played football. Passing, moving, winning the ball, making space. Yet the thing is I have no idea, none, what brought on the sudden transformation from fucking awful to half way decent---and I'm willing to bet neither do the players, management, board or any of the other thousands watching. On Tuesday we actually won on penalties (though almost inevitably drew Chelsea in the next round). Yesterday we took a point we never looked like getting and certainly didn't deserve. And in five minutes we showed that somewhere in there is a side which can play football, if only we knew where the hell the switch is, and could flip it from the start, the season might have some hope.

This was a game we deserved, on balance, to win. Yet we tried our best to once again convince everyone that we should lose. Had this been a team with any sort of cutting edge beyond Sibierski (who again must take great credit for his work effort and actually producing something) then we would have been out of sight in the first half. Instead, having been the better team, we came out for the second half seemingly almost resigned to allowing Watford back. And so, of course, it proved. And even before they'd witnessed the sadly back-foot, lacking verve second half display would anyone have been surprised to be told that's what would happen?

Then came extra time and a point where we just didn't seem to know what we were doing, on the pitch or off it. I've been hesitant to criticise Roeder---I at least remember how he took over a team essentially as dead in the water as this one and guided it so we could have that glory Europe night---but some serious questions must be asked of his in game decisions. With extra time upon us and Sibierski apparently ready to collapse Roeder again dillied and dallied over substitutions. Having replaced the rather quiet Rossi but still going the all too predictable goal down he finally realised something more had to be done, only to leave us in desperate search for a goal without a striker on the pitch. There may well be the excuse that all's well that ends well but that's all it is, and excuse. There is a definite feeling that we got there despite Roeder's lack of action, or poor choices, not because of foresight on his part. This trend of no, late, or seemingly poorly judged subs is a real worry. As is the way we came out perhaps all too ready to try and defend in the second half. One further point of all's well that ends well. We got through penalties, finally!, but there was a noticeable, in my eyes anyway, absentee from those takers. While the young Milner and, particularly, N'Zogbia stepped up to place the spot kick burden on there young shoulders our captain was no where to be seen. Fair enough we won, but any captain of mine not leader enough to step up to the spot wouldn't be pulling on the arm band again any time soon, cool finish minutes earlier or not.

But we won! Penalties and we actually won! This is hard to believe. This club does not win meaningful penalty shoot outs. So I'm going to look on the bright side. Yes at times we were still awful, at times we seemed to be led astray from the sidelines, but those penalties! Seasons are turned by strange things in football, and this club is stranger than most. Perhaps, just perhaps, winning on penalties will find a corner to peak around. Can only hope!

After a European boost and in front of home fans, with the threat of being very bottom of the table looming, you might have thought it was a day for players to step up and be counted. Yet from the very first we were a side of egg shell walking players who looked like they'd allowed the pressure to freeze them rather than inspire and drive them. Parker I am almost convinced must have been injured still so ineffectual was he at gaining anything like control of the midfield (Butt can be forgiven a little having put in such a good and tiring display only 48 hours earlier). Duff....arrrg. Does he want to beat everyone else on the pitch? Is that it? He has the talent and ability to create chances and opportunities but there's no point if when that moment arrives he decides to carry on and try to beat another five players, again. And was he supposed to be alongside Rossi? Was anybody? The defence went from looking almost solid to being flakier and flakier again. Where on Thursday the two full backs being really centre halfs by trade led to their naturally covering round, Carr and Babyaro's ability to do so is questionable (perhaps this is partly due to their more attacking nature but Carr in particular's forward forays rarely lead to anything more than a poor cross). The situation isn't helped by the fact that the central defenders often seem to have no idea where the man they are supposed to be marking are. In mentioning the defence it's worth noting the very high line that they seem to have taken to holding. I noticed last week against Charlton and it was more evident Thursday and today. Already teams are finding the room to run in behind the ragged line, and one can only worry that this will increase as teams notice we're doing it.

It's not just a single performance though. There are very worrying signs, symptomatic through out. And it's difficult to know where all the problems actually lie. A lack of goals is an obvious place to start. Injuries, injuries, injuries. A certain Mr Owen would be an improvement to any side of course, and we've certainly been unlucky with losing his cover---and there is the thing, Owen's cover. With Shearer's retirement he was never "replaced". Ameobi, while he might be half dead and at least giving his all, but he's never been a great forward. In the summer we punted on a striker, but Martins is more of an Owen player. Luque's well documented as not being a big old centre forward, Rossi is a skill player too. There's a lack of creativity coming from midfield at times, but it's exacerbated by needing to play clever football all the time. It was painfully obvious today, for instance, that when we got into a good wide position there was a reluctance to cross because...well, cross to who? The defence is still a shambles. It's probable that we went chasing after what is now Middlesbrough's central defence, shame we didn't get some of it.

