Lots of energy from the start, we had them backing off, we made some nice moves, wished we could've taken the ball a bit closer for a few of the shots on target, especially from SWP and Bothroyd, they had a bit more space and time. 4 Yellow Cards in the first half, and what does MH do? Nothing. No change of formation, no subs. Bothroyd, Derry, Buz and Hill. He keeps them all in, and what do we see? No tackles from any of them the whole of 2nd half. Then he finally pulls out Buz instead of Derry, Derry who made some dreadful passes and gave away balls in the middle. Buz just looked like he was outstretched most of the game, lack of matches for him I suppose. Anton Ferdinand the captain? MH is barking mad. He had 3 subs and didn't use them all. Should've taken Bothroyd out and put SWP in that spot, Derry out and Campbell in. I thought we needed points? Absolutely no holding control in the midfield, not even help in overlap with each other in the middle so to create space, too many punts up and over the side to nowhere and if the ball got there, no support, no runs inside, no wonder everybody has to drift in to make something for himself. It's not that we're unfit - we need to be holding more in the middle and making incisive runs from there. Newcastle didn't look that good, we should've had at least a point, I thought that Newcastle would be better than this. Once again, we were just so close, we held our own at the back most of the game, they only had, perhaps, 3 solid chances from which they scored the one goal. It's the middle that needs work to get the ball to the strikers.
So let's look at the bench. Orr and Hall, Smith and Macheda, Ephraim and DJ - not exactly inspiring. Neil would have got nothing from this game because he wouldn't have done anything differently. What I did see was effort,commitment and shape. Give Sparky a chance Yappy - the real work begins next week against Wigan.
Yappy what did you honestly expect??. You make some valid points then cock it all up with some ridiculous statements!!
Oh I am giving him a chance - I'm not Tony Fernandes. You guys always sound like people give the ultimatum and we can change everything here on the Boards on the spot! I'm calling it as I see, is all. It's just my opinion. Personally, I would've put DJ in there as well and just made the 4 strikers run at them for the last 15 minutes. Literally, RUN AT THEM, whoever had the ball at the back of Newcastle, disrupt the passing, just run run run and try to get the ball back. You have 3 subs, so why not use them? Take a chance. Change formation, go to 4-3-3-, attack! We need the goal. At 1-0 down in the last 15 minutes, go get it. Know wot I mean?
DJ was so poor last week I'd be suprised if he's here much longer. Newcastle are not 6th for nothing. Well organised and tough to break down.
We've said all season that our squad is too thin and injuries/suspensions/African Cup will expose us. It's not rocket science, we're not good enough and it'll be touch and go to the end of the season regardless of who MH brings in. There are no easy games, even the next six will be like cup finals for both teams. Wigan is a must win...
Got to agree with you there Yap 1-0. 2-0 who cares we should have thrown the kitchen sink at them however we just did not look good enough and as you pointed out earlier we have a problem in the middle of the park.
We had an off game today definitely, but we ground out the result. Sometimes that's just what you've gotta do. Good luck for the rest of the season fellas.
