Certainly there was a moanfest on the blog after the game with everybody from the players, the manager and even the chairman getting stick.
All justified of course.
Some said it was all about Spurs raising their game with the Harry effect. Could have been any or all of these. Personally, whilst I think it was more about Spurs than us, we can still learn a lot from this game. It will be interesting when the player stats go up at the training ground today.
I was reminded a bit of the Champions League final last year when Barcelona played so well Man Utd couldn’t even get close enough to foul their players. Yes we played 4-4-2 which many say is too attacking, but before the game some fans were of the “we’ll score more than you” school of defending. However we set out with defensive wingers so we actually were playing 8-2 which is still erring on the side of caution.
The real problem was that Spurs, like Barcelona, were able to move the ball well in possession, fast and accurately. This meant that the more we tried to close and press them the more space opened up for the pass to be made. Playing 9-1 would have been conceding the game from the start merely hoping to nick a goal on the counter.
So yes Alan Pardew got the tactics wrong, but to be honest I’m not sure that there was a right answer. It’s the same one that Ferguson and Mourinho have been looking for when tackling Barcelona.
Ok so were the players at fault? When I was watching the game it seemed that we couldn’t keep the ball for love or money. It wasn’t that we were being hustled off it, it’s just that every pass seemed that little bit off. We were trying things that were never on and constantly being caught out of position as a result. Things that normally work every time just didn’t and since we were expecting them to work we were not in position for when they didn’t. And Spurs can counter fast. Oh and yes there were some schoolboy howlers as well.
One of the main talking points was playing a high defensive line. Given that neither Fabricio Coloccini or Mike Williamson have pace, setting the right defensive line is important. When we get it wrong we get punished.
So are the players good enough? Well since we are looking at the defence rather than the total lack of chances created, we will focus on the centre of midfield and defence. Whilst Guthrie has proved to be an able deputy for Cabaye, Perch has shown that whilst he is no Tiote he is OK against the teams below us.
There is however pressure from the youngsters coming through to challenge these players. I’m not going to judge Gosling in yesterdays game, nobody looked good. Simpson has the qualities to be a very good full back and pulls of some great goal line clearances he still has so much to learn that I do not count him as a guaranteed start next season. Davide Santon looks the part and when he is fully settled I think he will be good for NUFC in the long term.
The Willo/Colo partnership lacks pace, and despite last season when there was some serious discussion as whether Steven Taylor would get his starting place back. I think we now know the answer. For me the question is should we be extending Colo’s contract or should we be looking for two new centre backs in the summer? Funnily enough Krul hardly put a foot wrong and hence could be my Man of the Match.
Should we have bought a centre back in January, of course, but we know that Samba was not for sale as we were not the only suitors. Unfortunately, Montpelier, Ajax and FC Twente were not prepared to sell either. So we could have gone the Arsenal Per Mertesacker route and paid well over the odds for a flop, buying someone who was not on our Graham Carr approved list, or buying back-up from the Championship, which fell through and would not have been playing yesterday anyway.
So what have we learned? Well, we still know that we are probably two or three players short of our starting XI for next season. We know that our squad depth is only good enough for playing those clubs outside the top six. We still haven’t found our best tactics or style. We are on a par with three of the top six. We are still in with a shout for Europe.
And even our full starting XI would have struggled on Saturday!
you are always going 2 get overrun in central midfield…if u got perch and guth…it was the same at blackburn and other games difference they missed chances…blackburn did more damage then spurs..but couldnt score…
asim(Quote)
To be where you are in the league at this stage of the season is a fantastic effort.Good luck for the rest of the season.
Wyart Lane(Quote)
A Newcastle 1st 11 is a match for any other team.
However when you scratch the surface you will find a championship squad.
This is the difference between the top clubs and the rest of us.
BillytheFish(Quote)
What ever happens from now on in Alan Pardew and his team deserve a huge pat on the back for their efforts this season.
Next season will be interesting!
