Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Newcastle United - 2/1/2017 - post match bicker from pg.28

[Parsley]

Honestly stunned at how late Rafa was to react to tactical changes.

 

Atsu for the last 5 minutes? When the entire game was crying out for pace?

 

So bizarre.

Disagree that the game was desperate for pace when Blackburn were playing as deep as they were. We needed more creativity in the final third and a better outlet up top. Agree with your broader point mind - the subs were too late.

[ponsaelius]

We dominated the ball and the match. Of course we should, they're absolutely shite and our team was loaded across midfield. But we had no cutting edge going forward. This is what happens when you play two holding midfielders, have no width and only one striker up top.

 

Rafa's a great coach on the training ground. He clearly absolutely drills the players in his ways to the nth degree. There is a clear pattern of play to our game, to the way we distribute the ball from the back, recycle possession and the way players move on the pitch. It's nothing remarkable but it is a monumental improvement on previous years and should be acknowledged. However - it also sometimes appears rigid, methodical and one paced. Particularly with the personnel playing today.

 

For me, it shows a real blind spot and a significant degree of stubbornness on Rafa's part to not change things up over these last few games. Firstly by not doing so straight after Shelvey's injury. Then by playing the same team today as put in that performance against Sheff Wed, undoubtedly one of the worst displays at SJP in years. We lack an alternative way of playing, both from the start and mid-game or from substitutions. Once we went behind today there was no way we were getting back into that game.

[Guest neesy111]

As bad as Colback's tackle to give away the free kick, you have to point fingers at the wall as well. There was a clear gap there, and before they were even moved back you could see where the ball was going. We might as well have just given them free shot on goal.

 

It was on the GK's side as well.

[Mistle17]

Also, the way we construct possession from the back is becoming frustrating; Full Back's drop too close to the CB's and when they do receive it it's normally inviting a square pass to the supporting CM, and mostly results in going back to the CB who has to clip it forward.

 

Then when you have Colback dropping between the CBs it is ineffective as he's not going to carry it and break the oppos midfield line. It's another square pass and we fail to penetrate. Take Shelvey out and it's worrying the lack of capable CMs we have on the ball.

 

Btw, Ritchie for £12m? Fucking hell...

[Guest neesy111]

We dominated the ball and the match. Of course we should, they're absolutely shite and our team was loaded across midfield. But we had no cutting edge going forward. This is what happens when you play two holding midfielders, have no width and only one striker up top.

 

Rafa's a great coach on the training ground. He clearly absolutely drills the players in his ways to the nth degree. There is a clear pattern of play to our game, to the way we distribute the ball from the back, recycle possession and the way players move on the pitch. It's nothing remarkable but it is a monumental improvement on previous years and should be acknowledged. However - it also sometimes appears rigid, methodical and one paced. Particularly with the personnel playing today.

 

For me, it shows a real blind spot and a significant degree of stubbornness on Rafa's part to not change things up over these last few games. Firstly by not doing so straight after Shelvey's injury. Then by playing the same team today as put in that performance against Sheff Wed, undoubtedly one of the worst displays at SJP in years. We lack an alternative way of playing, both from the start and mid-game or from substitutions. Once we went behind today there was no way we were getting back into that game.

 

Aye, it's plan a with 4-2-3-1.  We have to score first in games.

[cp40]

too stagnant even in possession,not enough energy , slow and labored even when trailing and chasing the game late on.

[Incognito]

Sewelly as usual has nailed it

[joeyt]

We dominated the ball and the match. Of course we should, they're absolutely s**** and our team was loaded across midfield. But we had no cutting edge going forward. This is what happens when you play two holding midfielders, have no width and only one striker up top.

 

Rafa's a great coach on the training ground. He clearly absolutely drills the players in his ways to the nth degree. There is a clear pattern of play to our game, to the way we distribute the ball from the back, recycle possession and the way players move on the pitch. It's nothing remarkable but it is a monumental improvement on previous years and should be acknowledged. However - it also sometimes appears rigid, methodical and one paced. Particularly with the personnel playing today.

 

For me, it shows a real blind spot and a significant degree of stubbornness on Rafa's part to not change things up over these last few games. Firstly by not doing so straight after Shelvey's injury. Then by playing the same team today as put in that performance against Sheff Wed, undoubtedly one of the worst displays at SJP in years. We lack an alternative way of playing, both from the start and mid-game or from substitutions. Once we went behind today there was no way we were getting back into that game.

 

[Lotus]

too stagnant even in possession,not enough energy , slow and labored even when trailing and chasing the game late on.

 

Not in the 1st half. After a bit of a slow start we played with plenty of verve and energy.

[Yorkie]

Yet another fucking penalty denied, btw. Feels like it's every fucking game.

[Kasper]

I wouldn't compare this defeat to the likes of Wednesday where we mostly hoofed the ball to a midget all game and sat deep when defending. I thought we played very well in the first half.

 

I was pleased with what Rafa had changed. We were actively trying to win the ball back higher up the pitch and turn the play back at them closer to their goal. I haven't seen a lot of our games for obvious reasons this season but from what I've seen this was a big improvement and probably something that losing Shelvey has influenced. With him on the team we have creativity to break teams down on the slower attack but without him we struggle if we sit deep and win the ball near our own goal and have the whole pitch to move through. That seemed to lead to a lot of long balls which there were less today. Especially during the first half.

