Is a 10 minute cameo beneficial?
Posted by JamesB in Newcastle | 17 March 2006
Since Roeder has taken over there have been few question marks over the decisions he has made. One small gripe however is the current role Luque is playing in the team.
I'm not going to try and kid anyone by saying he has been effective since we shelled out our cash for him, because he hasn't - quite the opposite in fact. It leaves a big dilemma for Roeder, who maintains his belief that Luque is happy with life at Newcastle. The temporary manager has dealt with it by easing Luque back in to match squads, and more recently introducing the Spaniard towards the end of the game; a policy I fail to see what will be gained from by employing.
Confidence is clearly an issue with the player. In fact its probably his main problem, and if we are to see the best of him before the summer transfer window we need to make sure we build his confidence back up. The trouble with bringing him on for 10 minutes at the end of each game is the player has no real chance to make an impact on the game.
This means that for every 10 minute cameo, he goes another "game" without a goal, and another game without really making a noticable impact. Each time this happens his confidence is likely to go down further, and the fans will lose more and more patience with him as time goes on.
All well and good saying, but the trouble is what to do with him?
Leaving him out isn't exactly going to make him feel wanted, the problems of using him as a late sub have been outlined, but his performances haven't warranted a start.
For me, there will come a point where he will have to play a few games. I don't see him making an impact as a left winger in the Premiership at all, and once Owen is back opportunities up front are not going to come thick and fast. If he doesn't play games and get a goal or two under his belt before Owen returns then there is a big risk* of him going in the summer and the fans never seeing what he could really do for us.
Liverpool's defence isn't going to give us any loose change at the weekend, and in front of the home crowd I wouldn't play him in that, nor would I play him in our crucial FA Cup tie against Chelsea on Wednesday - but why not Charlton away? Shearer may be tired after playing a couple of games in that week already, Ameobi is hardly a player that has done enough to guarantee a start, so seeing Luque involved from the beginning in that game would be a good move in my opinon.
Everyone has seen him in his Spanish days, they have seen the quality and what he can do. I think a lot of fans would feel aggrieved if he left having made absoloutly no impression for us whatsoever, not to mention we would have paid out a years wages and would probably have to accept a lower transfer fee than what we paid for him. However his time is running out unless he can produce the goods on the pitch, because our fans patience is not endless - far from it in fact, I hear a fair share of jeers when his name is announced.
One thing I definately believe in, is that 10 minute cameos are not the answer for Albert Luque.
* please note I appreciate some people would not see Luque moving in the summer as a "risk".