BillytheFish(Quote)
We missed tiotes energy and cabayes calm possession too
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
We can get away with 4-4-2 with Tiote and Cabaye but playing it at spurs with perch and guthrie was nigh on suicidal.
It also didnt help with the two early goals which had their tails up and killed us…
CC(Quote)
The same old tired names dragged up again when a premier league job comes up, Curbishly, Warnock, Brucie 😆 , Fat Sam, Mclaren
Why dont these clubs think outside the box for a change, Ashley was slaughtered when he brought in a guy who as we kept hearing had been sacked by a 3rd division club and hes done wonders.
Hughton doing well at brum, atkins at southampton, Clarky, Malky mackay, Chris powell someone else surely deserves a chance in top flight instead of these fecking mediocre dinosaurs… 🙄
CC(Quote)
Blaming the result on tactics and the midfield being overrun is ignoring the fact that our full backs, and not centre halves, were culpable big style on Saturday, i can forgive Santone as he is new to the league, but Simpson? Where was he for the first 2 goals? Sucked into the near post for the first when there was no need and unable to get goal side for a challenge on the second, he just hasnt got the basic football brain for the job, some say he is good at goal line clearances, big deal, i would prefer him to do his job and close the right hand side down for once instead of playing like a headless chicken.
Robert(Quote)
Good article.
@Billy the fish,
nail on the head, we have some extremely talented players but we lack quality in depth, fair play to our squad players as they have done superbly well this season, but it is only inevitable that they will get horribly found out from time to time.
Willo
Simpson
Guthrie
Perch
Obertan
That’s five players that a year ago, possibly even now for some of them, that we’d class as Championship players.
Add to that we had:
Cisse
Santon
Neither with much Prem experience and the defeat against Spurs isn’t rocket science to figure out why it happened. It’s more of an indication of the team we had to put out than anything.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Robert the first goal was more Santon’s fault than Simpson’s
Colo was dragged out to cover for Santon, then Willo had to cover Colo and Simpson had to cover Willo.
So that’s the reason why he was out of position.
Regardless the left back should be being marked by our right mid, ie Obertan.
Lets not start the Simpson witch hunt again.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Premandup
Good article fella.
Great analogy comparing the game to the Barca/Manc game.
It’s exactly what it was like.
If there was ever a game where we missed Barton then this was it.
Ok if Tiote and Cabaye had been involved we might not have looked so poor but I still don’t believe they could have stopped the avalanche.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Not a witch hunt, he is playing like a **** and has been for some time, surprised they didnt sell him in January when he didnt sign his contract, he is surviving solely on his ManU connection alone.
Robert(Quote)
Robert untill Saylors injury we had the best defence in the league. This was with Simmo at right back, and playing Raylor out of position in left back, how did we manage that? Maybe he isn’t as bad as you claim?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@robert
You make a valid point. Simpson is not good enough and those defending him are as convincing as Simpson is as a defender.
Not say that as fast as you can.
It still doesn’t prevent Santon receiving constructive criticism tho.
He has mitigation but you’re right, Simpson doesn’t. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The two early goals was the problem.
They came out the blocks all guns blazing.
Our defence was caught with their pants down.
6 mins in and it was game over.
This was not the first game this season that we have started like this.
I hope it’s the last.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Simpson looks and performs better with STaylor kicking his **** thru the game.
Cant underestimate STaylors leadership of the defence.
We really miss him
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Disagree to some extent. They do move the ball well but some of the goals were just poor marking in the box.
Stuart79(Quote)
Good article PREMANDUP. I agree about Tim Krul too. He was well let down by his back 4 and wasn’t to blame for any of the goals.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Thanks for the complement Troy 😆
I think that there is a difference between a championship player and a premiership squad player. Our squad players can play in the premiership but not as starting 11 for a club with top 6 pretensions
premandup(Quote)
The midfield defence ( Tiote & Cabaye ) was missing and the back four went missing.
