Wullie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Played more long ball stuff tonight than in any game under Allardyce. Utter dross. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 What's the point in bringing Ben Arfa on if your just going to smash it long? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Played more long ball stuff tonight than in any game under Allardyce. Utter dross. I don't think we did, but it was pretty close. He addressed the situation at the beginning of the first half. We came out after half-time and passed the ball for 95% of the time. We started playing it out from the back. Vuckic, and later Ben Arfa, came deeper to receive the ball. We wore them down and grabbed an equaliser. Job done, and we look back on the first 45 with frustration... However, and what's absolutely infuriating, is that we returned to the first half's tactics immediately after scoring. It was absolutely no surprise that they scored again. Beyond ridiculous and a serious, serious worry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistle17 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Tonight seriously was a performance that was from the dark days of Souness/Roeder/Allardyce. The baffling substitutions/far too late calls were reminiscent of that. Really, really pissed off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Not really sure what Pardew is upto. I mean the basics were wrong from the start and that isn't even taking into account the turgid and unimaginative selection we are having to put up with. We are playing a team with two of the fastest forwards in the PL and so we kindly lay on a high line that was bordering on the half way line, which is normally suicidal and proved so today. Every time they broke (even with just two of them it looked like they might score). THIS 442 leaves yawning gaps in the center of the park and a a weakend spine (no Cabaye no Taylor) leaves the side who are wanting to push on at home exposed - it will everytime. This misjudgement is magnifyied if YOU KEEP GIVING cheap posession away with long balls from the back - which we did as panic set in more often than not...THE TEMPTATION IS THERE OF COURSE CAUSE THE TWO BIG STRIKERS look like and enticing target till the ball is in the air and the defence closes down/steps up. Like SWANSEA more often than not WBA hogged the middle when we had the ball and we did have the ball for spells but there seemed to be no plan other than give it to someone to run up the side and throw it into the middle - that is basically the extent of what we did in the last two games. It would have been worse but for Ba manufacturing goals out of thin air. Pardew who I didn't really want to over criticise is beginning to lose the plot and seems unware that other sides have watched us a few times and know we have NO PLAN B whatsoever/can't play through the middle/ or HBA IS NOT ON THE PITCH. Stop starting Best and Obertan and let the free midfielder (normally Cabaye/tonight Vukic) come to the edge of the box or interchange passes so the whole team can come up while we retain posession. What are we doing? Just throwing it in from the side or the back over the head of the midfield and risking losing posession every time...It's really tedious to watch. The season isn't ruined yet but if Pardew doesn't have the nous or guts to change it and play one striker it's gonna carry on like this. Two home games against sides we should be beating down the drain. Unforgiveable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONTEMPI Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Knew this bloke would turn turboshit at somepoint so can't say i'm surprised we're dropping like a stone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newcastle Fan Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 This reminded me of the old days, what a horrible game and really ruined my day..i don't understand taking off Santon and i definitely don't understand bringing Shola on, he needs to sort this mess out before the crowd turns on him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Played more long ball stuff tonight than in any game under Allardyce. Utter dross. Aye, apart from his consistently disappointing use of subs and his preferential treatment of lesser footballers to the detriment of better ones, this is my biggest gripe with him at the moment. We have the players in midfield to play a passing game and our best forwards/strikers are not the battering ram types, so what's with the hoofball tactics of late? He needs to seriously sort this out or I can seen the fans quickly turning on him. Playing an unattractive style of football and not getting the results does not tend to go down well with most fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Al Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The crowd will turn on him before our next winnable fixture [QPR on 15.01]. P**s poor in our last 3 games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karjala Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Welcome back to reality and all the shite that comes with it. More excuses from AP no doubt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dogbeak Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Knew this bloke would turn turboshit at somepoint so can't say i'm surprised we're dropping like a stone. PHEW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Al Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I'm just waiting for the bbc interview of Pardew. Not that it'll change anything... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 He's an absolute embarrassment. Sorted out the home form his fans reckon. 6th best home record in the league (better than Liverpool who've dropped home points to the likes of Sunderland, Swansea & Norwich), and our best home start upto 9 league games since 2002. but we'll not let facts get in the way of things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Not really sure what Pardew is upto. I mean the basics were wrong from the start and that isn't even taking into account the turgid and unimaginative selection we are having to put up with. We are playing a team with two of the fastest forwards in the PL and so we kindly lay on a high line that was bordering on the half way line, which is normally suicidal and proved so today. Every time they broke (even with just two of them it looked like they might score). THIS 442 leaves yawning gaps in the center of the park and a a weakend spine (no Cabaye no Taylor) leaves the side who are wanting to push on at home exposed - it will everytime. This misjudgement is magnifyied if YOU KEEP GIVING cheap posession away with long balls from the back - which we did as panic set in more often than not...THE TEMPTATION IS THERE OF COURSE CAUSE THE TWO BIG STRIKERS look like and enticing target till the ball is in the air and the defence closes down/steps up. Like SWANSEA