The inquest into our utterly hapless display against Everton on Sunday will s
In a game where the team seem to start brightly the wheels soon fell off big style. First up we failed to get a stonewall penalty, quite how Martin Atkinson failed to see the ball bounce off James McCarthy’s arm is a mystery. That decision was to soon haunt us as McCarthy opened the score with a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box which Tim Krul should really have done better with. Try as they might they simply couldn’t find a way back into the game and were finding it hard to keep Lukaku locked out who was afforded the freedom of the pitch by Newcastle.
Second half saw the introduction of Ayoze Perez in place of Obertan but we only had to wait around ten minutes before Everton struck again, this time the afore mentioned Lukaku slotted home a penalty conceded after Gouffran brought down Lennon just inside the box.
Then just when you need a clear level head our Captain decides that it’s fine to make a late, studs up challenge! Quite why he felt when the game was lost that a challenge like that was warranted I have no clue. To make matters worse it leaves us at the bare bones with defenders now, just one senior centre back available.
Fast forward to injury time and the impressive sub Ross Barkley rounds Tim Krul to slot home Evertons third of the game.
I don’t know what’s the sadder, the lack of leadership off the pitch or on it. Not once have I seen our Captain berate or encourage other players and it was very disappointing he chose yet again not to speak up at the end of the game in front of the cameras to explain his action and that of the team. No, that was left to Ryan Taylor the consumate professional to address.
Am I the only one here who thinks the time is well over due for a change in captain? To make a challenge like that when we are at bare bones and the game lost is unforgivable in my opinion. And so we go into a derby in two games time against what will possibly be a boyed Sunderland with a new boss in place, with one senior center Back.
I haven’t gone into our attempts as there wasn’t many to be honest, a decent free kick from Taylor and a well saved shot from Sissoko late on the only stand out moments.
Quite where we go from here on in heaven only knows, with just one decent forward in Perez and a patched up defence we are really up against it for the run in.
I feel a bit sorry for John Carver, he has had terrible luck with injuries and suspensions and to be fair his comment about not being Houdini is fair. But if John Carver isn’t the leader for this team then our captain certainly isn’t either.
BY KIMTOON
“Leadership has nothing to do with being vocal on the park!” – Huffstar 2015
Nothing? Oh dear. 😛 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Fuk me, I stated my stance in my first post yesterday. … no wonder the crew on eds blog tired of you so quickly….
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Uh oh. Tin hats on bloggers. 😛
So after everything that has been thrown at you, you still state leadership has nothing to do with being vocal on the park!
Wow! 😯
Begas must love you for your Rolf impressions because it can’t be your body or brains. 😆
“Leadership has nothing to do with being vocal on the park!” – Huffstar 2015 😯
YCMIU. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy good luck with trying to get a straight forward answer 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
It’s funny like. I’ve just asked Tom, **** and Harry and they say the best leaders are those who set examples around commitment to a cause, passion and relentless effort! That is achieved in conjunction with being vocal on the park, encouraging, supporting, advising and giving timely constructive feedback.
But if you believe that has nothing to do with good leadership then, me, Tom, **** and Harry disagree with you. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Looking forward to saturdays game now JC says that the team dont need extra motivation for Arsenal 😀 so I am expecting 3pts 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave
I cannot see when the next win will come. We look feckless. If we had 6 pts less I would fear relegation.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Sharpy 😀 for some reason I was hoping you’d panic and make a load of costly transfers to revamp your team and I might edge it, sadly I just got humped 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Troy same here, though it wouldn’t be too surprised if we get another win before the end of the season, as it most be possible for another team to be worse than us on the day.
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave
Aye. There are some **** teams, hopefully that’s against the Mackems. Hopefully **** the Alleycat has a nightmare start.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
What am I reading about Troy and I getting a room… 😕
I can see the flickering of the light bulb in some peoples head on the blog. It is starting to dawn on them that it’s not the manager’s fault in particular, or the coaches fault or even the scouts fault. The reason we have no hope of improvement or acheivement is due to the owner. he makes achieving anything virtually impossible.
Stuart79(Quote)
We will defo get another win before the end of the season, I know people are freaking out about relegation again after Everton pounded us but it would be a disgrace to go down now. We had 26 points at the halfway point ffs.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie
I don’t think for a second we’ll go down. I’m only thankful we didn’t suffer more injuries earlier. With a paper thin squad bereft of quality, we might well be in and around the relegation places like I predicted at tge start of the season.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
If it wasn’t for our run of winning 4/5 league games on the trot earlier in the season we would be well and truly ****** now! I know people will say it’s rubbish but it’s quite a pertinent point as winning streaks like that don’t happen very often in the PL.
