The result leaves us with just one win from our last seven games and surely now questions have to be asked about a number of things.
Firstly the manager needs to take a fair portion of the blame. The tactics have been woeful and our displays are disappointing so the reason for that needs to be found and addressed so things can improve. Speculation is mounting that the manager has pandered to Demba Ba wanting to play as a striker, but to be fair it’s a bloody good job he is as otherwise we’d have nobody scoring goals.
The players also need to take a portion of the blame. Whilst I have no doubt that some of them have limitations and are following tactical instructions by lumping the ball up field, it still doesn’t change the fact that most of them are struggling to pass to a man unmarked merely five yards away. Quite a few times yesterday we saw our own team giving each other “hospital balls” with Cheik Tiote, Mike Williamson and Davide Santon the most guilty.
Finally those upstairs in our boardroom need to understand that a lot of this has been born from their action, or lack of it, in the summer. Injuries and suspension are hitting us hard at the moment, with four of our “purple” players out of the starting side through injury or suspension yesterday. We just don’t have the squad to cope with that which is shocking considering our participation in the Europa League.
As a result of enforced absentees Sammy Ameobi was drafted in to play around Demba Ba up front with Shane Ferguson placed on the left filling in for Jonas Gutierrez. Cheik Tiote returned in midfield replacing the injured Yohan Cabaye whilst mike Williamson continued to fill in for the absent Fabricio Coloccini.
You would have thought that the home side would have been keen to put the disappointment of the previous week behind them, but the performance seemed to suggest otherwise. A lack of urgency and what looks to be a crisis of confidence appears to be affecting the players and all they could manage in the first period was a few potshots from Hatem Ben Arfa and a glanced header from Demba Ba.
Half-time: Newcastle 0-0 Swansea
The second half started much better however. On cam Shola Ameobi to pair up front with Demba Ba, off went Shane Ferguson in a move that saw the younger Ameobi moved out to the left wing. In fairness I don’t think it was anything the Northern Ireland international did wrong, it was just the fact that Demba Ba looked isolated up front and was, in truth, easily dealt with by the Swansea defence had made light work of having just one striker to mark.
A flurry of chances soon followed and although Swansea threatened on the break at that moment in time I thought to myself that if one team was going to take the lead then it would have been us.
That train of thought hit the buffers just before the hour mark though as Tim Krul spooned a clearance straight to Pablo Hernandez who surged forward and crossed for Miguel Michu to powerfully head home and gie the visitors the lead.
From then on I had that sinking feeling. Far from inspiring us the goal seemed to knock us for six and mistakes in our game started appearing. I’m talking simple mistakes, like the mix up between Steven Taylor and Tim Krul that gave away a needless corner and the short back pass that very nearly cost us from Mike Williamson.
Swansea wrapped the points up with three minutes remaining. A quick ball saw Danny Graham released although Tim Krul was equal to his attempt on goal and parried the ball away. Unfortunately Jonathan de Guzman was first too the rebound and smashed the ball past Krul giving his compatriot no chance.
Newcastle did manage to find the net in stoppage time after some good work from Hatem Ben Arfa on the left set up a shot for Sylain Marveaux which thumped off the bar before Demba Ba could stick his head on it and guide into the Gallowgate net, but it was too little too late and the goal was barely celebrated by anybody either on or off the field.
Full-time: Newcastle 1-2 Swansea
A disappointing result with another disappointing performance to go with it. I won;t go on too much. We all have our own opinions on what is going wrong but whatever it is it needs sorting sooner rather than later, and with a trip to Southampton next up in the league things are suddenly starting to look tougher than they should be.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, Davide Santon; Hatem Ben Arfa, Vurnon Anita, Cheik Tiote, Shane Ferguson; Sammy Ameobi, Demba Ba
Subs: Rob Elliot, James Tavernier, Mehdi Abeid, Gael Bigirimana, Sylvain Marveaux, Romain Amalfitano, Shola Ameobi
Swansea: Gerhard Tremmel; Angel Rangel, Ashley Williams, Garry Monk, Ben Davies; Leon Britton, Jonathan de Guzman, Pablo Hernandez; Michu, Itay Schechter, Nathan Dyer
Subs: David Cornell, Chico Flores, Dwight Tiendelli, Kenny Agustien, Danny Graham, Luke Moore, Danny Graham
Attendance: 49,403
Brisvegas,
Both…
When the team pushes up, everyone is up occupying the same positions and standing static. The team then loses the ball because the lack of movement makes it easy despite the numbers for the opposition to corner the player with the ball who then tries a miracle ball and loses it, leaving everyone out of position.
