WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! A first half that promised so much against Wolves on Saturday, was shortly followed by a frustrating and lacklustre effort to sit on the lead. Newcastle proved yet again that they just do not possess the ability & power to see off teams, even at home.
Wolves were there for the taking. 2-0 down, unknown managerial territory and away from home. But, NUFC came out thinking the game was already won. And, when you consider Pardew’s distorted substitutions and at the point in the game where he made them (during a free kick), Newcastle did nothing to help themselves.
Yet again, Newcastle looked short of ideas and innovation in a bid to break Wolves down. 13 chances created, leading to 15 attempts at goal, just 5 on target leading to 2 goals – but, neither goal was credited with an actual assist. The introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa gave Newcastle an extra dimension on their play, although he still had that vexing edge to his game where the ball is lost at crucial times far too easily.
This lack of creativity has been a regular feature of NUFC’s play this season, especially at home. With the quality they possess in midfield this season, getting to the final 3rd is not a problem, but once there, Newcastle seem to struggle to fashion clear cut chances.
In two parts, NUFC_Stats looked at where NUFC’s Premier League goals this season had come from, who was creating them and how they fared against others in the division.
Who’s scored them?
Everyone knows of Demba Ba’s season thus far. The Senegalese forward has smashed in 16 goals from 72 shots; a 62% shot accuracy, and a 29% chance conversion rate. After him though, the numbers appear pretty bleak – Leon Best is the next highest Premier League scorer with 4, alongside A.N Own Goal. Then, comes Cabaye, Jonas, Raylor and Ben Arfa, who each have 2.
So too does new no.9 Papiss Cisse, who has been very impressive at the start of his Newcastle United career. 2 goals in 3 games from 9 shots for NUFC’s other Senegalese forward, a 43% shot accuracy and a 29% chance conversion, the same as Ba. After that, Danny Guthrie, Shola Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan and Dan Gosling have each chipped in with 1 goal.
Where they’ve come from
NUFC's Premier League goals
NUFC’s 25 goals from open play is the 6th highest in the Premier League, obviously reflected by the league position. Consider though, that 13 of them have come from Demba Ba and the thought of playing this season without him really stings the senses!
Only 4 teams have scored less than NUFC from ‘fast breaks’ (Arsenal are the current title–holders with eight) and only 4 teams (QPR, Arsenal, Fulham & Villa) have scored less than Newcastle from set plays in the division this season.
No team in the league however, has been the beneficiary of more own goals than Newcastle, equalled by Fulham and Blackburn.
Who’s creating them?
NUFC chance creation
It won’t come as a great surprise to most black & white fans that Cabaye is up there as top creator, but most of them come from set plays. It is Ryan Taylor and Jonas who are creating consistently from open play, as well as Obertan, who despite his recent exclusion from the first team is only 1 chance behind the Englishman and the Argentinian and level with the Frenchman.
Leon Best has been pretty essential in terms of ‘setting up’ in the games he has featured in this season, so too Danny Guthrie, who produces more key passes per game at home than any other Newcastle United player.
In the good, old fashioned, English 4-4-2 NUFC insist on playing though, flank players have got to be doing the business for a team to be successful in scoring adequate goals. And, in flank players, reference is not made to just the wide midfield players. In a team with as a good a holding midfielder as Cheik Tiote, the players in the full back position have got to be positive and attacking minded.
Between Danny Simpson and Davide Santon, just 19 chances have been created. Simpson in particular, having played every Premier League so far, not as providing as he should be with just 13 and neither of the two have a single assist.
Further to that ‘flank’ notion, it is Yohan Cabaye, a centre midfielder, that has produced the most crosses for NUFC in the top flight this season and Ryan Taylor, who has played at full back, centre midfield and wide who features second. Surprisingly, Danny Simpson has had a good assemblage of crosses and is the most accurate after Papiss Cisse, but from significantly more.
TO COME >>> NUFC’s last 6 games’ chances, goals to assists ratio and possession & passing in the final third.
« Colo – “Of course, I want to stay.” | Tactic talk: Is the 4-4-2 past its use by date for NUFC? »
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“Danny Simpson has had a good assemblage of crosses and is the most accurate”
Is that so surprising? Watch the replays, and I think you’ll see he’s forward a hell of a lot (in fact, too much sometimes, leaving the flank open) and his crosses have been pretty good.
Sadly, Saturday was too similar to the Fulham game – a team who’d started to believe their own hype and thought they had it won at half time. They should have learned that lesson the first time.
