Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa keen to be back in action for Newcastle after being missing since his “nightmare” performance against Pompey. Only playing for 17 minutes, Cacapa headed down to the St. James’s tunnel after being replaced by David Rozehnal.
Allardyce later told the press the reason he replace him was because he has a slight hamstring injury, not because of his slump performace in two occasions. But today, he is expected to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Hartlepool XI.
”Everybody knows what happened against Portsmouth last month, but what I have to say is that everybody can have an off-day.” Said Allardyce, ”Claudio made a couple of mistakes in the space of five minutes and that’s why I brought him off.”
Since then, Newcastle United was failed to keep any clean-sheets since a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on November 11, 2006 and Allardyce is keen to change that record when travelling to Craven Cottage this Saturday.
”It’s too early to start to talk about our team for Fulham but we have to stop conceding silly goals.” Allardyce said.
Meanwhile, Toon legend Chris Waddle has backed Habib Beye to get even better in a black-and-white shirt. As a former journeyman Waddle knows all about the journey that Beye has made. During his time in France with Marseille, Waddle discovered the differences between the English top flight and Ligue 1.
“I think the big difference is the pace of the game and how much time you have on the ball, which means you have less time to think.” Waddle said, “And that can be a factor especially for players who aren’t used to it.”
Newcastle this season have three ex-Ligue 1 players in Cacapa, David Rozehnal and Beye, so Waddle thought that they are still getting used to life in the Premier League. He believe with game by game they will getting stronger and learning how to cope with life in Premierships, one of the world’s fiercest and quickest league.
“Once you have learned to cope with the pace of things in England, you will do much better. And in six months or so both players will know exactly what it’s about, and you’ll see that in their performances.” Said Waddle.
Here’s a video of Waddle’s magic solo run in England World Cup 86 qualifier 5-0 win against Turkey.
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