When they defend they defend in numbers but again don’t show any energy or understanding of who is supposed to mark who. Even if we win the ball back, they again are static or panic because everyone is back but nobody is in a position to attack or making a run into space so they hoof it long with absolutely no accuracy. Either that or they ignore the odd runner who is looking for the ball because they don’t trust their own ability to play a good enough pass along the ground the the players feet.
A combination of bad coaching and one or two players who just aren’t cut out for a team supposedly pushing consistantly for a top six position.
JJ(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
Uh oh. Begas is going to refer to his coaching manuals as he so often does 😛
He’s a little gem wor Begas. 🙄
Begas, every point above made by every poster is relevant and to the point (bar yours of course).
What is wrong with pointing out the obvious or is it only professional managers that are always in the right ?
Has it ever occurred to you that managers get the sack continuously for being *****? 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
I’ve said since Cabaye arrived that we have a midfield that doesn’t support it’s forward line.
Every team needs a Brian Robson, Frank Lampard, Kevin Nolan etc.
Albeit, to cover there foraging raids on the opposition box, you equally need an excellent covering midfielder, like Roy Keane, Essien, viera.
I got slated two years ago for writing an article on the issue but I wonder how many of the dreamboat lovers will still defend the system we play. 🙄
Troy Stavers(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
* their*
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I think the club should invest in a program that creates a committee of fans to oversee the tactics of the club. We’d be unbeatable.
brisvegas(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
Begas
If there is a point you disagree with then go right ahead. We are all waiting for your pearls of wisdom. 😛
Hold on, I’ll just get my popcorn and chilli dips and a comfy seat. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
What more can I say, Troy? We all know better than Pardew. We have a much better perspective of what is going on at the club and we have a far superior knowledge of the game. Why isn’t anybody at the club taking notice? Fecking board. A bunch of no-hopers!
brisvegas(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
I’ve sussed it!!!! 😯
Begas is a coach out of work for being *****. 😛
He’s fizzin! 😛 seething! 😛
“THEY ARE CLUELESS! IT’S DIFFICULT BEING A COACH. I JUST NEEDED ONE MORE SEASON TO PROVE I COULD WIN A GAME!
THE FANS GOT ME SACKED ! I HATE THE FANS! THEY KNOW NOTHING!”
Begas out! 😛 Begas out! 😛 Begas out! 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
i cant beleive oba was booed …shocking…..!the fans are just booing themselves and the club! its bad enough blog sites slagging the players with negetivity!!!! fans …my bottom!!!
stevo(Quote)
Troy,
I’ve always completely agreed with you that Cabaye doesn’t get forward. But you can’t slate the player for playing the style he always has. You blame the manager for playing two defensive midfielders.
He may be a different type of defensive midfielder because he is tenacious rather than physical and he plays slightly more advanced than an anchor man, but in no way has he ever been or will ever be the attacking dynamic midfielder that some want him to be.
It doesn’t mean he isn’t a very good player though.
He’d be ideally suited to playing alongside Tiote in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ben Arfa ahead of them in the centre of the park pulling the creative strings.
Ideally however, you would have three quality attacking midfielders behind the sole striker who can all interchange positions to confuse defences.
Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Lampard, Sturridge
Rooney, Nani, Valencia, Welbeck , Van Persie
Podolski, Rosicky, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Gervinho, Oxlaid-Chamberlain
Silva, Nasri, Milner, Aquero, Balottelli
Lennon, Bale, Dembele, Sigurudson, Dempsey
All of these players could comfortable play in those attacking midfield positions and consistantly score or assist.
Who do we have that could consistantly score or assist in an attacking midfield position?
Ben Arfa? Thats it!! Scary isn’t it…
JJ(Quote)
Begas over and out 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
We might as well go home boys. Pards knows best. He’s there on the side lines.
I sometimes wonder why there is such things as blogs. What’s the point. It should be a transcript of Pardews views. We all listen and learn. 🙄
Come on Begas. Which points do you disagree with? My tongue is burning from these chilli dips! 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
IF THE FANS ARE ALL EXPERTS WHY ARNT THEY ALL FOOTBALL MANAGERS? errmmm you guessed it ,the are all full of what makes the grass grow in texas! morons!
stevo(Quote)
Stevo,
The most negative thing about this season has been the tactics, the attitude of some players and the overall performance levels of the team.
