Newcastle United v Arsenal- Official Build Up / Matchday Thread

I've said for a while we don't attack crosses. Ba was **** at it too. He made up for it by creating his own chances, something Cisse doesn't. Cisse is a poacher/instinctive striker who needs players around him.

You don't have to be Beckham though, a bit of pace on a cross always helps. Debuchy has yet to show anything that Simpson hasn't offered. I have faith in him but he just gets pushed around, can't beat his man, and then delivers powder puff crosses when others play him in.

 

The difference is that Debuchy's passing is way better, his control is way better, and his shooting is generally better when he gets a chance. Simpson isn't a bad player, in fact I quite like him, but his attacking threat isn't the same, whether you think Mathieu's crosses are powder puff or not, at least he puts in enough a game to peg back the left back, and he won't keep backing off a winger until he's in the net (fair enough he usually flies in and if he misses lets them pass easily, but it's infinitely less frustrating to watch). I think some people glamorise what we had when we're losing games, because Debuchy is certainly an improvement.

 

I think he will be in time but he has been pretty gash so far, particularly in his primary role of defending. The lack of problems down the right side when Simpson played in Europe and at the back end, were testament how much a better defender Simpson is at present in terms of the game in England. in defence of Debuchy he is not part of that unit yet, has come in mid season and has struggled physically. To be fair he has been man enough to admit his struggles, conceded he needs to get stronger and said the physicality and fitness required is a massive step up from France. Anyone who has seen Ligue 1 will understand this, it is pedestrian and non contact at times.

 

Fact of the matter for me is, playing Santon AND Debuchy wasn't very clever, at least having them as wing-backs anyway. Unfortunately Pards was left with little option, Simpson was f***ing off to Manchester every weekend and getting lashed while supposedly injured, and Raylor has been crocked all season (really hard to make a case for the lad starting more when he's doing that, regardless of how well his replacement performs). Still, he didn't have to push them both on every game... THAT was idiotic

I feel more and more sorry for Pards with every post. He gets most of the blame, but without an influx of players capable of playing in key positions and a striker who thanks his Luque stars that their was one s****er player in that position in living memory, he was up against it. I mean, no wonder we never attacked in a second half... Papiss, that superb "instinctive" striker who has one of the lowest accuracy and scoring ratios in the league this year for his position, would miss anything we would create anyway.

 

We need bodies in the summer. A new striker to partner Cisse, a 2nd striker to come off the bench, some creativity in midfield, another CB as Colo will most likely be off and we need more cover in general. If I see Tiote or Jonas in a Newcastle shirt again embarrassing themselves I just couldn't take it.

Oh and get rid of Shola, I know he didn't play today but the thought of that usless **** here for another season makes me want **** blood quite frankly.

 

Is DT standing behind you?

 

She says she won't lower the gun until I change WP's opinion of Debuchy

 

Selected PP Match odds:
Newcastle to win @ 5/1
Papiss Cisse first goalscorer @ 8/1
Newcastle to score no goals @ 6/4

Should have gone on the money bet. I took us to win 2-1, at least I got the Arsenal goals right.

 

Only one man can do that, Mr Debuchy. I'm sure he'll find his feet eventually. He needs time.

 

Crap... Please ring an ambulance

 

Tough to quantify this one. You have to consider how much Arsenal were playing for second half; sure we looked worse, and our 2nd half performances all season have been more or less the same. But then Arsenal were closing down quicker, picking up their man, working harder, we are always going to look considerably worse. For me, Pardew got out of jail free with this one anyway. Due to fairwells for at least two players, if not four, the tears and emotions of being safe, saying goodbye served to seemingly mask a lot of the vitriol felt by fans. It's Arsenal, so we kind of expect to lose, plus he could hide behind the fact they had so much more to play for.

 

I wouldn't say Pards got out of jail free on this one, after all he'll be judged on the whole season.

Still a massive fail even though we have stayed up.

 

Quote in the chronicle claiming he needs a couple of players. I just don't get it at all. Laudrup seems happy enough to state he needs 5, and where did Swansea finish again?

If we bring in a couple and no more, we'll go down next year.

 

you get some rep but I can tell you what his team talks consist of at half time 'Now drink your horlicks up now lads then a quick 10 mins of this bedtime story then it's time to go out and play the second Half - Hey come on wake up you lazy lot'