WHEN Graeme Souness was installed as successor to Sir Bobby Robson his brief was to raise Newcastle United's fortunes and improve their defensive record. Now they are boasting the second worst defence in the Premier League, Sports Writer Will Scott asks former United full back John Beresford about some possible solutions to the current malaise.

YOU don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that Newcastle United need a couple of top quality defenders in their side. It was the case before Jonathan Woodgate swapped life at St James' Park for the Bernabeu in a £14m transfer and Graeme Souness took his seat in the dugout.

Although if you believe some mis-informed publications over the last 10 to 12 years this has always been the case with United.

Newcastle go into their last game of 2004 at home to Arsenal on Wednesday boasting the second worst defensive record in the Premiership.

Only relegation certainties West Brom have conceded more than the 37 goals United have leaked in 19 league games.

The statistic is all the more remarkable when you consider since Graeme Souness' arrival on Tyneside, he has tried to run a tighter ship in a bid to stem the tide.

In the Scot's pragmatism he has instructed his central midfield pair to sit deeper and asked his wide men to tuck in to give the United back four more protection; whether playing at home or away.

One of Souness' predecessors, Kenny Daglish, employed a similar policy and an emphasis, or obsession, based on defence rather than offense when he was manager six years ago. In essence he turned Newcastle from one of the most talked about, attractive, attacking sides ever witnessed in the Premiership, to the most unremarkable and mediocre.

The parallels between the pair are frightening. Daglish initially dispensed with both of his wide men: David Ginola and Keith Gillespie, and replaced them with full-backs Robbie Elliott and Warren Barton as part of his grand scheme; before replacing all his flair players with a series of has-been's and never-will-be's.

Souness has not replaced his French winger Laurent Robert yet, but it looks as if he is winging his way out of St James' Park faster than the proverbial bat out of hell; despite an impressive performance at Ewood Park yesterday.

As a consequence, the Magpies have been less effective; created less chances and lack fluidity - a la Daglish.

Former fans' favourite John Beresford, experienced scathing criticism first hand when part of Kevin Keegan's much-maligned back line between 1992 and 1997.

The 38-year-old sympathised with his ex-team's problems and says it is nothing that a couple of world-class stoppers could not fix. Of course when Bez was part of Keegan's swashbuckling buccaneers they rarely worried about the opposition.

It is no secret Beresford's former boss thought attack was the best form of defence, and when you check the stats, Keegan's marauders were not as bad as some media experts would have you believe.

As the Geordies swept all before them on the way to clinching the 1992/93 Division One title - in Keegan's first full season in charge - they leaked only 38 goals in 46 games.

When the Magpies made their Premiership debut only 41 were conceded in 42; followed by 47 goals in 42 fixtures, and 37 in 38 games - the year United finished runners up to Manchester United in 1996, who conceded only two less by the way. It works out at less than a goal a game.

When you consider Beresford admitted Keegan spent little or no time on defending you wonder why Souness persists with this pragmatic approach when his team is leaking faster than the Titanic.

Keegan employed five flair players in his effervescent line-up; whereas Souness is at pains to risk one.

Likewise, the current Arsenal side went 50 games without loss, boasting a side packed with the flair of Thierry Henry, Dennis Berkamp, Robert Pires, Jose Antonio Reyes, Fredrik Ljungberg and Patrick Vieira. To say Vieira is a defensive midfielder or a spoiler would be insulting to his ability as a footballer.

Attack as the best form of defence is an option the United boss has ignored up to now and possibility a tactic for the future given what has happened since his arrival.

"From a manager's point of view what players you have usually determines the way you play," said Beresford.

"Arsene Wenger has the best players in the world to play an open attacking game of football but you couldn't get the Norwich players to play like that because they would just laugh at you.

"But it does not matter what players you have, it's the way you set your team up. I knew David Ginola was not going to come back and defend but Kevin (Keegan) knew that teams usually doubled up on him and some days I never got a sweat on."

He quipped: "I did ask David on one occasion just to jog back in and he said he couldn't do it, because when he was tired he couldn't dribble.

"In training we worked on short-sided games at a really high tempo. So when we turned up on a Saturday for a game, where the pace usually picks up from training for other teams, it actually came down for us.

"It was easier for us because the pitches were bigger and we had more time on the ball. And when we had the Peter Beardsley's, Rob Lee's, Ginola's and Asprillia's, and it took us all to the next level. The only players who suffered where the ones who wanted to run with the ball such as Darren Huckerby and Keith Gillespie."

Souness appears to have grown weary with the error-prone Titus Bramble, and the current bid for Rangers centre-back Jean-Alain Boumsong stands at £8m.

Beresford said: "I don't think they necessarily need two centre halfs but they definitely need one world class defender.

"The ones they have at Newcastle are not bad players - but they need a pairing.

"When Steve Bruce was at Norwich he was a good player, but when he was paired up with Gary Pallister at Man Utd it was a world class partnership.

"If you could get them they should go for Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro, but I don't think they can get them. But Jaap Stam could be available."

One thing is clear, if United chairman Freddie Shepherd was serious about fulfilling his club's ambitions, then the £20m he was willing to spend on another striker should be made available to cure the cancer eating away at his defence.

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