JJ(Quote)
Stevo,
You are entitled to your opinion. Even if it is a stupid one. 😀
But just because someone has made it so far in their career, doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes, or fail at what they should be achieving.
Football management is no ordinary career. Otherwise you wouldn’t have jobs changing every few months.
Fans will praise managers when they are doing well. But when they are **** poor, we have a right to express our opinions. It doesn’t make us bad supporters, it makes us passionate supporters.
JJ(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
Stevo
I’m not suggesting for one minute that fans know everything. But I dare bet a select few who have never been professionals if given the opportunity, like Morinho could do a better job than most.
Ex footballers have almost the only route into management. I’m still waiting to hear a response from Begas. Maybe you could help him Stevo.
You seem to be reading from the same coaching manual as Begas. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I think people love to over react with things. I am no different so im not going to get on my high horse preeching to people, but I do think we over achieved last season and we are under achieving this season. I think we are a top 8 side and with a bit of luck we can get into top 6 and if we are unlucky we could finish outside top 10. Simples
Johno Toon(Quote)
Not sure what your problem is, Troy. I’m agreeing. Pardew has it wrong and the fans are much more tactically aware.
brisvegas(Quote)
I’m sure any one of a number of people from this site could take the team to premiership glory, after all, they’ve all done their apprenticeship on the many manager simulations around the traps these days.
brisvegas(Quote)
Johno Toon
Quite right. But its not really the results that upset me. Its the performances. They have been beyond pathetic against average oppotition. We have been very lucky to draw and win when we have this season, and can you tell me on one occasion where we have been unlucky to lose?
JJ(Quote)
And some, like your good self, Troy, have become experts in running a football team after many hours of hard watching the game.
Those sorts of things need to be acknowledged. But Pardew is ignoring us. And the board are doing nothing. Fecking morons!
brisvegas(Quote)
Troy, with what can only be described an article, you were absolutely correct and I agree with 90% of your analysis. Pardew does my head in. He talks rubbish and then says trust me as if saying that will make rubbish sound good.
My principle beef is over formation and tactics. Swansea, West Ham, West Brom even Norwich play much better football than us, create more chances and generally make us look stupid. Do they have better players than us. No.
We spend our whole game trying to work it down the wings. The midfielders all pass it that way. By the time we get to a crossing position the opposition have all their midfielders back and even a good cross comes to nothing. That’s our tactics and we do it again and again despite having wingers who can’t beat a man or cross. HBA is the obvious exception.
georgio(Quote)
JJ , cant but agree with you about the performances , they have been poor, off top of my head I cant think of any where we can say we were unlucky. But we have been unlucky in terms of players form. I dont think many could of said at start of the season Cisse would of gone on such a barren run. Maybe if he had continued his goal scoring form from last season we would have a few more points on the board. Playing devils advocate for a moment if Cisse had even 6 more goals this season where would we be in the league then?
But that does highlight our lack of depth upfront where we are over dependant on our starting 11 to perform week in week out. Was never going to happen.
Johno Toon(Quote)
Brisvegas,
I challenge you to point out anyone who has stated they could manage a football club?
Managing a football club and pointing out obvious glaring weaknesses are two very different things.
Are we not entitled to discuss these weaknesses given that this specific blog is set up for that very reason?
Do you not feel there are the same obvious tactical errors being made week after week?
I remember when Kevin Keegan came back and fans were all over saying we should use a 4-3-3 system instead of the 4-4-2.
Keegan insisted on the 4-4-2 initially and got nothing out of it.
Yet after seven games, he did what was being called for and went offensive with three forwards. We went on a run that saved our season.
Sometimes fans like us just see the obvious and are willing to say do it, because the managers know that if they try and it fails it would only put more pressure on them. They they ignore the obvious.
Its under pressure situations like these that managers need the balls to see there “plans” are failing and they need to change.
Their pride becomes their biggest enemy and they persist on a failing recipe to “prove of point”.
If they don’t it usually ends up with them continueing to fail and getting the sack a few months down the line.
Time for Pard’s to grow some balls and swallow some pride to see his system isn’t working.
