Our defence

We're not actually too bad when it comes to scoring goals, although we do rely very heavily on Ba, which is a different concern altogether...

Anyway, we've scored 2 goals a piece against Norwich and West Brom. In some circumstances that would have been enough to get all the points - whether we kept clean sheets or even let one in.

But **** me, the defence has become horrendous! Ever since Steven Taylor went out injured, we've just fell to bits at the back and started leaking goals left, right and centre - especially at set pieces. Whether that's due to Saylor being that good, or Perch being that bad, or a mixture of both, is up for debate, but either way it's extremely worrying.

It really baffles me why the change of one player has made such a difference. Steven Taylor is a great player, but I've never seen him as good enough to basically be holding our defence together. Up to now though, it gives the impression that he was.

Swansea doesn't really count as they barely even bothered attacking and just had ****load of people behind the ball. I'm not even sure if Krul had to make a save, so excluding that:

Nottingham Forest 3 - 4 Newcastle United
Blackburn 4 - 3 Newcastle United
Newcastle 0 - 3 Chelsea
Norwich 4 - 2 Newcastle
Newcastle 2 - 3 West Brom

That's 3.4 goals per game average. It's nigh on impossible to win any games when you're conceding three and a half goals per game on average. In fact, it's a fast track to relegation.

Pardew, or someone, simply has to sort this out, because until he does, we will struggle to pick up points - regardless of attacking ability.

 

If as some papers are saying that we are only going to sign a defender in January then god help us when Demba leaves for the African Cup.

 

I don't belive its Perch being ****e, but that we don't have a big man at the back, Colo and Perchinho are similar, Willo, I think, will be a lot better, purely for the way he plays

 

A mix of our defence not being as good against better teams than who we played at the start of the season, Taylor being good and Perch being ****e as well has Colo being awful today. We are awful at set pieces/ crosses, defending and attacking.

 

It was clear to me that Simmo was the better CB against Norwich. But yet this fact was lost on Pardew.

We should have had Simmo and Colo in CB with Raylor and Santon at FB.

Simple as that.

Also our midfield was the biggest problem tonight. Tiote is carrying the whole midfield when he clearly isnt fit. Cabaye shud be ashamed getting booked v Swansea. HBA HAS to play at Bolton. Allowing Vuckic to sit alongside Cheik and give the lad some help.

F*ck me Pardew. How can a man get so much right, to then so much wrong because of a few injuries. Your job is to manage the squad. Not strongest XI.

SORT IT.

 

Then we'd have no one in central midfield.

 

I reckon we can cope with losing Demba. Either Shola/Best or Best/Benny should get us goals.

Losing Saylor has been the biggest blow. Roll on January.

 

Central defence is about partnerships. Colo and Perch obviously don't play well together ... Colo had a shocker tonight with him.

But Colo and Williamson have form of being able to play together, so get Willo in asap and we may be able to sort it out.

 

Dont agree that Simmo was better .. although its hard to pick the better one from that game tbh .. all the goals come from us being poor in the air and regardless what people say about Perch's ability, he is better than Simmo in the air.

Agree completely about Pardew though.

 

Perch was shocking in the air v Norwich. He actually ducked out of their 4th goal.

 

Honestly you probably know more than me on the matter .. im relying on MOTD coverage on that game. But both were poor and Perch is taller so he, to me, is a better choice than simpson.

 

Yes please loan players if necessary we need to bring in a minimum of two defenders and another striker it is so annoying as seventh would be an achievement and is still achievable at the minute but it always seems to be a slow drip with the toon always expect s*** and it is never far away!!!

 

I'm hoping that the return of Willio, Tioté refinding form and rebuilding his partnership with Cabaye will get our defence into a usable form. We really do need a Taylor-like defender, he alone blocked more than 2 shots a game, many of which would have went in otherwise.

 

The loss of Taylor & the disrupted centre mid partnerships have hit us badly, hopefully with Tiote & Cabaye back monday we will perform better.

 

It's not a bad trait to have, look at us...we have taken the reigns of having the best defensive record in the league but can't score for **** at the other end. We have scored less goals than the bottom 2 teams.

Actually quite funny even from my perspective.

 

I've just seen all 3 of their goals again and there's one thing that the last two have in common...Perch is there trying to get a block or anything on it to stop it, he did the same for the Long effort that hit the bar. He may be a bit **** at set pieces but you can't knock his effort!

 

At fault for the third for me. Was nowhere near Scharner (sp??), he should have been there to get the clearance.

 

He was right next to him...it was a shot that Scharner had to stretch to hit on the half volley and realistically wouldn't have scored 9/10 times. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying Perch was amazing, just he put a hell of a lot more effort in than Colo did (possibly still struggling with injury).

 

He wasn't close enough when the ball was played. He should have positioned himself in front of Scharner, taking Scharner out of the picture. Also I wasn't doubting his effort today and I think he actually performed better than Colo today.

 

Colo, Santon & someone else (can't remember who) were standing at the edge of WBA's second, not even trying to get back.