Vuckic had a couple of good shots and looked promising, but haway, he was anonymous for large chunks of the game.
The only reason he was anonymous is because the defense were getting the ball and booting it up field for Best and Ba, we weren't playing it through midfield half the time. It wasn't Vuckic's fault that he was anonymous in my opinion.
Anybody else think that in the last 2-3 games the opposition look like they've found us out? Or do we seem like we've ran out of ideas? Swansea and WBA in particular, we have found ourselves sat in the other teams half going nowhere! Everytime we pass it around the back four then either Perch lumps it up to Best or Colo passes it wide and the winger gets closed down by at least 2 oncoming defenders. Cast your minds back to Blackburn (H) and the movement was hard to predict, the fullbacks were making perfectly timed runs and the exchange in play between the CM's and wingers appeared seamless. It just appears to be far too organised now.
Injuries and suspensions all over the place has left us disjointed. The fluency has gone from our play but to be fair we still look a threat. Its just we can't defend because of Perch. Colo can only do so much of the work. I think we need to remember just how much Saylor was contributing. The step down to Perch is immense. Like 3 goals a game!! To be fair Swansea came and parked the bus too. I don't want to sound like a broken record but Perch is killing our passing, patience and defending. Our patience is dwindling. Earlier in the year when there was little on we were quite happy to retain possession and shift the oppo around. Now Perch gets it and hoofs it.
I can understand what you're saying here - the loss of Saylor has been bigger than i expected. The confidence has gone when defending now - even Krul has lost his confidence without Saylor in front of him! However as much as Perch hits up to the target man, Saylor also used to be guilty of this. Colo is only one of few CB's who really have the composure to play the ball out like he does. Perch recieves a lot of the blame because his frailties stand out when trying to fill such a huge gap that Saylor has left but he surely cannot be to blame for our recent attacking impotence. I honestly think that teams are beginning to see how one-dimensional our tactics are going forward.
Personally I think the best way to address this is bringing in HBA.
What we've learned
I think we are very one dimensional and it does look like teams have figured us out.
I might be alone here but colo was to blame for 2 of there goals last night, perch had nothing to do with the fact Colo got raped for pace time and again last night.
If you're honest you should be saying "our unbeaten run at the start of season meant fans got ahead of themselves, average players played above themselves and the confidence and run allowed the team to briefly look like a top 6 team.
In reality newcastle are a top 10 team, likely to finish 7th-10 and as fans we shouldn't expect to be punching above our weight for the entire season"
I said it for you.
Not like we're doing that much anymore anyway.
The only players tonight who played well were Ba and Vuckic, everyone else deserves a kick up the arse. Colo in particular.
The guy has a one bad game and straight away needs a kick up the arse?
Great supporter you are, might aswell be a fan of blackburn.
If you're honest you should be saying "our unbeaten run at the start of season meant fans got ahead of themselves, average players played above themselves and the confidence and run allowed the team to briefly look like a top 6 team.
In reality newcastle are a top 10 team, likely to finish 7th-10 and as fans we shouldn't expect to be punching above our weight for the entire season"
I said it for you.
disinterested and unmotivated