JJ(Quote)
While I’m at it – we have a lot of **** players. Simmo (head gone anyway) Willo ( I’d bet 50% of the posters on here have better ball control and passing skills – he’s an embarrassment to his profession), Raylor, Obertan, Sammy (may get better but i doubt it). No other PL club would want these players even on a free. Marv still has a lot to prove so does Anita. When we have a team with 4-5 of them in it we lose.
georgio(Quote)
Johno Toon
If Cisse had only six more goals this season he would have the best conversion rate from clear cut chances of any striker in the league by miles.
I saw a stat last week that said Cisse had only 11 chances created for him this season in the league. Although I agree he has been out of form. I think the fact that so so many players are so badly out of form is down to the fact that we are playing a system that clearly doesn’t suit them.
JJ(Quote)
I’m sorry, has the language changed since I was last on here? I know some on here say the same thing over and over and over, now I know why – it seems it is hard for some to read words. So, once again, I’ll say it: I agree that we are ***** and something needs to done.
And I think the views of the fans should be listened to.
brisvegas(Quote)
Really JJ? I didnt see that stat , that is amazing. You would think that after the scoring form he showed last season , we would just create chance after chance for him?
I do agree we need to change something , I would stick benny in the middle behind a striker , think he d be more effective creating chances and scoring himself
Johno Toon(Quote)
… because nobody knows more than a Newcastle United fan. 😆 😆 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
Johno you say not many could have seen Cisse going on a barron run ? So its bad luck ?
Do you maybe think that the fact he scored so much last season through the middle only to be told before the first ball of the season was kicked that he would have to make way for Ba because Ba wasn’t happy could maybe have owt to do with it ?
Aas im sure it didn’t do much for his moral or confidence ?
But maybe im wrong and it didn’t effect him
Big Dave(Quote)
Bris @ 179 other than my wife , that ***** knows everything 😆
Johno Toon(Quote)
Johno: and every teenager I’ve ever met.
brisvegas(Quote)
@178
Ye, I also think Benny needs to be behind the striker.
With the players we currently have at our disposal I’d like to see:
________________________Ba/Cisse____________________________
______Marvaeux___________Ben Arfa____________Obertan_________
If Vuckic had developed like I’d hoped he would I would have Ben Arfa on the left and Vuckic in the middle. Unfortunately he hasn’t. And in the January window I’d be looking for someone of more quality to play on the right. Loic Remy has been mentioned and would be a good buy.
JJ(Quote)
I dunno Dave , I know its something you have brought it up before and you have been critical over Pards handling of it and I agree with you to a point, Pards should pick the best 11 and get a formation/system to suit the players. But I think Pardew wanted to play Cisse n Ba through the middle together and maybe pardew feels Bas best postion in through the middle. And in fairness to Ba he has scored goals this season. And its Pards job to make those decisions and manage the players to keep them happy and on side. I do think he has got it wrong with playing Ba n Cisse up front togther
Johno Toon(Quote)
Well we’re allowed opinions and my opinion is that the coaching side isn’t doing their job properly
There’s many a manager who came up through the footballer ranks and failed completely, the problem is that a lot of them are just a bit thick and don’t realise that the days of just get stuck in and 4-4-2 are long gone.
Pards and co seem to have stuck a heart monitor on the players and said yeah we’re advanced so no need to practice tactics / set pieces or in fact anything that might make us a better team
stevep(Quote)
I’m assuming people who have ago at “bloggers” for expressing their opinions about the team, tactics, manager, board etc etc when things are going bad also had ago at the same “bloggers” when things were going well and their opinions praise much of the aforementioned?…..No? then maybe a football blog isn’t the place for you if you only want to hear “positive” things, morons! 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Apparently we are struggling because we have been without Raylor.
Groucho(Quote)
You may get into trouble, “struggling” isn’t a positive word….mind,neither is Raylor for that matter 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
I see Begas is still hiding behind his charade. 😛
Well, let me tell you Begas!!!!! You are wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😡 I’m seething with you!!!!!!! 😈
Everything is hunky dory in Pardews plot! It’s wonderful. You are agreeing with the thick fans who dare question Pardews tactics!!!!! 😈
Pardew has it perfect! He did at West Ham! He did at Palace! He did at Southampton! The fans were wrong there as well ! 😈
Stop having a go at Pardew ! 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
For me. Jonas is one of our biggest problems now he’s transformed into an overweight defensive winger. I love his attitude, professionalism and heart but his playing days as a winger are long gone.
Solano never had pace but he had timing and was a sweet crosser of the ball. Unfortunately Jonas can’t adapt his game.
