three questions

[3rd Degree]

I am a Newcastle fan, or at least I consider myself a fan, and have been since about 1990. I happen to live in Dallas Texas which makes it hard to follow the team as closely as I would like.

I did see them twice when they played here and even have a small story about getting put in with the players when I called a hotel and told them I needed a room to stay in for the game. It was wierd to pass Shearer and Big Dunc in the hall all the time with my room next to theirs.

But I have some questions and I would love to hear some serious answers, not the "cause he sucks" kind of answer.


1. I read a quote about Solano coming back, a move I like by the way, http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=341274&cc=5901
Since his departure and that of Robert, Newcastle have been short of both natural width and dead ball specialists, and Solano would provide both with £9.5million signing Albert Luque obliging from the left.and it made me wonder...
Is that saying Luque is a wide left player? I thought he was a forward?



2. Does that also mean 4-4-2? (I had seen 4-3-3 in the first couple game I thought and I didn't like it much, leaves Shearer too isolated) Or is it 4-3-3 with Shearer high and Owen and Luque off the wing forward spots. whomever, including Solano, Emre, and Parker behind in the 3 midfield?



3. Is anyone else bothered that the young talent for the future has been shipped out for older players? I understand the need for top flight guys like Emre and Parker, but why more out Janes, Ambrose and now Milner? Ok Milner is a loan, but still. I worry the terrific young talent is moving out and the team is thinking only short term. At least Chorpa is still around.

[ISiddiqui]

Is that saying Luque is a wide left player?

Luque can, and has, played a winger position as well as striker. I believe that wing is his best position, IIRC.

Does that also mean 4-4-2? (I had seen 4-3-3 in the first couple game I thought and I didn't like it much, leaves Shearer too isolated) Or is it 4-3-3 with Shearer high and Owen and Luque off the wing forward spots. whomever, including Solano, Emre, and Parker behind in the 3 midfield?

I guess it could be both, couldn't it?

Look at 442 (the 42 parts):

Shearer - Owen
Luque - Emre - Parker - Solano

433 (the 43 parts)

Luque - Shearer - Owen
Emre - Parker - Solano

This, of course leaves the question of what happens with Dyer... then again with Emre injured as much as he is, Dyer may get plenty of playing time.

Is anyone else bothered that the young talent for the future has been shipped out for older players? I understand the need for top flight guys like Emre and Parker, but why more out Janes, Ambrose and now Milner? Ok Milner is a loan, but still. I worry the terrific young talent is moving out and the team is thinking only short term. At least Chorpa is still around.

Well, not necessarily. Jenas wasn't playing hard at all and, frankly, sucked. Ambrose was, IMO, a mistake, but he doesn't seem like he'd get any playing time (and woudn't be too happy). Same with Milner. At least this way he gets some playing time and maybe a space will be available for him when the loan ends. If not, he's better sellable. Also Luque, Parker, Emre, and Owen aren't all that old.

[Kujeaux]

3. Is anyone else bothered that the young talent for the future has been shipped out for older players? I understand the need for top flight guys like Emre and Parker, but why more out Janes, Ambrose and now Milner? Ok Milner is a loan, but still. I worry the terrific young talent is moving out and the team is thinking only short term. At least Chorpa is still around. Buzz, I doubt I'm the one to answer any of your Qs but if it came down to losing young talent to avoid relegation, I would have to say goodbye to those players. Though that's probably a bit extreme for the Toon's situation before Luque and Owen came on board. Just a thought.

[Kujeaux]

Well, not necessarily. Jenas wasn't playing hard at all and, frankly, sucked. From what I've seen, I agree. I can't remember how many times a defenseman passed the ball to Jenas and JJ just passed it back to the same or a different defenseman without assessing opposing players around him. I feel he should turn some of those passes upfield more often than not.

[3rd Degree]

This, of course leaves the question of what happens with Dyer... then again with Emre injured as much as he is, Dyer may get plenty of playing time. jeeze Dyer, how could I forget him.

dang ok, maybe rotation and injury gets them all out there.

[robledo]

1. I read a quote about Solano coming back, a move I like by the way, http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=341274&cc=5901
and it made me wonder...
Is that saying Luque is a wide left player? I thought he was a forward?
.

Luque started out as a striker at Real Mallorca and Depor but Irrureta converted him in to a left winger/come striker

[Toon³]

I am a Newcastle fan, or at least I consider myself a fan, and have been since about 1990. I happen to live in Dallas Texas which makes it hard to follow the team as closely as I would like.

I did see them twice when they played here and even have a small story about getting put in with the players when I called a hotel and told them I needed a room to stay in for the game. It was wierd to pass Shearer and Big Dunc in the hall all the time with my room next to theirs.

But I have some questions and I would love to hear some serious answers, not the "cause he sucks" kind of answer.


1. I read a quote about Solano coming back, a move I like by the way, http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=341274&cc=5901
and it made me wonder...
Is that saying Luque is a wide left player? I thought he was a forward?

Luque is the sort of player that Newcastle really really need. His ability to play both on the left and up front means that not only do we replace Robert, with a much better player, but we also add a sorely needed 3rd striker. His role this season will be either playing on the left when Shearer plays or up front when Shearer is having a rest. Next season when we sign another striker or left sided midfield player he will go into the position that is left. I think which type of player we sign will depend on his performances in each position this season.


2. Does that also mean 4-4-2? (I had seen 4-3-3 in the first couple game I thought and I didn't like it much, leaves Shearer too isolated) Or is it 4-3-3 with Shearer high and Owen and Luque off the wing forward spots. whomever, including Solano, Emre, and Parker behind in the 3 midfield?

The formation will be 4-4-2 on paper but on the field it will be more like 4-3-1-2 on the field, with Luque playing in the wide left and left forward position.

3. Is anyone else bothered that the young talent for the future has been shipped out for older players? I understand the need for top flight guys like Emre and Parker, but why more out Janes, Ambrose and now Milner? Ok Milner is a loan, but still. I worry the terrific young talent is moving out and the team is thinking only short term. At least Chorpa is still around.

I was a touch disappointed about Jenas leaving but I would not be happy having a player at the club that isn't 100% commited to the club. Ambrose just didn't cut it but I think selling him without having a replacement was a big mistake, because as you can see we are quite short in midfield when we have as many injuries as we do. Milner going out on loan is probably the best thing for him. It will allow him to show us if he can cut it at the top level.
There is still alot of young talent at the club with players like Ramage ,Taylor, Brittain and Patterson.