I'm not one to criticise management as a rule. Roeder is undoubtedly struggling under an injury burden, but I am beginning to wonder. He seems to at least got over the reluctance to make substitutions until far too late. Yet there is still the chopping and changing every game (not all forced by injury, or tiredness). Then the reluctance to player Luque (who when I came on I thought had his most involved game for us yet, even though he was as ineffectual as everyone else). Most importantly, it is now that Glenn must prove his ability to inspire, which between transfer windows is really one of the main jobs of the manager.

Bah, I'm too disappointed, thinking to disjointedly, to coherently comment properly now. More later, maybe...

The chart shows the number of goals per game for each player, both for this season and in their total Newcastle career (which for Rossi and Martins is of course the same thing). At first glance Luque's record does indeed look poor, until one remembers that most of his limited time has been as a substitute. Examining the goals per start shows a record comparable with that of Martins. Looking at only this season becomes even more interesting. Luque's goals per game has greatly improved and his goals per start ratio is the best of the four strikers.

Of course this is far from an in depth analysis; there are many factors I've not included---consistency, number of minutes actually on the pitch, injuries carried... but as Luque himself has pointed out he cannot improve, or indeed even show anything (good or bad), if he is not playing. Anybody who watched him play in Spain knows he is talented (and that he hasn't really been played in his natural position at all for us); with the current crises in injuries perhaps it is time to give him a run and see if we can get anywhere with him, rather than again writing it off as an expensive mistake no matter what the lad does, and despite of any improvement he shows.

Special mention has rightly been given to the young Tim Krul (who has a wonderful Dutch-Geordie accent!). Whilst the show reaction saves really just say he's a good stopper it was his positional sense, ability to stand up when one on one, and the confidence to shout at the defenders in front of him which were most impressive. Given his excellent showing it seems a little churlish to consider the options but just because it goes right doesn't mean we shouldn't' think about how wrong being left with only a rookie young keeper for a tough European away game. If Harper's injury was (is?) so precarious then why was he playing Saturday? At that point we had a perfectly good and experienced goalkeeper available in Srnicek and Harper could have been rested in the hope he'd be ready for Thursday.

Another mention must also go to Luque, finally with a start and a goal. Any regular reader of this little piece of the internet would know I'm a defender of the Spaniard. There will probably be those who criticise his performance last night too, but in a decidedly deliberately defensive set-up (especially once he had scored) I thought he did as well as could be expected in a position alien to his natural game---his first touch when the ball was played up to him seemed better than Ameobi's is on a lot of occasions, and better than Martins' too. It would be nice to see him get an extended opportunity now, though he needs to do so not as a lonely striker up front alone. Given the current injury list that does seem more likely than it has looked before, at least before the transfer window reopens. A game this Saturday isn't out of the question, though it seems an almost certainty that Rossi will be back in as we continue to nurture Man U's talent.

The midfield held together well in protection of the back four. Butt seems to have found something of a resurgence of form, while Emre still looked one of the most talented players out there whilst half crocked, sitting back to control when he knew he couldn't be as dynamic as he sometimes is. If only Milner could whip in crosses like that every time rather than once in a blue moon...

After the heights and delights of Palermo though comes the indifferent form of the premiership. We have to turn the ability to hold out and scrap shown on Thursday into the same attitude in the bread and butter of Saturday. It's a game which comes insanely quickly and Glenn's hand is fairly much forced in terms of picking the players who are fit and available, but then the same were true last night and look what happened.

Admittedly Roeder and his team's options have been somewhat limited with injuries and a packed fixture schedule. Then again, it's arguable he saw himself as having only four substitutes with Luque on the bench but apparently destined never to be allowed to venture onto the pitch no matter what. Personally I would have thrown him on for the fading Rossi, or unable to finish Duff. Milner eventually did come on, but why not 10, 15 minutes earlier either for Solano or the increasingly quiet N'Zogbia? It is this lack of decisive action that may well have cost us points, and almost cost us the game as Charlton realised they'd weathered what we had to throw at them.