He either needs to transform into a defensive midfielder or fullback or do stand ins for Peter Parker. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
Of course if Pardew doesn’t agree then what I’ve said is absolute rubbish. You ok Begas? 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Richie your spot on what pisses me off are the bloggers that come on here to have a go at others for expressing their opinions because it’s different to theirs, yet they normally don’t add much to the blog except for smart *** snide remarks the morons 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
@BD
To be fair to Begas and Stevo, I did hear them shouting on the backbenches ” I REFER THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN TO THE ANSWER THAT PARDEW GAVE BEFORE” 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
Please Begas, help is out here please. We are all clutching at straws as we are lost why we aren’t performing as well as last season. This time last year we were in 4th position and did not have Cisse.
Where do you think it’s going wrong or is it not? 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Dave @192
I don’t think its nessessary to blatantly and openly attack Richie on his lack contribution to the blog. 😉
JJ(Quote)
Dave @180,Got to agree with you mate,I think that little public promise to Ba has a lot to answer for .And those stats that only 11 chances created for him this season is really damning too 😯 . Part of me thinks we need to let Ba go in Jan to set Cisse free again.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dave…exactly 😉
JJ…**** off, moron 🙄 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Re that large post from Troy, I still don’t see the obsession with putting Santon to right back, because he’s right footed.
Yes, well done, he is! People talk about it as if we put him on the right and he’ll instantly have all the same attributes but also be able to pass and cross.
Erm, no? The whole point he is good at steaming past the opposition and cutting in is because he’s using his right foot out on the left…
Now I agree, he doesn’t create any natural width out on the left, but surely we should play him where he prefers and try and exploit what he is good at, rather than forcing him into a crossing style that does not suit him? For me, we haven’t seen enough of him on the right to make a true judgement, but from what I have seen he seems to do what Simmo does-hang around just over the halfway line once he gets there, and maybe wait for a pass back so he can in turn pass back. He doesn’t look comfortable running at a defence from there…but maybe he just needs to get used to it?
Newkie(Quote)
JJ yeah your right it was nasty of me to pick on wor Richie as it is Mon after all
Big Dave(Quote)
I mean why did he feel he had to pubicly anounce that little snippet about Ba 😕 really what purpose did it fill ,he hasn’t made public assurances to other playing staff , actually in the case of Benny he publicly said he has more work defensivly to do to cement a regular place in the team.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim-He may well have said it because some fans wanted to hear it. I was surprised when he said it, but after mulling it over I assumed he meant we would be playing a 4-3-1-2 (or some such formation) where both the lads would be up front and we’d be playing to feet, with a stronger insistence on through balls rather than long balls and crosses. It got me excited. I gave the management time at the start of the season because I could see a number of reasons why implementing a new system may have been delayed, but I can’t really see any attempt to even try it.
That definitely disappoints me. If we start up the same when Colo returns then I’m definitely going to be left wandering what the **** we’ve been doing on the training pitch.
Newkie(Quote)
Kim @196
Agree, despite their form for some reason I’d prefer Cisse to Ba. 😯
JJ(Quote)
Ritchie – sorry mate I was at graft on Saturday and not able to follow the thread. I was just reading the paper on a break at work last night to see what the press thought of us, and saw all of those stats :shock:. The rest of the world will probably look at those and think we were unlucky or whatever – and I’m sure Pardew would be happy to use them to his favour.
I agree with you re Pardews contract as well, if the board write the clause into Bas’ contract, I’d be amazed if they haven’t written a compo clause into Pards.
I also agree with most of Troys marathon posting. I simply can’t get my head around why, having found a formation that worked so well in 4-3-3, why he would change that?!. I mean that was some of the best football I’d seen us play since the ‘Entertainers’ days – and we were winning games comfortably as well. I know a lot of people say its all about keeping Ba happy, but there has to be more than that?! Surely he wouldn’t stick with this just for the sake of one player, coz there must be more than one banging on his door complaining about how things are now.
That corners stat is just outragous isn’t it!!!! 😯 . How on earth can a team be so toothless from set pieces!
Off topic – I see Martins was on the score sheet again this weekend :roll:. I honestly think we didn’t have our eye on free transfer options
Sharpy17(Quote)
One of the biggest problems we have is with two through the middle. They’re not the brightest anyway and good ball control is beyond them. So the midfielders play to the wings and everything grinds to a halt.