Good article but unsurprising results. No coincidence the three to four players who have created most are the ones who have had the most playing time. Purely speculative of course, but average out the results based on the same minutes on the pitch and the results look very different. Gutierrez would be the worst performer of all our ‘creative’ midfielders.
A lot of work gone onto that Stato.
I was interested in finding out more specifics about Cabaye. I see that Guthrie makes more key passes than him.
That will shock a few dreamboat lovers.
Amazing that you have found a positive aspect in Danny Simpsons game because every time i watch him his touch is horrendous and he cant pass a ball accurately unless its back to the keeper.
putting together an article for you Troy mate, hopefully get it done before footie training
WHUMPIE – u must be watching different games to me cos the crosses ive seen him put in have been woeful. Agree hes gets there, but think the ‘sursprising’ element you refer to was meant about his accuracy
@KeithR
Cheers fella.
@NUFC stats
We have scored 38 goals and Cabaye has created in some way or another 35?
That must include back passes to the keeper before Krul launches it up the field and a goal comes of the clearance.
Keith,
Chances created per game on average:
Cabaye – 1.6
Raylor – 1.4
Cisse – 1.3
Guthrie – 1.1
Best – 1.1
Obertan – 1
Jonas – 0.9
Certainly not a surprise, but the point really being, is it enough from everyone? You’ll see a lot more depth in Part 2, but compared to the other teams, Newcastle are not equipped in the final third enough to be challenging high up in the league – for example, only Stoke, Swansea and Bolton have had less shots than us this season!
Troy,
You’re confusing assists with chances created – not every created chance ends in a goal
The mobile site has changed. I like it
Much better that we can see the post number.
About time like!!!!!!!
Bollocks it’s gone back to normal.
What’s happening Toonsy. The mobile site layout was different for a few minutes with post numbers and bigger pictures.
I was just giving Toonsy credit as well.
Roger that Stato.
Stato
Those chances created per games are woeful. Worse than I thought and backs up my point about Cabayes forward play.
Whether its tactics or ability I don’t know. I just don’t get it if it is tactics cos Cabaye has the engine to push up and track back.
If it is tactics on behalf of Pardew then I will give Cabaye 100% for discipline. He never veers from his plan.
Statto.. wasn’t having a go at all mate.. always informative, was just making the point that those who play game in and game out can be made to look productive in comparison to others with certain stats when in Jonas and Simpsons case it’s simply down to the fact they’ve played more than everyone else… Agree completely we’re not effective enough in an attacking sense to be where we are. Feel the tactics have a lot to do with it though and although they have served us so well early on, may be getting found out of late and teams know they can go at us. There’s nobody in the top 6 who play the way we do, and if we want to be there in future, imo, we need to change how we play.. maybe we can’t given the personel right now though…. anyway, look forward to part two mate
Troy – the article also says that Guthrie has created more key passes AT HOME not over the season so far… you really haven’t read this article properly at all
It also says that Cabaye has produced the most crosses – which for a central midfield player (not ACM) – suggests our wide men and full backs need to up their game.
These stats don’t show Cabaye running away with it as our chief provider of goals by any means but they also don’t warrant you singling him out again.
Troy.. I think many had false expectations of the sort of player Cabaye was when he came to Newcastle, me included. He only played one season for Lille in that ‘Nolan type role’. For the most part he was a deep lying midfielder and any time I have watched him play for France he is the same, just sits in the middle and links up the play. Doesn’t really drive forward and have shots or try Fabregas style through balls all time. Think that’s how Pardew wants him to play too. There’s only one game I can remember all season where he seemed to play high up the park and that was the first game against Villa. Also happens to be the only time he was voted Man Of The Match this season as far as I know…..
Keith,
Didn’t take It as a dig mate, funny how these things translate!
Troy
You’re spot on – woeful is the word, and it becomes much clearer why in Part 2. Also, when you consider players like Mata, churning out 3.3 chances a game, Danny Murphy 2.5 and even Mark Gower at Seansea 2.4; it really gives you an indication of NUFC’s deficiency
So Simpson gets slammed for coming forward and not providing enough crosses…and yet he still has the best crossing accuracy, albeit he may not have assists but certainly has assists to his assists….
Don’t really understand what people want from him anymore…although obviously he is a poor defender.
Statto another good read mate keep up the good work lad
Yeah we arn’t creating enough chances but imo the fact the defence is so weak must count for the biggest part of not creating.
