Newcastle v Boro who has the better team?
By Shaun • May 8th, 2009 • Category: Featured ArticlesWith a big game looming between Newcastle and Middlesbrough at St James' park I decided to take a look at both lineups and compare the players. It's obviously just my opinion and as much as I tried to be subjective there will be some bias in the article, can't be helped.
Obviously we don't know the lineups for the game so I have taken the lineup I put forward in a previous article and for the Newcastle lineup I used the one in Jaymes' comment on the same article.
Steve Harper v Brad Jones
Brad Jones has cemented himself into the Boro lineup, is it through ability or the fact Ross Turnbull is refusing to sign a new contract? Either way, despite a 4 or 5 game spell in which he looked like he had radically changed into a decent Premiership keeper, he has failed to convince Boro fans he is anything like good enough to replace Mark Schwarzer.
Newcastle have been blessed over the past decade to have had a couple of very good goalkeepers in Shay Given, one of the best goalkeepers in the league over recent years, and the perennial understudy Steve Harper. Following the departure of Given to moneybags Citeh Steve Harper is finally getting his chance to be the number one and I think he is more than capable of filling the shoes of the Irishman.
Winner: Newcastle Harper is far superior to Brad Jones and at the start of the season is a keeper I wanted Southgate to go after to replace Schwarzer.
Habib Beye v Tony McMahon
Tony McMahon is a particular favourite of mine, I 've watched him play right through the Youth Cup winning team and into the first team. I'm glad to see him back in the Boro first team but I think there are still areas of his game that need improving. He is solid defensively but I would like to see an improvement in his use of the ball, I don't think it helps mind that the right side of midfield is such a problem spot for us and when Aliadiere plays there he doesn't exactly provide cover for the full back.
Habib Beye is one of the few Newcastle players who have impressed me over the last few years, I think he's a solid defender and one of the few leaders on the pitch for them.
Winner: Newcastle I think Beye is the more solid player at the moment, Tony McMahon has a lot of good years ahead of them though and hopefully he will progress into the player I think he can be.
Ryan Taylor v Justin Hoyte
It's been disappointing that Justin Hoyte has missed so many games with injury since arriving from Arsenal because when he has played he has offered us an extra attacking option from the back. Hoyte can play right back or left back (admittedly he is better suited the right hand side) and i'd like to see him get the nod at left back ahead of Andrew Taylor and Pogatetz.
Ryan Taylor is not a player I have ever really been overly impressed with, aside from a few spectacular strikes down the years (usually against Newcastle), and I don't think he has covered himself in glory since arriving at St James'.
Winner: Boro I'd take Hoyte over Ryan Taylor all day long.
Steven Taylor v David Wheater
Two homegrown, England Under-21 Internationals, full of potential, both will know exactly what this game means to the fans and both have been capable of the odd lapse in concentration this season.
I can see this one splitting both sets of fans, I actually rate Taylor and think he has potential to be a very good centre half and would benefit greatly from an experienced central defender alongside him. Wheater though, in my opinion, has the potential to be a top class centre back and I would much rather have the "Redcar Rock" in the Middlesbrough team. True he has had a tough second season but lets be honest our defenders have had no protection from the midfield all season long, I actually would have liked to see a Woodgate/Wheater partnership develop, sadly it wasn't to be.
Winner: Boro - For me, Wheater is the better player.
Sebastien Bassong v Robert Huth
Huth has been a disappointment for me this season, it's not just the niggling injuries he always seems to pick up, he just doesn't seem to be the imposing player he used to be. I don't think Wheater and Huth compliment each other particularly well and feel that both would be better suited to play alongside a quicker defender who can read the game better.
Bassong has probably been the Geordies Player of the Season so far, a very quick, agile and strong centre half he has been a bit of a steal for Newcastle.
Winner: Newcastle - If you had asked me at the start of the season I would have picked Huth all day, sadly he has not impressed me this season whereas Bassong has been a shining light in a poor season.
Jonas Gutierrez v Gary O'Neil
Gary O'Neil is a player who divides Boro fans and I must admit to not being his biggest fan but I think he would be much better suited to see out the final few games of the season (and probably his Boro career) on the right hand side. It's the one position I have been impressed with him in, he can get forward to support as well as provide good defensive cover for the full back.
