COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From My Seat: Newcastle (A)
Comments (28) : Before we had any sort of chance to settle and take the Geordie bite out of the game, Arteta went down in a heap from nothing more than a coming together; subsequent details reveal he is out for the rest of the season. Castillo was his replacement and the manager's reshuffle suggested we won't lose but will only win with either a bit of luck or a moment of magic.
We did continue to attack but craft and guile was replaced with percentage stuff that earned us set pieces which in turn caused some panic to the Newcastle rearguard but our finishing was either wayward or smothered by a blanket defence. For all our pressure it was the home team who created the only clear-cut chance of the game when Lovenkrands was put in one-on-one but somehow shot wide when it was easier to score.
Another blow for the Blues took place just before half-time when Nolan launched into Big Vic with a tackle that was once called 'The Reducer'. The Ref didn't hesitate in showing Red. Big Vic recovered sufficiently to return and hobble until Fellaini was readied. Seemed to me like replacing a player with a crocked leg with one with a crocked back.
Second half and the Blues played with a type of football you would expect from a now totally unbalanced team. Newcastle got behind the ball and parked the bus, the Blues with no driver or conductor ploughed balls in but to no real effect and I didn't count even one decent chance or serious shot on target all half.
With 15 to go, Saha was introduced for the tiring Gosling and Jo was sent wide left but as for telling what our formation was, well, it could have been anything or play where your legs take you. For all our pressing, we did have one moment of concern when Lescott looked up and saw nothing on and whilst figuring out what best to do he gave the ball away and the Newcastle sub had a chance but he drifted a chip over the bar.
Final whistle, the faithful sang, the players applauded them and then all left for home contemplating on a poor game and just what the Arteta injury may do to us. On reflecting, the game I was surprised at the starting line-up, especially as we have seen a couple of times under the Moyes tenure that putting a centre-back to right back doesn't really work and it didn't again today.
The substitutions baffled me also as they seemed to unbalance the team more and more as each one was made. I haven't got a Pro Licence so maybe I should be quiet but I would like to ask the manager why, when we have no creativity from midfield, didn't he put on Van der Meyde, who for whatever his faults can put over a decent cross and we did have one or two who are decent in the air.
Somehow Jags right-back, Neville wide right, playing against ten men wasn't making much sense considering we had a natural right back and natural winger on the bench. Cahill and Hibbert along with Osman and Pienaar were massive misses today but injury and suspension are part and parcel of football and can happen at anytime, for a team wanting to go to the next levels, then squad investment sufficient to see out a season's worth of football on four fronts is the obvious requirement or we will forever be known as the club and manager who do wonders on a shoestring.
The run-in for this season will once again hinge on what the manager can get out of whoever is fit and available and for the fans it will be a case of hoping the injured are back and firing soon and almost praying no-one else gets injured. Those substitutions are still bugging me as I think Moyes has done wonders in getting a cash-strapped club to where we are now in a money laden league... yet in a game like this one, I thought he could have reorganised better in the second half against ten men.
Still, he is with the players all week and a professional and I am just a curious fan... WBA next and three points should be ours.... er... shouldn't they? See you there UP THE BLUES
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That would be the craziest, boldest throw of the dice imaginable- making a man who has been absent for three years the lynchpin of the team. Now as Moyes is not crazy, bold nor imaginative, it’s never gonna happen, but I for one salute the Roy-of-the-Rovers romantic in you........if it was the movies VdM would walk into the managers office and say "Please Boss put me in" and Moyes would hesitate, look thoughtful and manly and then say "Okay son you’re in".....cue swelling music and artfully shot montage of VdM rallying the blues to a triumphant cup run and ultimately the Footballer of the Year award which he accepts from a beaming Mikel Arteta......smiles, hugs, roll end credits......*leaves cinema with lump in the throat*.....
So a few days later he will look at what we have, and set out his stall. We may not like it, but it will be based on clean sheets, and Castillo could be part of that.
Tim Cahill will be straight back supporting Jo up front, and, if fit, Fellaini will be in midfield. Will we ever see Lars Jacobsen play? Who knows, but if anyone has a friendly bookie who will give him odds on Andy Van getting a start for us to the end of the season, take them. You can only make money.
I wondered why Jags of all people lined up to take it.
I bet every fan in the ground plus millions of others watching on TV expected him to balloon it into the stands and sure enough that was exactly what he did. Pressure was off, Newcastle breathed a sigh of relief and time petered out.
Other than Hibbert I cannot think of anyone less suitable to take that kick. Who decided he should take it, captain Phil, Moyes, himself?
In such circumstances and hopefully as a lesson for the future, do not let our worst dead ball kickers take free kicks.
I agree, I think the manager and team were affected by the injury to Arteta and what later happened to Anichibe more than we think. I’m not slagging Newcastle, they are now a poor team who have to (literally) scrap for points against the likes of us - no different from our situation a few seasons ago. I too think Moyes could have been more adventurous against 10 men, but how often have you seen teams raise their game when the ranks are reduced (ourselves included). Its not as easy as it seems to us "FIFA 09 / Football Manager" types. Players don’t react like dots on screens! On the AvdM issue, not doubting his talent, but the manager must see him in training and know what he is physically capable of (as in fitness, not ability).