Stuart79(Quote)
😆 😆
We’re scraping the barrell of miserableness now.
Well I think that if we hadn’t won a game all season we’d be bottom of the league.
brisvegas(Quote)
God, you’re so intelligent and insightful with your comments, Bris. I wish you would comment more. 😕
Stuart79(Quote)
Nice of you to say so, Stu. Cheers.
brisvegas(Quote)
Troy – we’ve had our usual spate of injuries though mate, I wouldn’t say we’ve been any luckier or unluckier than usual – I feel we tend to get more injuries than most clubs, but then I pay a lot less attention to other clubs, and equally we seem to have had injury issues for as long as I can remember. Get the feeling we will still slide down the table and Palace will over take us at least, but we shouldn’t even be contemplating relegation imo.
Stu – to be fair that comment is just like saying if we hadn’t lost 5/6 on the bounce at so and so a time. We are where we are. Pardew’s losing runs convinced fans he was useless, but his winning streaks against the big boys were impressive, whatever people think. I think some thought maybe the players just liked turning up to those matches more than others – which does happen naturally a lot of the time, but I’d still say Pardew usually had good tactics for taking points and getting results out of those matches. Like Hughton, he was let down when it came to the “lesser” sides like the mackems…
One thing I found quite funny was that people said Pardew wasn’t consistent enough. I never really got what that meant. As if saying going on a run of W/D/L/L/W/L/L/D/W/D/L/W/L or whatever is somehow “better” than L/L/L/L/L/LD/D/D/W/W/W/W. If anything those ridiculous runs were evidence of more consistency….whether bad or good! 😆
Newkie(Quote)
We don’t know where wed be because the season would have been totally different;
If we hadn’t got on that streak Pardew would eventually have been sacked, They would have apointed a manager with different tactics/team selections, Players that played in matches where we took points might not have played, Players that didn’t play might have helped us get points from matches where came away empty handed.
If we were in a worse position we might have dipped into the transfer market, If we were in a better position we might have sold Cisse or Sissoko
Its all ifs and buts
CC(Quote)
Except that Hughton didn’t let himself down against the mackems themselves…Really not sure what Pardew was doing in those games, but his record was woeful. I know the scum got a last minute goal to draw against him in his first derby but after that it was all bad news…was it really that we didn’t have any leaders by that point?
Big game for Carver to show what he can do anyway..
Newkie(Quote)
Johnson’s suspension is under review then…looking pretty unlikely he’s actually going to be charged now, so he’ll probably play against us and score the winner…again. Fook sakes 😈
Newkie(Quote)
ryan taylor shouldnt be in the squad… jonas should play on the left back
Brunei Magpie Fan(Quote)
BMF – The fact that neither are reconised left backs says everything about the squad.
Stuart79(Quote)
What is Pardew’s record against the mackem’s 1 out of 6. Ryan Taylor free kick was the only goal we ever scored against them.
Terry(Quote)
Pardew’s record against Southampton is even more woeful
Terry(Quote)
Terry – Didn’t the Mackemslayer get us a late leveller against the mackems in the 5th placed finish?
Still think we should have kept him cryogenically frozen on a pay as you play contract and unleashed him on unwashed for the next 100 years.
Couldn’t do any worse than the rest of the squad have done in the last few years..
Newkie(Quote)
I see Siem De Jong is back training with the squad from tomorrow after getting the all clear, so we just might get to see him before the ed of the season.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave, I wouldn’t hold your breath on that.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim don’t worry I wont be holding my breath 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Stuart79@248, didn’t the legendary radgie Diego Maradona employ Jonas at left back once over when he was the Argy boss ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
And look what happened to Argentina in that WC and to their boss…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79, I’m just saying that whereas he isn’t a regular left back, Jonas has been deployed at left back before. I have a feeling he may have played for the toon at left back too…
Munich Mag(Quote)
any sign of the accounts yet, or are we just going to leave it for this year ? Ashley can pretty much do as he likes ? 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM,Dave said he was told in 2 weeks time last week,so next week.
kimtoon(Quote)
I think the accounts will be released on 1 April .
sidekick(Quote)
Sidekick 😆 too right
kimtoon(Quote)
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/03/18/olivier-bernard-andre-ayew-would-be-instant-hit-if-he-signs-for/
kimtoon(Quote)
well after the Arsenal match on Saturday, it will be 29 days before our next home game.
So the clever boys will be using this gap to released the profits publicly
In the hope the furore will have dies down before the spurs match.
They will also be banking on a win (ha ha) against the scum to calm things down.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Does anyone know when Siem de Jong will play? I really feel if we could get him and Aarons back it would help tremendously. I like Perez and Cabella and think they should start over Gouffran and Riviere. No idea what is best for back 4. Maybe get ‘The Mountain’ from Game of Thrones on loan and stand him in the goal mouth? 😀
Jill(Quote)
Boots – that would be their usual MO, but it’s usually with bad news they do that.
