Toon Player Ratings & Analysis Season 2004-05

Shay Given (my player of the season) Shay hasn't had the greatest of season's by his own very high standards but that says more about the team in front of him than the Republic of Ireland man himself. A team that has failed to protect him during the course of the campaign sufficiently enough and often enough. Still, Shay has been as reliable as ever, pulling off great saves after great saves, keeping scores down and helping his team to pick up points while his mistakes have been few and far between. Season Rating? 8 Highlights? Save after save at Highbury and his consistency throughout the campaign. Low points? The haunted look on his face in Lisbon at the final whistle. Summary? We'd be knacked without him so lets hope he's here next season. Appearances: 52, Clean Sheets: 13

Stephen Carr The £1.5m capture from Spurs hasn't had what you'd call a great season, nor a bad season - a steady season would be my choice of word to describe his campaign. His experience, cool head and energy down the right has been an asset at times but his average distribution, poor crossing and marking at set-pieces and tendency to drop off his man (Atouba?) has cost the team in one way or another too often for my liking. For the price we paid for him however, I'd say he's been a good signing. Whether he'll prove to be a great signing, I have my doubts. Season Rating? 6 Highlights? His 30-yard winner at St. Mary's to end the South Coast hoodoo. Low Points? His part in Sporting's 4th goal over in Lisbon and his overall performance in that game. Summary? Needs a right-wing partner to truly shine. Appearances: 39, Goals: 1

Aaron Hughes Mr dependable had a typical solid, no nonsense season doing the job asked of him with no complaints or fuss. A tremendous pro and an asset to Newcastle United. Despite a lack of real ability, he never seems to have a poor game wherever he's asked to play. Must have feared the worst when the club bought Carr but if anything, he's had a better season than the man signed to take his place. Nothing special but nothing to be unhappy with. It would be madness on the club's part to sell him, especially having handed him a new improved deal earlier on in the season and the fact he's still quite young, very experienced and can play across the whole back-four... madness! Season Rating? 6 Highlights? His goal at home to Norwich in Sir Bobby's final ever match at St. James' Park. Low Points? None that I can recall. Summary? A valuable squad member and a super pro. I'll be sorry to see him go. Appearances: 36, Goals: 1

Jean-Alain Boumsong (my signing of the season) Since his big money move from Rangers he has shown just what a top-class individual he is and although he has his moments, for me, he's a great player and will only get better. Electric pace, power and athleticism and a good reader of the game, he's impressed me no end. Brought the best out of Bramble, communicates with his fellow defenders and his distribution is more often than not, very good. He's been a highlight of the season for me and is worth every penny in my opinion even though we could have had him on a free. If he has a flaw, it's trying too hard, i.e. trying to defend everything in sight. He needs to let others do their job and stick to the position he should be holding. Season Rating? 7 Highlights? His partnership with Bramble and his consistency. Low Points? None. Summary? Great signing. Appearances: 18, Goals: 0

Titus Bramble (my most improved player of the season) Bramble's season has been a mixed one. One that has been stop-start for the defender. Overall however it's been an encouraging one in many respects. While he's made a few mistakes and has had his familiar and expected moments, they have been few and far between of late and now his alround game is improving to a new acceptable level the more he plays and his confidence grows. Dare I say it, at times he's looked a top-class defender. In Boumsong he has the perfect foil but deserves credit for the way he's turned his game around. He now needs to stay fit and build on this encouraging season to become a permanent fixture in the team who we can rely on. With Taylor breathing down his neck, he'll have to. Season Rating? 6 Highlights? His partnership with Boumsong and his performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup. Low Points? Injuries. Summary? Needs to stay fit, focused and consistent. Appearances: 32, Goals: 1

