Back from the game, some thoughts.

Just got back from the match and thought I'd share my thoughts. They may have been said before but there's far too much to go through to find out.

Anyway, a point is a more than acceptable outcome considering we should have been 2-0 down at half-time were in not for the wayward finish from Bent from 8 yards. If that had gone in we would not have got anything from the match so I'm happy with a point. And with Blackburn home and Wolves away to follow, we can continue our good start to the season.

In my opinion, we got it wrong in the first half and right in the second half. Let me explain. First half, Cabaye & Tiote as a CM partnership BOTH sat too deep. We had no real attacking outlet. Obertan and Jonas on the wings offered no end product, and Obertans movement was appalling. Half the time he never bothered running into space and we just passed the ball backwards and sideways. We were fortunate to go in only the single goal behind.

So what changed in the 2nd half? This is where we got it right and looked a different side. The reason being was that Tiote continued to sit deep, but Cabaye was given license to get forward, and this lad looks to be some player further up the pitch. He pulled the strings and could have scored a couple on another day. This HAS to be the way forward. Tiote sits deep and Cabaye attacks. Cabaye and Best were our only real attacking threats, Cabaye is wasted sitting deep. Ba looked much better today and Sammy did well when he came on.

I'd seriously drop Obertan, he offered virtually nothing. Use him as a sub. Jonas had no end product whatsoever, so it made the fact the Best and Ba looked good even more impressive. I'd like to give Raylor some credit for N'Zogbia being so quiet, and Simpson was okay on the right.

Overall, a decent point in the end that most would have taken before the game. Cabaye must be allowed to play further up the field, and we need Marv, Fergie or Sammy to be given a chance on the wing.

And booing Given? Knobs.

 

Excellent post!

I would definitely agree that Cabaye played in an advanced role would cause problems for any team playing us.

With The Arfa soon returning I believe our end product woes will soon disappear. Ben Arfa & Cabaye ON THE SAME TEAM will provide much needed creativity and will probably produce.

Perhaps young Ferguson could provide end product in an advanced midfield position?

With Besty's goal/game ratio and Arfa & Cabbys right foots, I reckon we'll rip Blackburn apart! (well I hope anyway)

What's your opinion on the sub bench today? no gosling, vuckic, smith, ferguson or recognised defenders!!

 

I expected to see Gosling and Ferguson on the bench. All I can think of is that they're both going to play v Forest in mid-week and Pardew didn't want them playing after the played for the reserves a few days ago. Slowly build them up and all that.

 

Thought that was ironic booing with him and N'Zogbia at the start of the game, didn't hear anymore through out the game.

 

There were quite a few round me booing whenever he got it, not the majority by any stretch but a few nonetheless.

 

posted something the other day where a mate of mine said something similar but what he said was could they play together as they seem to be too similar the answer seems to be our second half performance

 

Some people just remember he left before we went down, if we'd finished 17th that year I bet they wouldn't be booing.

 

REally gioid solid performance today. Firstly apologies to Ryan Taylor, I said after Monday his luck was running out, well it didn't to day and he defended very well. Reasonable first half, yes could have been 2-0 down but it wouldn't have reflected the play. 2nd half very decent as joey would say.

Ba,is looking better with each game, credit to Best for a well taken goal; step forward Yohan Cabaye another quality performence, this lad will get better and the big lads will be sniffing shortly. Tiote, althouth still a few stray passess you can see the strength in the link with Cabaye. Jonas and Simpson good performances and the Rock (Taylor) and Colo again assured performances.

Well done Pardew, brought on Marveaux who had a lovely little cameo finishing with a sublime pass to Cabaye which could have deservedly won it for us. Sammy again shows he could be a suprise package in this season.

All round a really good performance. Well done lads.

 

I completely agree, this isn't the first time this season that Pardew's let Cabaye off his leash and he's looked menacing going forward. I hope at home he sets him loose from the first whistle because it's only a matter of time until one of his vicious right footed rockets finds the back of the net (I'm keeping him in my fantasy team knowing he'll beat the crossbar soon).

Raylor really did play confidently today, and Simpson set farther forward seemed to play more aggressively when defending, so I hope that's a tactic that continues.

I was a very proud fan today, the lads deserve a lot of credit. Oh! And Marveaux for Obertan please!