The game would have changed if Ki had got that header on target, but in fairness to him he got up lovely for the cross in, shame it didn't go in, as it deserved to have hit the back of the net, Ki is really developing into a very useful player indeed. Taylor I think needs a few more games to get up to full confidence, Jazz didn't have the best of games, but did redeem himself with some good play at times. Did anyone see the knee into the back of Bony? same player steamrollered Dyer second half?
What's this 'Jack to King' film their advertising on the big screen at half time?.....................
Agree regarding the intensity and the reluctance to go and humiliate teams. It's frustrating to watch. We have players capable of keeping the ball for fun in tight defensive situations, but, for some reason, are scared to play the intricate stuff on a frequent basis in the final third. As you said, Williams must take responsibility. He should be yelling at Taylor when he passes to him and not an open Ki or Routledge. Passing football is about trusting your teammates to keep the ball and use the ball in tight situations. Taylor either doesn't trust his teammates, or he doesn't trust himself to be accurate enough with his passing. Either way, it's a problem. As for the rest of the team, someone needs to tell them that they're a bloody good football team and can absolutely slaughter teams if they put their mind to it. A bit of belief today and we could have ruined Newcastle.
Unfortunately, for this chance Ki was offside so it didn't matter either way. The one about 5 minutes later was a real chance though - same cross into Ki's feet this time, but he mis-controlled his shot and it went backwards, deflecting to Bony who's shot from the 18 yards was blocked by the crowd.
I think there are a few things that need to be separated and discussed in isolation. I understand what some have said about the goals being more central defender issues than Taylor's and I'm going to look at the DVR later to check it out. I can see where they might be coming from, but Taylor still got beat on the first goal allowing the player to cross the ball - from there it should never have found it's way into the net - so a double issue. Taylor's persistent passing back towards Ash instead of looking square or to move it forwards is down to one simple thing IMO .... he's primarily left footed. Once he gets turned he has no confidence in being able to pass inside with his right foot and so the only option for him is the safe scoop with his left back to Ash. It happens time and time again and makes him too easy to predict and and contain. It is a fundamental weakness in his game and I don't understand why opposing managers are not being aggressive, pressing him in possession and looking to steal the pass back. I don't understand our approach to substitutions. Tactics aside ... we're trying to stroll past an otherwise very mediocre team who are only in it because they're actually trying to play with some urgency. They make three subs - change the players, change their setup, freshen things up. We have supposed flair and fire power on the bench. Our response ... nothing until we it's almost too late to impact the game. As somebody has said we keep a French international that scored 14 goals in the French top league on the bench and play Emnes who comes on with the touch of a goat in comparison. So ... I'm left with: a) Monk is ball watching and lost track of time; b) Monk doesn't get it - subs I mean and their use; c) Monk has no confidence in the players he can bring on; d) Monk has no idea tactically how to change shape ..... I'm open to other suggestions, but as has been said this is not a one game thing. It is now looking like a trend at risk of becoming a habit. And, not a good one. I am hoping it's (a) or (c) or something else - neither are good but correctable. A frustrating game that under cuts the positives of Bony, Ki and Jazz. These are games at home where we need to be intense, aggressive, and urgent; banking wins and the points. Instead we look like we only have 11 players that the manager has any belief in. What happens when we get injuries - what is Monk going to do then, start short handed.
Can't disagree with that YJ. 'Intensity' has been used a lot and it's spot on. Contrast that with the way we played for the first 20 against Chelsea away, no comparison.
52% happy with that, you don`t get a lot of chances on goal in the prem and we missed to many chances to wrap it up today, our dodgy defence didn`t help us either, jonjo out for next game not good, sub montero on to late. but again a draw is better than a loss .
Agreed to an extent, but taking Siggy off just 10 minutes after he put through Routledge wasn't really going to happen imo. But Montero should have been on at around that time just to give them something to think about rather than pressing forward. Monk made the same mistake v Saints and he's not learning.
This Taylor bashing is pathetic , thought he made a ton of good tackles and had some pretty nifty plays here and there. Same with Jazz . Taylor did pretty well on the first goal limiting the cross to a worm burner(might have got a piece of it also ) , to throw a blanket of blame on Taylor on the first goal , without mentioning Fab being totally responsible because he needed to STAND UP and it was no goal . First error by Fab ive seen . Second goal was a pure " Central defender issue " , end of . Taylor and Jazz played well enough , the blame , if any , lies elsewhere . We should have won simple . No comment on the sub issue , ill let the " Peanut Gallery " deal with it , as they always do .