Andy O'Brien I feel bad awarding him such a low score because he's an honest hard working player but the harsh cold fact is that his performances on the pitch merit such a rating. He's been shockingly awful in many aspects of his game for this level. He alone must have contributed to 10 goals against, perhaps more. Simply not good enough. In his defence, the crowd's reaction at times does not help and nor does playing alongside different players one week to another but overall, a wretched season from O'Brien after a previously good campaign. It's strange how he plays consistently well for the Republic of Ireland, looking a decent, solid international centre-half yet whenever he pulls on a Toon top he looks like a 1st Division defender. I'd say he's somewhere in between. He's not as hopeless as some make out and would be a decent player for a Wigan, a Blackburn et al where expectations and pressure are a little less demanding. At Newcastle however he'll always be found wanting. Season Rating? 4 Highlights? His two goals this season and not hiding when the crowd got on his back. Low Points? His whole season, really. Summary? Not good enough and never will be. Appearances: 38, Goals: 2

Steven Taylor (my young player of the season) Trumpeted as a future star in the making for both club and country, the expectations placed on his young broad shoulders must have been huge but his emergence has been arguably the best aspect of this hugely disappointing season. For me anyway. We have an outstanding individual on our hands and one can only prey we look after him. To come into a side with the media spotlight firmly on it, a side that leaked goals, and to perform as he has done, not only speaks volumes about his ability but perhaps more importantly his mentality. He has filled in at right-back, left-back and centre-half and bar his red card against Villa and one or two moments of natural exuberance, he hasn't put a foot wrong. He has everything and it's great and perhaps worrying at the same time, to see a 19 year-old bark out orders, organise a defence and show no fear whatsoever. Worrying as in it says it all when a young lad, new to the first-team, shows more balls and character than some of the more experienced players around him. A future Captain? A future great? He certainly has the mentality and ability. Season Rating? 7 Highlights? His overall performances whenever called upon and his mentality. Low Points? His red card at home to Villa in THAT game. Summary? Wow, what a fantastic prospect. Appearances: 22, Goals: 0

Celestine Babayaro The January signing from Chelsea has performed pretty well when he has played and on first thoughts, at that price, age and with his experience, he seemed to be a very good signing. A worthy long-term replacement for Bernard. However his lack of fitness and apparent interest on the training ground concerns me, as do his extra curricular activities in Toon. He's a very good player when fit and on the ball so to speak but Bernard was a better option, more reliable, stronger and more committed. Of Souness' 3 signings, Babayaro you sense can do much much more and needs to focus on football and playing for Newcastle. If not, he can sling his hook, he'd be no big loss. Season Rating? 4 Highlights? His goal at home to Coventry in the FA Cup and his subsequent celebration. Low Points? Lack of games since signing. Summary? I'd like to see what he can do when fit, playing and fully interested. Appearances: 13, Goals: 1

Robbie Elliott A sign of how desperate we have been at times this season and an indication of our early defensive shortcomings was witnessing the return to the fold of forgotten man Robbie Elliott who made 20 starts for United. While his lack of pace and poor distribution didn't exactly solidify things, his experienced head, ability to plug the gaps in varied positions and his commitment to the shirt certainly became a welcome boost earlier on in the season when at one stage he was the only fit player capable of playing in the centre. Did a job under extreme circumstances and deserves his wages. Well done. Season Rating? 5 Highlights? A return of the chicken dance after his goal at home to West Brom, iconic. Low Points? The need to call on him in the first place which says a lot about our season (no slight on Elliott). Summary? Fine reward for his patience and professionalism. Appearances: 22, Goals: 1

Amdy Faye With Butt out injured at the time Faye was a necessary January signing as the team lacked a defensive midfielder and since his move to Tyneside he has done a good, solid job protecting the back-four in my opinion without looking anything special. Faye is merely a squad player, signed to give us cover and to do a defensive no thrills job. He has many critics who believe he simply isn't good enough and that would be a fair assessment, not good enough as a first-team regular that is. As a squad player however, he's one of those need to make singings. I don't expect him to feature much next season but it's comforting to know we have such a specialist player on the books. He's big, strong, powerful, works hard, knows his role and at that price, will do a decent job in certain circumstances when called upon. I for one can't ask for more as we are not in a position to have two great players for every position. If only he kept possession and used the ball better, he'd be a very good player. Season Rating? 6 Highlights? None, which just about sums up what type of player he is. Low Points? His passing abilities, or lack of. Summary? Decent squad player, nothing more. Appearances: 17, Goals: 0