Gutierrez is an all action winger, a good engine and work ethic with fantastic dribbling ability but I have to question his contribution to the Newcastle team so far? Whenever I see him he does fantastic work on the halfway line but rarely converts that into a decent strike on goal, telling throughball or dangerous cross.
Winner: Boro As much as i'm not his biggest fan I think Gary O'Neil is the better player to have in the relegation trenches.
Damien Duff v Stewart Downing
I think Damien Duff has been on the decline since leaving Chelsea, maybe even since leaving Blackburn. Duff was a sensational winger in his Blackburn days, despite a few great performances in the Blue of Chelsea though he never really recaptured his best form. Since joining Newcastle I think he has largely gone backwards, he seems to have lost a few yards of pace and is rarely the attacking threat he used to be.
Stewart Downing has had a very poor season by his own high standards, the inevitable January transfer rumours seemed to really effect his game and you get the feeling he is just waiting for the summer so he can make his big money move. Despite this he is still the best footballer in the Boro side, yes better than Tuncay, and we will miss him when he's gone.
Winner: Boro - Downing is still a potential match winner even if his form has been well below par this season.
Kevin Nolan v Didier Digard
I don't think either player has shown their true ability this season, Digard has suffered with a lot of injuries and picked up a red card meaning he has missed a lot of games. I really think he has the potential to be an excellent player but his inexperience shows through with some of his choices of pass.
Kevin Nolan has not really recaptured his Bolton Wanderers form since signing for the Magpies but he does have bag loads of Premiership experience and can be a real goal threat when on form.
Winner: Newcastle As much as i think Didier Digard has been a good signing by Southgate and he has the potential to be a fantastic midfielder for us, the main thing we lack is experience and someone who can get forward to support the front players and for that Nolan would be a good fit.
Alan Smith v Tuncay Sanli
Not much of a contest for me this one, I am really not a fan of Alan Smith. Doesn't score enough goals to be a striker and is not intelligent enough to run a midfield.
Tuncay is a very energetic and creative footballer, I don't think he's the most intelligent of players and he gets by more on pace, instinct and flair.
Winner: Boro Tuncay is by far the better player and I would be deeply disappointed to see Alan Smith in a Boro shirt.
Andy Carroll v Marlon King
Caroll is a big, strong, battering ram type centre forward who, being a local lad, will be fired up for this encounter. I watched Carroll absolutely dominate the Boro defence at a reserve game in Billingham this season, admittedly he was up against younger and smaller defenders than Huth and Wheater but he would still pose a physical threat to the Boro backline.
Marlon King is a Championship player who has somehow found himself in the Premier League on Premier League wages. The only reason I include him in my team is to provide some sort of physical presence from which to build off, I really don't expect him to be too much of a goal threat.
Winner: Newcastle On the one hand you have a very raw and inexperienced centre forward, on the other hand you have a very average, journeyman centre forward. Having seen what Marlon King brings to the table I would be inclined to plump for Carroll.
Obafemi Martins v Afonso Alves
Martins looked a very good player when he first arrived at Newcastle, he seems to lack a footballing brain though and is a bit of a headless chicken. I know he’s fast and can sometimes do something out of nothing, but he’s not a team player and can sometimes be a passenger.
Alves has flopped big time this season, I actually think he is a good player but has been woefully mis-managed by Gareth Southgate and now his confidence is shot to pieces. None of that really matters though, what matters is the fact that he has not scored enough goals to keep Boro away from the relegation zone.
Winner: Boro I mulled this one over for a while and decided Martins would not improve our lot at the moment, I spoke with a few Geordie friends who said they would happily sell Martins to the highest bidder to get shot of him. I may be one of the few Boro fans who still believes Afonso Alves could get goals if the team was set up to play to his strengths but I would rather have him than Martins.
Obviously it's all about opinions so share yours in the comments below, who has the better team on paper?
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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As a Boro fan I have to say I would much rather have Martins than Alves, Alves has been a massive waste of money
As a Newcastle fan I’ve gotta say I pretty much agree, might be inclined to pick Taylor over Wheater but in fairness they are similar. Both clubs would have benefitted hugely from still having Woodgate around to tutor the wee chaps but thats the premiership.
My money is on a 1-1 draw with Middlesborough scoring early and Newcastle late. Then we can have our derbys next year in the Championship.
Keith - Dont know much about Alves but Martins is a headless chicken and a bit of a luxury for anyside!
