One Year On - Well Done Mr Pardew

[Mick]

 

 

Up until fairly recently Raylor hadn't been a problem, we had a bloke filling in at left back who had actually instigated some game changing moments (going our way). I don't think the failure to sign a left back (and there seems to be "divided opinion" on whether Santon is a left or right back) is down to AP, its DL who closes the deals or not - and he didn't. 

 

He's played well once and that was against Stoke, other than that he's relied on having Jonas covering him out wide and Coloccini coming over to help him out.  He regularly gets taken out when the winger takes him on, it has become more obvious recently because he's been sussed and it will happen more often now that it's been worked out and seen by everybody on TV.

 

As for the left back we failed to sign, we knew we were losing a left back and went out and signed a defender who can play at left back and we gave him the number 3 shirt.  I can only guess that we strengthened a position we knew we was going to be massively weakened rather than leaving that side and upgrading a player who would have been the best full back at the club at that time.

[Guest BooBoo]

It's neither Pardew's or Ryan Taylor's fault that the latter is starting games.

 

And he's not done that bad either. Unsurprisingly he's been given tough games by the better players but against the vast majority of the average PL sides, he's done a solid job.

[Dokko]

I could have stabbed him and all board members in the eyes when this all came out a year ago.

 

He's perfect for us, well this us, the us under Ashley.

[quayside]

 

 

Up until fairly recently Raylor hadn't been a problem, we had a bloke filling in at left back who had actually instigated some game changing moments (going our way). I don't think the failure to sign a left back (and there seems to be "divided opinion" on whether Santon is a left or right back) is down to AP, its DL who closes the deals or not - and he didn't. 

 

He's played well once and that was against Stoke, other than that he's relied on having Jonas covering him out wide and Coloccini coming over to help him out.  He regularly gets taken out when the winger takes him on, it has become more obvious recently because he's been sussed and it will happen more often now that it's been worked out and seen by everybody on TV.

 

As for the left back we failed to sign, we knew we were losing a left back and went out and signed a defender who can play at left back and we gave him the number 3 shirt.  I can only guess that we strengthened a position we knew we was going to be massively weakened rather than leaving that side and upgrading a player who would have been the best full back at the club at that time.

 

Whether he played well or not and however it happened he has played left back in a side that did well defensively and he scored a couple of goals others playing in that position might not have scored. Personally,  I don't think he has cost us points, I'm not trying to argue that we weren't badly exposed down our left but we didn't lose to Man City and Chelsea because of Raylor, and we have nicked 2 Premiership wins because he can hit a ball. Being done by sides like Man City and Chelsea is one thing but if Norwich do a proper job on us and take points because of Raylor on our left then I'll concede we have been rumbled.

 

Sorry not sure I get the point in your second para but if it is that Enrique left and we didn't bring in a better specialist left back, then yes I agree.

[Mick]

 

Whether he played well or not and however it happened he has played left back in a side that did well defensively and he scored a couple of goals others playing in that position might not have scored. Personally,  I don't think he has cost us points, I'm not trying to argue that we weren't badly exposed down our left but we didn't lose to Man City and Chelsea because of Raylor, and we have nicked 2 Premiership wins because he can hit a ball. Being done by sides like Man City and Chelsea is one thing but if Norwich do a proper job on us and take points because of Raylor on our left then I'll concede we have been rumbled.

 

Sorry not sure I get the point in your second para but if it is that Enrique left and we didn't bring in a better specialist left back, then yes I agree.

 

I don't really want to de-rail this thread, I just mentioned Taylor in here because I think him being in the team is a bit of a joke.  As for how well the defence played, I think in was in spite of him rather than because of him and I would rather the manager was pro-active than reactive.

 

After all, I think most people predicted how it would go over the last three games with him in the team.  As for his goals scored, Cabaye has shown against Blackburn that he can hit a free kick so nobody can say that we wouldn't have had goals without Taylor taking them.  Taylor is almost a goal every 15 premier league games for us, his goals are welcome but let’s not make them out to be more regular than they are.

 

As for Pardew, his man management seems to be his strong point and he's getting the best out of most of our players.  Let's see how he does over the coming months when he hasn't got his best players to pick from.

[quayside]

 

Whether he played well or not and however it happened he has played left back in a side that did well defensively and he scored a couple of goals others playing in that position might not have scored. Personally,  I don't think he has cost us points, I'm not trying to argue that we weren't badly exposed down our left but we didn't lose to Man City and Chelsea because of Raylor, and we have nicked 2 Premiership wins because he can hit a ball. Being done by sides like Man City and Chelsea is one thing but if Norwich do a proper job on us and take points because of Raylor on our left then I'll concede we have been rumbled.

 

Sorry not sure I get the point in your second para but if it is that Enrique left and we didn't bring in a better specialist left back, then yes I agree.

 

I don't really want to de-rail this thread, I just mentioned Taylor in here because I think him being in the team is a bit of a joke.  As for how well the defence played, I think in was in spite of him rather than because of him and I would rather the manager was pro-active than reactive.

 

After all, I think most people predicted how it would go over the last three games with him in the team.  As for his goals scored, Cabaye has shown against Blackburn that he can hit a free kick so nobody can say that we wouldn't have had goals without Taylor taking them.  Taylor is almost a goal every 15 premier league games for us, his goals are welcome but let’s not make them out to be more regular than they are.

 

As for Pardew, his man management seems to be his strong point and he's getting the best out of most of our players.  Let's see how he does over the coming months when he hasn't got his best players to pick from.

 

Being a tad pedantic the winning goal against Everton was hit from open play. But we'll never know if another left back would have given us a better points tally at this stage and my view is not.  Anyway I suppose the main point is that I can't blame AP for Raylor playing at left back, in fact I would credit him for getting the best out of a player who is doing a job well out of position. I think AP would much rather have had a specialist left back in there, but he didn't get one.

[lovejoy]

Not having a go Mick, but pretty sure you said 'let's see how he does...' regarding our last 3 games.

 

Do you still not like him or what?

 

Genuine question btw.

[Mick]

Not having a go Mick, but pretty sure you said 'let's see how he does...' regarding our last 3 games.

 

Do you still not like him or what?

 

Genuine question btw.

 

Do I still not like who?