A lot has been said about the effectiveness of our defensive midfielders, including failing to protect the back four, passing backwards too often and generally just not being good enough. Following the success of our central defenders and full backs comparisons, I thought we would take a look at Tiote, Anita and Colback in detail.
In order to give this comparison some perspective, two further Premier League defensive midfielders will be compared alongside our own players. First up is Oriol Romeu of Southampton. The Saints are flying high in the league and Romeu is not an expensive superstar. Next up is Wallsend born Michael Carrick of Manchester United. He is still going strong and has been talked abut as a potential Toon summer signing. This time there are 13 disciplines to judge the players on, with the usual scoring system of 10 points for first place, 5 points for second, 3 points for 3rd and a single point for 4th. These are averages over 90 minutes. At the end we will add up each players’ respective scores to see who contributes more to their team overall. I have not included goals scored or defensive errors, because these players produce so few of either. So lets get started:
The dreaded back-pass:
I hear Jack Colback in particular get hammered for this on a regular occasion. Sometimes it is an essential move, but if used too often it kills momentum – so who are the worst offenders? In 5th place is Cheick Tiote, with 25.50 over the 90 minutes. In 4th is Michael Carrick with 19.56. 3rd place goes to Jack Colback with 15.35 whilst Oriol Romeu takes 2nd place with 14.64. Taking this field then, is Vernon Anita with only 10.18.
Forward passes:
We will ignore sideways passes and crosses, sticking with simply forward and backwards passes. For this one Jack Colback shows he is not one for getting involved with forward drives too often, taking last place with 25.75. In 4th is Romeu with 30.22. 3rd place is taken by Anita (30.68) and 2nd goes to Tiote (38). Winner is Michael Carrick with an impressive 54.92.
Key Passes:
This is laying on goal scoring opportunities for teammates. The least useful here is Anita with only 0.20 over the average 90 minutes. In 4th place is Michael Carrick with 0.51. He makes lots of forward passes then, but not a lot of goal scoring opportunities from them. Third place goes to Romeu (0.56) and in second is Colback with 0.59. He might be shy sending those balls forward, but when he does – he sends them forward with purpose. Surprisingly that leaves the winner as Cheick Tiote with 0.63.
Passes Completed in %:
Backwards, Forwards, Sideways etc etc – it’s irrelevant if you lose the ball. Vernon Anita is only successful 80% of the time. Oriol Romeu can only manage 84%, whilst the great Michael Carrick stutters in 3rd place with 87%. In second is Jack Colback on 88% whilst the tidiest in possession is Cheick Tiote with 89% of his passes finding a teammate.
Fouls:
A big part of a defensive midfielders game is getting stuck into the opponent and letting them know they are in game, but if they give away too many fouls and that competitiveness invites pressure on their own teammates. Here Tiote shows he’s a dirty so and so with 2.38 fouls over the 90. In 4th is Romeu with 2.04. Third place goes to Colback (1.48) whilst 2nd place is earnt by Anita (1.45). The cleanest DM then is Michael Carrick, with only 0.51 fouls over the average 90 minutes played.
Yellow Cards:
We can accept our DM’S will pick up the occasional card – but when it becomes routine it stunts the player’s effectiveness because they have to take it easy for the rest of the game. As you might expect, Michael Carrick comes out on top with only 0.14 yellows. Next up is Anita on 0.26 and in 3rd place is Tiote with a yellow every 4 full games. In fourth is Colback on 0.53 leaving the wooden spoon for Romeu on 0.56.
Lost Possession:
Often these lads are our last line of defense before the ball finds it way into our own 18-yard box – so it’s important they don’t get dispossessed. If I say to you Michael Carrick, you probably think ‘tidy player. keeps the ball’. If you do, think again. He loses the ball 1.6 times for every completed 90 minutes. Tiote is up next with 1.3 whilst Romeu makes takes 3 points with 1.2. In second is Jack Colback (1.1), leaving Anita as the safest player to be in physical possession of a football (1.0).