more often than not WBA hogged the middle when we had the ball and we did have the ball for spells but there seemed to be no plan other than give it to someone to run up the side and throw it into the middle - that is basically the extent of what we did in the last two games. It would have been worse but for Ba manufacturing goals out of thin air. Pardew who I didn't really want to over criticise is beginning to lose the plot and seems unware that other sides have watched us a few times and know we have NO PLAN B whatsoever/can't play through the middle/ or HBA IS NOT ON THE PITCH. Stop starting Best and Obertan and let the free midfielder (normally Cabaye/tonight Vukic) come to the edge of the box or interchange passes so the whole team can come up while we retain posession. What are we doing? Just throwing it in from the side or the back over the head of the midfield and risking losing posession every time...It's really tedious to watch. The season isn't ruined yet but if Pardew doesn't have the nous or guts to change it and play one striker it's gonna carry on like this. Two home games against sides we should be beating down the drain. Unforgiveable. Summed everything up well there. Yes, we've had players out, but we've still had a squad to select from that could have beaten both Swansea and West Brom. Pardew has done well here so i'm more than prepared to give him the time to rectify the glaring errors, but things need to change pdq. Plus he needs defensive reinforcements. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The season isn't ruined yet but if Pardew doesn't have the nous or guts to change it and play one striker it's gonna carry on like this. Ba has 13 goals - pretty much all of them coming with another striker on the pitch - and you want to disrupt that for what purpose? We need a new striker to partner him, not to fuck about with stupid systems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 First 11 games: 8 goals conceded. Last 6 games: 14 goals conceded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 You be happy with it all you like, 1 point from the last two home games is totally unacceptable. What's our form, 2 points from 18? He's thrown the good start down the toilet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The season isn't ruined yet but if Pardew doesn't have the nous or guts to change it and play one striker it's gonna carry on like this. Ba has 13 goals - pretty much all of them coming with another striker on the pitch - and you want to disrupt that for what purpose? We need a new striker to partner him, not to f*** about with stupid systems. 2 penalties, 1 free-kick, 1 from a corner, and 1 from a Ben Arfa assist. 5 goals nowt to do with a strike partner and I bet he's had considerably less time without a second striker. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 First 11 games: 8 goals conceded. Last 6 games: 14 goals conceded. We've looked beyond vulnerable at the back since the moment Taylor pulled up against Chelsea. Manu was a valiant effort and City doesn't even count... it's the Chelsea game that has murdered us. That is the turning point as things stand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newcastle Fan Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The season isn't ruined yet but if Pardew doesn't have the nous or guts to change it and play one striker it's gonna carry on like this. Ba has 13 goals - pretty much all of them coming with another striker on the pitch - and you want to disrupt that for what purpose? We need a new striker to partner him, not to f*** about with stupid systems. We don't even "need" a new striker, give Ben Arfa a proper run out for fucks sake, last time i checked he's supposed to be one of most talented players in France, no point in us in trying to sign Maiga whoever the fuck he is and not give him a chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 You be happy with it all you like, 1 point from the last two home games is totally unacceptable. What's our form, 2 points from 18? He's thrown the good start down the toilet. We're 3 points clear still of 8th, still only 3 adrift of 6th and have a decent gap over the rest. Granted if we don't pick up a few points in the next few games we'll be in a battle for 7th, but to say he's "thrown the good start down the toilet" is a complete disservice to what he's done this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 The season isn't ruined yet but if Pardew doesn't have the nous or guts to change it and play one striker it's gonna carry on like this. Ba has 13 goals - pretty much all of them coming with another striker on the pitch - and you want to disrupt that for what purpose? We need a new striker to partner him, not to f*** about with stupid systems. 2 penalties, 1 free-kick, 1 from a corner, and 1 from a Ben Arfa assist. 5 goals nowt to do with a strike partner and I bet he's had considerably less time without a second striker. Hang on. One of his penalties was won by Best - his strike partner. How on earth did his 2 goals tonight not have anything to do with a strike partner? You can't possibly support that. It's obvious he does well with a partner and only a fool would attempt to second guess that. There's no reason to do so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 First 11 games: 8 goals conceded. Last 6 games: 14 goals conceded. We've looked beyond vulnerable at the back since the moment Taylor pulled up against Chelsea. Manu was a valiant effort and City doesn't even count... it's the Chelsea game that has murdered us. That is the turning point as things stand. Disagree. We looked vulnerable long before then, we just weren't punished due to the outstanding form of Krul, Colo and Saylor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Ba looked at Best and was inspired to belt the free kick into the top corner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Nobody really instructs their players to exclusively play "long ball" (well, almost nobody. Hi Big Sam!), players just tend to naturally gravitate towards hopeful punts when the team's movement is bad and they're not getting any space to pass into. It's a natural tendency. It's not a coincidence that we're punting it when we're playing badly and passing it short when we're playing well. It's just that the causality is in the opposite direction. It's also not a coincidence that basically all of our managers for the past decade have been criticized for "long ball tactics" when the team is in bad form. Pardew's weakness is his affinity for bad players and pig-headedness on certain issues (Ben Arfa on wing), long ball tactics not so much. That coupled with inopportune injuries (Taylor,) players taking a while to return to fitness (Tiote, Colo), and fatigue (Jonas) is what's wrecking our form. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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