Thanks for the comment Will, I could see the Taylor/Wheater choice splitting the fans, I would take Woodgate back at Boro in a heartbeat.
I can actually see Hull beating Stoke to make our game a little less significant
Wheater is one of the most overrated young players in the game, Taylor is much better. And i’d rather have Martins than Alves, Alves is apoor mans Marlon King, he cant even get in the team
Toon bet you’d rather have the whole Fulham or Bolton or stoke squad right now as long as we get their league position as well. Ridiculous to think that those teams are so far ahead of us right now really.
Agree with most of it though I haven’t been impressed with Nolan I suppose Digard hasn’t shown what we can do yet. Both teams have some good players and some shite and thats why we’re both on the brink of the drop
The player in the Boro side who would make a massive difference to Newcastle I feel is Tuncay. I’ve watched him closely over the years, but Boro were the ones who took a chance on him. Fantastic player, and its type that we are sadly lacking.
I feel its going to be a close game on Monday, but the way the game is played out could well depend on the games tomorrow. If Hull and Sunderland both lose, I don’t feel it will be the franetic all out attacking game the media are predicting. It will be cagey. My heart has a Newcastle win one nil. My head says that Boro will battle till the last and it will be a score draw.
A very fair and balanced comparison of the players on the whole…except I wouldnt expect to see some of those Newcastle players playing on Monday night (from the start). Michael Owen will almost certainly start along side Martins and or Viduka, Carroll is a not in my opinion likely to feature unless we are desperate. Alves looked like a good signing at the time and as much as Martins can be infuriating at times and seems to be more interested in hitting the ball as hard as he can rather than the target I dont think the Boro man has ever shown the same class at the top level. Sadly though I fear it will end up scrappy, a draw and we will essentially leave each other one step closer to the dreaded drop!!!
What about the likes of Butt, Viduka and Owen?
Good article Shaun, i see you have one or two debates going. I see you went with the team i would like to play, I agree with a few comments above, Shearer will include the likes of butt and owen, but i hope he doesnt.
The only comparisons i wouldn’t agree with are Marins and Gutierrez! I think they are a fair bit better than O’neill and Alves (who Coulnt hit a barn door),
Good article though, my prediction is we will come flying (slight jog) out the blocks and get a early goal inside 20 mins then i think it will be a stalemate and either club could sneak a goal. Therefore my predictions are between 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 or 2,0! haha not dismissing a 0-0 either (lets just say im on the fence) haha
Good article though I agree both sides will likely be different to the lineups suggested here. I think on paper the Geordies have a stronger squad, luckily football isn’t played on paper
@ Scud “What about the likes of Butt, Viduka and Owen?”
I could only pick 11 players for each team and I went with the Newcastle side Jaymes picked for the game in the previous article.
I like Digard and wish we’d signed him, he’s a good friend of Bassong according to this link.
I hope Coloccini doesn’t play because he is awful and will gift Boro at least one good chance
I’m not as negative about Digard as you are and wouldchoose him over Nolan. I would also go for Taylor over Wheater based on this season’s performances. Otherwise I agree. 1-1 draw on Monday with Boro surviving with wins over Villa and West Ham.
I’m not negative about Digard I think he is a cracking player and one of Southgate’s best signings, my point was that we are in desperate need of some Premiership experience and Nolan brings that to the table.
Wo wo wo Shaun, you put up my choice, not the team i said i thought would play!! I think Butt Owen and Viduka will be in the side but dont agree with it!
Come on……lets hear some predictions!?!??!?!??!?!?
1-0 Toon Bassong header!!
I can see it being a draw 1-1. A lot depends on the results today, it will probably effect how the teams approach the game
Hull to win today, a shite 0-0 draw on Monday both of us in the Championship next season sadly
Hi everyone, paddy power are offering 12-1 on the Duke for 1st GS tonight! Get your money on that, and it will cushion the blow come your defeat later this evening!!
Is that lazy fat knacker playing like?!
unlucky lads, you don’t deserve to go down. on the whole the team has much better long-term prospects than newcastle’s but it’s ultimately been your strikers that have cost you. alves is in the wrong league, king’s in the wrong division and aliadiere seems to be in the wrong sport. but we’ll take tuncay.
Thank you Iain, sadly I think we do deserve do go down.