Tackles Won:
We now head into the bread and butter of these players’ jobs. Bringing up the rear again is Michel Carrick with only 1.37 per game. Considering he is supposedly a beast – you might be shocked to find Cheick Tiote only wins 2.12 tackles per 90. In third place is Anita on 2.36 and taking 2nd place is Colback on 2.42. Winner by some margin is Oriol Romeu with a mighty 3.61.
Headers %:
If you think Vernon Anita is maybe a bit lightweight and weak in the air, then you would be right. He is the only player to drop below 50% with 45.83. Taking 4th spot is Carrick, who wins exactly half his aerial duels. In 3rd place is Romeu (55.56) and runner up is Tiote with 62.50%. Jack Colback shows he is a high altitude specialist with 65.22% of his headers won.
Total Duels %:
This includes take on’s, headers and tackles. Little Vernon shows he is no match for the opposition here with only 41.96% of his take on’s won. Cheick Tiote is not much better with 42.11. Romeu takes third with 46.41 and second spot is claimed by Carrick (48.39). Jack Colback shows who’s Boss by being the only player her to win more than half his battles – winning 54.07%.
Interceptions:
Who spots those through balls and cuts them off before any real harm is caused? Cheick Tiote is switched on, stopping 2.62 over the average 90 minutes. Anita is not too far behind with 2.50. In third is Romeu (2.32) whilst Colback earns a single point with 2.24. Michael Carrick is last with 2.09.
Clearances:
Oriol Romeu does not react very fast, with only 1.39 to his name. Colback is not much better with 1.42. In third is Tiote (1.50) whilst 2nd spot is claimed by Michael Carrick with 1.66. Top Dog here is Vernon Anita, with 1.71 over the 90.
Blocks:
Final category then, this is the last ditch efforts to save out bacon! Fastest out of the blocks is Jack Colback with 0.59 blocks over the average 90 minutes played. In last place is Carrick (0.14). 2nd place goes to Romeu, who averages 0.56. 4th is Anita (0.26) and in third spot is Tiote with 0.37.
Final Table:
1) 63 Points – Jack Colback.
=2) 52 Points – Vernon Anita.
=2) 52 Points – Cheick Tiote.
4) 46 Points – Michael Carrick.
5) 38 Points – Oriol Romeu.
Final Thoughts:
First thing is to observe that different teams play different systems, so each player will be positioned further forward or further back than others – but they are all defensive midfielders and by including ‘forward’ stats, the the numbers should balance themselves out. From the above table, I think it’s fair to say that any talk of the Toon signing Michael Carrick this summer is nonsense. He is weaker overall than all 3 of our DM’s and is 35 on his next birthday. Anita has shown that he is actually decent player – but 2 big gaps in his game are head-to-head battles and pass completion. The stats are a bit deceiving here as he scores highly, but he seems to be more a reactor than a catalyst. He reads the ball well, but can’t command it. Jack Colback shows he is very well rounded and effective where it matters. There is no doubt he is underrated and should be a key part of our team.
Shamrock: you trying to jinx our midfield now like you did on the last thread with Mbemba and Coloccini 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Good read again Sham and very interesting, not surprised by Anita, I think he’s an intelligent tidy player but the stats would suggest maybe not got the physicality for our league. He has worked very hard in the gym to build strength since arriving, admitting he found the physicality of the PL hard .
Jack Colback again better than given credit for but in fairness when the whole team are below par and lack confidence, then no one really looks good and they’ll always be scape goats.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sham – those stats shock me a bit to be honest. Our poor defence is often put down to a weak midfield – I still give some credence to that theory was watching the games I all too often see opponents running passed the likes of Tiote & Colback. But those stats suggest that they aren’t as bad as thought – they perhaps need to work harder at times.
I have liked what little I have saw of the Colback/Shelvey partnership so far.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Even our youth teams are terrible! It’s true – a rolling stone might not gather miss but it certainly gathers ***** in our case.
