I am proud! Plus player ratings.

I don't know about you lot, but I am proud of every single player that started the game today, except for Obertan!

It wasn't Perch and Simpson's fault that they couldn't defend crosses in, that was always going to be the problem for us today. They both put in a good shift considering how out of position they both were. In general play they both played well and battled hard for the team. On top of that with the side we had out there and the fact that we had 10 men for half an hour we were arguably the better side in open play and the better chances on the floor. The way we played when we went down to ten men has made me very proud today!

My Ratings

Krul 6 - Couldn't really do anything about the goals, did he make another save? No, this shows how well we did in my opinion.

Raylor 5 - Our worst defender today, in the first half we were very weak down that right hand side and they always threatened us. Poor passing and crossing at times.

Simpson 8 - I don't think this is too high. He defended really well, headed the ball well and made a great block at one point. He played better at centre back than he ever did at right back, but he is just too small for it.

Perch 6 - Played well at times, but was exposed for height and gave away a needless free kick for the fourth goal...although it was an iffy decision from the ref.

Santon 7 - Good performance from him and he has to start ahead of Raylor. He attacked well and didn't put a foot wrong defensively. Needs to improve his end product though!

Obertan 2 - He only gets this because of his run at the start of the second half. I am happy for him to play poor as long as he tries his hardest. But he doesn't. By that I mean I will never fault a player for giving there all even if they just don't have the quality, but every challenge he goes in for is half hearted, he never tracks back or close down and he very rarely beats his man and puts in a good cross. I am fed up of him now and for me HBA must start right mid.

Cabaye 7 - Dominated the midfield and produced a cracking assist. We need Tiote back so Cabaye can focus more on going forward instead of trying to do everything. We really miss Tiote and it is a bit like the partnership down the left. When you don't have a good left back playing it sacrifices Jonas going forward.

Gosling 5 - A poor few minutes should not get in the way of the fact that he had a good first half. He looked a threat and played relatively. He deserved to get sent off, but for a second yellow...not a straight red!

Jonas 6 - Played okay but didn't do enough going forward. He looked a bit rusty and hopefully he will be back on it next week.

Shameobi 7 - Very good so far this season and fair play to him! Good assist and could have easily had another assist for the Ba shot onto the bar. Held the ball up well and his passing was good as well.

Ba 9 - Absolutely brilliant. The best finisher I have ever seen at Newcastle since Shearer. Just such a natural finisher and what a first touch for the first goal. Best signing this season for me!

As I say...I am proud today of the boys and lets hope that Tiote and Colo are back next week. If they are I would be confident of three points.

Also I don't care if Tash has done one of these articles whilst I have been typing...mine will be better!

 

No. We lost 4-2. Simple as that. Most of those ratings are far too high.

 

6 for Perch?

 

Simpson 8? He put in a good effort but at the end of the day he can't play CB. He deserves a 6 for his effort.

7 for Shola is too high. A good assist and a few good moments, but apart from that he was ****e.

 

I'm sorry but I think both of you are being clouded by the fact that we lost. Look at the stats for the game, we had 10 men and we were still as good as them. Just be positive.

 

I'm not proud of losing 4-2 to Norwich, may sound harsh on them but it's poor from us. This is hopefully our blip for the season.

 

If Ben Arfa did exactly what Shola did today, you'd give him a seven. I am fed up of people being harsh on Shola just because it is Shola. If he has as a good game, then I will recognise that. Stop having grudges against players.

Also, Simpson played well today. He didn't put a foot wrong in my opinion.

 

At the end of the day we've conceded 6 goals since we lost both our CB's.

4 today, and Chelsea's last two goals were scored when Saylor went off.

 

No I wouldn't, but I'm quite sure HBA would have been able to sprint faster than 1 inch per minute and have more of an impact on the game.

 

The point of this article is exactly that. We played well today and everyone tried there all and if you put in the two centre backs into that performance we would have won easily.

 

Perch wasn't out of position, he's best at CB for the Reserves.

Agreed though, they gave their best go at it and it's a position we hopefully shouldn't find ourselves in too often.

 

Jonas is having to defend too much I'd say Santon is a better RW than a left back. Obertan need to be dropped, Ameobi I mean ffs when will a manager realise he only good for 15 minutes a season.

 

He is too small and lightweight for centre back though. His best position actually seems to be defensive mid.

 

I thought Simpson put in a lot of effort today but no way would I give him an 8. Giving Perch a 6 is questionable too, he was terrible as usual today and just because he made the odd clearance like all defenders would doesn't mean we have to praise him for it. Ba & Cabaye's ratings I agree with though - they were by far our best performers today.

 

I find it hard to stay mad at our current side for long (about from Obertan). Yeah they played **** but everyone works their bollocks off in this side (apart from ****ing Obertan) and I love them for that. Hell, I even love Perch.

I don't know why or how I am posting this, I'm perfectly sober! Must've taken a knock to the head or something.

 

Exactly what I am getting at. It is not there fault that they are not good enough when being played out of position. As long as they give there all I am happy and that is why Pardew is such a good manager, because he can get that extra bit out of everyone (except Obertan).

 

This.

 

We weren't as good as them. We lost 4-2

Being positive on purpose is no reason to be utterly deluded. If your scores fairly reflected the performances, yet we still lost to teams like Norwich by 2 goals or more, then we would be relegated.

Here's mine:

Krul 5 - One of our better players, but if you let in 4 goals you can't get much of a score.

Raylor 3 - Poor. Left his entire side exposed to allow those easy crosses.

Simpson 4 - He tried, but letting the big Norwich forwards take such easy advantage of those crosses in front of goal at point blank range was atrocious.

Perch 3 - See above, just a bit ****ter.

Santon 4.5 - Not bad, but he's still learning. Good attacker too.

Obertan 2 - Dire. Missed many opportunities to pass and just made the wrong decision.

Cabaye 5 - An OK performance, but far from his best.

Gosling 3 - He would have had a 5, but that red was just moronic. He's blown it.

Jonas 4.5 - Looked rusty and didn't do much defensively or offensively.

Shola Ameobi 3 - Good pass for the goal from Ba, but it doesn't make up for being ****ing horrendous for the entire hour before it. Lazy and useless.

Sammy Ameobi 5 - He was ok but he's too raw. He needs a loan.

Ba 8 - Our best player, and scored himself a brace despite the poor team behind him. He would have had a 9, but he was too deep at times I reckoned.

 

Krul 5

Raylor 3

Simpson 5

Perch 3

Santon 5

Obertan 2

Cabaye 7

Gosling 3

Jonas 2

Shameobi 4

Ba 9

 

These.