The unfortunate side of that was we wandered around like Sergeant Schultz (“I know nothing”), hapless and incompetent. Adrian Durham on TalkSport described us as turning up and rolling over to get our tummy tickled.
I watched the first half online and it was men against boys. An early start gave me the excuse to switch off and go to bed at half time, so forgive the incomplete nature of this analysis. Before I start on the game though the first thing to say is that the Yohan Cabaye fiasco was used as an excuse for the disarray that we found ourselves in.
Let’s face it a bid arriving for our top player and hour or two before kick-off could well be unsettling and so it could be a factor, if you ignore the fact that Fellaini, Baines, Rooney and so on all played at the weekend despite their futures being uncertain. Professionalism is the word I’m looking for. It is also appearing that the bid was submitted on Friday. If so there is no excuse at all.
Lets look at the game, or at least try to, it may take some getting to. This was a clash between two sides both playing 4-2-3-1 and City gave a masterclass on how it works. Mind you there is a gulf in the resources that each side has available. City released or sold, Bridge, Maicon, Santa Cruz, Tevez and Toure, and five squad players this summer and replaced them with four superstars, two of which started. In an age where Financial Fair Play is kicking in they are reducing their wage bill despite the large transfer fees being paid.
How FFP impacts on us is simple we can only realistically increase our wage bill by £4m this season. That’s £75kpw. Or Loic Remy. Anything else has to be covered by outgoings. We have sold or released Harper, Simpson and Perch. That would have covered Gomis, if agents didn’t mess it up, and Gosling’s move to Crystal Palace would have freed up a move for another player. These rules only really apply to the top eight or nine clubs in the Premier League. The others can play catch up and dramatically increase their wage bill enabling the spending spree that we have seen lower down and the strangulation at the top.
Anyway back to the match. And 4-2-3-1. First things first Edin Dzeko. He’s what you need to play this system a decent target man, someone who creates space, occupies defenders and scores goals. The closest to that that we have is Shola. Who like Heskey on his day can look like the real Ronaldo – overweight and past it. We could or even should have Andy Carroll or Gomis but we haven’t. So we put a poacher in there and then fail to feed him the way he needs to be fed.
Next they have Navas, Silva and Aquero. Three very different fast mobile players, one an out and out winger who completed ten crosses with 100% success completion. One creator and one poacher. We had Jonas, Gouffran and Hatem Ben Arfa. Ideally we would be playing Remy, Cisse and Ben Arfa which at least on paper looks a bit better balanced. Other than creating and taking a lot of chances these four forward players worked their socks off for City. What they succeeded in doing was to ensure that any attempted breakout was stifled. When they had the ball they created chances when the lost the ball they prevented a breakout. What this means is that the two defensively minded midfielders, Toure and Fernandinho, could sit back and watch any breakout and kill it.
Our defence had two choices; hoof it up to a lone striker or try and play it out of defence. We failed in that because we had players in our faces and our passing under pressure simply was not good enough. This meant we struggled to break out which meant their attack and defence was comfortable. Their full-backs could join the attack and now our defence was under so much pressure it struggled badly.
Two years ago Tiote and Cabaye were as good a midfield partnership as any in the league and would have been able to force their way out of defence. However, without Cabaye we struggle and Sissoko has yet to establish himself.
The real problem was the back four. Coloccini is a great defender but he needs the space to see what is happening in front of him, he’s not the fastest and so he can get beaten, especially when he is trying to do three jobs. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at right-back is ok because he is another good reader of the game, and once he has learned the way the Premier League works he will be great, but at right-back he needed watching. This means Colo is supporting him and Jonas covering in front. When Paul Dummett came on and Yanga-Mbiwa moved to centre of defence I understand things improved. It’s the other two that have me in despair.
What Steven Taylor is thinking of, I have no idea. I have a hyperactive 10-year-old and a whippet puppy both of whom have more sense than that idiot. He seems to think that professional football is all a big joke and he is chief comedian. It was Neil Kinnock who said you can’t make a wit from two half wits, which brings me nicely to Debuchy.
