I would take that run of results from Now on in. Can't see it like but I think we will still come too 2. Nolan and Carrol got 17 goals a piece in that season.
Looking at the 2009 season compared to this time round I notice one big difference :- Nobody else comes close to us or Brighton. We're still hard to score against and I don't see that changing. We need to close games out tho which is our biggest failing at the moment. We scored ridiculously early against QPR then fell to bits after that. Rafa needs to have a plan B tho and stop persisting with the formation that he insists on playing game after game. Gayle will be back soon so I expect him to be back in the starting line up but I would love to see him and MItro up top and give them a good run of games together with Diame supporting from behind
Big difference is our atrocious home form this time round. Can't wrap head around it. Also need more goals coming from other players too Gayle's done his bit and more. Ritchie's done decent since Gayles been out and odd one from Shelvey But those baffling home defeats and against sides they SHOULD have hammered. Wolves Blackburn Sheff Wed Huddersfield should have been beaten comfortably. But this lot just can't come from behind. Heads go down too easy some players go AWOL when it happens
I've wrapped my head around it. Rafa has nailed it with his formation and tactics for away games. He has yet to understand how to turn SJP into a fortress like Bobby and KK did. He needs to take the shackles off and lose the fear of getting beat. The way he sets up at home just doesn't work. It doesn't engage the support for a start. its all too slow, negative, and more than anything allows teams to get their feet under the table. If he can sort out his head we could be really good. There is nothing wrong with adapting. We can play 2 or 3 up top at home, then switch to his preferred way for the away games. Surely he can't think that will confuse them!
Agreed - most sides simply set themselves up not to lose first and foremost when the come to SJP. If we get an early goal, it forces them out a bit which then allows us more room to play - the majority of games we've won (home and away), we've scored in the first 20-25mins If we don't, we struggle to break sides down which is where, certainly at home, we need to play two up front, or at least with the No 10 playing higher up the pitch
Exactly - its an acceptable tactic away to set up to counter. It is at home too if you are going to play a stronger side. Essentially though in all my years watching Newcastle, we have always been better at home when we've taken the bull by the horns and got at teams. Even the likes of Chelsea, Man U, Man C etc, we've always looked better when we've had a go. Of course you lose quite a few of those ones but you don't play them every week. What I hate is a slow death at home which is happening far too often. Even when we have scored first I always think we should push for another. Then counter the other team. The set up and mentality is just not right. I think the best managers here have been great at getting into players and giving a sense of freedom. One thing is for sure, if we don't address this and do go up, we will be in a world of hurt in the PL. As Burnley have shown, home form is essential in getting the job done.
Too many of this team wouldn't be able to cut it in the Premier. Shelvey, Gayle, Ritchie, and maybe Darlow and Lascelles at a push after that, no. Mitrovic would be better in Prem I have no doubt. But he's a yellow and red risk. IF we go up, we'll need a HUGE outlay to survive. I believe thats why Ashley wouldn't spend last month. He wants to sell a Premier club, but NOT to offload any cash before selling