Lee Bowyer Big things were expected of Bowyer this season. He finished off the previous campaign in form and looked very good in pre-season. Indeed, at times this season, he has looked somewhat back to his former best but overall, he's had an average season. He got back amongst the goals which was pleasing and as ever he gave his all but his woeful passing and lack off cool in certain situations cost us dearly. No more than his vicious attack on Dyer which saw the pair miss out on vital games and brought shame on the club. Based on the football he has played, he would have picked up a 6 but that moment of sheer lunacy makes it an awful campaign from him and deserving of such a low mark. Season Rating? 4 Highlights? His goals from midfield. Low Points? Shaming the club in front of 52,000 fans and millions watching on TV. Summary? A liability. Appearances: 39, Goals: 7

Jermaine Jenas After a shocking previous campaign, many, myself included, predicted a much better season for Jenas and after a good initial start, a start which got slightly better with the arrival of Souness who was quick to praise his young starlet, even handing him the Captaincy on a few occasions, it was much better from the England midfielder. If not on a par with his efforts in his first full season. Then suddenly out came the headless chicken, rushed passes, shoved off the ball easily, almost hiding in his shell Jenas that had infuriated many in 2003-04 and that's been his form right through to the end of the season. Another awful season from the 22 year-old. I rate him, even still, but unless there is a rapid improvement next term, my patience will soon disappear. Season Rating? 4 Highlights? His early (and brief form) and Captaining the club (a highlight for him anyway). Low Points? His entire season, really. Summary? Time running out. Appearances: 48, Goals: 1

Charles N'Zogbia When he stepped onto St. James' Park for all of 10 seconds against Blackburn to make his debut back in September my first reaction was, who's the bairn who's just ran onto the pitch but since getting an opportunity in the first-team he has shown maturity beyond his years and looks a really good prospect. Quick, tricky, direct and fiery, he has been an added bonus this season and put one or two others to shame with his performances. I like what I see but he's still very raw and has a long long way to go yet. Season Rating? 5 Highlights? Playing without fear and showing good potential. Low Points? The protracted row between NUFC and his former club Le Havre over his signature. Summary? One for the future. Appearances: 19, Goals: 0

Laurent Robert His season started slow and when Souness was appointed, it stopped dead in it's tracks for a while as he found himself out of the side and having to come off the bench to make an impact. An inevitable fall-out ensued. Souness demanded he worked harder going the other way and to get involved in the attacking 3rd more. Robert on the other hand played the innocent victim to the media and it all looked like he would be on his way in January. Then he came on as a sub over in Heerenveen and changed the outcome of the whole tie and for a month, he was playing as well as ever, contributing at both ends and working extremely hard for the team. Great, everyone was happy. Souness was happy and even claimed he was the best in the world when he put in the effort. Fans were happy because we were winning and Robert was happy because he was playing. Surely it couldn't last could it? Indeed it couldn't. Typical of this club it all broke down, culminating in a war of words in the media, dropping the Frenchman and now there is no going back it would seen. Who is to blame? I don't really care. The player and manager have both been as bad as each other but when Robert did what the Scot asked of him, he played and played well. When his own level of performances slipped back to the lazy, half-arsed level we have become accustomed to, he was dropped. The responsibility to get into the manager's good books and to stay in the side ultimately fell with Robert and he didn't have the fight to stand up and be counted and to change his ways beyond a few good games. Souness was right to ask more from him in my opinion and although his management of Robert left a lot to be desired, his methods to get him to conform if you like, Robert can not say he wasn't given a chance because he was. And he blew it and with it any hope of featuring in Souness' future plans by resting on his laurels. Despite all that, he still managed to feature in 44 games. Only two other players played more of a part in our season and for me, the Frenchman had a poor season overall. One good month for a player that cost £9.5m and with his ability? Wasted! Season Rating? 4 Highlights? His stunning goals from free-kicks and his performances during the 8 game winning spell. Low Points? Lack of interest, not getting the message, blaming everyone and everything for his situation. Summary? You could have been so much more. Thanks for the memories though, au revoir. Appearances: 44, Goals: 5

