What's this? Newcastle playing well for 90 minutes? - My thoughts on the game

Might have lost a sock when trying to evade the stewards who were diving at him trying to stop him from getting further onto the pitch.

 

Know anybody that has any odd black socks they don't want?

 

Cabaye looked displeased to have been taken off! He was playing so well and wanted to continue. Of course he had to be taken off! We need him for Sunday... Gosling didn't score , what a pity... A very convincing win for us, but a few points I disliked.

-Didn't like the second half, was getting bored of the non-risk taking passing even in advanced positions. Example, Obertan didn't try a cross, instead passes back.
-To be honest, I never liked Simmo's play... I don't like to see him starting for us. I'd rather have Perch at RB when the CBs are fit, because I don't like my RB who can't make a 5 yard pass under pressure and can only pass it back

 

It's what you call possession football, you didn't want the guys running around at 100 mph when they've got a big game against Man Utd on Sunday did you? As you said yourself we need Cabaye for Sunday, but we need all the other guys too. Pards must have told them to take it easy and keep something in the tank for Sunday.

 

has shola been taking lessons of benny, some fancy bloody footwork from the big man

 

i do find the image of a steward left with one sock and no streaker rather cartoonishly comical

 

and on topic, i had a good feeling about this game that things would click - though I haven't seen it the scoreline and the comments here suggest we did - just in time for Manu and the mackems - excellent !

 

i was actually interested in the goal keeper switch - at first I thought ffs injury, then i also considered a bit of shrewd management to give two players playing equally well a fair share of European action, to keep them focused - a hard choice to make really as one noise can always be put out of joint, if this is the case another shrewd move from Pardew ?

 

A very good move by Pards, keeping them both on their toes.

 

I heard that Elliott had picked up an injury

 

I didn't think Fergie was very good defensively in the first half. He definitely suits a more advanced role.

433 Fergie Ba/Cisse Ben Arfa??

 

I agree with this. He leaves far too much space for the attacker to run into, before he closes it down. If they had a pacy, direct, right winger playing, he would have had a field day with the amount of space being afforded to him.

I doubt Fergie will remain as a left full back. Most likely just getting him first team experience, in a position we're not particularly strong in. With any luck he'll force his way into the team as an attacking left winger.

 

Personally I thought Anita was very poor - I think he's still getting used to the new team. Fergie, Obertan, Tiote, Cabaye, Big Mike, Shola were all brilliant though.

 

Agree we played well, but I would deduct a point across the board, except for Gosling who was about a 6.

We bossed a poot side who gave up after 50 minutes. I know you can only beat what's put in front of you, but you can't really generate huge ratings playing that lot

 

I disagree with the keeper sub if it wasn't due to injury. I'd rather have had Sammy or Abeid or whoever youngster was on the bench to have gotten minutes in. I don't believe he made the change to keep both keepers on their toes at all. It had to be due to injury otherwise I don't think its a good move to waste a sub on a keeper in a game you're leading 2-0 and cruising and the keeper was looking good, and didn't deserve to come off.

Hell even Gosling got some time ahead of the youngsters when at 3-0...