Newcastle must have thought it was Christmas. The number of times we donated the ball we should be nominated for an Oxfam award. I'm taking nothing away from Newcastle who seemed a very good side, but we failed with the most basic of skills yesterday. I've rarely witnessed such a shocking display of unforced misplaced passes. Gone was the confidence to knock it about that we'd seen recently, and it was replaced with half hearted fear passes. If we can't keep the ball let alone just donate it to the opposition at this level, we're asking for trouble. It wasn't confined to the odd player and must have been contagious the way it spread. Even Medel whose calm passing out of defence has become a feature was guilty - Whitts and Gunnar in the middle and the entire back four made unforced errors. I'm afraid Kimbo looked like he'd lost that early season edge and Mutch must start the next one. If anything yesterday, he exuded the confidence that the others seemed to lack and made all the difference the second half. Some work to do here Malky.
Agree with you Sparkey. I still felt Medel's passing was okay, but the team did not seem to be moving to the correct places either. Passing was below par and movement was below par. A few times Medel passed ahead of a player and they didn't seem to be expecting it. He started to look frustrated by the end. Gunnar has been a fine player for us, but I don't remember paying any worse than that. The backline was hung out to dry yesterday. A bad day at the office.
Mutch changed the game as we had a right go 2nd half. Even though Kim couldnt complain about being subbed I believe Malky got this wrong. Gunnarsson should have been subbed. Whatever we say about Bellamy we missed his defensive qualities. We need more pace and quality in the side. Either a fast left back or a fast winger on that side. Is Craig Noone good enough? I worry about Noone in front of Taylor. Whitts is spending most of his time as an extra left back. The central midfield needs players in there who are comfortable on the ball. Thats Mutch , Kim and Medal. Id also bring Mason into the squad at least as an option behind the front striker. Cowie now deserves the chance as the other option as hes played far better than Gunnarsson this season when hes appeared. Im not that disappointed as Newcastle simply have better players than us. Sometimes when you are promoted players struggle with the step up and some suprise you. Ive never thought there was much difference between Cowie and Gunner but Gunner was superb towards the end of last season. So far the step up looks a struggle for him and I think its time hes replaced and brought back if something rules Medal out. Im sure there are 3 teams worse than us and we should stay up comfortably. Malky has to sort out the midfield though. I dont think theres much we can do about the wide players.
At times Gunner may as well not have been there. He just wasnt an option for a pass. Kim was at least moving and looking for the ball. Maybe we should bring Ralls back. Not to start but he could be a better option. Hes someone who is mobile and comfortable on the ball.
However Gunnar made the break and pass to allow Mutch the assist for our goal so not all bad. I don't think Cowie or Ralls are credible alternatives, Cowie doesn't offer as much going forward and I am far convinced on Ralls ability at this level when he has nnever shone in the Championship. Nevertheless Gunnar has struggled and maybe Mutch and Kimbo should start at Norwich?
Doesn't matter who you play in midfield or anywhere else for that matter, if they're not passing the ball with confidence, you're wasting your time. This is basic stuff and we were very poor at it first half. Blame Gunnar seems to be the solution and I admit he had a bad one yesterday looking well under par, but so did Kimbo. Even Odem with that superbly taken goal was not blameless during the game - he ran up a few blind alleys and lost the ball. I don't think he's still up to match speed mentally yet and there's a lot more to come from him. I think we all thought Bellers coming on would be the answer, but I've got some serious reservations about him this season. In hindsight, I think Noone could have caused them more problems out wide on the right. Easy sitting watching and writing on here, but it's Malky's call and he's got us this far. No doubt he knows a lot more about the players than we do.
I dont think its blaming Gunner. Kim , PO , Whitts , Medel didnt have great games. But we need to pass and move it much better. Mutch HAS to start. Gunner is struggling big time and just doesnt look comfortable with anyone near him and is largely chasing shadows. I think he will keep his place but I think thats a big mistake. Id play Cowie v Chelsea and leave Kim on the bench and bring in Kim for Norwich and Swansea. Bellamy also has to play right midfield. We have players not getting a look in and can see players not performing. Theyve waited for their chance and should get it.
Agree that Mutch deserves a start. Cowie at Chelsea would be a mistake. He'd only be played in an attempt to keep the score down - might as well go there and give them something to think about. Don't agree though that Bellamy must play right mid. He's been poor by his standards this season. It must be obvious by now that I'm a fan of Gunnar - I'd leave him in with Mutch and Kim, and tackle the "one up top" conundrum. Fraizer or Odem (even Maynard as an alternative off the bench). You could say that's playing very narrow with Medel, Gunnar, Mutch and Kim basically middle of the park players with only Whitts out left for any width, but we need Theo to provide it on the right and he can do it as well unlike his predessors. Playing wide would open up the midfield for Chelsea and they'd murder us. They may still do, but at least we'd have a selection players in the side to give them a few things to think about.