Stuart79(Quote)
I agree Sharpy – Shelvey/Colback looks our best midfield partnership. However in some games we need more ‘protection’ there (SM’s poor here – he seems to pick teams without reference to the opposition) and I would bring Saivet/Anita into a 433. Chelsea was a prime example. We needed 3 in the middle. We had 2 and they just waltzed past us time and time again exposing our slow central defence. Good coach maybe. Good manager – no.
Georgio(Quote)
Stat attack indeed Sham – what do you do for a living? Thanks mate!
Anyone seen the pics in the Chron of the queue for tickets in the 50s? Heady days indeed following the 3 cup wins. Mile long queue, six deep ending outside the Gallowgate and flooding the whole road.
Georgio(Quote)
Maybe I’m the one being cynical now, but is it coincidence that Colo gets an injury following a game he never played in just as these rumours start of Shelvey being new captain?!.
I may be wrong but the timing is suss to say the least.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, I said the same thing on the last thread, keep up mate 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
I have had a week off Georgio. Back to work in the morning so the articles will slow down from me at least.
Shamrock(Quote)
There was also a report in one of the rags that he and SM had a big fall out last week.
kimtoon(Quote)
Coloccini’s injury is most likely genuine as it leaves us so short at CB. I said on the last thread that MBemba is being “assessed” this week so that probably rules him out. We are left with Lascelles who has played a couple of games this season, Taylor who has played 2 and Dummett who has played none at CB.
It is getting almost as bad as for Ugly John last year when he had to play Janmaat as CB.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – you’re a woman, it’s your job to immediate suspect badly of us blokes 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Taylor and Besty @TaylorandBesty · 4 hrs4 hours ago
Fans Forum tonight. No agenda sent out by the club yet, no idea who will be attending, no correspondence from fans via the club site #nufc
kimtoon(Quote)
Something not right about the injury ‘rumours’.
Colo injured warming down. Difficult to do that one.
Is Mitro even injured? His lass was due to give birth last week.
Very quiet on Mbemba too. It looked bad when he did it but he shouldn’t be too far away.
We’ll get nowt at Stoke anyway.
Georgio(Quote)
Kim – if the club dare go ahead with the forum I think we all know what the fans agenda will be at least 👿
Sharpy17(Quote)
I looked at the minutes from the last Fans Forum and at least the club let the fans ask pertinent questions and made an attempt to even answer a few of them. I am not sure if the atmosphere will be as cordial tonight:
http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Fans/FansForum/0,,10278~4852132,00.html
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy, I haven’t seen it’s been cancelled yet
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I think it going ahead is the least the club can give back to the fans at the moment. I would hope that Charnley & Mc have the balls to turn up too. But it wouldn’t surprise me if they just Moncur or someone similar.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s the fan’s forum tonight 😆 I’m surprised it hasn’t been cancelled. If any difficult questions come up I’m sure Lee will say read my comments in 2013. The question I want to know is why he choose Steve McClaren when he failed at derby and 2 if McClaren gets the club relegated will he be sacked and 3 will you admit it was your fault for a hiring McClaren and resign with Graham Carr.
Terry(Quote)
4 do you think you spent the 80 million wisely ?
Terry(Quote)
5 why do we only seem to buy midfield players for lots of money and loan them out ?
Terry(Quote)
6 if the club gets relegated then how much debt have you added to our interest free loan ? If we don’t come up at the first attempt will we go into administration ?
Terry(Quote)
Carrying on the finance discussion. This where Sunderland made their money last year:
TV: 72 million
Gate: 12 million
Commercial: 16 million
And NUFC:
TV: 78 million
Gate: 26 million
Commercial: 26 million
This coming year the bottom club will make 97 million from the TV deal. I doubt if either us or the Mackems gate and commercial revenue will go up. You can see why Fatty is so desperate to remain in the PL and the parachute payments do not even cover half of a club like NUFCs wages.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
With all the money spent and the money at stake, it is staggering that Ashley has stuck with Charnley, Carr and McClaren.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Under 21s beaten again at home three nil,Beardo has done nowt with the younger kids I think his coaching should also be looked at like the rest of our so called coaches at the club,along with Penfold,Carr,SM,the club needs a right clean out imo
Icedog(Quote)
U 21’s lost 0-3 against Fulham. Another area of the club completely neglected.