I expect the announcement to be good news in terms of profit – the bad news will come in summer, when it’s not spent 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jill Siem is only starting back to training today so I would say he is a good bit off returning.
Big Dave(Quote)
Jill – it doesn’t make sense rushing Siem back this season as there’s nowt to play for anymore. I’d sooner they just focus on managing his fitness properly and get him right for next season.
My thoughts on the lad is he could be a Saylor – we never get a full season out of him. I hope I’m wrong though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah, Siem will be way of match fitness, might see him in the last three or four games I guess?
Newkie(Quote)
I know one thing he’ll be like a new signing 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie – I hope you have your **** in order this weekend buddy. I’ve looking at the fixtures against my team and I’m confident mate
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave – aye, no reason to be investing this summer, he’s exactly the player we need! In all seriousness I’d be content with our current front line/ish and give Perez (who I think should be one of the first names on the team sheet week in week out) Riv and Cisse, Armstrong, Aarons, Ameobi Cabella and De Jong/Sissoko in advanced midfield another year to gel, so we know where we are and who we’ll be getting rid of. It’s the defence that needs two first team replacements and a squaddie in for me..
Sharpy – I see how it is, giving it large after one win eh 🙂 ? I think my side is good enough to win this weekend…I just can’t bloody figure out who to give the captaincy to… 😕
Newkie(Quote)
Sharpy
Hes been coined injury prone but in truth hes just had a really unlucky year or so where everything that could have gone wrong has. He played no small part in Ajax’ recent seasons until those lung problems
Im a fan & i cant wait to see him with a pre season behind him, Still think he will end up the pick of the bunch from last summers signings in the long run
CC(Quote)
When I saw Siem he looked miles off the pace for the PL!
georgio(Quote)
Jill
I would play ‘the mountain’ at centre half .When he moves towards the ball the opposing forwards would simply stop and let him have the ball.
That used to happen when we had John McNamee at centre half 😀
sidekick(Quote)
CC – Hope you’re right buddy. If he can do as well as Perez has done this year we’ll be on the right track.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie 😆 you’re absolutely right mate. Truth is last week was fluke, but I’ve seen enough toon managers talk a good game, so I thought I’d give it a go 😛 😆
CC – I’m a fan too mate, I was chuffed when we signed him coz I think he’s a really intelligent footballer. I think if we can surround him with pacy forwards willing and able to run in behind defences, and a coach who is offensively minded, then he will be the pick of the bunch for sure.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – bit of a tall order there mate – “surround him with pacy forwards willing and able to run in behind defences, and a coach who is offensively minded”. My worry is the guy will turn out to be just too slow for England. However he is intelligent and has a fine shot on him but pace is so important in the PL.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – I think some players like Owen & Defoe need that pace to play their game, but De Jong is a different style and more like a Sheringham style forward.
I dont think he was as physically challenged in Holland as he will be in the PL and I’m assuming a collapsed lung will make life that bit harder for him. That’s why I would like to see us sign someone like Martin Harnik in the summer too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy 😆 always worth a punt! Maybe it’s just as well I don’t know which poster is “WHY SO SERIOUS” – it prevents me using my mourinho mind games which worked so effectively against you… 🙂
Whatever happens, I have to finish above Richie this season. I’ll finish ahead of Mugs11 and Aussie, so I need ensure I beat sure the Mug ringleader..
Newkie(Quote)
Georgio – I’m with Sharpy, we have Perez who has bags of pace, Cabella has decent acceleration, and if aarons comes good, or sammy, we know they can beat a man. Obertan and Goof aren’t slouches but I’d prefer not to see them played out wide or anywhere anymore really…if we can keep Sissoko then hopefully he will do Siem’s running for him, so hopefully all he needs to do is find the space that’s opened for him and pick the pass…
Eriksen isn’t exactly rapid and he’s a lot younger, hes’ a different class to De Jong but attacking midfielders or playmakers don’t necessarily have to be blessed with pace to work out in the PL.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – if you’re Mourinho I guess that would make me LVG – as more often than not, nee ****** has a clue what I’m on about 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy 😆
I had you down as more of a Maradonna pal 🙂
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – maybe in waist line, but that’s about it I’m afraid 🙁 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Coback falling victim of the random and ridiculous england selection policy
Called up when he didn’t really warrant it and now completely ignored when he absolutely does
No Zaha, Cleverley & capped when they played in the reserve team for top clibs and not ignored when playing week in week out in first teams for lesser clubs
Andros Townsend yet again..why??