Simply because our attacking players have to devote so much time to defending
Troy @14- I think it is tactics as someone ,forget who, posted that in france he was a more creative MF and not really a tackler.It would seem he’s had to adapt his game ,this may explain his rashness when he feels he’s been tackled too hard, simply not used to it .Also Pards is forever going on about Benny having to defend more to keep a starting place. It’s frustrating ,whilst i realise all players have to ‘do theyr’e bit’ forthe team the whole point of creative attacking players is that they get forward and create /score. I still maintain he is worried about the back fours suseptability to pace and is instructing Tiote AND Cabaye to cover theyr’e backsides. Solution would of been a couple of defenders in jan .
@Sharpy
As soon as I typed the remark about Guthrie and key passes, I realised my faux pas on reviewing it. Well done. Credit where it’s due. You win the smart arse prize for tonight. I will return it to you. It’s on my mantelpiece .
I really do not want to slag Cabaye. I actually like him as a player. I am disappointed that he has not been as creative as many made out when he first
arrived.
I’m only reacting to the dreamboat lovers who won’t say a word against him. There’s plenty in my view.
I hope it’s just down to tactics on behalf of Pardew as I want him to fit in the team. I just don’t believe there’s room long term for Tiote and Cabaye playing so deep.
He needs to be given a less restricted role otherwise the chances created are going to remain poor.
As I’ve said, he has the engine to run box to box all day.
Excellent work Statto. Always enjoy reading your stuff. Interesting to see Cabaye is top dog on almost every aspect of or forward play whilst simultaneously having the 3rd highest number of successful tackles in the Prem. What a player.
Shame those around him can’t do a bit more and share the load. Shows our squad is still quite weak in terms of ability and we are some way off being a genuine force.
@KeithR
Yeh, there’s a lot of people back tracking now saying he’s a defensive midfielder. We were led to believe he would be threading balls through the opposition defence like a seamstress with wand like needless.
Keithr@17- interesting you saying he was a deep lying midfielder when you watched him as someone else who watched him in france posted he was attacking MF .Sorry cant remember who posted it was in last day or so . I’m well confused now like
Troy – I agree it would be nice if Cabaye could be released to get forward more often, but don’t agree that he flatters to deceive – I think he delivers in terms of productivity and ability, but some of those around him are letting us down or are simply not good enough.
@Shamrock
You are funny.
I like it
Saying ridiculous things about Cabayes forward play which is against all the evidence. 
Comedy genius fella.
Statto not trying to get you to do more work because I don’t know if it’s possible or what it entails
but would love to see the stats for the start of the season while Saylor was in the team compared to post Saylor, as im sure we attacked more at the start 
Shamrock i’m not 100% sure if we are weak because of the ability of the players or just the way they have been playing
Statto how long did it take you to come up with that article pic
Troy – Against what evidence? He outperforms almost everybody else in our squad in terms of attacking play, yet is still one of the top tacklers in the league. You cant discount his set plays either – as he is obviously the strongest in the squad when it comes to this area. Surely if we are looking at where we are going wrong, Cabaye is not the place to look?
Anyhoo, feck it he’s useless get rid.
Troy – sorry mate, I appreciate my post was a bit smart arsish (if that’s a word). Don’t like smart arse comments so shouldn’t have put my point across in such a way.
For the record Im not a dreamboat lover and would never normally refer to him as dreamboat.
I just admire and respect him as a 25 yr old lad who having only played for Lille, came to Newcastle not for the Geordie shore lifestyle but to graft as a footballer. I’d have a team full of players with his attitude and work ethic – but some that could create more goals like
Right i have had a look and apparently season 2008/09 he was a playmaker but with the arrival of Hazard and Gervinho inseason2010/11 he was not used as primary playmaker . He’s listed as aCM firstly and an DM secondary,obviously Pards want’s him in his secondary role at present.
Reet back to do a bit of work
catch you’s later
Statto – I think I’m right in saying that your stats show what I have been saying for too long now, that Spidey and Ober are the weak links. Wingers need to score and assist. They don’t do enough of either. I’d rather see Raylor or Guthrie.
I’m getting increasingly concerned that Pards is being overly cautious in trying to protect the back four. He has the whole team dropping far too deep at times, and not pushing up sufficiently when we regain possession.
I think he’s right in trying to get Benny to do his fair share of the legwork. He also needs to get him playing it simple most of the time. When Benny plays it simple, he looks real quality because his skill buys him an extra two or three seconds to do what he wants.
Right so does this mean everyone thinks we should try changing the formation now that 4-4-2 appears to be becoming less and less effective for us?