Is Jonjo out based on the number of yellow cards? If so, I think this could be a blessing. It will force Monk to consider an alternative configuration in midfield - perhaps Ki moving more forward and somebody slotting in behind him - or whatever the combination might be. Time for Carroll to step up? Time for Fulton also?
Taylor played better than of late and made a couple of spectacular tackles but was often clearing up his own mistakes. Both goals came from the left, the first Taylor did his crouching tiger routine and backed off until the shot came and found Ash wanting. Second goal came because Taylor had been caught in no nan's land and the defence was pulled apart,again with Williams no where useful. Jaz did ok. Next game Jazz left back Angel right.
No , but I seen that piece of **** , long haired central defender throw a perfect elbow to Dyer's face , good thing the ref didnt see it .
It was a weird game. I'm finding it very hard to blame anyone (for a change, lol) and like I said before there were some good performances all over the park from our players. I keep coming back to the lethargy and lack of intensity we exhibited and I just don't get it. When we play with tempo we're almost unplayable but we just don't seem to want to do it enough. The only thing I can criticise is Monk for his late subs and this is a recurring theme.
Just in and fuming at what was a game of low quality or any effective effort. Like two teams already relegated both lacked quality in any area of the game. Fair play to Cisse who never stopped and Krull who made two world class saves. The pick of our bunch was .... probably Ki or Routledge and I suspect Jazz Richards would win the successful pass completion statistics. Yet again Monk's tactics and use of substitutes was totally baffling. Newcastle were devoid of confidence or ideas and yet will leave thinking they could have won the game. Unfortunately my criticisms of this game are repeats of all our other games this season. 1) defending too deep 2) lack of concentration 3) too much hoof 4) given up on our passing game. 5) lack of width 6) substitutes 7) gifting possession away 8) giving up on the midfield 9) letting the crowd dictate play (at 2 -1 up and passing the ball around we controlled the game, the crowd started calling for more urgency and all of a sudden we were looking for Hollywood passes and giving the ball away again Fab 5 - was due a duff game and produced it today. At sea with his positioning, poor clearance and to much hit and hope distribution. One decent save but lucky not to concede a third when Cisse ballooned his effort over from short range Taylor 5.5 - better than usual, in as much as he made a bit of an effort to catch up on his own mistakes and was left negative with his attempted passes. But, his play and position contributed to both Newcastle goals. Ash 6- back to early season form - poor. Lost concentration & lost position. He was strong in the arial battles but no one was picking up the ball from the clashes. As fault in both goals. Fernandez 6.5 - the game more or less passed him by, he did manage to wins few headers and played a couple of intricate passes with Richards. Jazz 6.5 - he's not Rangle and he got skinned twice yet still gets hammered by the crowd. Neat passing and marshalling of the two players who attacked his side and, of me, did enough to take over the left back spot from Taylor. Dyer 6.5 - well wrapped up and missed Rangel making the wide runs. Ki 7 - played another good game where he was covering for at least one other midfielder. Jonjo 5 - yet another weak game. I have no idea what his position was supposed to be and it looked like he didn't either. Siggurdson 4 - early promise has evaporated. Routledge 7.5 - MOM for me, kept going all game and took his goal well Bony - 6 some awful touches early on but an excellent goal and only first class goalkeeping kept him out in the second half. Unfortunately he doesn't has a midfield player who can work off him. Monk 4 - rabbit and headlights come to mind again! Emnes and Montero may as well have stayed on the bench for the time they were allowed.
Indeed and I admit it. The thing is, before the season started I doubted Ki and really wasn't keen for his return but he has stepped up to the mark and proved me wrong. I am happy to say so. Taylor hasn't. It was a huge mistake releasing Ben Davies and a bigger one not replacing him.
I said yesterday that this could be a banana skin if we are not careful and that proved the case, If you look at the toon's team they have some excellent players in their squad but they don't have a leader on the pitch. They have a manager who has lost his dressing room and if it was not for Ashley for some unknown reason backing him then he would have been sacked ages ago. the toon are not as bad as their position suggests and would beat most teams with a decent manager. .Im glad that bony got his first goal but there was times that sitters when begging. Jazz did ok as a stand in but he wont ever be first choice, Taylor again puts my heart in my mouth sometimes and we must look in January for another LB so that Taylor will have serious competition and not as it is now being automatic first choice. This was an enjoyable game with plenty of possession and all in all the toon never gave up and deserved a point....
Can't argue with that but didn't find it enjoyable. Other may have but we all see things differently. When so many come to the same conclusions it suggests those things are right or wrong.