Talking of almost stealing the game, Bramble yet again demonstrated why he should only be allowed near the pitch in emergencies. I've defended Bramble in the past, and still believe he has good defensive qualities, but it has become increasingly, and increasingly, and increasingly, clear that he can't concentrate for an entire match. When you're a defender at this level one simple lapse in concentration is often very costly, as was almost the case yesterday. Perhaps he was played because Charlton were seen as the weaker side coming up. One can only hope Taylor or Ramage are restored for European action.

Talking of defence brings us to statistics. nufc.com have a small piece up entitled "Don't blame the defence". In it they quote the goals scored and goals against record for the opening ten games from the last 14 seasons, including this one. There can be no argument that we currently lack an edge at the front, with the long absence of Owen, Martins hardly setting the world afire, Ameobi hobbling around, Rossi looking OK but not actually ours and Luque not allowed to do anything. This does not excuse the defence however. What the statistics really show is that far too long our defence has been inadequate. They have consistently been conceding more than a goal a game and while this season is not the worst it is still showing a dismal lack of clean sheets. The difference this season is that the importance of that defensive failing has increased. When the front players aren't producing clean sheets are the difference between a point, or sneaking three, and none. Tellingly if one works out the goal difference the current season is the worst of those fourteen. No longer is the poor defence being rescued by those in front of them. So yes, the cutting edge is a problem but it's exacerbated by the troubles behind. The headline should be something more like "Don't blame just the defence".

Though the sponsers may have went a little crazy and awarded it to Duff I think the majority of people watching would have given Sibierski as man of the match against Fenerbahce, and deservadly so. He can only score goals and work hard, and maybe I'll even up my estimate of him to above average eventually.

Roeder has defended his decision to go along with a packed midfield and try to "hold out". Even though we didn't do that he almost sounded pleased that we'd lost 2-0, perhaps happy at avoiding a higher scoreline (which really only happened thanks to Harper's recovering form and some good fortune). That's all right then. No, it bloody well isn't.

First, even though Man U haven't been firing on all cylinders recently they are still too good a team to be held at bay for 90 minutes by a weak defence. Given that we have a weak defence it becomes self evident that the only way to get anything from the game is to actually score ourselves. That's not going to happen with Parker and Butt holding in the midfield and Ameobi lumbering half injured up front by himself. Try as hard as he might (and credit him that he tries) Ameobi is no Shearer (an inevitable comparison, but in this context justifiable). Where as maybe, just maybe, the genius of Shearer in holding the ball up might have made this work Ameobi isn't capable of doing that in the same way (and very few are, to be fair). So even with our one out ball finding its target, too often it's not going to stick long enough for support to arrive.

Then there is the squad fit and available. Not replete with world class defenders when fully fit and available, Roeder basically went with the only back four he could with what he had. It must be asked, why? He's obviously prepared to change the formation, it's just he's gone the wrong way. Given that even he seems to have been resigned to Man U scoring we should have played the best players we had available---those who attack. The way to get something from this game was to take the game to an off form Man U, whose star is badly misfiring, not sit back and capitulate to their perceived right to a victory. Of the four defenders available three were really centre backs. Play those three then. Duff can certainly play a "wing back" role, then find Milner or N'Zogbia or even Pattison to do so on the other side. Martins (a player who has still far from convinced me), high from his first home goals in mid-week, could get his chance to see how fast the opposition back four are, and Ameobi is a much better player with someone along side him. It's then even possible to play Butt and Parker still, in a nod to keeping things tight, whilst Emre runs the show. We might still have been hammered five or six, but we very nearly were anyway, and at least we would have tried, rather than blindly accepting our fate.

I have nothing against Sibierski, he's an decent enough player (though only decent, not exactly earth shattering) but reel off the names Solano, Milner, Parker, Emre, Butt, N'Zogbia, Duff, even Luque (and soon enough Dyer) then you'd be forgiven for wondering if Sibierski will ever actually play. Hell, even Pattison and O'Brien have done well enough in there appearances to be convincing cover behind that lot. Sibierski is a player un-needed, when there is a position (or two) so desperate to be filled. Try reeling off the names of Moore, Taylor, Bramble, Ramage. Now I think Taylor will be a very good defender but he hasn't the experience to organise and lead in the position yet. Moore is average, not really the outstanding man we're looking for. Bramble, well, I personally think his career was blighted by playing alongside that bumbling frenchman who is now inflicting his woes on Juventus---I don't know if he can bring it back; concentration, concentration. The thing we miss is an outstanding defender not only to control our lost flock of a back four but to look up to, learn from. Just as the bad habits and non-existing defending of the moment are catching, so are good habits and reading of the game. I would have given Woodgate whatever he wanted to come back. Not only an outstanding defender but just maybe enough good practice would have rubbed of on the others that they could get by in a hell of a better state than they are now if he got injured. One can't help look at Middlesbrough with envious eyes as they line up Woodgate and Huth and think, that's what we should have broke the bank to have.