Our actual quality of play has been quite patchy this season to my eyes, although earlier the results have went our way regardless mainly thanks to Krul and Ba. Now that seems to be getting worse with some recent performances being diabolical in terms of the quality of our play.
@Sharp
That’s my sentiments about him.
I like him as a player. He is an honest grafter. A tidy player. But so far, a totally different type of player than I was led to believe.
@Shamrock
Howay fella. If you really read my article I stated he was the best we had in the squad. I was pointing out he is not creative enough compared to other top midfielders.
We all know his defensive abilities but as Statto has revealed he does not create enough chances per game.
Whether its tactics or ability I do not know.
@ big Dave
That would be interesting to see. How Cabaye faired with Saylor in the team.
Many believed it was tactics because Saylor got injured and Pardew didn’t trust the defence.
If that’s so, it makes it all the more remarkable he didn’t make much effort to buy a CB in January.
I would think the stats support the idea that our wing play just isn’t good enough. Jonas scored a cracker but overall he doesn’t create a lot and has begun to look short of ideas more and more often. I don’t see Raylor as the answer on the right and it looks as if Pardew has lost confidence in Obertan. We need a winger or two as well as a centre back. Willo is not good enough. Saylor and Colo were superb together but we obviously need cover. Focus on the shortcomings of the team in the summer Pardew! Hopefully you will be supported by the owner.
Pootle @ 36- Shhhh. Don’t ruin tomorrow
Save those thoughts!
@B&B
I’ve said that about Benny a few times.
He needs to do the simple things and the flamboyant side of his play will come naturally with time.
He’s trying too hard to impress .
I find it astonishing that many on here would sell him in the summer.
Pootle if we continue to play 4-4-2 where does Ben Arfa fit in? It just won’t work and he won’t stay to sit on the bench. We must have several useful formations in order to be effective. We can’t start every game 4-4-2 because we have 2 useful strikers now. I hope Pardew is trying things in practice. We are badly exposed on the right now and so far Santon and Jonas just aren’t as effective on the left as Jose and Jonas were. Once Tiote has a few games under his belt again I don’t see central midfield as the main problem. We have to develop better wing play. Cisse made more decent crosses in the last couple of games than Obertan did in the first half of the season.
Toonsy
Were you experimenting with the mobile site before?
It came up with post numbers and biggers avatars. It looked good. It then reverted back to normal.
Article in drafts Sy
Agree Geordie Two. My personal opinion is that 4-4-2 has us playing players in roles that don’t really suit them and as a result it starves our strikers of supply.
I can understand people being nervous about changing because it got us this far, but to me at the minute we appear to be struggling to actually play.
If Pardew sticks with it for a few more games and turns it round then fair play to him, but I’m concerned that if things don’t improve soon and we suffer any more big defeats it might shatter the teams confidence.
Also I’m not sure you can take some of our tries to change the formation so far as evidence of likely success.
Yeah Fulham ended badly but we twatted them off the pitch in the first half. It was Pardews lack of response to Fulhams second half changes that lost us the game.
Also for much of the season we were relying on Shola and Best, neither of whom appear to be anywhere near as good as Cisse (hopefully).
Keith – Cheers mate
Troy – No. Are you seeing this site? Sometimes it switches to the mobile site then switches back again. It’s because we have all singing all dancing phones
Great article statto. Pretty grim reading though
Think KeithR hit the nail on the head with regards to Cabaye, he clearly has the capability to play further up the pitch, that game against Villa must have accounted for like a third of shots he has had for us! Some crackers too if i remember right. It must be down to Pardew’s tactics, like people are saying, it has worked so far but we are getting found out and haven’t had much luck going our way recently.
I say lets hark back to the early ninties and try and score more than the other! Tiote can sit and we just unleash Cabaye!
Troy i cant be bothered to have a long winded debate again but the fundamental flaw with your article is that Cabaye actually fared really well against seasoned premiership performers.
Lampard stats were a lot better yes, but he plays a lot higher up the pitch and if Cabye had been on pens he would have a few more.
And i please beg you to watch Silva’s next Man City game, how anyone can watch them and say that he plays centre mid baffles me.
I am interested to know how these real stats compare Cabaye to other players in the league, though i still think his defensive qualities should be taken into account as for the most part, it is our defence is what has got us here.
I expect our wingers to be massively shown up when comparing to other teams as i think they tend to be the big providers in games, of the top 10 assist providers in the league, 7 are wingers, with one being Adebayor and his 4 against us
Also great showing from Bestie
Very interesting, Stato. Is there an easy-reference set of definitions for dimwits like me to look at so I can see exactly what is meant by this-or-that term?
