Has Roeder Still Got His Wish List?
Last updated : 21 March 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
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The department in the squad that has long been a problem is the defence, and I still wonder why Roeder was talking of midfield players back in December when the hole in his team was as wide as the Tyne Bridge.
Every manager worth his salt "builds from the back". From the days of Revie, Busby, Shankly, Clough to present day with Mourinho, Ferguson and Wenger.
Yet I doubt if anyone of us knows who will form part of the backline that opens next season's campaign. Does Roeder?
What have we on the books:
1) Stephen Carr: I'd shift tomorrow. Lacks pace; doesn't see trouble until it's far too late; and I don't think his heart is at the club.
2) Celestine Babayaro: Good going forward; very poor defending. The golden rule when playing full-back is to stop the crosses from the opposing winger. Someone should tell him that.
3) Craig Moore: The only problem is that he is injury-prone, and at his age now, he always will be.
4) Steven Taylor: Needs experience, and the only way he will get it is to play him, but he is far from the finished article.
5) Peter Ramage: Never going to cut it as a tough, strong, hard-to-push-off-the-ball central midfielder. Sorry to say it.
6/7) Paul Huntington and David Edgar: Kids in a man's game, but their time will come.
8) Titus Bramble: What Titus will turn up next week? The guy who made two world class tackles against AZ Alkmaar ... or Coco the Clown who falls over his own feet?
9) Oguchi Onyewu: Big lad, with a big attitude, but is he any better than we already have? Will Roeder extend his stay?
How many of those will start the next season? YOU tell me.