Myself, Kim and one or two others said at the time he was defensively a liability, apt to get booked and all we could hope for was that he would make up for it going forward. Defensively he’s not as good as Simpson was, but the boo boys who though Simmo was **** got their wishes and I hope they are happy. If they are successful with their other campaigns they can switch the lights out when owner, manager, Director of Football, and all the players have left.
Tim Krul was outstanding. MOTM. We are very lucky to have him.
Alan Pardew put out a team and was badly let down, especially by Taylor. Lets hope Taylor is replaced by someone who knows that football is a competitive professional sport. Pardew made too much of the Cabaye situation as we would have got beat anyway, and more worryingly for me he has obviously been happy with Taylor’s behaviour and not dealt with it.
Oh and the positives. As Sgt Schultz said, “I know nothing”. Apart from Krul there aren’t any…
We have a second positive. Hatem Ben Arfa. Only HBA had the nads to take the game to Man City, and was not overawed by their all-start line up.
Edin Dzeko cost Man City 35 million euros in 2011, he’s probably worth a lot more than that now. I like the way you managed to slag Shola off in the same description, even though the bloke didn’t even get off the bench !
Agree 100% about Staylor.
Oh, and we have a third positive, the fantastic Academy star Tim Krul. What a fantastic goalie ! Ashley will be expecting a bumper windfall when he sells him next season.
So the bottom line is that the powerhouse of a football institution Manchester City with the spending power of a rich gulf state had too much skill, know-how, guile, power etc etc etc etc for a wee club from the north of England who are run by a gazillionaire with deep pockets and short arms. Nothing new there for me.
I reckon your whippet puppy would be harder to shove off the ball than Cisse. In the blokes defence he isn’t a target man, but he lost the majority of balls because he quite simply lacked the aggression and willpower to put in the effort. Not good enough I’m afraid. Mentally not at the races. We can’t afford to carry 60% of the team I’m afraid, and that’s what we did.
p.s. I watched the game til the end 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Do we have any midfielders or strikers for today’s game?
Also I notice out pre season training must be working with Jonas put with a dodgy hamstring and Tiote our with a groin strain.
Fckin shambles, absolute shambles!
Stuart79(Quote)
The only positive was that the game only lasted 90mins 😆
Fingers crossed for today. Injuries and suspensions impacting our already small squad.
Sometimes in situations like this you’re forced into finding the answer. Hopefully that happens today and if so, hopefully Pardew will stick with it rather than reverting back to his favourites when they return.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That just about sums it up, Prem. Nice analysis. I tend to agree with just about everything there … even the lack of positives. I still think Taylor was harshly dealt with, and the Ivanovic matter at least gives me some kind of back up, but I’m not going to die in a ditch defending that opinion. If you throw your arms about like that you always risk being red-carded. He’s a silly silly man.
ManC were head and shoulders above us all game, in every area of the park. Let’s hope we have someone our own size v West Ham. That’ll be a much better indication of where we’re at and whether Pardew has learnt anything from last season. Not just Pardew, the players also need to show some initiative as well.
And btw I’ve been reading about the FFP rules and the adoption of new rules in the PL after you mentioned it on the last thread. Interesting stuff (in a bankers sort of way). It shines some light on why the tv money hasn’t been invested in the team. Not that I fully understand it yet – I’m not an accountant and have no interest in pretending to be one.
Howay the lads.
brisvegas(Quote)
And PS- I got up at 4.30am to watch it and stayed awake all game. I think the heavy sighs I made throught kept me awake. That and the constant shaking of my head and muttering words not taught to me by my parents … although, come to think of it …
brisvegas(Quote)
Thanks obvious typo I don’t know my left from my right.
I may do an article on FFP, I’ll see what time I get. I have a freeish day today but It might be better to wait til the window shuts. Then again, why wait.
Premandup(Quote)
Prem – please do that article mate, I think it will give us all a better understanding of things.
