We are still a bit hit and miss and the old regime can and has still raised its ugly head recently and WBA & tonight show us little glimpses of where we were 4 months ago. However, its understandable that the last 15 games or so, have caught up with us at times and we have to regroup and go again Saturday and more importantly, next Tuesday. Poor performance all over the park, with the noticeable exceptions of the back 4, Bardsley (MotM for me), McClean and the keeper. Midfield poor, front two awful. Bad day at the office. We move on.
I had to listen to Radio Newcastle and it sounded pretty dire all round - that commentator sounds as though he should be a fashion correspondent all he goes on about is what the players are wearing etc. so it is difficult to follow the game but it did sound as though we looked tired - maybe MON missed a trick by not playing Meyler/Ji/Killer/Wickham and dare I say it Elmo
I think after the first few months we are all shocked at performances like this one, but what we have to remember is this is Bruce's team still, and do we remember where they were before... Now MON is awesome, but he is not a magician and during the summer a MAJOR revamp has to be done! We need a new strike force, new RM (IMO Larsson doesn't cut it for me...he does not have pace and only his deadball would keep him in the team) and new defenders. I can't wait for the summer because we will then get MON team, and we can then look up at 8th and beyond.
Agree about Bardsley. NOt about the keeper though. MON has worked wonders with what he had, I suppose we have to expect the odd dire performance. At least till he brings in key players. Just wondering if we missed young Colbacks energy in midfield? Vaughan wasn't closing down enough for me. He doesn't look like the sort of player who enjoys it when it is frantic in the middle.
the time to judge will be at the end of next season. MON has inherited Bruce's team. Just pray you don't get Heskey as he is a free in the summer....
I blame Mig for the 1st goal. If your coming to get the ball, unless your fouled, you make sure you do get it. Poor punch. Having said that he is entitled to a mistake now and then and tbf it was Mig who kept us in the cup. My concern is are we a one man team. Without Sess there appears to be no creativity at all. Losing 4-0 to WBA & 2-0 to Blackburn is poor. I expected at least a point at them games. Are we tired? Have we mentally switched off from the league? MON needs to address this urgently. During the summer I am sure MON will bring in players with more pace as our midfield (Larsson, Gardner, Vaughan, Colback etc) dont have any. Only McClean can actually run at a player and get past.
I agree Cest, apart from the keeper. He has to shoulder the blame for the first goal. He is a great shot stopper (as proved a few mins before the 1 st goal) but is abysmal with crosses into the box. That's why I would have Westwood no.1
Yeah, Migs punch was poor but so was the marking. The Blackburn player was by himself with no one near him, we had all been sucked under the ball. We could have easily won the game on a different night if the greek had taken one of his chances or Bender and JI had taken far easier ones. My main concern at the moment is Seb, his delviery last night was terrible and thats his whole game, would like to see some pace out wide signed in the summer.