Ah the game. Frankly we were woeful first half, and possibly not doing much better second (though even then all the enemy had managed to offer was the goal and little else). If Roeder has one thing though it seems it's divine intervention and that must go down as a substitution inspired by a burning bush or something. What a point to score your first prem goal too. And if the miracle of the equaliser wasn't enough the messiah himself was then given the chance to place on this clubs resurrection His mark---more of him in a moment though. An obviously dejected and suddenly lost mackem side then watched in bedazzled bewilderment as N'Zogbia belatedly remembered that he's a canny player and waltzed his way to some goal. Words must also be said for Luque who finally showed something of what he is capable. I've been saying forever that he just needed something to go his way; I hope now we just start him and that he goes on to prove me right.

The final words must be reserved for the man who's name has rang out more than anyone else's though. That he was felled in the dark place may mean that's all she wrote, but like all falling heroes he went down in glory with the job done. Where better to leave us than with the ball in the net that matters more than any other. If (and it seems pretty likely, given the obvious pain and disappointment when the man himself talked) Shearer fails to quite make it to the end of the season then perhaps it is a fitting analogy for his Newcastle career. Within sight, fighting to the last and if he fails, well, not in our hearts. He may not have the silverware that at times he and we have deserved but he does have something a thousand trophies at some other clubs couldn't give---the legendary status, the adulation, forever being named in wonder. And the knowledge that the dream he had when he stood on those terraces, of being that number 9, is reality. What more could a Geordie want.

Shearer Shearer Shearer Shearer Shearer Shearer Shearer Shearer...

• Given -- One of the major priorities must be to show him the vision which convinces possibly the best keeper in the league to sign a new contract.
• Taylor -- It's been a long time since we had a home grown promising yound player. Would certainly be worthy of the bench and quite possibly a first team place
• Carr?? -- I've never been sure about Carr. I think maybe he's good enough, but not for that level.
• Parker -- Could well find his way into the England side at some point
• Moore?? -- No idea really. Needs time to show what he can give us
• Emre -- A little bit of class
• N'Zogbia -- Again a youthful prospect. Again at least worthy of the bench
• Dyer? -- If he can stay fit and play in that attacking mind set he's the sort of player causes defences problems
• Milner?? -- He's looked impressive out on loan. If we can bring him back he could well turn out to be an asset
• Owen -- See Given. Must convince him, somehow, it's worth staying
• Harper -- Hasn't exactly played but doesn't let us down. A very good second for Shay

That doesn't even give us a team. Is there no one worth saving? Well, discounting the fringe players (some of whom, like Brittain for instance have shown some promise but nothing "break through") we're left with

• Elliot -- Wasn't good enough before, still isn't
• Solano -- If we could have the Sol of old back then yes, but on his current form (and given his age is it really going to improve), sadly not. If he gets back to his best though...
• Boumsong -- He's had chance after chance and failed us again and again. Sorry, whatever problems you have an international defender shouldn't forget his trade enough to make such truely schoolboy errors (and that's being unfair to many schoolboys)
• Bowyer -- He's tried hard but he wants off and doesn't isn't the player he was at his best. Let him go.
• Faye -- Was a bit of a strange signing to start with and isn't the right class
• Bramble -- Hasn't grown into the player we wanted (and needed). That mightn't have been helped by the chopping and changing and the back and having to play alongside the likes of Boumsong. Could be rescued, maybe
• Luque -- Oh dear. I have some sympathy for the lad, and from what I've seen of him in Spain he's a decent player. Given a chance he may make it, but really needs that chance, and needs to bother to take it
• Clark -- Sorry Clarky, but like Elliot just not good enough
• Ameobi -- Part of Luque's problem may be wondering how the hell Ameobi gets picked ahead of him. He never looks like a striker and such an awful first touch means he's never going to be anything else either
• Ramage -- He's not a full back, I think we all agree. Centre back? Well, he's looked out his depth at times. Maybe could come good but shouldn't be walking into a top side right now
• Chopra -- He's had his chances and no matter what he does in the reserves just hasn't cut it when it matters
• Babayaro -- At times just doesn't seem to care. At times defends and attacks pretty well. If he sorted himself out...
• Butt -- Who?

