Actually some of us were worried BEFORE the event when the news came through that the team hadn't changed, so you're wrong. One post I saw said defeat was more likely. Repeating the same mistakes isn't exactly a sign of great professionalism.
We didn't get torn to pieces at all. The introduction of Cisse gave them a cutting edge that prior to that they had completely lacked. Add in a couple of mistakes of our own making, as Steve Bruce said, and we essentially threw away 2 points. We were certainly not lucky to get a draw. This league is very close and most games are going to be settled by fine margins. It turned out to be a draw, but if either team had won it by the odd goal, everyone would have said that that was a fair result. Our quality play put us into a 2-0 lead. Their fighting spirit got them back in the game. Good advert for football, which is why it was first on MOTD.
Robertson at the moment is great going forward, but his defending needs working on. However it is work in progress, but feel if Ramirez comes in for Quinn, that will strengthen left side of mid field, and you might find it works better. Quinny is OK, but he is not in the same class as Ramirez. Failing that 352 might be an option to go for, which would give some cover for Robertson's defensive weaknesses, as one of the centre backs can get across to cover behind him.
Yeh they aren't that good a team, despite the weird post someone made about us getting too big for our boots thinking we could beat them. They should have been beaten.
which isn't surprising as most people don't practice hitting barn doors with banjos or any other stringed instruments
They held the ball well and was just missing a striker for the majority of the game. If Cisse had started I imagine they would have won, easily. This 442 diamond leaves us far too lightweight in midfield. Thudd isnt mobile enough to play as a single anchor man. I still think we would be much better suited to a 4231. I dont know if Livermore is defensive enough to play as the CDM beside Thudd, possibly Meyler? McG Rosie Chester Dawson Robertson Thudd Meyler Ben Arfa Diame Ramirez Jelly I think Robertson has a case of Elmo'itus. Looks great going forward but is liable in a back 4 due to his attacking nature.
Harsh on Elmo, leaving him out. This season I'd say he's probably been our most consistent performer. When did he last have a bad game?
Possession: Newcastle 63 - Hull City 37 Shots on Target: Newcastle 9 - Hull City 3 They were all over us.
Round pegs and all that... I consider Rosie to be the better full back. Elmo would be the first name of the team sheet in a 352, without a doubt.
We were ****e yesterday, we scored two fantastic goals against the run of play and in the end we were lucky to hang on for a point. The midfield isn't working, it hasn't been working all season and changes definitely need to be made. Brucey may be the expert, but you don't need all your coaching badges to know that 4-6-0 is not a good formation if you want to win a football match. Where was Sagbo, at least he can hold the ball up the pitch?
I thought he fielded a 5-5-0 making Hernandez non-existent (that was a joke Madge) but, he's the boss and must have worked this out with his staff. Sagbo can't be showing anything in training and I personally doubt that he has a future with us. Jelly proved today that if we get the ball to him in the penalty area he'll put it in the net. Brilliant strike. Hernandez has only played twice so there is some bonding to do yet. I will predict that when this team gets it's act together it will be a formidable side.
^ this .. goalkeeping errots have cost us two in two and four points .. big mac needs to srart finding some consistency
How about a 4-4-1-1 ? Elmo Chester/Dawson Davies Rosie BenArfa Huddlestone Diame Robertson ____________Hernandez _____________Jelavic Robertson looks great going forward but we've conceded a few goals from that part of the pitch over the last few games and Rosie behind him will make us a lot stronger in defence. Livermore has looked below average so far this season, as has Huddlestone, but obviously you cant drop Thudd.. So have him with Diame in midfield, Hernandez just in-front of them and Jelavic leading the line.
Quite possibly, but until it does, we probably ought to keep at least one proper striker on the ****ing pitch.
I think playing Elmo & Robertson at the back in a 4 leaves us far too exposed. We scored 2 fantastic goals yesterday but I felt we were outplayed and the stats do seem to back this up. Having got lucky to be 2 ahead with 15 minutes to go we should still have closed it out but Cisse proved to be exactly what they had needed all game. Brucie really seemed to spend the start of the transfer window stengthening for the 5-3-2 formation and made a good job of it. He's then ended the window by bringing in an embarrasement of riches in the attacking department and seems to be desperate trying to shoehorn them all in (this will get worse when Ramirez and Ben Arfa are fit). He's going to have to bite the bullet at some point and choose to piss someone off instead of trying to keep them all happy (Europe could have helped us with and its even more of a shame that we got the squad we have now too late to keep us in it). In the meantime; I think we need to return to a similar shape to that which has got us to this point but more of a 5-2-2-1 to use some of the extra attacking prowess we now have : McGregor Davies Dawson Chester Elmo Thudd Diame Robertson Hernandez Benarfa Jelavic reserves not bad either : Harper McShane Bruce Figuero Rosey Meyler/Quinn Livermore Brady Ramirez Ince/Aluko Sagbo
