Reflections on Yesterday

Watched the extensive highlights provided by ITV a number of times now, and here's what's got me excited:

- HBA is clearly the answer to our winger problem
- Both goals came from our wingers and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect time for that to happen
- Gutierrez and Santon appear to already be making a great partnership down the left, which should mean more opportunities for Jonas to attack rather than track back and defend, and far more overlap from Santon than there ever was with Raylor
- With HBA and an attacking minded Gutierrez I can't wait for the return of Demba Ba, if we'd had him yesterday we would have absolutely torn them apart. The distribution to our strikers should be so much better than it was with Obertan down the right.

My slight concerns:

- If we do start playing HBA down the right, I think that leaves our right side extremely vulnerable defensively. I'm not one of these people who hates Simpson, I actually quite like him. But one of the only decent things Pardew seems to have got out of Obertan is his ability to track back and occasionally win the ball back. I doubt we'd get that with HBA. Because of HBA style of play he is also bound to loose the ball a fair amount, he can't skin players 100% of the time.
- In which case, I think we should seriously be looking to sign a quick left back, and play Santon at right back. If we do that, and manage to keep everyone fit, I think we're a seriously good team. The best Newcastle have seen for a very long time.

 

People need to be patient with Ben Arfa, he's the sort of player who can go missing for 89 minutes and then score a goal like that. I dont mind if we use him on the wing but all the people who have clamoured for it better not ****ing complain if he doesnt track back.

Other isues with Ben Arfa playing RW means we have 2 target men up front and wingers on the wrong side, it doesnt really match up. Maybe that guy Prior on trial will make it.

 

In a way though, playing the wingers on the wrong side is exactly what we need when our strikers are weakened like they are at the moment. With the laziness of Ameobi and the averageness of Best, having those two lay it off to the wingers when they come inside and take a shot could be one of our best ways of scoring for the next 5 games or so.

 

True I suppose, and Best/Shola will still score one or two now that Ba isnt taking every chance.

 

I still think HBA in the middle with Raylor on the RW is the answer. Raylor was brilliant against Manure and allowed Simmo to get forward, they overlap quite well.

HBA does what he likes, everyone saying he has to play on the right are missing the point of him completely, he always swaps sides and spends a lot of time running down the middle. That's the point of giving him the number 10 role/position.

 

I agree, and stronger sides would have just ran at our right side if he played there earlier in the season. Sadly we look much better with 2 out and out forwards atm. I'm starting to actually favour Shola over Best, who just isnt playing well or scoring.

 

4-5-1 with Best by himself will not work. We get some decent deliveries into the box, but Best is by himself and just get's double marked.

We need to play 4-4-2. Shola is not great, but he's a handful because of his strength and presence. Shola can score the odd goal as well. HBA on the right. HBA can always put in an in swinging cross by cutting back on his left.

It doesn't matter what wing we put him on anyway, he'll always drift into the center at times anyway.

 

This is a good shout.

 

Neither of them will ever get you many goals but Shola is a class above Best for setting up a player like Ba. He's much better at winning aerial balls and flick-ons, his hold up play is brilliant too. As much as Shola is frustrating and looks lazy, he's always provided great fodder for Nolan, Carroll and now Ba.

I'm not quite sure what Best does tbh.

 

Don't forget Best got all three assists against Blackburn and had a decent goalscoring record with Shola - it's only much more recently that he's been out of form, that injury he got seems to have done a number on him.
In fairness I think in a way he makes a better goal SCORER than setting them up.

 

this, shola changed the game when he came on. I don't mind shola but being consistent in inconsistency is my problem, HBA looked very good but when tried to tackle deary me, i would not want him anywhere near our 18 yard box

 

Just remember who got the assist for the winning goal yesterday.

 

Santon is seriously impressing me, i knew he'd be a one for the future, not a instant hit now! He's top drawer, 10x the player Raylor is at LB and i think he'd be even better at RB but i doubt Pardew will get rid of Simmo. I was worried when Enrique left, but i honestly think Santon is almost as good as Enrique, not as good yet, but im certain he'll be a better player than Enrique.

 

Definitely. id prefer a left footed left back though

 

Yeah same, but Santon seems comfortable at both LB and RB, but i feel he'd be better at RB, we should try to buy an out and out LB in the summer i think.

 

We need a left back, a striker and to keep everyone fit and we are sorted. Say we did sign Maiga and we got Cissokho, we could have the following team...

Krul
Santon Saylor Coloccini Cissokho
Ben Arfa Tiote Cabaye Jonas
Ba Maiga​

How good would that be?

 

If i'm completely honest i think we need to be looking at signing a youngster to replace Gutierrez as he's getting on a bit now, or start giving Ferguson more chances.

 

I'd rather we sign someone bigger than Ba (Giroud <3) to play alongside him, rather than a small nippy player. Ba plays best when he doesnt have to lead the line.

 

Our playing style is all about performing well as unit, we can't afford to have a player who 'does what he likes' at the moment. If Pardew tells him to play on the RW that's what he has to do, and be disciplined about it (i.e. giving cover to Simpson when needed). In time when our team evolves we may be able to accommodate him in the 'free role', but not yet.

 

Which is why he hasnt had games. People wont accept it though.