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Don’t make Ranger a stranger!

Posted on October 1st, 2009 | 29 Comments |

The new Big Al?
The new Big Al?
If Hughton is thinking about Newcastle United’s striking options on Saturday and getting a headache, I’d implore him to take five minutes out to rest his weary head and then make an informed decision. To partner Nile Ranger and Marlon Harewood upfront.

That’s not a reflection of Andy Carroll’s recent form, which has been good and admittedly somewhat above my expectations. However, I just feel that Nile Ranger, despite his tender years, has what it takes to make it in the game and certainly has enough at this level. For me, he has had a major impact since feeling his way into the team and is growing in confidence with each outing.

Ranger has pretty much everything you’d want from a centre forward. He has bags of pace and is really quick off the mark. For a young lad he is incredibly strong and is effective at holding the ball up. He will improve over the years but even now he has demonstrated intelligence in making good runs and is willing to get on the end of things. He also offers us something in the air with his height and the leap he can get. Again for someone just starting out in the trade, he is composed and rarely loses possession. And he has what many strikers don’t always have. That knack of being able to put defenders off with a lean or a nudge and get away it but conversely wins more than his fair share of free-kicks. Not unlike a certain Mr Shearer.

The one thing he has to do now is get himself a goal and then I feel he wouldn’t look back. And he’s proved he can score goals at all levels so far during his rapid progression to the first team. Unfortunately, given his potential, it might be that he ‘wouldn’t look back’ when he’s on his way to West London to sign for Chelsea……

That is a very real risk with the January window ahead but it shouldn’t prevent us continuing to blood him. I can see the sense in not burning the kid out but Hughton really perplexed me when he took him off against QPR. Simply because he was the most effective player on the pitch in an albeit uninspiring affair. I accept it is probably to protect him, but for me, he should be started and replaced when he starts to flag. I’d like to see him partnered by Harewood because with the power and pace of both of them and Ranger’s ability in the air we will have options to feet, in the air and in the channels. If they can both quickly get into the habit of scoring, it could be quite a scary prospect. Maybe starting with Bristol City at home on Saturday?

NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.

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29 Responses

  3. He seems to hold the ball up well and, as you mentioned, has the knack of backing into defenders and getting away with it. Needs to start scoring though (which you also said – in fact you said everything I said in my comment, so I’ll submit this as the most pointless comment ever).

  4. hugh i agree he can also dribble i realise thats not his main aspect but he can do it i feel he goals will come sometimes i feel he has been unlucky not to have scored by now just think all of these attributes if nurtured correctly will get better

  5. Ranger is no doubt a massive talent and definitely one for the future, but for me there is no justification for dropping Andy Carroll.

    Carroll is easily our most underrated striker, who just need to learn a little more composure. He’s proved that when he gets starts he’s effective in the air and can smash the ball in with that left foot of his.

    I feel that one day Ranger will be our main goalscorer and he should be a regular starter, but not at Carroll’s expense… not just yet anyway! :)

  6. Hugh de Payen,summerof69 and Pons Aelius ranger is good also caroll but i always want to tell nufc fans that shurly newcastle will be promoted and we need quality being a newcastle fan always comes great expectation i told everyone we will draw or lose to QPR……not because they have better quality than us but have a flow of game i dont know what nufc is playing deffencive or offence WHAT WHAT WHAT R THEY PLAYING!!????? dont forget we use to have quality and nile and any will do good in this leauge but not in the PL

  7. Pons – I just think Ranger does everything that Carroll does with a bit more class and consistency and has additional attributes. Except score goals, which is ultimately how strikers are measured. I just think if he starts scoring, he offers the team so much more. Great that Carroll is stepping up to the plate as well though. We’re certainly more spoiled for choice than I thought we’d be at this point. And that’s without Ameobi being unavailable (did I really just say that??)

  8. Henock,

    I’m really sorry about the comment problems you seem to be having sometimes. Have you tried adjusting the cookie settings on your browser for this site?

  9. bowburn – I agree with all you say to be honest, but like you say goals are how a striker is measured. I’m sure Nile will get that goal soon though.

    hencock – Yeah mate I know it’s sad to see how far we have fallen behind since the days of Shearer, Ferdinand and Ginola, but I’m looking on the bright side mate. as for style of play I would say Hughton is trying to get us to play a more balanced style, cos our defence is still shaky.

  10. I meant to say that ultimately, my main issue with Carroll is losing possession too often but you can’t knock him for effort and he’s chipped in with goals.

  11. IMO Nile Ranger will score some good goals, IF and WHEN we find some wingers to provide some service of quality. How many years now since?

