Alan Pardew

[Jayson]

There is nothing remotely good about our team at the moment other than the abilities of certain individuals.

 

Are we hard to beat? We've lost 7 games to date in 28 matches.

 

Are we tough to score against? We've condeded 41 goals in 28 matches. In short we are likely to concede in every match and given we have only scored 40 goals, that means we are more likely to either draw or lose a game than win.

 

Are we capable of beating sides? We've won a healthy 12 but we've lost 7 and drew 8, that's 15 games we haven't won.

 

Our strengths are:

 

High work ethic

Team spirit

Individual brilliance

 

That is all our side has to offer. Tactically we are a mess. The shape, the system, the roles of key players, are all wrong.

 

For us to win a game the opposition have to be either really poor and really unlucky while we need a combination of good luck, individual brilliance and valiant effort in terms of work ethic and team spirit. We do not beat teams systematically via a combination of tactics, fluid team play and possession football.

 

Really wonder where you get this stuff. This season sides have had a very hard time scoring many goals against us specifically because of the work Pardew puts into us being stronger defensively. So far 4 out of 5 games this season if we score more than one goal in a game we'd win that match.

 

Going forward its potentially more based on individual ability than it is any form of tactics towards fluid football sure, but claiming we have no strengths whatsoever & its purely down to the individuals on the pitch? Be serious man. A side that just thrashed spurs & destroyed Milan had to score in the 5th minute of stoppage time to beat us with Williamson/Perch/Simpson & a defensively dodgy santon & you think its down to the individuals. Aye what a well reasoned pov.

[thomas]

what is/are percentage ball and how does it relate to prozone, does someone have a clear, widely accepted or authoritative answer on this or at least more than the vague notion that some 80's era mainframe with spinning reel tapes and flashing LED panels prints out "HOOF IT" on ticker tape while pardew and carver look on dejectedly knowing the machine has crunched the numbers and must be obeyed

[colinmk]

Thats not entirely true. We do know one thing. There will be hoofing involved.

 

I'm sure some smart forum expert will be along shortly to tell us that when Krul picks the ball up and wellies it down the field it's a pass not a hoof. There's no possible way that Pardew could ask him to throw it to a full back instead. All teams keepers do the same thing, Man U, Spurs etc.

.

 

According to some theories in this thread our back four don't have the skills to pass it to the midfield so there is no point anyway.

 

Two (or 1.5 when Taylor is playing don't) of them don't tbf. Also both central midfielders are to keen to receive the ball with back to opposition goal rather than side on hence why we need a happy medium instead of forcing short play which is necessarily going to work unlike many seem to be insinuating.

 

I would just like to see it similar to how we were doing it last season, it's the same defenders bar Enrique(big loss I know). We have in midfield, Jonas and Tiote, same as last season, Ben Arfa who is a superior footballer and Cabaye who is apparently one of the best playmaking midfielders in French football. Also the most clinical striker in the premiership(this might be shite now but he's not far off it anyway). Not saying it should be short all the time either but I think to say they don't have the ability to find other players around with with a short pass is wrong.

 

Coach it into them, tell them to do it. Give them the confidence to play that way and in turn that might just give the opportunity to the better players around them to play the football their skills deserve and before you know it you have a team full of confidence, mixing up the play.

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Thats not entirely true. We do know one thing. There will be hoofing involved.

 

I'm sure some smart forum expert will be along shortly to tell us that when Krul picks the ball up and wellies it down the field it's a pass not a hoof. There's no possible way that Pardew could ask him to throw it to a full back instead. All teams keepers do the same thing, Man U, Spurs etc.

.

 

According to some theories in this thread our back four don't have the skills to pass it to the midfield so there is no point anyway.

 

Two (or 1.5 when Taylor is playing don't) of them don't tbf. Also both central midfielders are to keen to receive the ball with back to opposition goal rather than side on hence why we need a happy medium instead of forcing short play which is necessarily going to work unlike many seem to be insinuating.

 

[TRon]

Thats not entirely true. We do know one thing. There will be hoofing involved.