What I still struggle with is why go for PEA and Gomis who will be on top end wages if things are THAT tight for us. Surely someone like Brown Ideye would have lower wage demands. If its that tight surely every 5-10k pw counts.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just to get the hairs standing up on the back of your neck 🙂
Phew we were really close to going down last season 😯 😯
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zestKsSV5F4
Munich Mag(Quote)
It’d be a pleasure to read something about FFP that explains how it is applicable to NUFC.
brisvegas(Quote)
Prem ,Great read mate and wouldn’t argue against any of it. I think more effort should be going into off loading some of our fringe players tbh .Amalfitano ,Abied , Obatan and to a certain extent Gosling . If these guys have no future in the first team which seems apparent then they should be transfer listed at least it would free up some wages for one possibly two decent first team quality players.
Worried about today as well ,I know some pros have us down for a 2.1 win but that’s based on West Hams woefull away form based on last season rather than our collective skill level 🙄 says it all really.
Nolan to bag a brace I reckon ,hope I’m wrong though.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy ,Aye it’s about as clear as mud to me this ffp business .Swansea have a strict salary cap yet managed to secure Bony albeit he’s their top earner.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim, as far as I can understand it, it’s because they come from a low wage base, therefore have room to bring in a high earner – and I suspect they probably agreed to every demand his agent asked for in order to make a quick deal.
brisvegas(Quote)
Prem good read and a lot of good points made, I like MM thought Benny was also a positive.
As for Cabaye I think its a joke when you consider that Pards himself said the bid was made on the eve of a big game, so that tells me it wasnt a last minute thing.
TBH I dont think it should matter when the bid was made he should still be able to play like most other players, I think we have seen the last of him.
But I really don’t think the FFP rules is what has resulted in us still not buying 1 player yet.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave I’m not really trying to say that FFP has prevented anything, but it is a straitjacket which makes it a lot more difficult.
Premandup(Quote)
It’s the new financial regulations for the PL that need explaining to me. The FFP regs are pretty much understood (at least in a naive way).
brisvegas(Quote)
Bris@12 yep probably right about the agent thing.
Like I said if paying wages is such an issue under the new regulations then we need to offload the non starters imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
So . . . no Cabaye, Jonas, Tiote. Well we can’t do worse than on Monday can we? Cabaye’s gone already just protecting his move from injury. Jonas and Tiote – I’m glad they’re out as they both needed dropping. However, what do we have left? Anita, Sissoko and ??? Personally I’d go for Bigi in Tiote’s position. That’s what the kid’s for right? Pardew will probably play Sammy instead of Jonas. No Marv?
What a mess x 10 with Pardew orchestrating.
georgio(Quote)
well i hope we can get our first win of the season today & pardew then proves most of us wrong by taking us on a decent run of results over the next few weeks.
back to reality – i predict…
an ugly 0 – 0 or a 0 – 1 watched by a unhappy & reduced crowd wearing wonga-less tops.
with jfk’s second coming working out brilliantly for ashley’s pocket – & a discredited/injured frenchman our only signing to date – then the signs don’t look good for this season i’m afraid.
over to you alan!
roy cropper(Quote)
Prem I think Jabba and JFK are more of a straitjacket than the FFP rules.
Big Dave(Quote)
Is anyone else not a helluva lot more positive this game?
I know I’ve waiting to see Taylor, Tiote and Jonas out of the team and Mbiwa play with Colo, Anita with Sissoko, and Marveaux or Gouffran instead of Jonas. I for one believe we will play well today.
The only thing bugging me at the moment, is we seem to be flogging Cabaye with no assurances he will be replaced. Pardew saying today he wanted Downing proves he has no input at all anymore.
team for today and i think we’ll be pleasantly surprised, or optimistic come 5pm.
Krul
Santon/Deb Colo Mbiwa Dummett (he is looking like our best left back)
Ben Arfa Anita Sissoko Marveaux
Gouffran Cisse
BIGPAPA(Quote)
Just noticed we’re really struggling to put 11 decent players out at the moment!!!
BIGPAPA(Quote)
BP – we’ve had that for a year mate!
georgio(Quote)
To be fair about the transfer situation in general, I think we haven’t had any new players because most of the available players aren’t good enough.
