Season effectively over, though we're apparently no closer to answering the question of who's next, one begins to wonder exactly which players who ever takes charge should be looking keep. Who could actually find their way into a top, champion's league challenging side? It's a depressingly short list...
- 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.
(@15:03)
