Steve McClaren

[sempuki]

1-3.

[Guest ElCid]

I know it's a bit of a cliché - maybe even an undeserved excuse - but I don't think you can make judgements on McClaren's tactical/line-up choices until he's got a squad he can call his own.

 

Granted, he may never do so. And like the man before him, he'll be denied any sympathy if he allows 'the system' to dictate the quality of the squad. Nevertheless, at this point I'm hesitant to say he's this or that - be it reactionary, conservative, counter-attacking, 'cowardly' - whilst he's shackled by having to play two of our three centre-midfielders; none of whom were chosen by him and none of whom are remotely talented.

 

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the s*** we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

Any manager who keeps playing 2 defensive midfielders even against a team with only 6 points and totally to the detriment to the team, continues to drop one of the best players of the team for no reason, continues to play players who are clearly are being outplayed in nearly every game in their position, continues to play players out of position and continues to not rectify obvious weakness of play which cost goals (i.e. Janmatt wandering) does not deserve anyone posting to say that people cannot make judgements. The bloke is a total fraud of a manager and deseves totally to be compared to Pardew and Carver and in fact if Pardew was still here there is no doubt the team would have more points on the board - yes even a worse manager than Pardew and that is saying something! 

[DJ_NUFC]

I know it's a bit of a cliché - maybe even an undeserved excuse - but I don't think you can make judgements on McClaren's tactical/line-up choices until he's got a squad he can call his own.

 

Granted, he may never do so. And like the man before him, he'll be denied any sympathy if he allows 'the system' to dictate the quality of the squad. Nevertheless, at this point I'm hesitant to say he's this or that - be it reactionary, conservative, counter-attacking, 'cowardly' - whilst he's shackled by having to play two of our three centre-midfielders; none of whom were chosen by him and none of whom are remotely talented.

 

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the s*** we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

Any manager who keeps playing 2 defensive midfielders even against a team with only 6 points and totally to the detriment to the team, continues to drop one of the best players of the team for no reason, continues to play players who are clearly are being outplayed in nearly every game in their position, continues to play players out of position and continues to not rectify obvious weakness of play which cost goals (i.e. Janmatt wandering) does not deserve anyone posting to say that people cannot make judgements. The bloke is a total fraud of a manager and deseves totally to be compared to Pardew and Carver and in fact if Pardew was still here there is no doubt the team would have more points on the board - yes even a worse manager than Pardew and that is saying something! 

 

Fair post as well

 

I'm disgusted by him so far, but am willing to see if he does something about it in the January window. How he behaves and what kind of power he pulls in terms of signings is going to be a huge indication of what kind of man he is, and if he is willing to go up against his paymasters to demand for 'his' team.

[Kanj]

Everton will smash us

 

So would Liverpool and Spurs. This team is pretty unpredictable at the minute.

 

Martinez has his way with Newcastle all the time, granted, it was Pardew and Carver for many years.

[Elliottman]

Everton will smash us

 

So would Liverpool and Spurs. This team is pretty unpredictable at the minute.

 

Martinez has his way with Newcastle all the time, granted, it was Pardew and Carver for many years.

 

didn't we beat them up here last year?

[Teasy]

The bloke is a total fraud of a manager and deseves totally to be compared to Pardew and Carver and in fact if Pardew was still here there is no doubt the team would have more points on the board - yes even a worse manager than Pardew and that is saying something! 

 

Pardew would certainly have played hoofball right from the start, continued to tell players to have as little possession as possible because its too dangerous and focused 100% on counter attack in every game.  That would almost definitely have gotten us more points from the first several matches simply because we'd have conceded less.  But would I say that makes Pardew a better manager?, well I've disagreed with Mclaren quite often lately, but no I don't think he's worse than Pardew as a manager.

[The College Dropout]

Think Pardew would be starting Mitro and Perez tbh.

[loki679]

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the shit we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

If this is the case then why persist with it game after game?  We could play a midfield three of Anita, Sissoko and Wijnaldum with Anita holding and Sissoko going box to box but over and over again we play this stupid 4-2-3-1 with Colback playing hide and don't seek in the middle.

[Wallsendmag]

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the s*** we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

If this is the case then why persist with it game after game?  We could play a midfield three of Anita, Sissoko and Wijnaldum with Anita holding and Sissoko going box to box but over and over again we play this stupid 4-2-3-1 with Colback playing hide and don't seek in the middle.

 

We'd get totally overrun in midfield playing those 3. For me it's vital we strengthen our central midfield in January because currently we get the worst of both worlds. Our back 4 doesn't get the protection it needs and there's also an alarming lack of creativity as well.

[Cronky]

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the s*** we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

If this is the case then why persist with it game after game?  We could play a midfield three of Anita, Sissoko and Wijnaldum with Anita holding and Sissoko going box to box but over and over again we play this stupid 4-2-3-1 with Colback playing hide and don't seek in the middle.

 

We'd get totally overrun in midfield playing those 3. For me it's vital we strengthen our central midfield in January because currently we get the worst of both worlds. Our back 4 doesn't get the protection it needs and there's also an alarming lack of creativity as well.

 

Is the ugly truth.

[Gallowgate Toon]

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the s*** we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

If this is the case then why persist with it game after game?  We could play a midfield three of Anita, Sissoko and Wijnaldum with Anita holding and Sissoko going box to box but over and over again we play this stupid 4-2-3-1 with Colback playing hide and don't seek in the middle.