 

I'm sure some smart forum expert will be along shortly to tell us that when Krul picks the ball up and wellies it down the field it's a pass not a hoof. There's no possible way that Pardew could ask him to throw it to a full back instead. All teams keepers do the same thing, Man U, Spurs etc.

.

 

According to some theories in this thread our back four don't have the skills to pass it to the midfield so there is no point anyway.

 

Two (or 1.5 when Taylor is playing don't) of them don't tbf. Also both central midfielders are to keen to receive the ball with back to opposition goal rather than side on hence why we need a happy medium instead of forcing short play which is necessarily going to work unlike many seem to be insinuating.

 

I think this is a misconception tbh, one that's been encouraged by the way we are currently set up. The two central midfielders don't want the ball when they are lying deep because there's no one to pass to with everyone being on top of each other in our own penalty area pressed by the opposition. It's noticeable when we go behind and have to commit men forward we suddenly open up and look a much better passing side. IMO Santon and Simpson are both very much capable of passing the ball to a nearby midfielder, but as we saw on Monday if they venture too far forward Pardew goes apeshit.

[Dr Venkman]

Thats not entirely true. We do know one thing. There will be hoofing involved.

 

I'm sure some smart forum expert will be along shortly to tell us that when Krul picks the ball up and wellies it down the field it's a pass not a hoof. There's no possible way that Pardew could ask him to throw it to a full back instead. All teams keepers do the same thing, Man U, Spurs etc.

.

 

According to some theories in this thread our back four don't have the skills to pass it to the midfield so there is no point anyway.

 

Two (or 1.5 when Taylor is playing don't) of them don't tbf. Also both central midfielders are to keen to receive the ball with back to opposition goal rather than side on hence why we need a happy medium instead of forcing short play which is necessarily going to work unlike many seem to be insinuating.

 

I would just like to see it similar to how we were doing it last season, it's the same defenders bar Enrique(big loss I know). We have in midfield, Jonas and Tiote, same as last season, Ben Arfa who is a superior footballer and Cabaye who is apparently one of the best playmaking midfielders in French football. Also the most clinical striker in the premiership(this might be shite now but he's not far off it anyway). Not saying it should be short all the time either but I think to say they don't have the ability to find other players around with with a short pass is wrong.

 

Coach it into them, tell them to do it. Give them the confidence to play that way and in turn that might just give the opportunity to the better players around them to play the football their skills deserve and before you know it you have a team full of confidence, mixing up the play.

 

This is a good post. If anyone in our team is incapable of playing a ten yard pass they should be immediately replaced, by a youngster, by Carver, by a fan, anyone. The belief among some of our supporters that Simpson and Williamson CAN'T pass it into midfield when it's on is staggering, of course they can, we just have a manager that doesn't value passing and moving. I don't want to see them playing one twos or triangles on the edge of our box when we're penned in, but when we're in comfortable possession in our own half a bit of passing out from the back would mix things up nicely. We did do a bit of it earlier in the season, it is possible.

[mrmojorisin75]

This is a good post. If anyone in our team is incapable of playing a ten yard pass they should be immediately replaced, by a youngster, by Carver, by a fan, anyone. The belief among some of our supporters that Simpson and Williamson CAN'T pass it into midfield when it's on is staggering, of course they can, we just have a manager that doesn't value passing and moving. I don't want to see them playing one twos or triangles on the edge of our box when we're penned in, but when we're in comfortable possession in our own half a bit of passing out from the back would mix things up nicely. We did do a bit of it earlier in the season, it is possible.

 

right, not everyone can be as comfortable under pressure as colo or tiote but if it was capability issue you'd at lease see some variation - passing to midfield when the pressure wasn't as high, launching it when they're really penned in

 

for it to be so consistent suggests coaching/tactics

[Dr Venkman]

This is a good post. If anyone in our team is incapable of playing a ten yard pass they should be immediately replaced, by a youngster, by Carver, by a fan, anyone. The belief among some of our supporters that Simpson and Williamson CAN'T pass it into midfield when it's on is staggering, of course they can, we just have a manager that doesn't value passing and moving. I don't want to see them playing one twos or triangles on the edge of our box when we're penned in, but when we're in comfortable possession in our own half a bit of passing out from the back would mix things up nicely. We did do a bit of it earlier in the season, it is possible.