CC(Quote)
CC – I was never much of a fan of Cleverly, but I have to say that he has been excellent for Villa this season. I would love us to poach him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There was a feature on sky sports the other day. Colback has outperformed every other English midfielder in terms of minutes on the picth, goals and assists, by quite some way. Delph has 1 goal and no assists with Villa displaying relegation form all season. I know Colbacks no world beater but compared to the alternatives he definitely deserves to be called up.
evans(Quote)
Evans – did that include Jordan Henderson?. That’s impressive stuff from Colback if so :shock:. I was really pleased when we signed him, and think he’s a really solid reliable player.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy 😆
Cleverly is not my cup of tea, wouldn’t fancy him for the numbers being banded about. Same age as Colback and Sissoko and I prefer them and expect them in the first 11 now, would rather give Abeid, Armstrong and De Jong chances in midfield than get another squaddie like Cleverly tbh.
Newkie(Quote)
Agree with Newkie Cleverly not my cup of tea,don’t really rate him that highly,a mid-table PL club at best,oh **** that’s us,a mid-table club
icedog(Quote)
So Carver reckons he has things up his sleeve for the Arsenal game. That’ll be the tissue he’s gonna be crying into when we get mauled. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Newkie – assuming we sign a proper striker (or 2) Cabella or Perez will complete the front 3 with De Jong in. To accomodate Siem we’d have to leave Sammy/Aarons/Cabella all out.
georgio(Quote)
Kim – don’t be silly, Carver won’t be crying, he’ll come out after a mauling and say something like “A 5-0 defeat against Arsenal at home…isn’t bad for this league”. Just like when he said two wins from 8 or whatever wasn’t bad 🙂
Georgio – depends what formation we play I guess, and unless Rivi starts scoring they will probably go ahead of him in who we’ll be using… Assuming we have a fully fit side, I’d say 4-3-3/4-5-1 would be what Carver would opt for. If he does, I’d like to see.
———Cisse———-
Perez–De Jong–Cabella
—-Colback-Sissoko–
-Three people capable of defending – Jan—
———-Krul———
Ameobi and Aarons to come on as super subs and use their pace. If we happen to get De Jong fit before Cisse’s ban is up, I’d like to see Perez up top with an actual winger out wide.
Newkie(Quote)
I see Carver has hit out at Neville for saying that our players appeared to have their flip flops on allready 😆 which I agree with him as soom look as if they’re allready on their summer hols.
He also said it was very insulting and he will use it as motivation for his players against Arsenal 😯 😯 only 2 days ago he said the players didnt need any motivation for Arsenal 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – it’s the same as last year. You could tell once we’d sold Cab nobody was bothered. He was by all accounts more of a captain than Colo anyway, and after Jan it was clear Remy had his sights elsewhere and he was usually the one who could get the lads around him playing better. This is why we simply must target cups. We have no chance of top 6 on the current trend of spending, but we should be capable of at least staying in one cup past early January to give the second half of the season at least some meaning.
Newkie(Quote)
Dave – to be fair to Carver I agree with him. The players don’t look like they are playing with their flip flops on – in fact most look like they are wearing lead boots!.
Newkie – just read that Man U want £7m for Clev. Balls to that, maybe half.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – aye they wanted 9/10 mil in the summer like, taking the pi$$ there I think! I’d take him for free, but given our outlay is always low I’d be ignoring the midfield to get the defence sorted out, which has needed investment since promotion..
Newkie(Quote)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/watch-moussa-sissoko-being-pranked-5350754
Just seen that. Pretty funny, but maybe the lads should spend a bit more training. I’ll let Sissoko off as he’s probably one of three or four players who’ve actually done well this season 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – who would you like to see in mate? – obviously realistic to what we can expect from Charnley that is.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – there’s that word, realistic 🙂
From the championship I’d be looking at Bruno Manga from Cardiff (he’s seemed decent when I’ve seen him, my Cardiff mates rave about him) – but he was in France and maybe there’s a reason Carr missed him? I’d possibly look at Cyrus Christie from Derby because we have no cover for Janmaat and he has the frame, pace and aerial ability to cover CB, bit like Micah Richards.
From the prem…I was hoping Villa would get relegated and we could poach Vlaar. He’s not great, couldn’t believe the “big club” links – but he is an upgrade on taylor or willo for sure. Don’t look like that’ll be happening now though sadly.
What about you mate?
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – I’m a fan of Grant Hanley from Bburn mate. I like the idea of Tyrone Mings coz either he or Dummett can go CB. I’d get Sam Byram from Leeds as cover for Jan.
I like Richards but I’m not sure his wages would fall into that ‘realistic’ bracket.
Sharpy17(Quote)