Fans forum is just a sham. Pointless and pathetic.
Stuart79(Quote)
Ice – No money is spent on the academy. We won’t get players from outside the North East, we won’t employ a decent coach or director. It’s pitiful!
Stuart79(Quote)
No I cant see it Eric, because we would have sold off most of our top earners if we drop – replacing them with players already on our books for the most part and generating loads in cash via sales. The parchute will be half the TV deal – so around £50m ish. The figures quoted before were bsed on the old deal. It’s 55% of the PL money in the first year – so 55% of 97 mil.
Its not in doubt that staying up is far better. But it’s not right to suggest we wont survive the drop. We cant count the new TV deal as lost money, because we have never had it and we wont have the same wage bill to think about if we go down.
Shamrock(Quote)
I mentioned ages ago that Peter Beardsley should be sacked. He should be judged on results just like McClaren. He hasn’t produced a really good player for the club in his time here. Look at Southampton, it can be done.
Terry(Quote)
Dummett, Aarons both established on the 1st team. Mbabu looks like he will make it – and now Gibson, Barlaser, and Sterry knocking on the door at least. Not to mention Armstrong. I would not say Beardsley is necessary doing a bad job developing players for the 1st team the last couple of years – but agree his teams results are rubbish.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock: it is not 55% of the 97 million because of the way it is set up. A lot of the money is paid to clubs for appearances and league position and that is not part of the pot. I posted something yesterday where somebody had done an in depth analysis and reckoned that the full parachute payments over 3 years would be about 70 million. Just extrapolating that’s about 30-35 million in the first year.
Our wage bill last year was 78 mil and with the additions I bet it is around 100 mil (Obviously, I don’t know that for certain because it is not reported until the summer). Getting rid of the dead wood would help a bit but that would have to be balanced with wanting to get straight back up.
The parachute payments obviously offer a buffer and if we could sell some players and cut the wages in half we would be OK for a year. If we weren’t promoted that would be a disaster as we fell further behind the likes of Stoke. The new TV money has certainly levelled the playing field for all but the most commercially attractive sides and have made traditional sources of our revenue like gate receipts much less significant.
I will have a look and see if I can find an exact number for the first year parachute payment but if you are losing 60-70 million that will require some major surgery on the wage bill and the sale of our best players.
It might mean that Fatty would just throw in the towel and sell though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here Shamrock. This is the article I quoted yesterday on parachute payments.
http://www.danielgeey.com/premier-league-parachute-payments-explained/
Even this is a bit muddy because in one place he gives an example of 70+ million as the total and in another 92mil. The payments are staggered though over 3 years at 55%, 40% and 20%.
So, if we take the 92 million total as the real number then there would be a payment of about 45 mil in the first year. Not chicken feed but a hell of a lot less than the 110-20 mil or so we would get from TV if we stay up.
It is really difficult to find anything definitive on this. I have read 5 or 6 articles and they really don’t pin down a first year number.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shamrock: I am not arguing with you btw, but a drop in expected revenue of 60-70-80 million will require a massive financial juggling act that will not be easy and will not happen with a few expired contracts and a few player sales. There will need to be a major overhaul unless Fatty dips into his own pocket. That is really all I am saying.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric I have seen quotes around the £70m over 3 years – but that is based on the old deal. They are still saying relegated teams will get 55%.
The new deal is increasing by 56% to £97m before TV bonuses etc. 97 is the flat rate. So take that and divide it by 156 then multiply by 100 and you get approximately £62m – last years flat rate(ish). Last year we got £78m ‘TV’ money – which will have been our flat rate plus TV appearances cash. So take that £62m and divide by the 55% for year 1, the 45% for year 2 and the 20% for year 3. You end up with £74m – the number you have quoted above for the parachute payments.
Under the new deal, – that number should end up closer to £116m, or £53m for the first year then £44m for the 2nd year.