Kieron Dyer Dyer has had a major impact on our season but most of it in a negative and damaging way. It started with the familiar pre-season rhetoric with the midfielder assuring club and fans that he was a changed man and would cause no more bother. That bold statement was undone in the space of a few days however when it was revealed that he not only refused to play wide right against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season but also snubbed the Captain's armband. And it just snowballed from there, really. Booed by his own fans on his own ground while wearing the England shirt and losing the one man who looked out for him and put so much faith in him as a person and as a footballer. Sir Bobby Robson - his "second father" as Dyer once called him. We now know that Dyer's behaviour was a major factor behind Bobby's dismissal. As ring leader of the brat pack it was the ill-discipline that developed from that which brought a sorry and badly managed end to his 5 year stint in the hot seat. Enter Souness and enter yet more headlines, having to be dragged down to the polis station by the new man for lagging in the street. Not a crime as such but typical of the player. Under Souness he promised once more to put an end to his ways and the Scot give him his final warning. After a spell out with injuries he returned to the first-team and to his and the manager's credit, he slowly but surely started to win over a few enemies on the stands. Culminating in some brilliant performances, a few goals and that often talked about end product - finally we were seeing the Dyer we thought we had signed and the team looked all the better for it. But as ever, controversy was around the corner. Yes, that incident with Bowyer and although it's hard to put any blame on the No.8, it can't be a coincidence that he and trouble are never far apart can it? In just 9 months he has done so much damage to this club and to others that make his on field efforts irrelevant. Damage beyond repair and redemption in my opinion. Season Rating? 0 overall (6 for his football) Highlights? That spell where he looked a world-class player and his goal return. Low Points? Where do I start, too many to list. Summary? Unforgivable, totally forgettable. Appearances: 34, Goals: 6

James Milner Thrust into the first-team for a prolonged run at the end of the season after a bit part campaign prior to injuries and suspensions taking their toll the former Leeds midfielder has done himself real justice and has shown he can perform at this level. He has yet to justify his price tag of course which was quite high for an 18-year old wet behind the ears but I have seen signs that suggest he could have a very bright future ahead of him, with the right attitude and players around him as well as encouragement. Many have likened his style to that of Chris Waddle while I can see a bit of Beardsley in him myself, just a little bit mind so don't get carried away or think I am. The way he drops the shoulder and can beat a man despite not having any real pace is based on wit and speed of thought which shows me he's an intelligent player. His end product is very poor but he has a good first touch and works extremely hard - too hard. I feel he's far too eager to impress and to get on the ball at times which isn't a bad thing but if he relaxed and slowed down a little he'd be able to think more and ne more composed. In time, hopefully that will all come to him naturally. Season Rating? 5 Highlights? That Beardsley-esque drop of the shoulder and his give me the ball energy. Low Points? That miss at White Hart Lane and running out of steam after doing all the hard work. Summary? Clearly talented but what's his best position? Appearances: 41, Goals: 1

Patrick Kluivert (my biggest disappointment of the season) I was delighted when we signed the Dutchman and although I had my concerns I really thought he would set the League alight and get his career back on track at the Toon. Oh, how wrong I was. 13 goals is a healthy return considering the lack of minutes he has played and at times he showed us exactly why he was once described as the best forward in world football but injuries, poor service and a lack of real desire to play for the club and to prove himself told in the end. His stay was a short one and although I would have liked to have seen him fully fit, in a Newcastle side that played the ball on the deck and would have been prepared to give him a second chance of you like, I'm in no way disappointed that he has now left. Just disappointed in him. Season Rating? 5 Highlights? His brace against Sakhnin and some of those sublime moments of skill. Low Points? Not playing enough games, allowing himself to fall out of shape and not showing enough desire. Summary? Hugely talented, ultimately hugely disappointing. Appearances: 37, Goals: 13

