NUFC vs Braga

[Kid Dynamite 7009]

The few snippets I have seen from us pre season suggests an extra striker is going to make no difference to how we play at all. The problem appears to be zero creativity in the centre of midfield. Sissoko and Tiote, whilst good players, aren't in the Silva/Mata/Coutinho/Fabregas etc. mould. Cabaye is the closest we have but he seems to have just decided to stop being any good whatsoever.

 

I'm wondering if the solution is going to come from either dropping one of Sissoko/Tiote/Cabaye and moving Ben Arfa inside, or giving Anita a decent run to see if he can provide anything different. Cisse must be sick of his life atm.

 

 

Cabaye-----Sissoko----Anita

 

--------------Ben Arfa----------

 

-------Remy--------Cisse------

 

could be an option but its narrow as fuck

 

 

 

Ideally it would be this, 451 when defending, 4231 when attacking

 

------------Cabaye--Sissoko---------------------

 

------------------Ben Arfa--------------------------

 

Remy--------------------------Sinclair/A.N.Other

 

-------------------Cisse/Gomis--------------------

Edited August 10, 2013 by TheRollingStones

[scoobos 298]

Agree totally with that, but I did honestly think Jonas had a good game today - he actually put crosses into the right places nearly every time and also drew a lot of fouls.

 

Cabaye doesn't want to play for us, it seems - or he's depressed. Arfa still looked pacey despite his larger build too.

[ADP 0]

I thought Jonas was shite yesterday. The difference between him and Ben Arfa tracking back to help defensively is absolutely ridiculous. Leaving Santon on his own over and over again to deal with a two on one down the wing. He put in a decent cross or two, but that doesn't cancel out his defensive misgivings imo.

 

Things I took from the game yesterday:

 

- Confidence on the ball seemed a lot better than last season.

- That said, there was very little active penetration with the ball. Barring Sissoko's thread through to Cisse in the first half, I thought we lacked any creativity in the midfield whatsoever, yet again waiting for Ben Arfa to do some magic.

- Took an age and a day to switch the play. Like join the dots or something.

- Cisse seemed isolated and linkup play with midfield and attackers was pretty non existent.

- I don't know what he has been eating, but Ben Arfa looked HUGE yesterday. (Santon looked heavy as well).

- Coloccini looking like a rock as ever.

- FINALLY a goal from a corner.

- Cabaye looked so disinterested with his game. I know it was a friendly an all, but just didn't seem to give a remote shit.

[scoobos 298]

Hmm, I didn't see any confidence myself, they looked pretty much the same as last year. Positives same as you tho, colo was ace, arfa looked fit.

[StoneColdStephenIreland 74]

It got tiring watching us force the long ball through. We'd string a good few passes together only to then look for the long ball. I don't get why we cant keep a hold of it and be a bit more patient, especially when theyre not exactly probing long passes either.

[LoveTheBobby 1]

Arfa still looked pacey despite his larger build too.

 

Definitely on the croissants .

 

[LoveTheBobby 1]

I'm picking up what you're putting down 'Tone .

 

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3859]

Looks like he could do with Ramadan being extended for a few weeks.

[OTF 7280]

lol tucking the shirt in has not helped him for that photo like

Yes, shocking picture that. Perhaps his podginess will work in our favour with defenders thinking he'll have lost some spark.

[LoveTheBobby 1]

From what I've heard the 'hatrick ball up the jumper' look he's sporting could be a canny stash of all the knickaz of birds from around Jesmond stuffed up there .

Edited August 13, 2013 by LoveTheBobby

[scotty84 0]

Hatem Ben&jerry's Arfa not helped by the low camera shot.

Haven't seen too much of the pre-season stuff apart from the goals so can't comment on his fitness, but I'd rather have a slightly podgy, regularly available Arfa than a 15 games a season player.

[Gemmill 44498]

People shouldn't make excuses for Ben Arfa's lack of conditioning. It doesn't make it OK because he's a good player.

 

Its indicative of his lack of professionalism and how seriously he's taking his career and his role at the club. And it WILL make him more prone to breaking down with injuries.

[ewerk 30370]

And I thought that stripes were supposed to be flattering.

[Gemmill 44498]

He's most of the way through pre-season when that was taken as well. What a tosser.

[Kid Dynamite 7009]

To be in your twenties, spend every day running around a field, have as much gym and nutrition advice as you need and still have a gut points to some horrendous diet/lifestyle choices.

[Park Life 71]

He's been resting his hamstring, been told to by Pard. He'll be upto speed in another couple of weeks.

[ChezGiven 0]

Too much merguez tbh.

[Gemmill 44498]

He's been resting his hamstring, been told to by Pard. He'll be upto speed in another couple of weeks.

So he might have lost his gut a week and a half into the season? What a pro.

[Meenzer 15432]

Too much merguez tbh.

 

Can't say I blame him.

[Ausman 0]

Too much merguez tbh.

 

 

Merguez are lush.

[Anorthernsoul 1221]

Hatem is fat as fuck, do they avoid Cardio in training?

Edited August 13, 2013 by Anorthernsoul

[Park Life 71]

Hush.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiXgYCQc__U

[ewerk 30370]

Imagine what he could do if he wasn't of CT proportions.

[Tooj 17]

Pardew needs to make sure this season he gets the ball in the opposition's final third instead of have him playing like a fucking wing-back and picking it up on the edge of our own area.

[Gemmill 44498]

He spends half the season injured, and the other half overweight, and clearly isn't taking his career seriously. Absolutely ludicrous to try and pass that off as OK because he happens to be talented.