Roeder's going to focus on defence

9nufc9 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:14 am

Quote:

Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder has vowed to rebuild his defence around impressive goalkeeper Shay Given during the summer.

The Magpies chief believes the Republic of Ireland international is one of the best keepers in Europe but is being put under excessive pressure by his side's inept defending.

And after conceding 40 goals during the current Premiership season, Roeder is planning wholesale changes to his defensive unit in the summer

Referring to his brittle defence, he said: "There are parts of the team that quite obviously need to be strengthened, and there is no doubt about it, we need to strengthen in that area.

"We have one of the best three or four goalkeepers in Europe and he is asked at times to make too many saves.

"It is an area we are not strong in and I have been looking in that area of the team to strengthen.

"If you look at next year, with Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi, Antoine Sibierski and Kieron Dyer, the top half of the team looks very, very strong.

"In midfield, we are not too badly off, so before we move to any other part of the squad, I want to strengthen the defensive part first.

"We have contributed to too many of the goals we have conceded and that has to stop. That will stop with players of better quality.

"That is the first area of the team I would like to improve."

My main reason for posting this article is because Glenn has been making alot of comments in the media lately. Frankly, i think all these comments are to try and save his own arse. Almost every interview he says these days involves what's going to happen next season. I think he knows he'll probably be out of a job at the end of a season and is just trying to cover himself.

What do you think?

damomoog · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:10 pm

i agree, he seems to exclude himself from criticism constantly, i personally think the second leg alkmaar loss was mainly down to his tactical choices. After he has finally admitted we need a new defence his first act is to offer a trial to Bulut! bulut is 32 and played for olympiakos as a left winger before they decided not to renew his contract and allow him to leave on a free. Not good enough for Olympiakos but good enough for Newcastle??? I really don't have much (if any) confidence in roeders ability anymore.

John_NUFC · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:07 pm

I agree as well. I don't think Roeder is very strong tacticaly (sp) and i wouldnt be surprised if he was out of a job at the end of the season.

p.s hey everyone, newbie here Smile

9nufc9 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:50 pm

damomoog wrote:

i agree, he seems to exclude himself from criticism constantly, i personally think the second leg alkmaar loss was mainly down to his tactical choices. After he has finally admitted we need a new defence his first act is to offer a trial to Bulut! bulut is 32 and played for olympiakos as a left winger before they decided not to renew his contract and allow him to leave on a free. Not good enough for Olympiakos but good enough for Newcastle??? I really don't have much (if any) confidence in roeders ability anymore.

I saw that and it's absolutely rubbish. How can we justify signing a 32 or 33 year old player from the Greece league? No wonder we're not signing anyone/going backwards if these are the kind of players that are being looked at.

Welcome to the forum John, good to have you here Smile

John_NUFC · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:57 pm

Cheers mate Smile