Newcastle have always had someone to bang in the goals... this time it's Remy
|
Everybody wants to talk about who is the best strike partnership in the Premier League at the moment but almost every team now has at least one quality striker in their squad.
As a defender you would sometimes look ahead to see which teams lacked a bit of quality up front and see which games might offer you some respite.
But now the quality in the league is so deep, there’s no let-up.
Banging them in: Remy has scored eight goals in 10 games for Newcastle in the Premier League this season
Newcastle are at home to West Brom on Saturday, with two of the division’s least talked about but in-form strikers on show. Loic Remy and Shane Long are in the goals and now crucial members of their sides.
Newcastle fans have always loved having a goal-scoring idol at St James’ Park.
From Jackie Milburn to Alan Shearer, there has always been a hero in black and white to bang in the goals.
Recently, it was Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse but since the first one left and the other lost his form, Remy has taken over. He might only be on loan but the Frenchman has eight goals in 10 games this season — and an assist too.
He’s been involved in 53 per cent of Newcastle’s Premier League goals, which shows you just how important he is to the team at present.
Short-term to long-term? Remy is currently on loan from QPR having nearly moved to Newcastle last January
Since losing the derby at Sunderland, Newcastle have won three out of three, are two points off the Champions League places and Remy has scored in every game. His pace causes opposition defences real problems and his finishing is excellent.
OUTSMARTIN' MARTIN
Predict 7 results, win up to £1000
Try Coral's Lucky 7 FREE TO PLAY prediction game and you could win up to £1,000 in free bets.
Log on here
Only Romelu Lukaku is better at converting chances (38.9 per cent) than Remy (34.8 per cent) this season.
If you’re playing in a team with one really potent player it gives you that extra belief that you can get results.
Alan Pardew’s side now look more like the team that finished fifth two seasons ago than the one that only just missed the drop last season.
In the other dressing-room today is Long, a striker who grew up playing hurling in Ireland. Despite his qualities, he was minutes away from signing for Hull in the summer. West Brom had invested in strikers back then but Long is now proving his worth.
He’s only 5ft 8in but he is good in the air. He’s got an unexpected spring so, when his timing is right, he can take the ball right off the head of the centre halves.
Loanees: Only Lukaku has a better rate of converting chances than Remy
He’s proved now that his team-mates need to trust him more and he deserves more than just crosses into the box. His goals against Aston Villa on Monday show he’s a real player, too.
TACKLE KEOWN
Every Thursday I’ll be answering your questions live on Mail Online.
E-mail me any time at tacklekeown@dailymail.co.uk
For his first, he plucked the ball out of the sky, putting backspin on it to bring it under control. It was great skill, something that Dennis Bergkamp would have been proud of.
He then finished well and his second — a delicate, chipped finish — was not bad either.
Long is a real confidence player and is keeping Victor Anichebe and Nicolas Anelka out of the side. He’s caught the eye but he’s got to keep hitting the goals in order to stay in the team.
Find the net: The Toon faithful have always watched goalscorers, from Jackie Milburn to Alan Shearer (above)
PS... Aaron Ramsey is heading back to Cardiff on Saturday as Arsenal take on his old club. I chatted with him recently and it was great to see what a fiercely competitive young man he is.
While at Cardiff, he was told that he had made the bench for the first time by his headmaster in the playground. Not bad news to get on a Friday afternoon! Sometimes football really can be like a fairy-tale.
Tune into Football Focus, BBC 1, Saturday at 12pm for the full interview.
Prospect turned player: Ramsey returns to his old club Cardiff on Saturday after joining Arsenal in 2008
Spotlight on... Frazier Campbell. Age 26, Cardiff City
Loic Remy and Shane Long aren’t the only strikers impressing in the Premier League at present. When he came through at Manchester United, Fraizer Campbell was a real live wire, but he’s struggled to make a club his home.
Spells at Hull and Spurs didn’t quite work out while his time at Sunderland was interrupted by a serious cruciate ligament injury.
Journeyman: Campbell has been a real live wire this season, but will he finally make Cardiff his long-term home?
But with Cardiff, he looks settled. He’s playing well and scoring goals, though it seems like he might have a disagreement with Manchester.
He scored twice against City in August and another against United last week. More evidence of the depth of good strikers in the league.
- Bale: Ronaldo best player in the world. But can he park his...
- Tony Bellew and Adonis Stevenson clash at heated weigh-in
- A young Ryan Giggs wins man of the match award 25 years ago
- FIGHT breaks out in match between one-legged players
- Class of 92 trailer ft. Scholes, Giggs, Beckham and the...
- Joey Barton puts boot into old pal Danny Guthrie's groin
- Formula 1 driver Jenson Button delivers 'Secret Santa'...
- Doria Tillier (French Weather girl) Does Weather Forecast...
- Zlatan freestyles during PSG training
- Watch as Mike Tyson finally gives Evander Holyfield his ear...
- Ryan Giggs: 'Class of '92' had to wash kits and clean boots
- Andre Villas-Boas: Right time to play champions Manchester...
- Belt up, Lukaku! Mourinho fuming at striker who demanded a...
- JAMIE CARRAGHER: Why I still marvel at Manchester United's...
- The Wheel Deal: Madrid's £166m men Bale and Ronaldo given...
- Ramos set to spark transfer tussle between Chelsea and City...
- AVB starts to crack before his biggest game as Spurs boss......
- In Arsene we trust! Gunners shareholder and billionaire...
- Liverpool sweating on Sturridge scan after striker leaves...
- VIDEO: Bellew brawls with Stevenson at weigh-in and...
- Liverpool defender Skrtel shows the pain after...
- So... just what DID Beckham have to do in front of his...
- City's silent assassin! Negredo has gone from Madrid misfit...
- Team America! Everton consider bringing back Donovan for...