 

right, not everyone can be as comfortable under pressure as colo or tiote but if it was capability issue you'd at lease see some variation - passing to midfield when the pressure wasn't as high, launching it when they're really penned in

 

for it to be so consistent suggests coaching/tactics

 

which is the key point often overlooked

[Wullie]

The irony is that when they're penned in is often when they don't do it - see Simpson passing to Ben Arfa along his own by-line the other night instead of getting rid.

[themanupstairs]

Thats not entirely true. We do know one thing. There will be hoofing involved.

 

I'm sure some smart forum expert will be along shortly to tell us that when Krul picks the ball up and wellies it down the field it's a pass not a hoof. There's no possible way that Pardew could ask him to throw it to a full back instead. All teams keepers do the same thing, Man U, Spurs etc.

.

 

According to some theories in this thread our back four don't have the skills to pass it to the midfield so there is no point anyway.

 

Two (or 1.5 when Taylor is playing don't) of them don't tbf. Also both central midfielders are to keen to receive the ball with back to opposition goal rather than side on hence why we need a happy medium instead of forcing short play which is necessarily going to work unlike many seem to be insinuating.

 

I would just like to see it similar to how we were doing it last season, it's the same defenders bar Enrique(big loss I know). We have in midfield, Jonas and Tiote, same as last season, Ben Arfa who is a superior footballer and Cabaye who is apparently one of the best playmaking midfielders in French football. Also the most clinical striker in the premiership(this might be s**** now but he's not far off it anyway). Not saying it should be short all the time either but I think to say they don't have the ability to find other players around with with a short pass is wrong.

 

Coach it into them, tell them to do it. Give them the confidence to play that way and in turn that might just give the opportunity to the better players around them to play the football their skills deserve and before you know it you have a team full of confidence, mixing up the play.

 

This is a good post. If anyone in our team is incapable of playing a ten yard pass they should be immediately replaced, by a youngster, by Carver, by a fan, anyone. The belief among some of our supporters that Simpson and Williamson CAN'T pass it into midfield when it's on is staggering, of course they can, we just have a manager that doesn't value passing and moving. I don't want to see them playing one twos or triangles on the edge of our box when we're penned in, but when we're in comfortable possession in our own half a bit of passing out from the back would mix things up nicely. We did do a bit of it earlier in the season, it is possible.

 

This!

 

And another thing. We don't need wingers! We need players who get into channels and crossing positions, but we do not need traditional up and at 'em wingers! I'd like to see Cabaye, HBA, Marveaux, and even Cisse and Ba work the channels, and put crosses in if need be. The fluidity and interchange in positions is absolutely vital to get the best out of these players imo, and would be so much harder to defend against.

 

I would not be averse to taking this summer as an opportunity to "re-train" Jonas to play at LB. He certainly has been doing most of the defensive work on that side anyway. This would allow Santon to shift to his more comfortable RB position, and we could have some sort of balance going forward. Jonas has played on the left long enough now that, from a slightly more withdrawn left position, he would still do alright.

 

 

                Krul

 

Santon Taylor Coloccini Jonas

 

                Tiote

 

        Cabaye    Guthrie

 

    Ben Arfa          Cisse

 

                  Ba

 

 

...has got to be tried once this season (minus S Taylor of course).

 

I reckon it makes a lot of sense, and would give us more options going forward and defending as a team.

[Lotus]

Any RB would have a field day looking at that (imo).

[Guest neesy111]

The irony is that when they're penned in is often when they don't do it - see Simpson passing to Ben Arfa along his own by-line the other night instead of getting rid.

 

I went mad when I saw that.

[Dr Venkman]

Any RB would have a field day looking at that (imo).

 

I suspect you're right but I feel like the spirit of his post is correct, at some point as a team you have to try and make the most of your assets, we've got a few players who can pass and move and two razor sharp strikers who don't suit the long ball game at all, we should be focusing on making chances for them.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

The irony is that when they're penned in is often when they don't do it - see Simpson passing to Ben Arfa along his own by-line the other night instead of getting rid.

