Talk of the Toon: Ryan Taylor comes of age at United
DERBY JOY ... Ryan Taylor celebrates his winner against Sunderland.
NEWCASTLE United, it’s fair to say, missed Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye at White Hart Lane.
But it wasn’t just their absence that was keenly felt on Saturday as Newcastle United suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
The injured Ryan Taylor, too, was missing in North London.
Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 5 Newcastle United 0
Few would have foreseen his unavailability being a significant concern before a ball was kicked in anger this season.
But a year and a half into his St James’s Park career, Taylor’s came of age at the club.
The 27-year-old had the bit between his teeth in pre-season.
Taylor was determined to compete for a place at right-back, the position he occupied in Newcastle’s second pre-season friendly against Sporting Kansas City.
Speaking after the game, a goalless draw played out in energy-sapping 100 degree heat, Taylor spoke of his hopes for the campaign in the cool of an air-conditioned corridor in the bowels of Livestrong Sporting Park.
Affable and available as ever, Taylor stopped to talk as the team’s kit was wheeled past him, destined for the next leg of the U.S. tour in Orlando.
The interview later appeared in the Gazette under the headline “Don’t call me Mr Versatile!”.
“I’m one of those players who has been pushed here, there and everywhere in the last couple of years,” said Taylor.
“I’ve covered in different positions, and it was nice to show the gaffer what I can do at right-back.
“I’ve got two years left on my deal, so I’m hoping come the middle of the season I’ll have shown the gaffer what I can do.
“I want to be here, and I want to play.
“It’s difficult for someone like me who has the label of a utility player. I want people to know me as someone who can play in a certain position.”
Conversely, Taylor’s versatility has again become a strength, and he’s played precious little football at right back.
Instead, the Liverpudlian made the left-back position his own in the first part of the season, and has more recently featured in central and right midfield.
So much for dropping his versatile tag.
At White Hart Lane, left-back Davide Santon, like most of his team-mates, had a torrid first 45 minutes, while right winger Gabriel Obertan was withdrawn at the break.
Santon’s still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League after his move from Inter Milan last summer, and up to now has looked more comfortable attacking than defending.
And Obertan left right-back Danny Simpson badly exposed, hence his substitution.
Taylor might well have fared better than the pair of them.
The former Wigan Athletic player – who tormented United with a series of stunning goals during his career at the DW Stadium – hasn’t made one position his own, but by the halfway point of the season he had more than shown manager Alan Pardew what he can do in a black and white shirt.
What’s more, he also wrote himself into Geordie folklore back in August, his stunning free kick deciding the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light.
Taylor’s bio on social networking site Twitter reads simply “Over The Wall”.
Fortunately, Taylor will be back for the visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers to St James’s Park a week on Saturday
And it says a lot about his renaissance that many Newcastle fans would have him in their starting XI for that game.
Twitter: @milesstarforth
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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