‘Leader’ Faye praised for role at back

Apr 16 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

HABIB Beye has been one of the key men in Newcastle United’s revival under Kevin Keegan but he believes it is the presence of his Senegal team-mate Abdoulaye Faye which has solved the team’s defensive troubles.

Having leaked goals at an alarming rate during Keegan’s first two months in charge the Magpies have had a superb defensive record in recent weeks, conceding just two goals in five games as they have moved clear of relegation trouble.

And Beye is adamant it is Faye who deserves much of the credit for the way he has marshalled a back four which contains two youngsters in Steven Taylor and a fast-improving Jose Enrique.

“When Abdoulaye came to Newcastle, I told people that he would be an excellent defender and an excellent leader for the team,” said Beye, who knew exactly what Faye was capable of having played with him for Senegal for the last eight years. “In the last few weeks, I think you have been able to see exactly what I meant.

“He is a very good central defender and he has made a number of important tackles and headers in the last few matches. But he is also a leader at the back.

“He helps to make other players play better by leading them and telling them what to do. I think he will be our defensive leader for the rest of the season.”

Given Keegan’s failure to sign Jonathan Woodgate, or any other new defenders during the January transfer window, the improvement in the back four is even more impressive as it has been done with the same players he inherited from Sam Allardyce.

The rising confidence of the team has certainly got something to do with it, but Beye also knows that a lack of injuries – something which persistently disrupted the team over the winter – has also led to a more settled side.

With the likes of Beye and Enrique also successfully adapting their games to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, United have had a solid base at the back for the first time this season. Beye added: “It’s easier for us to defend now that we are playing with the same defence every game. If you know the guy alongside you, it is much easier to play with him than with someone you are not used to.

“When you are defending it is important to get the basics right like marking and staying in a line and it is easier to do that if you are playing with the same people week after week.”

And, with Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka all causing problems for the opposition at the other end of the pitch, Beye feels the foundations are firmly in place for a successful side next season.

He added: “Our defending has been excellent recently. We kept a clean sheet against Reading and then we kept another one down at Portsmouth, which is a very difficult place to go to as a defender.

“It’s very important to keep a clean sheet and, if we could do that in every game, it would give us a really good base to build from.”

Meanwhile, United transfer target Moubarak ‘Mbark’ Boussoufa is keen on a move to St James’s Park in the summer after declaring he has the ability to succeed in English football.

The Moroccan winger, who plays for Anderlecht in Belgium, was released by Chelsea as a teenager without playing a single first-team game, but he feels they

were wrong to let him go so quickly.

He explained: “I’m flattered by Newcastle’s interest. I spent two years with Chelsea, so I know what English football is all about.

“I was on the point of breaking into the Chelsea first team before Roman Abramovich arrived. He signed seven star players and the youngsters did not get their chance.

“I would not say no to a good offer from England. If Newcastle want me they must first speak to my club.”