Shola Ameobi For a while now I was of the opinion that he needed a good run in the team to prove his ability and to see if he really could cut it. Well he and I got our wish and he blew it. Two League goals in 30 League games (14 starts) is a shocking return and worse still, his overall performances in many of those games were equally as poor. To his credit he has played on with an injury towards the end of the season and the service at times has been woeful and not exactly helped him our our own cause but it's his whole game too that has disappointed. A terrible season and he has without doubt proved he is not good enough. Sorry Shola lad. Season Rating? 4 Highlights? His performance against Arsenal and in particular Sol Campbell at St. James' Park stands out. Low Points? Lack of goals, movement and his alround game. Summary? Falls way short of what is required. Appearances: 44, Goals: 7

Alan Shearer This season sums up Shearer's time at the club. Full of hope and promise but untimely a real kick in the teeth. As ever he was once again amongst the goals which oddly he has been criticised for. I don't care what anyone says, 19 goals in 41 games is a decent return. Last season he scored 28, 9 more, but he also played in 10 more games and the service to him, which has been appalling all season, was much better last time out. He has shown that if you give him the ball - he can score. He's still a great finisher. Sadly, and this is where the real difference another year in the game shows, he is now no longer a great player and overall his individual performances this season have been poor with only a handful of good games to his name. The effort has been there as always of course and he has tried to overcome the obstacles of age as well as physical and mental fatigue but he's fighting a losing battle. He has picked up a few muscle injuries too this season which have kept him out for spells, something that has never happened before, and I can't help feeling he has made the wrong decision to stay on for another year. We don't need passengers, we need drivers and Shearer has been a passenger at times and not only is his style of play holding us back because he's become easier to mark, but we now can't rely on him to put the ball in the back of the net. As a striker, that's the whole point of their existence. Having said all of that, it wouldn't surprise me if he scored 20 plus goals once more and proved his ever increasing army of doubters wrong, myself included. Lets hope so. Season Rating? 6 Highlights? 19 goals, his overall effort and one or two roll back the years performances. Low Points? A shadow of the player he once was and lack of leadership when it was needed. Summary? A valiant effort as always but perhaps one kick too many, both physically and emotionally? Appearances: 41, Goals: 19

Craig Bellamy Fit and raring to go Bellamy started the season on fire and while his team-mates managed to put in below par performances as we slipped to the foot of the table, he just got better and better and looked a totally different player. Improved in so many ways - his finishing, control and composure were so much more rounded and furthermore he was sharp as a knife. By far our best outfield player this season and on course to grab himself 20 goals. On the pitch he was dynamite. Off it, same old big mouth sadly. First he said he would consider a move if the club signed Wayne Rooney live on TV after the Norwich match at St. James' Park - Sir Bobby's penultimate game in charge, only to later apologise and claim he would never speak out of line again. Great we thought. That didn't last long however as he went to the press to complain about having to play wide right under Souness and how life was so unfair. Then not long after that incident he swore at the manager live on TV when substituted during the 1-1 draw with Charlton at the Valley, a game in which he scored in and played as a striker incidentally. Another apology followed and yet more claims that he would be a good boy from now on. And like all the previous times, true to form, he opened his big gob again, and live on TV as usual, calling his manager and Chairman a liar over a bust up prior to the trip to Highbury. That was that for him. Peddled to Celtic where he has been amongst the goals and their top player since signing on loan, he has no route back to Newcastle now and rightly so in my opinion. A move to Villa now beckons. He has only himself to blame and thankfully we can all move on pretty soon. An adequate replacement is now top priority. Season Rating? 0 overall (7 for his football) Highlights? His performances, improved finishing and 100% commitment on the park. Low Points? His fall-out with Souness, his TV interviews and his insincerity. Summary? He blew it big time and bit the hand that fed him once too often. Good riddance! Appearances: 29, Goals: 10