However in these last few games things have changed and we’re now starting to see a different approach in how we play the game.
Against West Brom we played the best attacking football I’ve seen in a long long time, and against Liverpool we pretty much blew them away after a shaky start. It’s early days, but I’m liking what I’m seeing from the players in the run in.
Of course this change in style of play coincides with a change in formation from the more conventional 4-4-2 to a more advanced 4-3-3, which is great as it gives us the opportunity to play our strongest attackers in positions they can cause damage in, with some entertaining results!
I’m not saying that we’ll ever replicate what the previous entertainers managed, but speaking personally what we’ve seen in these last few weeks has been infinitely more enjoyable to watch than, well, anything we’ve seen in the last few years.
We have an attacking trio who on their day can cause anyone problems, behind them we have a hard working trio who will help support bot attack and defence, with players who have qualities to do both, plus we have a solid back four, even at the moment with Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini out injured, plus a fantastic young international goalkeeper to fall back on.
In short we have good players all over the park, exciting players no less, and it’s only now we are starting to see the type of football many people believed they would be capable of producing based on their reputation prior to joining us.
When you look deeper there are similarities between some of the players of then and now also. Hatem Ben Afa and David Ginola for example, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, Yohan Cabaye with Rob Lee, Cheik Tiote with David Batty, even Philipe Albert and Fabricio Coloccini. They may not be identical matches or be a prolific, but they give us some kind of similarity between then and now.
So what do you reckon? The new entertainers?
P.S – Thanks to Raffo for the inspiration for this. I think I’ve just about covered all of his points.
i know its the age old argument – but instead of ‘entertainers’ – i wish we could have a side that WON something. Any thing really – Liverpools carling cup is derided – but imagine us winning that – Pardew would be lifted to god status
tattyheed(Quote)
They always entertain me, some games more than others.
I thought Chelsea were poor last night, we should be able to get a win against them.
Toonale(Quote)
last three games,is certainly the best ive seen, since sir bobby was here.long may it continue
mg man(Quote)
May have said this before KKs entertainers started with the selling of Andy Cole.Could this be Pardews with the selling of Andy Carroll? 😀
nutmag(Quote)
We’ve not really gone through a period where I’ve actually disliked watching us with fat sam, we’ve basically played the football to match most other teams bar Arsenal and Spurs I’d say. Swansea’s passing is impressive but for me they’ve been too defensive this season and their goals aren’t even that great.
Now however we’re scything through teams defenses and that really is great to watch, as well as knowing that in Benny, Cisse and Ba a goal can come from anywhere.
Newkie(Quote)
weird… i was thinking the exact ‘entertainers’ thing on sunday night… 😯
Nobby(Quote)
The entertainers cycle.
1 The fellowsip of the KK;
2 The two towers (robson & shearer)
3 The return of the king (failedl)
4 The apocalypse of the dembas
premandup(Quote)
OK so it’s poor, but lets see some better ones.
premandup(Quote)
The new formation suits the players and long may it continue, we are no longer being overrun in midfield and exposed at the back and devastating on the break.
I can see Pardew leaving Gosling in as the spoiling midfielder if Guthrie doesnt make it and Tavernier in at centre half in place of Perch.
Robert(Quote)
There’s a few question marks for the lineup tomorrow, especially if Perch is out. We could see Jonas play at LB or in midfield, and with any of Tavernier, Santon ferguson, Abeid, Raylor, or Gosling to come in at the start!
Pardew has decisions to make, that’s for sure
AndrewT(Quote)
Premandup
Newkie(Quote)
Toonsy ,nice article and good question . All I know is I was pretty **** well entertained on sunday 😆
Toonsy -Any sign of tiny toonsy makeing an appearence yet ?
kimtoon(Quote)
KIMTOON – If the young un takes after it’s dad there’ll be no ‘Tiny’ about it!
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79@13- 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
A solid back four, what planet have you just arrived from.?
You call the makeshift back four we managed to put to-gether against L’Pool. solid.
As for the 4-3-3
I really have my doubts it was Pardews idea, more likely Carver.
Look HBA has been kept on the bench for most of the season, it’s only when Raylor and Obertan got injured he was forced to start him.
We all know Pardew wants a seven man defensive unit out there and to insert a guy who has flair and technique, is totally against his game plan.
So I find it hard to believe he has suddenly become a manager like say Rodgers, who plays a modern version of football.
On the other hand he will certainly take credit for any kind of success.
Face it HBA did’nt play for the French side or be rated @ fifteen million,
because some idiot did’nt know what he had, same as at his time W/Ham., where he sat Marscherano and Tevez.
Well hopefully we can expect more of what we saw last Sunday, entertaining attacking football, but i believe he will be afraid of the Swansea attacking style and put out a 4-5-1 or his usual defensive version of a 4-4-2.
Ah well !
chuck(Quote)
chuck
April 5, 2012 at 16:03
“A solid back four, what planet have you just arrived from.?
You call the makeshift back four we managed to put to-gether against L’Pool. solid.”
Well yes, pretty much. How often was our goal really threatened on Sunday? On the broader scale, how many clean sheets have we kept this season? Quite a lot I venture to say… To me that says we have a pretty solid defence. If we could have defended like we do know under Keegan back in 1995 and 1996 we’d have actually won something.
toonsy(Quote)
Kim – Nope. Just been to the midwife and there has been no change so still waiting and seeing.
However there is a definite date now which will be the 15th if nothing happens in the meantime 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
hopefully tavernier at rb simmo and willo cb santon lb canny defence that. 😀
stevo(Quote)
Toonsy@17- Must be a lad ,their always late 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
How do people feel about young Fergie getting a go in defence. 😕
kimtoon(Quote)
Chuck – HBA has been recovering from a broken leg most of this season you fanny.
EvilFranky(Quote)
Oh and a knackered ankle from pre-season!
EvilFranky(Quote)
Probably going it alone here but in answer to the question – No, they are not the new “entertainers”. They are a completely different group of players and we should not be delving back into our history to compare the 2 groups of players.
The “entertainers” did it for consecutive seasons not just 3 games. They were everyone’s 2nd team and were known around the world for the style of football they played. The team we have now has played good football for only 3 games, and are along way off being anything like the “entertainers”. They have lots of potential and if improved and added to in the summer, could go on to give NUFC fans everywhere some really enjoyable and exciting seasons but I dont every think well see a team like Keegans boys again.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pardew’s fault when it goes wrong, Carver’s praise when it goes right apparently……mmmm, as clueless as ever chuck 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIE@24 funny like,you seem to call it right when it matters 😉
icedog(Quote)
Im defo with Richie on this one…chuck is as clueless as they come 🙄
witters(Quote)
Richie its not often your right but in this case you are 😆
Don’t be to hard on him lads he has to say things like that to stay in wanky’s good books, as he doesn’t want wanky to start picking on him again like he used to 😆 before most of the decent bloggers jumped ship 😀 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
According to the Daily mirror we are signing Jacob Butterfield in a shock 2m move.He’s a free agent in the summer after refusing to sign a new deal and Toon will have to stump up the cash due to his age 21. He tore his anterior ligament at the start of the year and last night sources close to him comfirmed he will be heading to tyneside to have a medical and discuss terms. Ithought we needed defenders more than a new MF. Anyway ,how true this is ,is anyones guess,just thought I would mention it .
kimtoon(Quote)
😉
richietoon(Quote)
We will win something with this team and the foundations being laid in Toon.
It’s only a matter of time and it’s the right Newcastle way. IE Entertaining.
Whoarya(Quote)