 

We've tried 4-3-3 a couple of times this season, with Gini and Sissoko in midfield, and it's looked awful. Watford being a prime example.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Wijnaldum and Sissoko are absolutely useless at doing anything physical and with our rubbish defence we simply can't afford to have people in there that won't compete in physical duels in a crucial area of the pitch. Anita and Colback might be utter shite but they get involved in that side of the game and offer something (even though it's still not good enough), whilst allowing Wijnaldum and Sissoko (two of our best players this year) more freedom to attack. We're also not in a position to piss about with formations any more, we've only looked remotely solid playing this shape, this season, everything else has been crap (and it's not like a few different formations have been tried). Of course, he's a 'disgusting' 'coward' for going for the only thing that's ever looked decent for us in the last year with this lot of players and trying to allow his attacking players more freedom...

 

The thing he does deserve stick for was still sticking with Cisse and de Jong up top for Villa. One of them should've been dropped, IMO, but I have no qualms about how he handled the situation a few weeks ago. We needed a change and he freshened up the one area we have competition in.

[1878]

Barkley vs Colback too.

 

They're comfortably better than us in all departments.

 

We can say that when comparing our first XI (minus Howard) against most teams in the league tbf but it doesn't mean we'll get a result.

 

Martinez is completely incapable of organising the defence to have any sort of shape, solidity or ability to defend set pieces. That's why our only 2 league wins in 11 are against Sunderland & Villa.

[Teasy]

Think Pardew would be starting Mitro and Perez tbh.

 

There wouldn't be enough places available up front for both Mitrovic and Perez.  Since obviously Gouffran would have to start...

[loki679]

Think Pardew would be starting Mitro and Perez tbh.

 

There wouldn't be enough places available up front for both Mitrovic and Perez.  Since obviously Gouffran would have to start...

 

As if we'd play Gouffran up front

[triggs]

Barkley vs Colback too.

 

They're comfortably better than us in all departments.

 

We can say that when comparing our first XI (minus Howard) against most teams in the league tbf but it doesn't mean we'll get a result.

 

Martinez is completely incapable of organising the defence to have any sort of shape, solidity or ability to defend set pieces. That's why our only 2 league wins in 11 are against Sunderland & Villa.

Is Martinez under any pressure from the fans?

[Teasy]

Think Pardew would be starting Mitro and Perez tbh.

 

There wouldn't be enough places available up front for both Mitrovic and Perez.  Since obviously Gouffran would have to start...

 

As if we'd play Gouffran up front

 

Nah Gouffran would have to be the 5th body in midfield (since he's obviously so great at it) leaving one place for our teams designated attacker.  With Ameobi gone its a toss up who would get the job of having the ball kicked at him while stranded 20 yards from any of his team mates.

[TenkoDaLuz]

Everton will smash us

 

The team is coming from a not-so-bad sequence of results so I think NUFC's in for a good game.

[Astroblack]

I thought Everton would smash us last season but we beat them 3-2 with Colback scoring, so who knows what will happen this time around.

 

Barkley is a talented player but he's far from consistent.

[Jaqen]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=949041485163323&id=639087909492017

[Astroblack]

Story of my life right there.

[Kanj]

McClaren went back to back wins versus Liverpool and Spurs to drawing Villa at home with 0 adjustments, 0 attempt to galvanize the crowd and put out a proper attacking team, no momentum building decisions or steps forward...no, he instead felt it was right to play the exact same team and it fell flat on his face.  Still fuming at the Villa result.

[Astroblack]

McClaren went back to back wins versus Liverpool and Spurs to drawing Villa at home with 0 adjustments, 0 attempt to galvanize the crowd and put out a proper attacking team, no momentum building decisions or steps forward...no, he instead felt it was right to play the exact same team and it fell flat on his face.  Still fuming at the Villa result.

 

I feel like a lot of people deep down predicted this would happen. It's as if he's predictably boring and shit.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

We have shown we can soak up possession pressure and then be a threat on the break as the game opens up. But we cannot take the game to the opposition. That's mainly down to McClaren, but also because we lack the right players to get at teams from the off.

 

Our best results have came against teams who have lots of possession or more than us and who try to attack us.

 

We had lots of possession against the mackems and dominated them, but we were not much of a threat and we got beat.

 

We were expected to go at Villa and get the win, but we can't and in the end a draw was a fair result and a fair reflection of what kind of team we are, especially at home.

 

To get at teams from the off, to dominate and stamp your own authority on the game you need leaders and drive from the centre of the pitch. We have a very static midfield on the ball despite the pace and power of Sissoko and the technical skills and quick feet of Gini. We need a dominant midfielder who wants the ball to his feet, who can play the ball around and who can drive forward on and off the ball. Not on the cusp explosive and intuitive players all the time like Sissoko and Gini. Its no coincidence they go missing and only seem to perform when the game is open and stretched. They are not possession footballers, or footballers who command the ball and move it about. Colback and Anita are cowards are mice in that respect as well.

 

We lack a mobile forward too which we desperately need, someone that forces the opposition back-four back deeper and thus allow us to dominate midfield and get on top of games.

[Teasy]

There's also a big difference in our pressing against a team like Liverpool and a team like Villa.  The players just don't work as hard if they're not playing against a "big" side.