David Icke - Son of God Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Said it the other day but I think Pardew is just desperate to keep us where we are and is just too scared to change anything to radically from the start of the season which has ended up being counter productive. Looking towards next season and beyond, I don't see why he doesn't try a radical overhaul, surely he's the only manager in the PL who won't be sacked barring a relegation? (even then, who knows?) But we have changed how we play over the course of this season. In fact we've largely went direct since it worked against Man United, before that we got the ball down a bit more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzle Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Said it the other day but I think Pardew is just desperate to keep us where we are and is just too scared to change anything to radically from the start of the season which has ended up being counter productive. Looking towards next season and beyond, I don't see why he doesn't try a radical overhaul, surely he's the only manager in the PL who won't be sacked barring a relegation? (even then, who knows?) But we have changed how we play over the course of this season. In fact we've largely went direct since it worked against Man United, before that we got the ball down a bit more. Well, yeah, don't think we were playing great before Man U though tbh. What I meant was that he doesn't seem to want to experiment with anything different and still is desperate to stick with the likes of Raylor who were in the team at the start of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varadi Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Still really pleased with how he's doing tbh. 6th place and 47 points with 9 to play have exceeded all my expectations by a distance. Some performances haven't been great but there isn't a team in the league that can't say the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 We were playing positive football at times before Taylor got injured. we were indeed, I dunno though man, everything about Pardew just screams too negative to me. I don't think he's a winner, no killer instinct, far too afraid to take us where I think we can go with players like these (minus the obvious weak links who will be upgraded). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Agreed largely with Chizzletooth's earlier post, but cba to go back to find it. As a standalone game, I was quite pleased with today in some respects. Perhaps most edifying was that we started well - which we very rarely have done this season, even in most of our early-season wins we've had a couple of let-offs before we've got going. It also suggests that Pardew sent them out just before kick-off with instructions to play as impressively as they initially did. Thought we controlled the play, moved the ball about nicely - yes, even from the back! The goal was deserved. Cisse looked dangerous with his movement and predatory style until he made way later on the game for Wor Shola. Thought everyone looked pretty good at that point. Poor Williamson had more time on the ball than at any time since his return from injury, finding his feet and looking more recognisable as the dependable if not spectacular defender we knew. Then he made a bit of a rick, they blazed over - and everyone pretty much stopped passing it out the back dead in their tracks. This coincided with Norwich beginning to press higher up, and we didn't see the ball much on the ground thereafter. On the rare occasions where we did get a chance to get our foot on the ball and establish calm on the game, our central midfielders were too deep. Not a sparkling performance from either, but I grew increasingly irritated by Guthrie's lazy direct passes to the frontmen which gave away possession really quickly when we had opportunities to break or at least have them camped inside their area for a bit. As I said earlier in the match thread, nothing against forward passes per se - even direct ones. Guthrie has, on occasion, shown the ability to pick out a decent mid-to-long range pass... but he does it so often, now. Part of me suspects it's because he doesn't have the energy to play a simpler pass, and then run on to receive a return ball, and maybe do that a couple of other times to advance up the pitch. Not sure how injured Guthrie was at the end - just think he was too tired to continue. Jonas was brilliant, but tasked with too much first half in particular seemingly covering the whole flank at times. Things didn't come off for HBA today, but he still looked okay. With the talent he has, I can understand if people thought he had a poor game, because by his potential standards it was poor. Myself, I thought it was average. Hope he isn't penalised by being dropped to the bench or owt. Well done to Perch too. He has won so many people over by working hard and being a utility man this past month or so. He's surpassed many people's very low expectations of him - and on a pitch with HBA, Cabaye, Ba, Krul, Colo, Cisse etc - he was a justified contender for MOTM. Who would've thought that possible in November? Seems to be a little bit of a lesson to be learnt from Perch's story. I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. He has played poorly, but he isn't a poor player. He's shown, for long stretches of time, he can be a very useful addition to our squad - and it'll be less of a