@Solano
You stated Silva plays on the wing.
He may play the odd game on the wing but in general he plays as an attacking midfielder.
Just because you are confused, don’t get frustrated with me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17093495
Man alive Troy, i’m dying for once to see you admit you are wrong, hoping once it happens the first time the flood gates will open.
Look at that line up, in fact, pluck any City line up this season, dream up your own even, and tell me in what world Silva plays CENTRAL MIDFIELD.
Once you finally come to terms with the fact that he doesn’t play that position you will surely be able to accept how ridiculous it is to slate Cabaye for not having similar stats to him.
Come on type out the formation you in your little troy/troll world you think Man City play
My post @47 doesn’t even mention Silva and wing in the same sentence you utter plank.
It says Silva isn’t a central midfielder. For sake of argument he features a lot more down the left for City than he does in the centre of the pitch.
Do you think Ben Arfa is a central midfielder?
Just because someone can play behind the striker doesn’t make them a centre mid.
What is it with football blogs attracting trolls with inferior football knowledge eh
R.Taylor————Willo——–Colo———Santon
—————————–Tiote——————————
———Jonas—————————Cabaye———-
————————–HBA———————————
————Demba—————-Cisse——————
or
——————Tiote———–Guthrie*———————-
————————–Cabaye——————————-
Cisse—————–Demba————HBA—————-
*Jonas
or
Santon’——–Willo——–Collo———R.Taylor^
————–Tiote—————Cabaye———
————————-Ba—————————-
HBA——————-Cisse————–Obertan*
*Jonas or Marveaux
^ Jonas, Santon
A lot of different formations, it’s not so hard to change it. I am not a genius, so if i can see it, AP’s and His staff also can. It means there is something more they know and see.I like AP and all work he’s done, but i would like to see better attacking performance from our team (and wingers especially), so it would be nice if AP would consider this. I’d really like to have some tea time with him and get some answers for my questions about his preferred rigid 4-4-2 formation.
@Solanos Trumpet
You have as much credibility with your trumpet as a bugle player blasting out the Last Post at a funeral with fairy washing up bubbles coming out the bugle .
If you really want me to embarrass you I will trawl thro your posts from yesterday where you claimed Silva was primarily a winger.
Do you want me to do that?
Regarding comparing him to Cabaye, I continuously reiterated throughhout my posting yesterday that Cabaye came with a reputation of being a creative midfielder yet he has shown anything but.
My suggestion was that with Tiote sitting deep covering the back four in a sweeper style role should allow Cabaye to push forward and support the strikers.
You and your hilarious attempt to complicate a simple issue makes me laugh like a fat faced hyena.
You seem to have this concept that Cabaye, being a central midfielder is not allowed to assist in attacks when we have the ball.
Oh dear. The Trumpeter has blown a raspberry !
I will pose the question to all.
Does Silva generally play in the middle or out wide on the wing?
You filling your trumpet up with fairy bubbles solano?
He is certainly closer to being a winger then a central midfielder.
Seeing as you cannot reply to a simple question:
Yaya – Barry
Johnson Silva
Balotelli Aguero
or
Yaya – Barry
Johnson Aguero Silva
Balotelli
this is where Silva has played near every single game this season, get your head sorted mate, you would be more valid comparing Jonas’ stats this season to Silva’s than Cabaye.
So yeah trawl through my posts, but again it there for all to see that the troll can’t admit his comparisons of players stats were as daft as his metaphors.
He has played in the same position as people like Yaya and Carrick. Whether that is good for the team or not is a different debate.
How can you compare two players that haven’t even been playing the same position this season?
Yeah he came to us with a “reputation” as a creative midfielder, though he only got 3 goals last season, (tip, get new ‘sources’ dear, your last ones were convinced Krul and Tiote would be sold in Jan), but are you going to have a go at Bale for not making enough tackles each game even though he went to Tottenham as a reputation as a top defender? NO, because he has been playing a DIFFERENT POSITION.
Can’t believe i’m even entertaining this, the whole point of a debate is people concede when they were wrong, i’ll admit i thought fat Mike would sign a cb in Jan, and that i thought that Demba wouldn’t get as many goals as he had, what have you ever admitted to getting wrong? It’s basically everything you have ever posted man.
Honestly pains me coming on this blog and seeing you’ve commented, complete and utter tripe.
