beatty

Have realised that as long as I avoid every word that comes out of this eels slippery mouth - and try and forget about his pathetic treatment of our most talented player - I can just about make it through games in full support of our players. Urgh.

Yeah, that was definitely a cross with a tad too much weight on it. Shouldn't be included in that. Possibly an understatement about the weighting Have to say that we did create 2, 3 possibly 4 half chances. At 1-0 Ayoze came within an inch of leveling the game. So it wasn't a bad attacking performance as we did create chances over the course of the 90 minutes. The problem I had is that those chances were only created in the final stages of the game where we had no choice but chase the game. Early on we were very conservative with our runs into the box, resulting in many fruitless attempts to play balls into a box that consisted of a nervy Riviere and 4 or 5 MC defenders. Odds against us on all our attacks. And that was actually an improvement on what we did last season, where we just hit ball after ball from all angles in the hope of getting lucky. At least we have started to try and fashion out half and full chances which has given me room for optimism.

I blame Pardew for thinking Obertan could have a meaningful impact. Did nothing wrong is the equivalent of patting a young lad on the back after his first day of school for not literally shitting himself in public. Think he did loads wrong anyway, specifically his movement off the ball. He consistently wondered into positions where he offered zero impact, be that as a pass option or having made a run to open up space. Within the first 10 minutes of him coming on we went from having a system whereby we were capable of moving the ball forward across the pitch, to an unbalanced system that was completely unable to move the ball forward. Obertan for Anita killed our forward momentum, when it was hoped by a fool to do the opposite.

Yeah, Gouffran is nearly as bad as Obertan when out wide. CF is supposedly his best formation, but I wouldn't know as we don't play him there.

Yeah, was a flippant response, but still has some relevance. Of the substitutes, I would have brought Abeid on ahead of Obertan if a like for like with Anita was necassary. Colback did drop back into the position and played it well, so I guess we could have brought on one of the other attacking options and shuffled the pack a little. Cabella into the center with Aarons onto the wing (although with hindsight he didn't look threatening) or Perez on to play as a link-up man in the middle. Perez was very sharp when he came on. Want to see a lot of him this season.

HBA

Seething about the Obertan sub. A complete nonentity on the pitch. Urgh.

Came on to nullify our right wing Impostor.

We need to get more into the MC box when attacking. Mainly RIviere plus a late runner to attack the ball, which is far too easy to defend against, Surprisingly not bad, apart from Dummett. Lad is such a trained player, who goes through all the basics and cannot seem to think for himself. Always a simple pass, long one back to Krul or channel ball. A bit like Danny Simpson in that regard. I get that he's so conditioned that he has decent positional awareness and can tackle a bit, but fullback are such an important position in many more ways than that.

Janmaat was dropped by van Gaal for tactical reasons. Only seen a little of him, but what I saw I liked.

Bird

Yes CT, this is exactly what we should be doing

I mean, you only have to look at how Aarons tormented his defender on the other wing to see what kind of effect a pacey winger should have on the game.

Nah, still dopey and unable to play at pace under a modicum of pressure. Didn't see anything in his play to suggest he'll make an impact this season. Supposed to have been two clubs there to watch him, so if all goes to plan that may be the last we see of him in a Newcastle strip.

Aarons just burst through 3 players and opted to take a sketchy at best shooting chance when he had Riviere free to his left. Would have been a clear cut opportunity for Riviere. Brilliant and shit in the space of 5 seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=G1BPYorZFco Anyone watching? Janmaat does not do a good job at hiding his frustration at our utterly shit off the ball movement

Probably given the choice.

Image touch-up requirements: 1) Fix lighting 2) Trim down Blob Jelliot 3) Make Ginge less ginge

#26

Reasonable enough bloke, until the last sentence

Word is Cabella hasn't dribbled much tonight. Guess he's discovered our game plan.

Guy passed a letter to a member of the cabin crew warning them that there was a bomb on board. Fucking hell :lol:

Seems they're on top of the situation.

He is extremely limited on the ball and very sluggish physically. Very Danny Simpson in possession; if a simple pass is not available he immediately looks for a channel ball. Not the hallmarks of a promising youngster. Not sure what he's done to merit the first team exporsure.

Sterling comparison is so lazy and not that accurate.