 

I went mad when I saw that.

 

I did wonder what the fook was going through his mind then.

[themanupstairs]

Any RB would have a field day looking at that (imo).

 

opposition right back? why would they? it's not like our midfield players will stand still in the center and let the other team attack a lonesome Jonas. The whole idea of that set up is the ability to be fluid both in defence and attack. It keeps us more compact, and doesn't leave gaps between our CB's and Tiote, or between midfield and attack. And for the midfielders especially, there is less ground to cover if they're having to run sideways to track an attacking winger, than having to run up and down the length of the general midfield area trying to cut the ball out.

[Village Idiot]

Found this cool graph, and thought about sharing it: Premier league possession table. There's a pretty good correlation between possession and league standing, unless you're Stoke or Swansea. And there's a surprisingly big gap between the last team over 50% and yourselves, the first team to fall below it.

 

You also have the second biggest gap between average possession at home vs possession away.

 

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/ballbesitz/wettbewerb_GB1.html

 

(La Liga provided for fun and giggles: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/primera-division/ballbesitz/wettbewerb_ES1.html)

[durhamunigeordie]

Not a fan of his slightly negative vibe this week. We are playing Norwich at home. Even with Tiote out we have enough to win this game. He has got to stop banging out about people working harder, its getting boring. The onus is now on him to pick the right team to win the game. If he doesn't start with Cisse and Ba up top, with Ben Arfa also in the side, then he has no one to blame but himself if we don't pick up a result.

 

He needs to start learning from his mistakes. I have no problem with the line-up he picked on Monday night. He clearly had Spurs away in mind and we very nearly picked up a point. However, he needs to look at the last two home games and realise that Ben Arfa should have started in both. It is pretty simple really.

[Guest Deadmau5]

 

 

Pardew wants followers to lay off Simpson and believes that without the former Manchester United man the Magpies would not be flying so high.

 

He said: “The people who did it should know better.

 

“Danny has been a great player for us. And we wouldn’t be sixth in the division without him – no chance.”

 

Simpson is not the first player to be targeted by the boo boys this season on Tyneside with Gabriel Obertan and James Perch also suffering criticism on social networking sites – despite being part of the squad that has performed in the top six for most of the season. Pardew said: “You can see the determination in there.

 

“We are fighting for everything and fighting for our lives. We aren’t playing champagne football.

 

 

[/Quote]

 

You got that right Alan.

[Heron]

People can fuck off criticising our players actually to them. I'm signing up to twitter right this minute to put this right.

[Ronaldo]

Good luck with that.

[Interpolic]

[Heron]

:frantic:

 

Ronaldo...can we go on a hot date some time?

[Interpolic]

:frantic:

 

Ronaldo...can we go on a hot date some time?

 

Cooeeee 

 

Fancy a shag?

 

You're full of beans today, aren't you.

[Heron]

:frantic:

 

Ronaldo...can we go on a hot date some time?

 

Cooeeee 

 

Fancy a shag?

 

You're full of beans today, aren't you.

 

I am my good fellow. Are you game?

Hang-over and an exciting day of sport, combined with going out tonight and the match tomorrow. #thisisthelife

[Taylor Swift]

Found this cool graph, and thought about sharing it: Premier league possession table. There's a pretty good correlation between possession and league standing, unless you're Stoke or Swansea. And there's a surprisingly big gap between the last team over 50% and yourselves, the first team to fall below it.

 

You also have the second biggest gap between average possession at home vs possession away.

 

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/premier-league/ballbesitz/wettbewerb_GB1.html

 

(La Liga provided for fun and giggles: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/primera-division/ballbesitz/wettbewerb_ES1.html)

 

This is fantastic.

 

This just proves everything that most of us know: if you keep the ball well, you will create chances and win.

 

You look at Bilbao's possession stats and it shows that they're a good team too, and not one that just raised their game against Man Utd.

 

Someone needs to send this to Pardew so he fucking stops with this fucking diagonal ball nonsense.