  12. workyticket i dont know what u have been looking resent years but i think the games u have been looking at r probably westbroms or sunder………if u remember what the fuc……happned last year i was frustrated with each game except porthmouths 3-0 win and i dont want to fell like that next year and shurly i dont want nile and caroll to be our strikers

  13. henock says:
    October 1, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    “workyticket i dont know what u have been looking resent years but i think the games u have been looking at r probably westbroms or sunder………if u remember what the fuc……happned last year i was frustrated with each game except porthmouths 3-0 win and i dont want to fell like that next year and shurly i dont want nile and caroll to be our strikers”

    Henock,

    Bowburnmag wrote this one.

    Anyway, I agree with him that Ranger might make a very good forward, even in the Premiership. I do think the lack of goals so far thing is being blown out of all proportion. I think that with his size, his hold-up play, his aerial ability and other qualities will help to make alot of goals for his partners too.

    As for last season, I’ve written previously that I thought it was due to having a different manager every five minutes, not the ‘quality’ of the squad. This season, the squad isn’t as strong, the opposition isn’t as strong either, but hopefully we will have more consistent leadership to settle down and rebuild.

    BTW Henock, don’t you remember beating Aston Villa 2-0 last year too? I know the other Villa game was horrible, but that home one was great IMO!

  14. Anyway, I agree with him that Ranger might make a very good forward, even in the Premiership. I do think the lack of goals so far thing is being blown out of all proportion. I think that with his size, his hold-up play, his aerial ability and other qualities will help to make alot of goals for his partners too.

    like heskey

  15. summerof69 says:
    October 1, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    “like heskey”

    I wouldn’t put them both in the same box, 69 (you’d need quite a big box anyway!), but aye, generally. I think that Ranger will score anyway, but you know what Geordie fans are like for heaping on the pressure! :-)

  16. I have to admit that I’m not quite as taken by Ranger as others posting here seem to be. Ranger has something, but it’s very raw and I think he could go either way.
    For me, the starting lineup would be Carroll and Ameobi (and I never though I’d say that).

    Carroll can lead a line far better than Shola and Ranger so I’d probably say the first striker on the team sheet would be Andy Carroll and then you would play a fit Shola or Ranger depending upon the opposition as they do have different styles and bring different things to the game. In my mind, a confident Shola would start before Ranger.

    When we look at our other ‘strikers’ we cannot rely on Harewood ‘cos he’s only on loan, Nolan is a midfielder and Lovenkrands has yet to show any form at all. Beyond that we are looking a blooding the bairns. Not what you want to be doing when we are trying to keep the run going and build up confidence within the team.

    Stick with Carroll and Ranger for now, because they are ours and they will be there after Harewood has gone, but when Ameobi is fit again, I think it would be Ranger to make way.

  17. “like heskey”

    I wouldn’t put them both in the same box, 69 (you’d need quite a big box anyway!), but aye, generally. I think that Ranger will score anyway, but you know what Geordie fans are like for heaping on the pressure!

    true but i dont think ranger has had a great deal of pressure (well as little as possible its always gonna be tough with 40’000 people watching)put on him i think weve been fairly conscious hes a young lad

    also why would you put a smiley face on that statement lol

  18. Well it could be worse – We could be Portsmouth!

    At least our owner pays the players.

    Small mercies and all that…..

  19. Starkadder:

    “Ranger has something, but it’s very raw and I think he could go either way.”

    Nothing as funny as opinions – as I see it the other way – I love the way Ranger links up play – he has time and is able to see the simple but brilliant lay off – goals will come – I am not bothered when – if he creates 4, 5 or 6 chances a game for others its worth it.

    Carroll for me is far from composed – not a bad player – but Ranger to start for me.

  20. I would go for Carroll against Bristol. He has been getting come good assists, but so has ranger. Although the thing i have noticed is Ranger tires towards the end of matches…he doesnt give up but he tires faster than carroll due to not being used to playing so much first team football. Like the other week he got cramp towards the end of the game.

    We have to protect our youngsters and Ranger should be given a rest if the chance is there…we have to ease him into first team football and cant expect him to be playing 3 times in 8 days too often at the moment.

  22. Stardust – first time in a while I totally agree with you!

    Robby Bobson – funnily enough I think Carroll always looks knackered! :)

  23. batty – I’ll find out from work. They’re class like. I never thought I’d be so excited by a mobile phone. Mind you, not sure I’d pay for one :)

  24. Maybe thats because it was football talk only BBM – itll be nice when thats all we talk about again lol

  25. batty says:
    October 1, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    “wheres the best place to get an apple iphone from me daghter wants 1 for her birthday”

    batty,

    Apple Stores, Carphone Warehouses and O2 shops are the the official places to get ’em, but I think there are lots of places doing deals on them elsewhere. I think most of those are reconditioned / unlocked phones. You can shop around online.

  26. Just as a curve ball Batty – if you can wait until Christmas – or just after – Orange and Vodafone will be selling it (as well as o2) – they believe the competition will drive prices down.

    Now might not be the time to buy one.

  28. I reiterate. WHAT THE FUnCK IS henock ON ABOUT? Where has he come from? Where is he coming from?