Hi All I firstly wanted to say I actually enjoyed watching the game on Sunday compared to the Wigan game. I felt the team worked hard and it was always going to be a tough match but I think there were spells that with a bit more luck we could have found a goal. The first 15 minutes werent great but you cant have it all. For the Newcastle goal am I the only person that think Ward seemed to let the ball run past him? I have watched it again and I still think the same. I am sure he could have stepped across the ball and just put the ball into touch. Theres no denying that Cisse's finish was class (even though he shinned it) but I think part of the reason he got ahead of Zak is because Zak probably thought the ball was going to be cut out. Thats not an excuse as at that level you cannot just expect someone else to deal with something - Cisse didnt. Whats the thoughts on that? Also I liked the changes Lambert has made against both Wigan and Newcastle but I just feel they should be made 10-15 minutes earlier. genuinely feel we would have had anothe ropening or two if we made changes fractionally earlier. I always think it takes a good 5-10 minutes for the players who come on to really get up to speed. On the whole I think we all need to keep our heads up. Worst case scenario I cannot see us finishing below 15th which I would have snatched someones hand off for before the season. We are also only 3pts (I think) from 8th so we could finish anyway between 8th -15th. We have lost some of the momentum that we had and if we start to find that and a bit of confidence again I am sure we will pick up another couple of wins before the season is out.
I think you've summed it up nicely Nemo. I think Cisse's goal was a fabulous goal that maybe could have been prevented much in the same way that Holts at Liverpool was a fabulous goal that could have been prevented. Some you win, some you lose, but I must admit I stood up and shouted "what a goal" when Cisse scored and the same when Whitbread looked like scoring but I had to equally shout "what a save" when Krul stopped it. I to was amazed how long it took to get a sub on. Its normally an hour with PL. Of course we don't know all the details but it seemed we ought to have done it far earlier
good summary. as i said on a different thread i didn't think we played too badly but neither did we play really well - a 6 out of 10 game for most. i was disappointed with our slow start and i think that was what cost us a point in the end. just to add, i agree about elliot ward - i like him but i think he's being found out way too often in this league. not big things but little errors and losses of concentration. spectacular goal from cisse though!
As I said at the time, Ward is a little off the pace, he is a decent player but lacks that half yard of pace, but more importantly of reading the game. However, with two young centre backs to develop, the future back four could be very rosey, especially if we can get Tierney fit and sign Naughton. I think that would be a quality defence and we have missed the level of attacking support that Tierney offered.
Glad to see it wasnt just me that thought Ward could have done a bit more. The frustrating thing is that it is purely concentration as it would have taken littler effort. Quite rightly though, you can't take much away from the finish. Saying that 9 times out of ten when they hit your shin they don't go in the top corner! I agree about krul's save but I think that Whitbread should of scored. I really rate him in the air and for someone so good in the air defensively I am surprised he hasnt been scoring a few headers this season. I hope the team can get some really good performances under their belts before the end of the season and we dont just stop playing thinking the mission has been accomplished.
I think Krul is possibly the best keeper in this league this season and his reaction time to save Whitbreads header must have been milliseconds. The header was a matter of inches to be fair. Left or right 3 inches or even downward and its in. I agree about the surprise he hasn't scored more. He is top notch in the air and at the moment if things continue the way they are, he gets my vote for POTY.
Nope, but to be honest I thought Naughton had Jonas really well marked, its amazing he gets that cross off at all.
I must confess, as a NUFC fan, I was most impressed with him. Every time he got the ball in the second half, my heart was in my mouth. Where did you get him?