In the last year year we have signed 7 for the first team and seen 4 go. In: Gini, Mitro, Thauvin, Shelvey, Townsend, Mbemba, Saivet. Out was Santon, Raylor, Guti and Williamson. I reckon thats added approximately £150k p/w to our bill – or £8m per year. So our wage bill will be closer to £86m – £90m a year.
Potential Championship squad:
GK: Elliott, Darlow, Wooodman.
RB: Mbabu, new signing or Sterry.
CB: Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett and a new signing.
LB: Haidara, new signing or Gibson.
CM: Shelvet, Colback, Saivet, Anita for his last year?
AM: Townsend, Aarons, Barlaser, De Jong, maybe Ameobi, new signing.
STR: Mitrovic, Perez, Armstrong, Toney.
Thats a strong Championship side and not a huge outlay in wages or transfers required. Maybe 4 new signings required – but all on higher Championship wages – not PL wages – so say 20k a piece.
If we drop, we lose at least 13 players – almost all big earners. Colo, Saylor, Krul, Janmaat, Tiote, Obertan, Gouffy, Marv, Cabella, Thauvin, Gini, Sissoko, Cisse. The average wage is 33k at the Toon – but some of these are on big wages – 8 of the above will be our 8 biggest earners. So lets call it a conservative £40k per week saved for the above players. Thats £23m – £26m off the wage bill including new signings.Net wage bill now about £60m.
Still leaves a wage to ‘TV’ money difference of up to £10m – but that would be easily offset by the profit from selling the likes of Gini, Krul, Janmaat, Sissy etc.
I still think we would be OK – provided we came straight back up – but accept any longer than 2 years and we are done permanently as a PL team.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock: I still think we would be OK too. I think you are wrong on the 97 million base as the calculation for the first year 55% parachute. I will find something, I did yesterday but the link would not post. From what I have seen the 97 mil is the TOTAL from all TV revenue for the bottom club and all of that is not counted when doing the caculation
The first year would not be that much of a problem as we have saleable assets who could offset the loss of revenue. Our problem would be if we stay there and the likes of bloody Stoke spend 40 or 50 million a year on players. This TV deal really has changed the landscape of English football. If you are not in the top 6 or 7, you are basically just like all the rest.
Your Man U’s and Chelsea’s have hoovered up all of the sponsorship money and the rest get the crumbs but also a massive TV deal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also Shamrock: I think you are probably right on the squad if we go down except maybe Thauvin because he will be difficult to shift if Marseilles drop him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I agree Eric. The hardest bit is not going down, but catching up when we get promoted.
Shamrock(Quote)
Re the academy, Callum Roberts has recently won the Barclays Under 21 Player of the Month. He didn’t play against Fulham Under 21s. I don’t know the reason. He is not listed as injured. Many thanks to Shamrock for all the work he has put into recent articles.
Groucho(Quote)
Most of the players you say will be sold are dead wood, out of contract or unwanted. The problem you have is that if you sell the likes of Gini, Janmaat and Sissoko you have to buy similar players when you get promoted plus a high quality goalscorer and centreback.
I have a solution though. Let’s not get relegated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have selfish reasons for wanting us to stay up. Currently I can see all 38 PL games live and for free (I think it might be $6.95 a month but you know what I mean). In the Championship I would see maybe about 5. That’s how many times the likes of QPR and Boro have been on this year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, you were right about the 97. It’s 82 flat rate – up to 100 with bonuses. Thats still worth 45m in the 1st year following relegation and 98m over the 3 years.
Shamrock(Quote)
Eric, if we get promoted I’d expect Mitro, Armstrong and Perez to have improved significantly by then. Also, although we need to sign a couple of star players, we would have the new TV deal money to pay for it!
*I can see why going down would be a bad thing for you. Over here, we dont get to see all of Newcastle’s games anyway – even on the internet.
Shamrock(Quote)
No probs Groucho. Glad you enjoy the content. Roberts and a a couple of others from thy squad are looking promising, but early days yet.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock: I was in Thailand for a month and they got all of our games. They would play the English commentary then have a Thai panel at half time. It was a problem for midweek games though as the Everton match began at 2.30 in the morning.