Despite everything I’ve said it was a better performance than last week and we missed 2-4 really good chances. If one had gone in ( Ba had 2 great chances) we’d have probably won.
The gloom descends.
georgio(Quote)
Yeah, we did have a couple of chances where on current form I would have expected Ba to score from..
I’ve been banging on about the set pieces for ages now, not surprised at all by those stats.
Newkie(Quote)
JJ ,I like Ba but I prefer Cisse attitude .He is always playing with a smile on his face and from what I have read he’s a decent human being too. I have seen elements of petulance from Ba and out of order actions from both him ,his brother and agents this season and it irritates the hell out of me as I feel it’s distractions the club don’t need at the mo. Cisse has been a model pro ,takeing it on the chin about the Ba promise with no obvious signs of petulance yet he must be dismayed by Pards remarks in the summer about Ba’s playing position given the form both were in at the back end of last season.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim the only benefit I can see in it was to convince Ba to stay . I really can’t see him saying to please the fans because I never heard many fans call for it 😕 so what would be the point ?
As for formations why did he not say that he would be playing the 2 up top , but he didn’t he just choose to publicily announce that Ba would ne playing in the middle.
We know Ba wasn’t too happy about playing where he was asked to play. And we know his clause was in force so by looking at all that I would say that Pards publicily stated it to keep Ba on side.
Big Dave(Quote)
Kim – I wish he played with alittle bit more fire in his belly, or if its there he showed it abit more. I don’t want to see him shouting and swearing or throwing his hands all over the place, but sometimes it would be nice to see that his form is pissing him off as well.
I’d say big Al was a model pro, but also played with a bit of an arrogance, I’d like to see that a bit from Cisse.
Sharpy17(Quote)
BIG DAVE
November 19, 2012 at 15:50
Kim the only benefit I can see in it was to convince Ba to stay . I really can’t see him saying to please the fans because I never heard many fans call for it so what would be the point ?
Dave-for fans like myself who rate Ba as a striker, but think he is fairly wasted out on the left the prospect of them both lining up together looked good. Maybe I’m alone in that though?
Newkie(Quote)
Sharpy ,Aye I get that but I don’t think it’s in his nature,he strikes me as a gentle guy tbh but having said that he’s pretty pissed at the Senagalise FA at the mo. 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Interesting Pards is hitting back saying we were playing 4-3-3 at Swansea. To be honest, I missed so much of the first half I don’t really know what we played, looked like 4-4-1-1 to me.
I do feel for him in a way in that we have played 4-3-3 in the league this season, and we’ve still been absolutely gash…
Newkie(Quote)
Kim – I agree, and think that’s his downfall at the mo. After last season he now finds himself in a position where he can establish himself as one of the best strikers in the league, or another one hit wonder – and I certainly think he’s better than that like.
Newkie – See my opinion on Ba is that he’s that good a player he could have made that left position work. I know he went through a drought at the end of last season, but he was getting into positions and missing chances – he wasn’t wasted, just wasteful. He worked hard for the team I honestly believed had he started scoring in that formation the goals would have kept flowing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newkie would he not have said that he was going to play them both , rather than making a statment solely about playing Ba in the middle for 90% of the games.
IMO that is clearly stating that for 90% of the games Ba will be playing in the middle taking center stage, I really can’t see anything else in that lone statment 🙁
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy-I know what you mean, Ba wasn’t that bad out on the left and obviously it was great to have a late runner into the box as that’s something we definitely miss now.
Thing is though, while he’s a good match in strength and pace for CBs I thought he had trouble beating full backs and truly creating chances of his own-it wasn’t so much of a problem as Benny was on sh*t hot form and was beating players and serving up chances left right and centre. He seems naturally better down the middle-in fact, he drops deep into midfield often enough anyway to add an extra man and spark attacks, which is why I thought maybe both him and Benny would play behind Cisse, Benny free to wander wherever he liked, Ba free to come back and add an extra man and find the space that Cisse would create by playing on the shoulder.
That would still have meant Ba playing in the middle, just not the spearhead of the attack….no signs of that happening either.
Dave-Wasn’t he asked a question about Demba Ba though? Why would he need to bring Cisse into the conversation? To me, back then, the statement was very vague. I think I suggested a change of formation, or the fact that Cisse/Ba would be rotated (with Cisse obviously starting the bulk of matches) which I thought was a little strange.