I’d buy Vertonghen and Yanga-Mbiwa to bolster a defence of Simpson , Williamson , Colo , Saylor , Tavernier , Santon and Ferguson.
Plenty of positional options for the back four in that lot.
The midfield defense already consists of Tiote , Guthrie , Raylor , Cabaye,
Abeid and Gosling.
Again , sufficient options available.
You could even have the option of playing Vertonghen in midfield defence and Gosling is no stranger to the right full back position.
sidekick(Quote)
Need a competant right back whether S Taylor is playing or not. ROBERT you say Simpson is playing like a ****, I totally disagree – hes not that good!! No Tiote means no midfield. No Tiote means the defence is exposed, yes he IS that good.
jonboy(Quote)
Doubt we get Vertonghen unless we get 4th. Might get Douglas & Yanga-Mbiwa. A dedicated LB and Santon moves to RB
Thanks for complement BB
Off line til this evening now. Enjoy the debate
premandup(Quote)
I thought Ferguson was excellent when he came on, he got stuck in, was a threat and played his heart out, and yet im reading he is going out on loan, surely he is good enough for the bench at least.
Robert(Quote)
Spurs were superior on the night, don`t blame the players yes some of them are not good enough but give credit to Spurs who twere outstanding. Sometimes you have just got to hold your hands up and say we were outplayed. We did it to Man U a few weeks ago and now we have been stuffed. No doubt Pardew knows where the weaknesses are and will try and address them in the summer. We are still in a healthy position and our strongest team will give most teams a run for their money.
Freddie Shepherd(Quote)
Whoever we play in the squad we have to improve our passing otherwise we just allow the opposition to attack us more. Goalkeeper punts up field 9 times out of ten just give the ball to the opposition who are facing the ball. We should play it from the back more. Unfortunately, Williamson’s and Simpson’s distribution is poor.
Groucho(Quote)
From NUFC.com :-
“The end of our last UEFA adventure in 2007 saw Glenn Roeder comment that he had to “find defenders who are good enough to play in front of Shay Given.” Well, the goalkeeper’s name has changed, but not much else. ”
also
“The Croat was also involved in our 1-4 home loss to Pompey in 2007, when ‘Arry had another ‘triffic day and his side were three ahead in less than 12 minutes.” 😯
Obviously his plan of early goals has worked before against us.
👿
crafty old ******
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
“The Football Association has confirmed it will take no action against Luis Suarez or Patrice Evra after they did not shake hands at Old Trafford.”
😯
Bottled it again.
Would have been different if it had been Joey Barton. 👿
The FA are a joke
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I was upset at result but not angry in slightest.
Simpson is average at best, so im not even upset when he has a **** game, because that is Danny Simpson!! You cant have a go at him for not being good enough..he gives his best and his best isnt good enough.
Same goes for Willo, Perch & Obertan. You cant say none of them did not try, they just arnt good enough.
Cant blame Pardew either..he can only work with what he has got..and with that he has done a great job.
Only person to blame for defeat if you have to is owner for not realising that some of our first team players are not up to Newcastle United Football club standards..
but then again, i think this season was always go with the squad we have and see where it goes..
shame really, i thought we were better than that
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
We played 4-4-2 away at both Mancs I believe? Got ourselves a draw at ManU and the scoreline was a bit favourable at etihad, but we were by no means battered.
So was it the formation? I think anyone that blames the formation or says it should have been changed beforehand is talking gash, why would it be changed? Its simply that our replacements in the middle, especially Perch, can in no way replace tiote/cabaye. That, and everyone, and I mean everyone, played *****.
Much to most peoples dismay the first two goals can’t be blamed on Simmo…obertan should have been marking ekotto, simmo was getting in the middle so that Saha didn’t have a tap in. Anyway everyone was ****, we weren’t going to win anyway, lets get on with it.