I don’t think Gomis is able improve us as he is not good enough.
Darren Bent can’t get a game at Villa so why would he here
Aubameyang had the choice of Dortmund or us. We were trying to sign him in January but he wanted to finish the season so we had to wait.
Bony might have been a good option but other than last season he has only been scoring 1 in 2 in the Eredivisie. The general consensus in that players score half as many goals in the Premier League as they did in the Eredivisie so a crude guess is that he’ll average 1 in 4 or 1 in 3 in the Premier League. That’s not a good enough return for a striker costing £12m.
KK(Quote)
Lets hope we manage to get it together today,im not convinced to be honest.Im amazed that because an offer goes in for a player he doesnt play,thats just a load of total bollox,bet he still got paid.This club is going nowhere under this regime and the saddest thing is we just take it as if its ok.Cant wait till the present owner and the rest of his underachieving satff all leave .Not holding my breath though as we are an amazing cash cow for the fat lad who no doubt sits and laughs his bollocks off after every game and counts the gate receipts
Gman(Quote)
@KK none of our strikers are scoring goals or even look like they might in the future…..worrying times my friend
Gman(Quote)
02 February 2013 NUFC 3 – 2 Chelsea – Good win
09 February 2013 Spurs 2 – 1 NUFC – Lose
24 February 2013 NUFC 4 – 2 Southampton – Lucky win
02 March 2013 Swansea City 1 – 0 NUFC – Lose
10 March 2013 NUFC 2 – 1 Stoke City – Lucky win
17 March 2013 Wigan 2 – 1 NUFC – Lose
30 March 2013 Man City 4 – 0 NUFC – Lose
07 April 2013 NUFC 1 – 0 Fulham – Lucky win
14 April 2013 NUFC 0 – 3 Sunderland – Lose
20 April 2013 WBA 1 – 1 NUFC – Draw
27 April 2013 NUFC 0 – 6 Liverpool – Lose
04 May 2013 WHU 0 – 0 NUFC – Draw
12 May 2013 QPR 1 – 2 NUFC – Lucky win
19 May 2013 NUFC 0 – 1 Arsenal – Lose
19 August 2013 Man City 4 – 0 NUFC – Lose
KK(Quote)
Well I’m normally one to take the positives out of a situation but it is hard to be optimistic about the forthcoming season, especially after the horror show at the Etihad stadium. I’m not Alan Pardew’s biggest fan and think that he is tactically naive on a lot of occasions; its criminal that he hasn’t been helped out by Joe Kinnear or Mike Ashley because it is clear that we need reinforcements. We have the foundations and with some sound investment, we could be challenging for a top 6 position but under the current regime there is no hope.
A club the size of Newcastle deserves ambition from the hierarchy and better than mid table mediocrity.
Mihesh(Quote)
TLDR;
Since 29 January 2013 (Villa game) we’ve had 16 games:
2 good wins (Villa & Chelsea)
4 lucky wins (Southampton, Stoke, Fulham, QPR)
2 draws
8 losses
KK(Quote)
Those stats sum up our form and its not likely to improve,I hope im wrong but ive got a feeling it wont.The fans need something positive to cheer about and selling players wont achieve that in my opinion,that said Cabaye was gash last season and was a shadow of hi former self but that can be said of a lot of our french recruits,most of them have failed to deliver or live up to their vaunted reputations.I watch every game and the same thing pops into my head,why did we tear up trees to sign Debuchy? he is an awful defender.Of course he is French,cheapish and is big mates with Cabaye,that bloke thats after a move to a bigger and better club,Arsenal.Never takes them long to realise we have no ambition at all apart from staying in the prem so Fatty can trouser yet more cash whilst neglecting to strengthen the squad,never mind the first team.We keep on going through the turnstiles though,its in the blood and its hard to say no to our weekly fix,but at some point we will have to make a stand because Fatty will just keep extracting the urine from some of the best and loyalist fans in the Uk and thats disgraceful!!!