Newkie(Quote)
Or of course that we’d be bringing in another striker to compete with those two…But clearly that was never going to happen 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie yeah he was asked about Demba and his clause etc etc .
“Demba wants to play in a central role.” “He wants to get himself chances to score goals.” “And I think that in 90% of the games next year that’s where he will play.”
now I might be a wee bit paranoid but to me thats pretty clear what Pards is saying 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Just wanted to discuss the Cabaye situation a bit. It seems he might be out for 2 months. Although he hasn’t been at his best this season this is a huge loss for us. It will reveal the weakness we now have in midfield. Bigi is not yet ready for the Prem as a starter, we continue to see nothing of Abeid, Gosling hasn’t improved because he is repeatedly injured, Vuckic is out for the season, Jonas has become a defensive midfielder at best, leaving Tiote to do everything (if he can avoid injuries and suspensions). We have been badly exposed by a few injuries and suspensions. Not good enough. This season will be a hard rap on the knuckles for Ashley and Llambias (hopefully). We will be hard pressed to stay mid-table which won’t please the owner at all but is a huge reality check. Open your eyes Ashley.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Dave-Paranoid? You thought Pards meant to use Ba to replace Cisse from the start? I don’t get what you mean mate
Newkie(Quote)
Pardew is trying to claim we played 4-3-3 against Swansea. It didn’t look that way to me. It had the smell of the never ending 4-4-2 with Sammy out on the wing for the most part. I think Pardew is getting a bit desperate now with all the difficult games in December coming up and a very weak and under-performing side. Mainly Llambias should take the blame for this although Pardew’s tactics have been disappointing to say the least. Of course all we needed for a successful season was our purple players and a few fill-ins which we already had according to Dekka. No wonder we didn’t spend anything and now we’re right where we deserve to be based on our play so far.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Newkie to me that means the end of the 4 3 3 that done us so well last season, and imo 4 4 2 with Cisse and Ba doesn’t work because they are both the same and get in eachothers way.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave-Ah right, I get you. Yeah I know what you mean, I worried about that but after thinking about it I thought it would mean Benny behind those two, so essentially 4-3-3 but with both of them more central. I could understand that..
But obviously now it seems to have just meant 4-4-2…. 😕
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – if he was playing 4-3-3 against Swansea he must have kept it a secret coz even MOTD showed the formation 4-4-1-1. Again tho mate, I think that’s part of the problem, I’m not sure the players know what formation he wants them in?!. I wonder if he’s trying to over complicate it, asking them to do one thing with the ball and something else without it or something like that.
Regarding Ba – I don’t think he was ever playing that wide that he was one on one with fullbacks, he tended to be on the shoulder of the CB causing a problem with the CB and FB as to who should pick him up. If Santon was bombing forward too it caused huge problems.
If I was Pardew I would absolutely go back to 4-3-3 with Ba/Cisse/Benny as stick with it for a few games. We have a squad of players who could operate so much better in that formation should we have injuries or suspension.
I really don’t see what he has to loose.
Sharpy17(Quote)
With injuries and suspensions and Cisse playing like he doesn’t remember what a football is Pardew looks terrible and has to take the flak but trying to claim we played 4-3-3 and that the lack of experienced players, (especially Cisse) killed our chances is just ridiculous. Swansea had almost no Prem experience in their starting 11 but they played with skill and clearly knew their roles, especially on couner-attack. I was very impressed with Michu and Hernandez but they all played with great discipline.The last 2 home games have been terrible and have put us in a very dicey position with pressure constantly increasing now. If only we could bring pressure to bear on the real culprit who hides and smirks as always. Get out Llambias, back to casino world please.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Dave – I agree, they are too similar, they would need someone like Defoe or Bent style CF to play alongside them – or an Adam Campbell perhaps in time.
That’s part of our problem as well I think, is that Shola doesn’t really offer much different – certainly not a goal threat and there’s no other option within the squad.
I know Blackburn paid something like £8m for Jordan Rhodes and people thought that way too much, but personally I would have taken him for that. He’s a natural goal scorer and young enough to understand that he’d probably have to prove himself before ousting Ba or Cisse.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What about Pards system that has Ba, Cisse, or Ameobi playing out wide in a front three and defending at full back positions at times? I haven’t seen it for a while. Perhaps that’s what’s going wrong? 😉 🙄 Having said that, wasn’t it Shola playing someone onside when we conceded recently?
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)