themanupstairs

They clearly will like. I imagine Cattermole will fly at him within the first two minutes.

Fairly certain they'll be targeting him, Tiote, Janmaat and Coloccini who are all prone to a moment of madness.

Over 9 games - everything you talk about more or less evens out. As evidence that it's no surprise that Van Dijk wins more aerial duels than Fabricio Coloccini. As evidenced that Colo who we all agree is poor in the air, has a similar success rate in the air to Chancel - lower than the others I highlighted. I'd be surprised if you could highlight more than 1 CB who is considered good in the air who has a similarly poor aerial duel stat. That's because the stat is fairly indicative of overall aerial competence for a CB.

 

And again - it's from an observation i've made with my eyes that i've looked to see could be substantiated with facts. That stat probably wouldn't count the first Norwich goal. Or the poor clearance for Payet's goal.  But it's indicative of the issue. We look susceptible from crosses and set-pieces. He gets beaten too often for a CB in the air.

Height is another issue. You have highlighted Van Dijk who is probably a good 10cm taller than both Mbemba and Coloccini. It's easier the taller you are to rack up the numbers for obvious reasons.

He's not "poor" in the air FFS!

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/104368 Chancel Mbemba's Characteristics - have a gander at his weaknesses. These are just the facts to back up obvious observations.

 

So he's won half of his aerial duels? If he was poor, he'd be winning much less surely? What about strikers who score 1 out of their 3 shots? Are they poor? Anyone can use stats to prove a point. The eyes & brain combination is a better indicator IMO, and I can confidently say that Mbemba has had a very promising start to his PL career, and has shown a lot more strength than weakness. He's the least of our problems in defence.

1. Like I said, it's an observation that i've tried to back up with facts. We've conceded goals from Mbemba losing out in the air and from his poor headed clearances. We also look very susceptible to concede from set-pieces of which Mbemba is part of the problem.

 

2. You really think a CB should win half his aerial battles?

 

By comparison:

Van Dijk has won 27 of 36.

Vertonghen  24 of 38.

Smalling 34 of 56.

Coloccini 12 of 22.

 

 

I find it disingenuous that Colback gets a lot of stick for actually engaging his brain for once and making sure not to pick up a suspension. But another player can consistently lack in such a important area for his position and it's never mentioned. The same thing happened with Colo when his lack of physicality really began to cost us.

 

I'm here to criticise Colback when it comes to holding on the ball for too long, always choosing the safe pass, not showing for the ball enough and being immobile as owt. But we should be fair in our assessments.

1. The point I was making was that stats don't take into account the circumstances in which these "duels" were won or lost. A defender could still win a header by "accident", with his eyes closed, and by the same token do his utmost best to win one but fails to do so because of a nudge in the back or a missed-step etc. The stats are ridiculous in that they make all aerial duels exactly the same, which if one knew anything about football, they'd know that isn't the case. Rather than use stats, I'd rather point to the strengths and weaknesses of a player from a bird's eye view. No one denies that Mbemba has weaknesses, but he isn't "poor" in the air. Bringing this up in every thread, then going on to applaud Colback for not getting booked is insanity.

He's not "poor" in the air FFS!

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/104368 Chancel Mbemba's Characteristics - have a gander at his weaknesses. These are just the facts to back up obvious observations.

So he's won half of his aerial duels? If he was poor, he'd be winning much less surely? What about strikers who score 1 out of their 3 shots? Are they poor? Anyone can use stats to prove a point. The eyes & brain combination is a better indicator IMO, and I can confidently say that Mbemba has had a very promising start to his PL career, and has shown a lot more strength than weakness. He's the least of our problems in defence.

I'm not defending the lads ability. But the "bottling challenges" stuff is silly.

It really isn't, especially seeing that he does actually bottle entire matches let alone challenges.

LOL very much nitpicking. A lot of battling CM's pick up a lot of yellow cards. And they often have to play it safer in games before a big match.

 

I think it's more the way he does it, by lacking an engine and being constantly out of position and chasing the game.

 

If he was dominating the opposition midfield and putting in big tackles it would be different.

 

It's just an excuse to have another pointless dig at the lad. Had he made a tackle that even put him in danger of getting a yellow, many would rightly criticise him for being stupid ahead of such a momentous game. He's a pretty crap PL midfielder - people don't need to invent reasons to have a go at him.

You mean in the same way you find excuses to have pointless digs at Mbemba? Colback is a coward and brings absolutely nothing to the team. He'll make a block once every 5 games or so, but other than that he's as desperate and useless a PL player as one can get. Not at all surprising that people will have a dig at him for stealing a living. Contrast that with Mbemba who is new to the league and has shown far more in the 8 games or so he has played in than Colback ever has in his career.

Has he always been this way? I really don't remember his attitude being so WUMmy back in the day. Maybe I never noticed because I just didn't see the great value added to the forum.

Would rather see what McClaren can do with him for a few games than put Cisse in.

Especially after having spent some time away from the pitch and the first team toxicity. He may just come back a different player, hopefully a better one. Happens sometimes.

It's raining lads

Can we just buy him back please

 

Imagine

 

The Tyne would be flowing with jizz.

would give the local kebab industry a lift as well

Aye let's alienate him, and not give him a chance under new management/coaching/system, just in case we lose Mitrovic and/or Cisse, and might need a striker to score the odd goal or two. Fuck him. Give soldiers Riviere wages.

To me the way it looked on Sunday was he was in his favored role when we attacked which was freedom to drift into space. It looked to me that He's basically "wide" left but playing in his instinctive 10 role when ball is on opposite wing. Him playing left side seems merely a defensive postion or his starting blocks on the counter.

This.

Wijnaldum is a well rounded footballer and can contribute in several ways. As long as he's intelligent and disciplined in his decision making depending on the situation, he can start in any position in the front 6 tbh.

  You can try twisting people's words and changing the subject all you like. The fact is -

 

Results have deteriorated since Pardew left.

The football has improved noticeably. Especially the way we attack and try to keep possession. If SMC can find some consistency then this way is a lot more sustainable than al pards' hit and hope for a bi o magikk. Rather have a positive approach than Pardew's cowardly ways. Fair?

This game has score draw written all over it.

Weird Al Mitrovic

winner

Going to enjoy him as much as I can because if he keeps this up we will be selling him in the near future.

Yup. And if we sell him for anything under 30m soon it would be a travesty. 10 goals and a few assists this season should see that rise up to 45-50m IMO.

He's a bit of a throwback like, shades of Shearer and Vieri.

Has a hint of the Giroud about him.

Reminded me a bit of Ibrahimovic the way he controlled and took the ball with him with his chest. 

 

anyone else?

Reminded me a bit of Messi in the way they both have 2 feet, 2 legs, 2 arms and 2 hands, and a bunch of daft tattoos.

That lofted pass to set up Mitrovic for his goal is probably the most "beautiful" assist I've seen from a Newcastle player for a very long time. Probably since Cabaye's inch perfect through ball to Cisse against Stoke.

He looks like a big strong and cute bear. Then he attacks..

And now Nice concede. Ben Arfa should have tracked back to defend that. Instead he's sat on the bench the fat forrin fuck.

That's more like it

Ben Arfa is a good player but he doesn't defend enough for me. Who the fuck do Nice think they are keeping him on the pitch while winning 4-0. Don't they know they might concede?

What a goal by the sub

Anyone know why he didn't play today? Have the club said anything?

Superstar in the making. Links the lines so well, and can finish. Could be our first 50 million pound player by the time he's sold.