surprise when he shows that value again in the future, than how Perch has today! Going OTT groaning on his first mistake of the day helps no one IMO. Really hope he can stick this out, and continue to grow/regain his confidence. Clean sheet will do him a world of good, even if it was a shaky capture. Along with the whole team. He was doing it, passing it normally for 20 odd minutes today, they all were. Just need to go out next game and do it again. Pass the ball around. Maybe we'll make it to 40-45 minutes before we start going long next game Sixty-seventy the week after that. So, disappointed - but as a standalone game, I'm quite encouraged in a way too. We fashioned some good chances and could have been out of sight with a bit more sharpness up top in the final third. Without Tiote, we were much easier to play through second half, and we expended a lot of our energy in the first half hour - so not a great ending. Shola was fantastic too. Babysteps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 We were playing positive football at times before Taylor got injured. we were indeed, I dunno though man, everything about Pardew just screams too negative to me. I don't think he's a winner, no killer instinct, far too afraid to take us where I think we can go with players like these (minus the obvious weak links who will be upgraded). Truthfully, I think we overachieved massively in the first half of the season and certain players are overrated on here as a consequence. 47 points from 29 games is a superb return with that squad. I've no doubt we'll make further progress with Pardew if we invest a decent amount (by our standards) in the summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Truthfully, I think we overachieved massively in the first half of the season and certain players are overrated on here as a consequence. 47 points from 29 games is a superb return with that squad. I've no doubt we'll make further progress with Pardew if we invest a decent amount (by our standards) in the summer. Agree with the top, disagree with the second. We'll need to spend money to stand still (if we finish top 7) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Truthfully, I think we overachieved massively in the first half of the season and certain players are overrated on here as a consequence. 47 points from 29 games is a superb return with that squad. I've no doubt we'll make further progress with Pardew if we invest a decent amount (by our standards) in the summer. Agree with the top, disagree with the second. We'll need to spend money to stand still (if we finish top 7) You always do in this league tbh. Look at Liverpool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Who's over rated? Cabaye? I can't think of anyone else apart from Tiote and I reckon he's easily a top 6 midfielder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Who's over rated? Cabaye? I can't think of anyone else apart from Tiote and I reckon he's easily a top 6 midfielder. Me. The guy is nothing special, teams are just closing him down much more than start of the season and he can't cope with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. I'd be interested to hear the views of supporters of other clubs but I reckon we're in with a good shout of having the most unknowledgeable supporters in the country. 95% of the comments I hear at the match are inter-galactically stupid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Who's over rated? Cabaye? I can't think of anyone else apart from Tiote and I reckon he's easily a top 6 midfielder. Me. The guy is nothing special, teams are just closing him down much more than start of the season and he can't cope with it. eh? you're over rated? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzle Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. I'd be interested to hear the views of supporters of other clubs but I reckon we're in with a good shout of having the most unknowledgeable supporters in the country. 95% of the comments I hear at the match are inter-galactically stupid. Aye, its depressing. We're not allowed to pass it backwards, have to cross it at the first opportunity and generally aren't allowed to play football in our own half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. I'd be interested to hear the views of supporters of other clubs but I reckon we're in with a good shout of having the most unknowledgeable supporters in the country. 95% of the comments I hear at the match are inter-galactically stupid. Aye, its depressing. We're not allowed to pass it backwards, have to cross it at the first opportunity and generally aren't allowed to play football in our own half. I had a right whinge when people were complaining about playing it in our own half, Williamson promptly booted up to their keeper and I just shouted "that's fantastic football isn't it". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. I'd be interested to hear the views of supporters of other clubs but I reckon we're in with a good shout of having the most unknowledgeable supporters in the country. 