A team based on your squad @34 would not be that far away from what we would play if we stay up. Sissoko will probably leave anyway and that just leave Gini and Janmaat who would be starters. I have said before I would start Elliot ahead of Krul.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Somehow I doubt Mitro, Perez or Mbemba and the likes would be up for staying and I also doubt Ashley would want to pay their wages.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: they are young and have long contracts. Ashley would be desperate to get promoted at the first attempt so I think he might gamble on their wages. However, if we received an offer of 15 mil for any of them I think that would be hard to turn down.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – why wouldn’t they mate?, I mean the likes of Colo, Nolan and Barton stayed with us last time. Charlie Austin dropped down with QPR initially so I don’t see why they wouldn’t give us at least a season to try and get us straight back up. I think Mitro will feel he owes us and Perez has just signed a new contract with us knowing there was a chance we’d go down. If he was looking to leave, why do that?!.
Sissoko, Gini and Janmaat defo would but the younger ones I think would try and get us back up I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Some terrific articles Shamrock mate. Keep it up! I thought I would just mention the trials and tribulations of Bolton as a warning to our beloved owner. Amazing to think that Bolton are only worth 12.5 M pounds over 5 years. That’s what the new ownership group are going to pay, as well as having to pay off something like 2.2 pounds in back taxes. What would we be worth if we got relegated? Hard to even estimate, but possibly 75M or 80M pounds. Possibly you should have thought about that before hiring a series of lackeys Mike.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I’m already thinking ahead to the summer, although I don’t know what division we’ll be in. If we stay up the top priority must be a CB. A real, honest to God excellent CB. A big man with mobility and leadership qualities. After that I sort out who to keep in goal. And who the backup is. And a striker please. A real striker with excellent experience. And sort out whether Sissoko is staying or leaving. And decide whether to keep Doumbia. And get a proper LB in. And sort out De Jong. And decide about Cisse (time for him to go in my opinion). And have another look at how well the academy and reserve team are being run. And review the performances of all the executives. Other than that there’s not much to do……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The trials and tribulations of clubs like Bolton and Blackburn and in the past Portsmouth really worry me. It could happen to us with a complete football pinhead owner. If he stays he destroys us. If he leaves us after selling all the best players he destroys us……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Hey all have international aspirations and two of them actually play international football so I imagine when push comes to shove they’d be like the rest – “I’m a PL footballer, get me out of here!” So they would imagine anyway.
Stuart79(Quote)
I have realised something during this 18 day break in games. It is actually more enjoyable being a toon support when they aren’t playing!!! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – I know what you mean, but both play for smaller Countries, I reckon Mitrovic would still get selected as long as he is playing regular football and the same would go for Mbemba for me. Yes they would want to get back to the PL ASAP. They would more likely get call ups playing regular football for us in the championship that being squad players elsewhere.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good stat breakdown Sham, cheers for this. I’ve always thought Carrick would be a bit of a pointless purchase, and I do think the stats and the scoring is somewhat debatable (I still think tiote is our best out and out defensive mid) but it could be debated endlessly.
Interesting from Lascelles “We have sat down and had a lot of meetings and we have got loads of talent, that’s the frustrating thing about it.” “We’ve got so much talent and shouldn’t be in the position that we are in”
At least the players recognise the quality in the squad. Over to you Schteve.
Newkie(Quote)
College rubbish and spin from Lascelles. What do we expect him to say? They always say the right thing but the proof of the pudding is always in the eating and I reckon we will be bleeding starving at Stoke!
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I agree the “we’ve had some tough sessions and a good bond” is the usual PR ****, but we shouldn’t be using lack of investment as an excuse, the reason we’re in this position is because of our manager.
Newkie(Quote)
We do have a lot of talent and on paper these players as a team should not be in the bottom 3.
So I hope they discussed why they are and were honest about it. Talented players not working hard enough on the pitch & **** poor coaching – how do we fix that? Work harder & and sack McClaren – there we go that should have taken around 18mins never mind 18 days.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – aye, exactly 😆
Newkie(Quote)
100% agree, Newkie. It’s the fault of a failed manager who has failed on numerous occasions over the last five years and on two occasions failed to get the club with the highest budget into the PL from the Championship.