 

Not sure what happened during the 2nd half. We seemed to sit a bit deeper and you could see the same thing happening as against Wednesday: Gayle urging everyone to push up and press them. Something that didn't happen once during the first half because we we're on them all the time when we lost the ball. Maybe they just got tired.

 

The real worrying thing is that we should never be in a situation where losing one player completely destroys your first choice game plan. The quality of midfielders behind Jonjo is appalling and has to be the first thing we fix this month.

 

And you can moan about the team selection but considering the problem is center midfield, what options do we really have from the bench that could bring some fresh legs there?

[Lotus]

One of our biggest is width. We always look to be playing through the middle. None of our wide men, wingers nor fullbacks deliver consistently decent crosses.

[cp40]

too stagnant even in possession,not enough energy , slow and labored even when trailing and chasing the game late on.

 

Not in the 1st half. After a bit of a slow start we played with plenty of verve and energy.

 

disagree, we strolled around keeping the ball, but still farted about too much, tried to walk the ball in rather than shoot.

[afar]

Yet another f***ing penalty denied, btw. Feels like it's every f***ing game.

 

Brighton seem to get more than their fair share, we've had about 2 all season yet probably have the most shots on goal than every other team. The lack of calls for pulling the shirt and man handling at corners is comical really, and costing us big time right now.

[Lotus]

too stagnant even in possession,not enough energy , slow and labored even when trailing and chasing the game late on.

 

Not in the 1st half. After a bit of a slow start we played with plenty of verve and energy.

 

disagree, we strolled around keeping the ball, but still farted about too much, tried to walk the ball in rather than shoot.

 

agree to disagree then!

 

I felt like you did in the 2nd half though.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

Agree with Sewelly.

 

Couldn't give a fuck if we go out the cup next weekend. I'd rather time was spent on developing a thorough Plan B. I'd also like to think away from the pitch Charnley et al will get cracking with transfers so they're in and ready for Brentford. Nee messing about.

[Guest neesy111]

We have to start showing we can get back into matches, it's not a good trait that you can only win games from the front.

[madras]

Not the line up I'd have chosen but it seemed to be working, on another day we'd have won comfortably. My concerns are that in response to going behind....  Perez! And I think teams know what we are about now and we don't have a plan B.

[ElDiablo]

Yet another f***ing penalty denied, btw. Feels like it's every f***ing game.

 

Brighton seem to get more than their fair share, we've had about 2 all season yet probably have the most shots on goal than every other team. The lack of calls for pulling the shirt and man handling at corners is comical really, and costing us big time right now.

 

It's probably because they have players who can go past a man. The only one we have sits on the bench for 75 minutes.

[Shearergol]

One of our biggest is width. We always look to be playing through the middle. None of our wide men, wingers nor fullbacks deliver consistently decent crosses.

 

Rafa spends most of the game telling us to be more narrow.

[Stifler]

One of our biggest is width. We always look to be playing through the middle. None of our wide men, wingers nor fullbacks deliver consistently decent crosses.

The lack of competition is a big problem. Aaron's and Shelvey are two players who are out and that leaves only the option Atsu in midfield. Colback and Hayden have no competition, so they can stroll about, pass it sideways to make it look like they are doing something and not be dropped because there is no one else to bring on. Ritchie has no competition, he knows 9 times out of 10 if Atsu comes on then it's in place of Gouffran, again he doesn't need to do anything. His deliveries have been shocking, but he gets away with it because he can run with the ball all game and do nothing with it, where as both Atsu and Gouffran run out of steam as games go on.

 

 

Dummett as well, what does he offer? He dallies with the ball (it took him ages to take a throw in when we were 1-0 today) Anita on the other side, it doesn't matter if he can't produce a cross because his and Dummetts positions are safe.

[Lotus]

One of our biggest is width. We always look to be playing through the middle. None of our wide men, wingers nor fullbacks deliver consistently decent crosses.

 

Rafa spends most of the game telling us to be more narrow.

 

Well, you've got to be extremely f**king good to only play through the middle.

[Kasper]

One of our biggest is width. We always look to be playing through the middle. None of our wide men, wingers nor fullbacks deliver consistently decent crosses.

 

Rafa spends most of the game telling us to be more narrow.

 

Probably smart considering they can't cross for shit and when they happen to get the ball past the first man it's Gayle vs two tall center backs.

 

Getting to the crossing positions out wide isn't a problem.

 

 

[Big Geordie]

So typical of NUFC today, that whilst I'm disappointed, I'm not surprised. Colback is a liability and offers nothing. We've got problems in midfield - more creativity needed and pace, as well as a replacement for Mitrovic if he moves on as expected. I still trust Rafa, but he has to earn his money now and address the problems that we can all see.  Bad day all round, with Reading, Brigton and Leeds winning - Huddersfield too.

[Lotus]

One of our biggest is width. We always look to be playing through the middle. None of our wide men, wingers nor fullbacks deliver consistently decent crosses.

 

Rafa spends most of the game telling us to be more narrow.

 

Probably smart considering they can't cross for s*** and when they happen to get the ball past the first man it's Gayle vs two tall center backs.

 

Getting to the crossing positions out wide isn't a problem.

 

 

 

Can't agree with this. Also, stretching teams width wise doesn't only work if you've got a 190+cm centre forward. It's one of the fundamentals of the game, if it's congested you stretch teams. If there's no room behind you pull them wide.