Looking bigger picture, beginning of the season a point away at St Jame’s would have been considered a decent one.
Why we didnt push Baines to LM and put Gosling in the middle with Neville out right I dont know but we looked totally unbalanced and far too defensive with passes going back wards and forwards across the park instead of up to Jo and Anichebe/Saha.
It was embarassing to see Fellaini looking so pitiful as he was clearly injured and VDM must be wondering what he’s got to do to get a game.
The only bright spark for me was Rodwell who is looking more composed with every game.
I am extremely disappointed that we only got a point against 10 men when 3 was there for the taking.
Once again DM adopted his caution first approach.
He hasn’t been listed as injured for a while, so as a professional footballer he should be doing whatever fitness work is necessary to get himself ready for 90 minutes of running around.
If he’s not doing all he can do to get fit, then i dont see how he could possibly be complying with his employment contract.
Sort it out!
I’m sure you were referring to AVDM and Jacobsen when you said we had a wide man and a full back sitting on the bench.
For a start, we have 5 terrific defenders and I doubt there’s a manager in world football who would have played an untried Jacobsen before Yobo.
As for all the people calling for AVDM, I wonder how many of them would play him if their lives depended on a result ? . . . that’ll be none then
Keith Glazzard is spot on. Moyes was visibly shaken, He’d lost Arteta and he was watching his kids taking dogs abuse from 45,000 meatheads for being on the receiving end of some savage tackles. Taylor had tried to cut Gosling in two, the tackle on Rodwell was a shocker, the one on Anichebe career threatening.
Fellaini was struggling, so was Gosling, fair play to them for battling on, but their presence sort of negated our numerical advantage.
The introduction of Shandy could have meant Newcastle had more fit and able players on the pitch than we did
We are 6th, yeah so we will probably finish there, I for one will be delighted, it will be a tremedous achievement and I wouldn't swap Bill or DM for any others, really would you? Who would you prefer? Get behind the boys, they really are putting their heart and sole into this season, least we can do is the same! So the game was shit, we got a point, look in the history books, its still a good result given our recent form there.
If he is able to play ? and putting him on the bench indicates this ? then for crissakes, play him. Otherwise leave him in the pub weekends,and have done with it.
It?s easy when you come into a good side, at home and score twice on your debut but a difficult away fixture against a side scrapping against relegation requires a bit more swagger and attitude. One thing that was noticeable though was how far behind us Newcastle were even when we did have everyone playing out of position.
I thought their football was depressing, they couldn?t string three passes together. Taylor should have been sent off for persistent fouling. I am so glad I am an Everton fan and not a Newcastle fan, the money they have spent and the resources now at their disposal, it?s criminal.
Lars - full game for reserves, 60 mins for Denmark, played in Germany, experienced in that position etc etc.
On OS saying he is raring to go.
So Hibbo out Lars in.
All this untried business is nonsense.
Lars must be insulted that he has waited for his opportunity and when finally it comes he is not even considered.
Why did Yobo have to come in ?
AvdM - why is he even on the bench as per Lars ?
An obviously unfit Fellaini on. Surely Andy could have come on for 30/40 mins then been replaced by Fellaini if necessary.
I understand Moyes was shaken by Mikels injury and Newcastle were playing ’tough’ so I can also understand Castillo going in to add some steel but the Lars situation - cannot figure that one out.
We keep a clean sheet and, despite our injury crisis, people still foolishly clamour for the introduction of another injury-prone player they have never even seen play! Yobo is a proven Premier League standard defender, but fuck the clean sheet, let's gamble on the crock... you couldn't make it up.
Ken, Coming on against ten men fighting for their lives and prepared to get the result at all cost, is hardly the same as coming on against an already beaten Bolton side or a Liverpool side who were about to drop top the floor.
I can accept Shandy has the ability to influence a game, but it has to be right time right place. As far as fitness goes, he?s shot, and calls for him to start a game are at best misguided
We had three defensive midfielders on the pitch after 10 minutes...surely Neville’s inspiring and creative midfield exploits could have been sacrificed to move him back to his best position - right back.
We had no theat whatsoever going forward from midfield..and this will continue until Fella gets his mojo in order..
probably gonna be a dull end to a roller coaster season.
So, we have a problem in defence which can easily be solved - as the clean sheet proves.
But fuck it, lets take Neville out of midfield too, after all Fellaini, Osman,Pienarr are already missing so what difference will one more make ? We’ll still have had Castillo and a couple of teenagers in there . . . . . .priceless
Wars of attrition to hold on to a point will see us just about cling to sixth and another award for the most over-rated manager in our history!
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1 Posted 23/02/2009 at 14:10:18
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Now that Arteta is out for the season, is it possible that we could try Andy there? He has the skill to pick a pass out, if not the speed to beat full backs these days... Worth a shout???