Newkie(Quote)
” So we could have gone the Arsenal Per Mertesacker route and paid well over the odds for a flop”
Could we not have just paid over the odds for a good player? If you are going to pay over the odds it seems sensible to do it for good players rather than flops. 💡
(We wouldnt necessarily have had to pay over the odds at all if we’d paid the going rate for the likes of Pieters last summer)
Pootle(Quote)
It was a mistake to go 4-4-2 but at the time we all were blinded by the excitement of the two strikers including Pardew. Playing with just Ba upfront, a compact 5 man midfield including Gosling and a deeper backline would have almost certainly prevented the two quick goals and neutralised Spurs midfield. I think our central defenders are too slow to be playing the high back line full-stop to be honest.
DJG(Quote)
“They do move the ball well but some of the goals were just poor marking in the box.”
This is true. Spurs were really good but they were made to look even better because we were really bad.
Poor in defence, terrible at passing, lacking movement and creativity.
If we do qualify for Europe I hope Flabber the Hurt dips his pudgy mortar in his pockets because we need several decent players to have a truly competitive squad.
Pootle(Quote)
” I think that there is a difference between a championship player and a premiership squad player. Our squad players can play in the premiership but not as starting 11 for a club with top 6 pretensions”
This is true. The problem is some of our starting 11 should probably be squad players, and with just a couple of injuries our subs bench ends up full of Championship players.
If we don’t buy several decent players in the summer we will be relying on a few players having quite a large improvement in form to be genuine top 6 contenders.
Pootle(Quote)
@Premandup good read mate well done.Think its time to cash on on collo and taylor meself so i think we need 3 cb this summer. @BEARDSLEYS BOOTS15 ya hit the nail right on the head i think 2v0 down with 5 mins gone was always going to be damage limation meself,Add the fact adebyor had what was prob the game of his life was the main difference between the teams,add in the fact our central midfield just went awol in my opion.
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Prem I can’t help but think that the defence has went to the dogs abit from Saylor got injuried. While Salor was there he was always vocal and a few times I seen him telling Simmo what he should be doing.
I just don’t think Colo is a commander like we need to organise the defence.
As I said after the game he seems to find it easier to try to help out and cover for others rather than shout at them and tell them what they should be doing. Yeah I know you can let by example but there is times when you need to tell the players to sort their **** out.
Willo was all over the show and for atleast 2-3 goals the ball came past him and he didn’t even make an attempt to stop it.
Big Dave(Quote)
BIG DAVE
maybe we should buy 2 tickets every match for saylor maybe he can sit behind the goal and shout at the defenders tell them what they need to do 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
but 1 things is defo sure we need a tony adams type defender this summer 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Yeah the Barca v Man U comparison was a good one. About right aswell.
The two early goals killed it for me. If we were going to get a result we needed to keep it tight, sneak one and hope for the best. Going two down so early left gaps and Tottenham exploited them in clinical fashion
toonsy(Quote)
In my opinion, after watching the match against Spurs, Obertan should have come back and filled in for Simpson when he was dragged into the centre back position, Simpson was pulled into this position because the whole defensive line got shifted over, because Santon was caught out. Santon seems fine going forward, brilliant in fact, but he doesn’t seem to get back quick enough, and he tends to drift inwards. At least when it was R. Taylor on this side he did his defensive duty. If Santon didn’t go forward as much, we kept more of a rigid and flat backline, we wouldn’t have had as many goals scored against us, same if the wingers tracked back to help out. Spurs were good, but we were awful, our passing was shocking and our shape was off.
Ben Arfa should have been brought on in place of Obertan and the full backs should have been told to be a bit more cautious. We needed to keep the ball and Ben Arfa could have done this with short quick passes and movement, Obertan is shockingly bad at passing. Also, Pardew not only got the tactics wrong, he didn’t make the right decisions in terms of subs, he brought of Obertan for Ferguson, Cisse for Gosling…..then, Guthrie for Lovenkrands! Why take off a striker (when we’re losing 5-0) for a defensive minded midfielder, then throw on a striker with 5 minutes to go, only thing I can think of is to give them game time, that wasn’t a game to give game time.
Lowesy(Quote)