Gman(Quote)
Why not unlucky loss – Swansea and Wigan? And then there was the Sunderland fluke 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
brisvegas – You might be right about the Wigan & Swansea game. I don’t remember us playing well but it might just be me. I thought we deserved the loss against Sunderland but had the offside Cisse goal stood it might have been a different story (better or worse depending on the reaction Di Canio would have caused!)
KK(Quote)
——————–krul—————–
–Debuchy—Mbiwa—Colo–Dummett—
———–Anita——Sissoko————-
————–Marveaux———————
—-Ben Arfa—-Cisse—Gouffran———-
433 the system which Cisse and Ben arfa thrived in two years back that we dropped for some unknown reason.
2-1 Gouffran and Cisse.
CC(Quote)
Bent scores for Fulham on his debut I see . Good link up with Berba apparently.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Cabaye is surely gone now? how could he come back after pulling out twice. I hope he is gone as I’ll have no respect for the spine-less ****, no player is bigger than the Toon…
canny line-up. might have to change my score to 1-0 to the toon
mark(Quote)
Alan Pardew (without any bias) is definitely the worst manager we’ve had in the last 21 years, 6 months & 19 days since Kevin Keegan first joined us as manager. We’ve had 12 managers in that time.
8 of those managers have been in charge for more than 50 games. Alan Pardew is the worst of that bunch.
Team G W D L PPG
Hughton 70 55.71% 24.29% 20.00% 1.91
Keegan 251 54.98% 20.32% 24.70% 1.85
Roeder 72 45.83% 33.33% 20.83% 1.70
Robson 255 46.67% 25.10% 28.24% 1.65
Souness 83 43.37% 21.69% 34.94% 1.51
Dalglish 78 38.46% 28.21% 33.33% 1.43
Gullit 52 34.62% 38.46% 26.92% 1.42
Pardew 121 36.36% 26.45% 37.19% 1.35
Allardyce 24 33.33% 25.00% 41.67% 1.25
Keegan 21 28.57% 28.57% 42.86% 1.14
Kinnear 18 22.22% 44.44% 33.33% 1.11
Shearer 8 12.50% 25.00% 62.50% 0.62
On another note, we only seem to hire people from the British Isles. The only ‘exotic’ manager in the last two decades came from 325 miles away in Amsterdam and lasted 52 games.
KK(Quote)
Team G W D L PPG
Hughton 70 55.71% 24.29% 20.00% 1.91
Keegan 251 54.98% 20.32% 24.70% 1.85
Roeder 72 45.83% 33.33% 20.83% 1.70
Robson 255 46.67% 25.10% 28.24% 1.65
Souness 83 43.37% 21.69% 34.94% 1.51
Dalglish 78 38.46% 28.21% 33.33% 1.43
Gullit 52 34.62% 38.46% 26.92% 1.42
Pardew 121 36.36% 26.45% 37.19% 1.35
Allardyce 24 33.33% 25.00% 41.67% 1.25
Keegan 21 28.57% 28.57% 42.86% 1.14
Kinnear 18 22.22% 44.44% 33.33% 1.11
Shearer 08 12.50% 25.00% 62.50% 0.62
KK(Quote)
I think Cabaye would be happy enough to play. Wouldn’t you want to show everybody how good you are?
I think it’s Pardew that doesn’t want him to play because it puts him in the shop window. Bizarre because that’s what Pardew has been doing all summer with every player at the club…..
KK(Quote)
It’s a good line up but 433 under Pardew is actually 451 because Ben Arfa and Gouffran are forced wide and have to track back.
All formations under Pardew regress in the following way:
442=>451=>91=>10
433=>451=>91=>10
4231=>451=>91=>10
4312=>451=>91=>10
The 433 system which Cisse and Ben Arfa thrived in two years back only worked in a few games and only for certain periods during those games. It was effective up to a point but we were by no means blowing teams away. Remember, we were comfortably beaten in 3 of our last 4 games that season and the win at Chelsea was because of the imminent CL final (and a wonder goal!).
KK(Quote)
My negativity aside, i actually think we will win today.
We’ll win today by two or more goals.
I’m going for 3-1.
KK(Quote)