So at best that's about 5 plus around 8 maybe. Well, it's a team I suppose but not one you'd want to rely on to really have a chance of winning much. The problem is that whoever gets the big job isn't going to be able to change all that; some of those are going to have to be in the side (and I haven't even mentioned Mr Shearer's absence). He'd better be able to get the best out of players, and drill a defence into some sort of shape.

At times we actually did hold our own but in honesty there was never much threat to the Chelsea goal and only some lazy, over confident lack of completion from Chelsea kept the score at one in the end. We weren't helped by another inept performance from the awful Steve Bennet. To quote from myself a referee surely live in far too close proximity to Arsenal Chelsea to be allowed to officiate such games in the first place? Perhaps I'm being unfair on the man suggesting a London club bias. Perhaps he just really is that incompetent.

It always seems harsh to pick through a team and look at players---they are a team after all---but with the season lost there seems little left to do. Scores out of ten are however for the tabloids and those who would play such games. Impossible to apply consistently or even sensibly (would a 7 here have earned a 10 had it been the 1970 Brazil team as opposition. Should I gave an 8 or hold off because it doesn't leave enough room for improvement. Bah).

From the back then it is possibly ironic that our defence didn't look quite as shambolic as usual---possibly a certain Frenchman's absence helped that. The final line is as solid as ever and but for an unfortunate helping foot even the killing goal would have been miraculously parried. If Given seemed to briefly finally loose it with a team mate then he can be forgiven, for time and time and time again he has rescued the inadequacies of those supposed to make his job obsolete. That back four were of course somewhat patched together and forced upon us. Certainly there's a great doubt if those in the centre would find any place in the line up under ideal conditions. Carr looked as rusty as he is but give heart and tried. On the other side Baba was effective and the enigmatic right back was in one of his better moods (and therefore playing one of his better games) before limping off. In the centre...well, Elliot always tries, despite not actually being good enough (he wasn't good enough when we let him go and we should never have brought him back). He certainly should never have been sent off. That decision was just the final icing on the cake of a long line of awful refereeing decisions. Ramage looked somewhat out his depth, shocked by the goal he at least recovered slightly over time, which is to his credit. He was still sinking though. Babayaro's injury led to the introduction of a virtual stranger in Moore (there are those who seem to have written him off as some sort of waste simply for the misfortune of being injured! Give him a chance---what of Dyer, Owen et al?). He at least looked competent but it's far too early to judge. Given the current state of the squad he looks likely to get another chance come Charlton, as unfortunately does How Many Times Can You Fuck Up and still be an international Boumsong.

The midfield were probably supposed to be what, if anything, was going to give us a chance. Packed to combat Chelsea. Solano has only shown flashed of his old self since his welcome return to the club. Unfortunately this wasn't one of the games in which he did that, passes going astray though his shooting was at least getting progressively nearer to, if never actually on, the target. Parker should perhaps have shone more to show what Chelsea had given away but still was his solid, next season's captain self. Bowyer---well, he's not the Bowyer of the Leeds days. But at least he does try, and for a man who freely admits he'd prefer to be somewhere else, tries a lot harder than others at times. Still, he was pretty ineffectual. Ameobi understandably has many detractors. Personally I thought he actually had a half decent game for long periods, and actually offered something in the way of a threat. That said, he doesn't have a striker's instincts and no way is he a winger (though if he had a first touch...) Dyer on the other hand looks like he's found some sort of inspiration. His running with the ball (something player's increasingly seem to forget simply scares the hell out of defences) was our main (and almost only) threat. The famed energy levels seem to be returning too, given how long he's been out and how many games back. We can only hope his medical problems are finally behind him and he can keep this up. Finally Sol went off (rightly enough) to make way for Emre, who might well have been pondering exactly why he didn't start (again, given our lack of creativity, rightly enough---one could argue his introduction should certainly have been sooner). It's telling that suddenly we looked like we had a player with the skill and technical ability to not look out of place amongst the opposition's side, though really he had too little time to influence anything much.

Finally, the final line, the man up front, the legend. You don't get to be a legend without having been around a while. Shearer by now needs support, needs help, no longer can he do it all alone. From the off it was like he knew what weight, what hope lay so heavily on his shoulders one more time, and also knew that no matter how much he asked his body it just wouldn't give that much again. Perhaps things were summed up by the rebounding ball from Bowyer's shot. Terry was almost on top of the ball before Shearer moved, where once the ball would have simply appeared as if by magic at the great man's feet. Yet still he flung those ageing bones towards it, every last ounce of strain and urgency he could muster. Terry, an age too early for us, got clattered---but by the great, and I bet he doesn't regret that one bit.