Agreed Theo can give us width with more end product but their first goal yesterday came after he was upfield and we lost possession leaving Remy without a proper marker. He was able to run at Caulker unchallenged, we backed off and bang, 1 - 0 down, an excellent finish though. I also think Theo lost his man for the second although there was an element of scramble on that with Marshall parrying the first shot. Bellers gave us more cover when starting enabling Theo to make his runs with someone behind him. Covering back is not an Odemwingie strength and I think Newcastle identified that early on. However, we cannot always play with 2 full backs on either side. It limits our forward options somewhat. That is the dilemma for Malky.
Theo looks more of an attacking threat than Bellers to be honest. Taylor will probably be replaced in January if we can find a better option. Mutch really does deserve a start, and I would also like to see a 442 thought it would be more of a diamond than a flat midfield. I just feel like we are the worst team in the Prem to watch at the moment and we will come undone more often than not if we don't start to show a little more intent.
Bluey - There is always that inherent problem when expecting a full back to be the modern "wingback" providing width. Theo isn't the first guy on the planet to have been upfield when the opposition makes a break. The general idea is for his team mates to have a strategy to cover the gap behind him. The game has moved on since the Ron Stitfall era when the fullback usually camped on the corner of his penalty box. Earliest personal recollections for me of the fast "wingback" at Ninian was Peter Rodrigues - there weren't many faster wingers, and none who could slide tackle a man into the hoardings on his way back like him. I will add that I was VERY young at the time - I only saw his last season with us before he went to Leicester (honest!) As for Bellamy, expecting him to cover his fullback is like asking Medel to play in goal - it simply is not his game particularly at his age. If he plays at all, he needs to be at the sharp end on the last shoulder, not expecting him to run 80 yards back and forth up the touchline all game. I think we're inclined to try too may square pegs in round holes. We need to recognise and play players to their strengths. A team is a collection of players who assist each other to get the best out of each. Malky has the tools in the box - he needs to find and use the right ones to tackle different oppositions. We're expected to get trounced at Chelsea, but I doubt that going there accepting it without a plan to pinch something is in Malky's mind. Just attempting damage limitation means we'll get nothing - pats on the back for keeping the score down doesn't give you any points in the table.
That's the point I was making Sparks, we didn't appear to have a plan to cover Theo when he went forward. Newcastle identified that and caught us out once although they had several opportunities. The other point was that Bellers covers better than Odemwingie but that dilutes Bellers attacking prowess. By the way Odemwingie popped up all over the park, the lad likes to roam. Unfortunately we lose some shape when he does that and we had no one up top at times after he went central when Campbell went off. Malky will definitely need to invest come January along the lines discussed elsewhere.
Not for me. Mutch in for either PO or Fraizer. The rest the same starting lineup as against Newcastle - midfield of Medel, Whitts, Gunnar, Mutch and Kimbo. Either of the front two left out and/or Bellers off the bench. I'd like to see Noone given a shot in the last half hour as well.
Anyone want to start Maynard ahead of Fraizer. More speed? I may go with Bellers ahead of Kim against Chelsea solely for some experience on the pitch. The rest of your midfield looks good Sparkey. I agree Gunnar should start again.
Weve all got our opinions but its Malkys what counts. Im not really too concerned as whatever line up we put out isnt going to match Chelsea. We would need to raise our game them to below par and we would need a bit of luck to get anything. Though I believe he will put out the same defence and keeper. Bellamy back in on the right and I think he may replace Campbell for PO. Mutch will come in for Kim. I think then he will make a straight choice between Cowie and Gunner. I think Cowie may get the nod.
Forgot about PO to be honest! I am pretty confident he will not start Kim against Chelsea. You may be right about Cowie as well. But as you say, it will take one hell of a performance by everybody to get anything from Stamford Bridge.
I expect us to be chasing the game at some point. This should give Noone his chance. Be interesting to see what he does when given a chance. Have to say a left side of Taylor and Noone doesnt fill me with any confidence defensively. I hope Mason is brought into the squad. Good on the ball , makes space for others with his runs and is a superb finisher. Hope hes on the bench.
If Noone gets any game, he'll be on the right not left. Taylor is a very good reader of the game and always offers himself as an outlet for the inner field players. He can be good going forward in linkup play, but his lack of pace over the ground getting back against a tricky quick right winger does make me wince sometimes.