95% of the comments I hear at the match are inter-galactically stupid. :lol: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlelunchbox Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 just curious. is it really that difficult to keep hold of the ball? is not rocket science. just pass the f***ing ball and move, keep it in the midfield and pass it around. it gets diffcult when teams try to pass and move and walk it into the goal, im not asking for that. all i expect is our team to be able to string half a dozen passes together in midfield now and again and relieve some pressure off themselves. f***ing hell , either these players are completely s*** or the manager is. or maybe even both. Actually, when the opponents have 4 players upfront for pressing, most of the time it's either hoofing or a decent dribbling from the side backs. im talking about keeping the ball so the opposition can't pressurise us in the first place. they can have as many men pressing, if they dont have the ball they can't do anything. If that's as easy as in FIFA. i wouldnt know lol i dont play it, but its not rocket science, string a few passes in midfield to keep procession of the ball , something our team havent tried for a long time. or incapable of doing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. I'd be interested to hear the views of supporters of other clubs but I reckon we're in with a good shout of having the most unknowledgeable supporters in the country. 95% of the comments I hear at the match are inter-galactically stupid. So, so true. The Williamson stuff was awful, fair enough he's not good enough but he's literally all we've got and giving him that shit when he's actually on the ball is hardly going to help his clearly brittle confidence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Interesting experiment with the formation but a little over-complicated for me. A simple 4-4-2 would have seen us be a little more comfortable in my opinion, hopefully he'll be swung round to try it as it suits out players more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well, overall that was very unconvincing from Pardew. He did set us up right for the first half. Thought we played some wonderful stuff along the deck, it really was great to see us keeping possession the way we did and not allowing Norwich a sniff of the ball. We took our foot off the pedal after we scored imo but overall, our first half showing was decent. The second half however was terrible (how many times have we said that recently?), we were basically set up to defend the 1-0 lead. We were pretty much camped inside our own half for most of the second half which invited pressure from Norwich. It was pretty much a nervous affair throughout that half and our reluctance to attack, our inability to keep possession were worrying things to see. You could put that down to a lack of confidence from the players but the manager is there to motivate and inspire you so whatever Pardew said at half time was probably the catalyst for such an abysmal second half performance. I'm not saying that I know what Pardew's exact teamtalk was, it's just that it's not the first time a decent first half has been eclipsed by a crappy second half. Btw, it has to be said that today was another example of Pardew being able to adopt a pass and play style which (again) is a really encouraging thing to see. But at the same time, it is also becoming more apparent these days that he really wants to play it safe after we score a goal. Needs to grow some balls and give the players license to attack/continue on from their first half play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NobbyOhNobby Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I'll readily admit Williamson was poor today, and has been worse lately - but the way the crowd got on his back was terrible IMO. I'd be interested to hear the views of supporters of other clubs but I reckon we're in with a good shout of having the most unknowledgeable supporters in the country. 95% of the comments I hear at the match are inter-galactically stupid. That lad who was sat in front of us today man, doing his nut cos krul was trying to build from the back instead of hoofing it. It really took the biscuit when I heard him shout at the Norwich fans "our bird's better than yours" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenham Mag Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Small section of fans booing the substitution of Ben Arfa, wish they would just fuck off and don't come back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I have no doubts now the long ball tactic is directly coming from the dug-out now, to go from playing really well 1st 10 mins to then just hoof ball within 5 minutes of scoring is horrifying me. We've let Wolves and now Norwich to pass us to shreds at times is unbelievable, is it much to ask us to pass it on the deck for most of the game...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Small section of fans booing the substitution of Ben Arfa, wish they would just fuck off and don't come back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 The only positive I can come up with is that Pardew rated the clean sheet that highly with some tough games coming up he sacarificed going all out for a big win due to it. Been a while for us since we've got one, but with it we can take it in to the next game and build on it. Build fromthe back as they say. Might give the likes of Williamson a boost, and those who play next to him some confidence in him, we are on edge with him, no doubt his teammates are feeling similar. Even writing that it feels far far fetched and I'm certain he's just a daft boring bastard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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