My one question to the club at the fans forum would be; What have they seen that makes them still convinced and confident that McClaren is the right man for the job, considering our results are truly shocking for the investment made.
I bet they couldn’t answer that!
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye, Sharpy. He should have been sacked. He’s obviously sending them out with the wrong tactics and info on the opposition because we’re playing like we have never played with each other and they e never seen the opposition play!
Stuart79(Quote)
Anyone think Carrick if signed might be used as a ball playing CB; He is taller than all of our centre halves bar Lacelles, Has a similar tackle/interception rate to Colo, Taylor & Lascelles, Wins most of his headers & obviously has an excellent pass success.
Alongside a pacey more aggressive player like Mbemba
CC(Quote)
CC – I know he’s played there for manure, but despite his height I’ve always felt he was a bit too lightweight for a centre back. I like Mbemba and he’s a strong lad, but he’s also a good ball player, I still think we could do with a proper old school no nonesense centre back to go alongside him. Carrick in a back 3 to allow Janmaat a less defensive role then maybe, but I wouldn’t get Carrick as a second centre back at all.
Newkie(Quote)
Ha should have read the article… 😳
Surprised at Carricks header count, He used to be quite useful in the air defending corners
CC(Quote)
Newkie
Just wondering if that might be why they are interested, Usually links like this appear once and get dismissed. This one won’t go away
I just can’t see him next to Shelvey, Who imo needs a terrier alongside him
CC(Quote)
Carrick building a house in the North East and plans to move back when he finishes playing – unless he plays here of course… Would be perfect for us. Great experience and gives me the impression he would play for a vastly reduced salary just so he could play for his home team and it would fit in with his plans. His dad is still heavily involved in the Wallsend Boys club too I think.
Stuart79(Quote)
CC – Yeah him alongside Shelvey wouldn’t work either, wouldn’t be much mobility in there at all, I’m assuming Saviet is the long term solution but haven’t seen him play enough to know what we’ve got in him really.
Newkie(Quote)
This is not a pet peeve, I just find it funny that they call Dummett “the Welshman” in Chronicle articles. He was born in Newcastle and qualifies for Wales through his Grandfather. He has lived in Newcastle all his life.
Similarly, “Irishman” Rob Elliot was born in Greenwich and has lived in England all his life.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – we all call you ‘Yank’ despite your North East roots mate. At least I think they are saying Yank 😯 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: there are tons here who have the last name Murphy or such who call themselves Irish American even though their Grandparents emigrated in 1900.
Dummett is the funniest and Mick Quinn called him Welsh today. I would expect better from Quinn as he knows how international qualification works. Are Wales ahead of England in the rankings now? Maybe Dummett would have had an easier time getting in the England team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
England are 9th and Wales 17th. Not bad for a population of 3 million and Paul Dummett.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So toon have blocked Tiote 6mil to China,imo I would let him go
Icedog(Quote)
Dummett the international. Somehow that has a funny ring to it. Bit like Danny Simpson the Premier League winner or Alan Pardew, England manager. Not sure what I’m trying to say here . . .
Newkie – I was thinking that too. What’s Saivet really like? Nobody’s seen enough and his majesty seems to prefer Tiote or Colback anyway. He looks tidy, tracks back, tackles well. Maybe he was a panic buy when we had injuries and Tiote looked odds on for China. Sounds like NUFC.
Georgio(Quote)
Me too Ice – hand snapped off.
Georgio(Quote)
Icedog: if it is really true Tiote will probably get a strop on anyway. I saw the Chinese window closes Friday, so who knows. Tiote has one decent game against a team that didn’t even try to press and one terrible game against Chelsea and Steve thinks he is the answer. What does that say about Steve?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Tiote’s done next to nowt in 2 years and has been angling for a move away for a year. What else does Steve need to know? Can we really rely on a player like that during our 12 “cup finals”?
Eric Sykes(Quote)