@Solano
You really must take a chill out pill as your stress levels are waking my son, Chip Stavers, cos I’m laughing so loud at you.
Why should I admit im wrong when im not?
My point is simple, yet you try and complicate it.
If we are playing with two defensive midfielders in Cabaye and Tiote, who is our Central Midfielder?
That’s a strange proposition.
I pose the question to all;
Leave him be, solarnostrumpet, you’re only encouraging him.
I will try and simplify it cos you are struggling .
The point of the debate was whether Cabaye was doing enough creatively.
For me, of the two CM we have, he is the more creative of the two.
That leaves Tiote to sit back and cover.
I will not and never accept that we set out to play with two defensive midfielders and for neither to get involved in supporting the strikers.
I watch every game and see minimal amounts of creativity from Cabaye and rarely do I see him cause problems in the opposition box.
You’re are right in that I can’t realistically compare him to Silva cos Silva plays a more advanced role. Saying that, Scott Parker plays a more advanced role than Cabaye.
Troy, to be honest, I always thought Silva was a left winger. But then again I thought Barbara Windsor was a village – what do I know
Hows my good friend Vegas?
Silva rarely plays as an out an out winger for Man City.
He’s literally all over the park supporting the forwards and joining in attacks.
@Rodz
I had a right carry on to watch a film with Babs Windsor in the other day on my lap top.
Troy@65 I’d agree he’s all over the park, but they bought him as a left winger. I’d still say he was a left winger, he just gets a lot more freedom to roam midfield as a playmaker at City this season because he’s so skillful. That’s my opinion anyway, I can’t be arsed getting embroiled in an argument. I’m off noo anyway, just popped in to check you all hadn’t choked on yer sick. Neet neet…….
…you certainly struck a chord on Solano’s Trumpet there Troy anyway
neetneet
pardew has done well as a manager i feel,as for simmo he has done ok for us just cant think why the plums are giving him stick on twitter(come of these bustbin sites footballers!!!!!when will they learn)
any one else think we will get the best out of cabaye with 4 3 3, playin tiote guthrie and cabaye, Agree with troy tend to think silva plays as an attack mid but he has a tendency to drift wide as well as drift every were else. Dnt think cabaye is a def mid though just a deep lying play maker, would love to see him get forward more tho and playing 433 would allow this.
to be fair thats a bit harsh on simmo, not having a regular right wing partner must be a bit galling, remember last season where he was saying to barton – ‘lets look after our side’ simmo aint a world beater but he cost fvck all, gets reasonably cheap wages and we still slag him off
people on here need to get a reality check bizarrely – we are no man city, manure, ares, chelsk. bin dippers and need to get value out of our players which we’ve done beyond expectations thus far
troy – still agree about cabaye, he should def get forward more often, is it him or pards tactics …. who knows
anyway …. bedtime
)
might all ( in waltons style
I think 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-2-1 would be better than our current 4-4-2, Alex.
Chiefly because none of the team appear to be able to create anything from the wings in 4-4-2, which means we are wasting not only the 2 players on the wings but also restricting the performance of our two star strikers by being unable to supply them properly.
Maybe Pardew will come up with some inspirational plan to make our midfiels creative in 4-4-2, who knows?
I’m with most on here in wanting us to move past the rigid 442 that Pardew insists on playing. Now with Cisse, we really could be a huge threat playing 433 with HBA as one of the attacking wingers and Jonas or Guthrie completing the midfield 3.
I would just love to see that tried out once before this season ends
excellent stuff as always Mr Stats.
One thing though – you’ve got Ba down as 0% crossing accuracy…. our opener against Fulham at home, i seem to remember Ba supplying a driven cross to Best’s feet, who then turned nicely and scored. Would that not count as an ‘accurate cross’?
M,
As that’s the only accurate cross he has produced, the percentage is such a small decimal, that rounding it causes it to decrease to 0.
@Alex
Some players who play in these new fangled formations get labelled wingers aren’t actually wingers but they haven’t thought of a new label for them.
The only time they use the wing is at kick off at the start of each half.
Silva lives in the middle of the park, granted in a more advanced role than a traditional CM like Cabaye should be playing.
But that should not stop a traditional CM getting involved in attacks and actually getting in the opposition box.
That is the role of a traditional CM. box to box.
I will not bring the subject up again unless someone replies to my post as I appreciate some will think the subject has been done to death.
« Colo – “Of course, I want to stay.” | Tactic talk: Is the 4-4-2 past its use by date for NUFC? »