A very undeserved defeat, but a positive performance - My thoughts on the game

Well, I was really proud of the way we responded after going down twice, but poor defending from a set play costs us.

We were so close quite a few times, but then again so were Fulham. A 2-2 draw would have be a very much fair result, but we just couldn't squeeze it in.

Back to the drawing board then.

We have to be please with the performance though, and we're looking better from set plays now.

Ratings -

Krul - 8 - Some crucial saves to keep us in the game, and he had to deal with some awful back passes and dealt with pressure well.

Simpson - 7.5 - Had a few shakey moments, but he defended very well early on, and made himself available up top.

Colo - 8 - Great performance. Some great challenges and good play on the ball. Could have very easily gotten two goals tonight. Unfortunately they just didn't go in. MOTM for me.

Willo - 7 - Some sloppy moments, but I thought he did well for the most part.

Santon - 6 - Not his best game tonight. Shakey early on, and didn't offer that much to the attack. But good play towards the end of the game.

Tiote - 7.5 - Awful passing at times, but also some good passing. He put a great ball over the top to Cisse which almost lead to a goal. Great defending and he didn't put in any unnecessary fouls.

Anita - 7 - Some great efforts on goal, worked his socks off and some good play in our attacks.

Jonas - 4 - Mostly dreadful. Awful passing, pants crossing. Some good skill to win us free kicks though, and worked hard.

Ba - 6 - Just couldn't quite score. Decent performance, and good link up play with Cisse.

Cisse - 6 - Good performance, good work rate and decent link up play.

Ben Arfa - 6 - Great goal, a bit off the pace though obviously due to his injury.

Shola - 2 - Fouled players, ****e flick ons, no real impact.

Bigi and Marv - Decent play towards the end but couldn't get us a goal.

MOTM - Colo. A goal would have topped off a great performance and he deserved one.

Overall - Disappointing result, but good performance. Simple as really. We just gotta come back stronger against City and QPR.

 

Colo defo MOM for me also. Tiote once again gives a foul away on edge of box- result a goal. We can not defend set pieces for love nor money. Why was Jonas allowed to play 90 mins when he's woeful ? Alan Pardew explain his selection week in, week out?

 

Ben Arfa was our best player today and you gave him a 6 yet Coloccini was at fault for both goals and you give him an 8?

 

In very happy with the way we played tonight.

 

Our defence was no more than a 6, it was awful. Colo's awful tackle for the first didn't help things as well as Willo going walkabout and letting everyone and their dog passed him.
You need glasses if you think Colo was motm.
Anita worse than Tiote ? You have got to be kidding me.

Shola - A couple of good tackles in defence as well as a few good knock downs to Ba(shame Ba couldn't control anything today).

 

Though Anita looked pretty good again today, this bodes well for the future. Jonas's form just doesn't, hope Pardew leaves him out of the next game. Swap him for Bigi in a 4-3-3

 

Perch in for Jonas

 

Thank You Tash, finally someone speaking sense on here tonight.

 

As ever Tash your ratings are overzealous but whatever, heres my counter post

Krul - 7 - 2 top saves

Simpson - 5 - rubbish, kept losing the ball and his crossing is woeful 3/14 went to one of our lot as of 88 mins

Willo - 6 - did OK I thought

Colo - 7 - was everywhere, shame he was made to look worse than he was by Santon

Santon - 4 - poor, caught out all game predictable going forward.

Tiote - 5 - passing was shocking and kept getting dispossessed like Simpson.

Anita - 7.5 MOTM - feel sorry for him, he was everywhere tonight too. Only player that looked like he wanted the win, bar Colo.

Gutierrez - 6 - improvement from Wigan but creativity is not good enough.

HBA - 6 - good goal and some good skills but not much else

Ba - 5.5 - selfish, shot from range when Cisse and Anita were ahead of him. Poor elsewhere too, plenty of running though.

Cisse - 5 - looking at average player positions from @nufcstats tells the story. He was deeper than Anita. Good passing but that was too deep too!!

Shola - 4 - fouls galore and no impact what so ever!!

Pardew doesn't seem to know what to do. I know he's got limited options from the bench but he's slipping in my opinion

 

Agree with all of those except Simpson, kept winger quiet and got forward ok. Would give him 6.5.

 

It's all good and well getting forward but Simpson offered nothing else. He created nothing from his forward play and no sooner had he put his ****e ball into the box it was flying over his head in a Fulham attack.

 

A drunk/high pregnant teen from Elswick in for Jonas is possible, ANYONE in for Jonas, Why would anyone pick him? No wonder we play so bad the opposition have a man advantage

 

Sorry but Gutierrez is terrible and was that bad tonight. Okay fine, he won a few FKs but seriously he has to provide more than that.

Especially with our dreadful set pieces, of knocking a long one towards Williamson.

Other than that was a great game for the neutral.

 

That basically what I've said. I rated him 4 vs Wigan but he was better tonight. Passing was OK and he beat his man 4 or 5 times. None of that could have been said about his performance vs Wigan

Perhaps a 5 would be better if comparing him to others I rated 6. I'll give you that!

 

How can you possibly give our CB's 6 + 7 when we lost because of poor defending mainly from colla?

 

Hey Tash - interesting thread title - I guess this is a continuation of what you called "banter" on the Fulham board - (though we haven't heard so much since you went behind).

Man of the Match? ......well has to be Damien Duff - just for winding you up.

 

I'm assuming you mean Tash but I thought Willo did OK, hence an average 6 from me. Thought Colo was better, he almost scored twice and made some great tackles and interceptions. I agree he was poor for their 2nd but it was Santon out of position that caused Colo come out of position for their 1st. Colo covered Santon's arse all game and was made to look worse than he actually was. Hence a 7 from me

 

This!

 

Colo dropped some clangers in the first half. Thought he was really poor. Simmo and Santon out of position so many times (maybe a lack of cover) and cisse didn't look interested.

 

Agree Anita, Krul and Colo were good. Thought HBA better than a 6 considering first game back and not 100% fit