Keegan's return

Not the best of returns, but at least they didn't lose...

Alan Shearer's just been on MotD, looking and sounding every inch the man who's going to be Keegan's Assistant and heir apparent. His key point was that Newcastle need some creativity in midfield. I wholeheartedly agree; his side today had a left winger and a centre half trying to unpick Bolton's packed midfield. I watched the game, and there was just no spark; they looked solid at the back, creative on the flanks and up front, well... Michael Owen, now Keegan's captain, looked lively early on, but I thought he'd been substituted at half time. Shola Ameobi, whilst demonstrating Shearer-style "upper body strength" injuring Michalik twice, looked every inch the Norwich centre forward he's going to be shortly.

For me, Newcastle need some spark in the middle, and another quality centre forward - Owen's injuries, Viduka's attitude, Martins' inconstistency and Smith's inability add up to problems. Keeping Owen fit, Viduka happy and Martins on fire is a challenge, one that Keegan can sort out. But I feel that Defoe and Ashton would add what's perhaps already there, but more flexibility.

And in midfield. The talk of Deco, possible nonsense, would solve problems. Emre is a player in the same vein as Martins - one of the best players in the Prem on his day, but those days are few and far between. Consistency is key, and if Keegan can get a lot of these players to improve their attitude, then...

I bet he wishes he's inheriting the squad that Kenny Dalglish so successfully dismantled in 1997.