From My Seat: Newcastle (H)

I always text my son with COYB when we win in the league. Seems like a LONG time since I've been able to do that.

I agree with the MotD2 pundits who believe that these tactics should have been adapted long ago. However, it would be churlish not to be well pleased with that show. Two huge games ahead with some major selection decisions for RM.

In the context of the season it was a great performance. In reality it was kind of the level expected.

Don't think anyone really stood out. There were lots of performers at a good level. Thought Seamus struggled a bit but was willing.

I actually thought we went long too much but I guess that's the way you coach subtle changes in... You make people do it.

Not convinced it was ever a 4-4-2. Seemed that we rotated players through the left sided position. Rom seemed to start there for a brief spell , Osman played there a bit. Kone had a crack. All three improved whenever they came off that side.

Thrilled Ross scored. His two chances and setup of Lennon showed his ability again. A good brief cameo.

If only the guy could keep injury free most of the time, he would be a great 'stand in' for Stones or Jagielka when either of those two are missing.

I'm simply puzzled that at this stage of the season, the manager finally decided to 'mix it up', with obvious benefits for all concerned, despite only last week declaring he 'wouldn't be prepared to change his philosophy any time soon.

The players themselves looked so much more relaxed and comfortable being able to hit the occasional long ball forward.

Did Roberto have a 'Jerusalem' moment last week?

Expect Barry to reappear on Thursday... RM's spots ain't for changin'.

Before our first goal was scored, I was duly impressed by the work of Alcaraz. He was composed, made some very timely tackles and did a great job supporting the rest of the backline. His ball control was very good and his passing was very well balanced in conjunction with Jagielka's personal aversion to the diagonal pass.

The other standout for me was Gibson. I would have him every day before Barry. Each time he plays I see McCarthy willing to go forward and today's goal is more indicative of the potential that he brings. Is he a great holding midfielder? Absolutely. Today showed that without Barry he becomes the more attacking option and that option is more incisive than what Barry brings to the game.

After our previous Thursday night, Sunday games, it is nice to see some consistency and two positive results. Now we need to finish the job against Dynamo Kiev and get the three points against QPR.

Thanks Ken for another great report. It has been too long since my last visit to the Grand Old Lady.....your report let's me live it each week.....

I calmly watched the match and, unlike some posters on other threads who thought Kone was bad, I disagree. His hold up play and control of the ball gave big Rom more confidence.

It puts me in mind of circa 1986-87 when Sharpy was out injured for a while. Instead of a target man with utter control and an ability to make splendid use of the ball, we had to make do for a while with Paul Wilkinson, a willing lad but just not anything like in Sharpe's class.

Not entirely tongue in cheek now... Who knows, maybe one of the reasons for us fannying about with the ball at the back for so much of the season was a lack of faith in the big man's ability to control the ball? If it was only going to come right back at us, maybe we were as well simply retaining possession? Perhaps the lads have seen him learn to cope with the ball better in training, and have had more faith in him on the pitch during games?

Some improvement from previous Premier League games but we definitely cannot afford to relax. Very surprised that the manager did not play 2 defensive holding midfielders plus signs that he is aware that his rigid philosophy needs changing now and again.

Early ball up before the midfielders drop deep. Key to using Lukaku. Defenders don't get around him... need to stop giving midfielders the option to nick it off him.

Lukaku is finding a bit of consistency and set the tone in the first half.

Gibson in for Barry (RM's hand was forced there) made a big difference in the style of play. McCarthy would never have been that far forward if Barry was on the pitch as he has to babysit him defensively. Hopefully the coaching staff also realizes this.

Kone and Alcaraz grew into the game and I think they are both rusty but can be good squad players.

I am really surprised at the criticism Lennon has received. He was my MotM. Of all the players on the pitch, he gave me the impression of someone fighting for the win and he left it all out on the pitch. If he made mistakes it's because he wasn't afraid to take responsibility and not hide in a corner like Mirallas has done all season. I hope we are able to sign him as he has a few good seasons left in him.

Rest of the team was solid and Howard made a good save. (Slow clap)

The only major negative I saw was that RM should have taken McCarthy off with Lukaku. Besic is an able replacement and he has a big game on Thursday running around the pitch covering for Barry.

The next two games decide how the rest of the season goes. Hopefully we can keep the positive momentum going.

Gibson is class. I'm glad Lukaku scored that pen but it was at a crucial time. Props to him for taking it BUT if he'd of missed, what would the reaction have been? How comes Baines allowed this again after last time? How comes RM did too?

It all seems academic cos we scored but who actually provides the leadership at EFC on such matters?

And what about Rom two games in a row and not one bag of cement has escaped yet. Could this young man be improving?

Speaking of which, didn't another young man come on and show signs of his class. Oops I'm getting carried away of course they're both shite...

Sarcasm aside, the team did well today and I hope Gibson can stay fit.

Whether he decided it for himself or had his hand forced is redundant. I have been a harsh critic of Martinez but if the players are willing to play for him and he is finally willing to adapt then I may be able to forgive the ineptitude that he has displayed for far too long.

You are correct. Thursday night was different and you could literally feel the nonacceptance, anger, disillusionment of the crowd. You could see the players doubts about the crap passing that had gone on, the crowds feelings transmitted to them and they adapted.

I believe Martinez has had his hands forced to some extent. Regardless of all the bullshit he talks after games, he knows we are in trouble down the bottom. His tactics were not working and for months he has heard the boos and felt the disillusionment of the support.

Thursday night even he must have felt what was going on and how the players reacted. Hopefully he continues with this, we get a win against QPR and to some extent ease the stress on everyone.

Besic came on and almost immediately gave the ball away in our 'pass it dangerously at the back' routine – otherwise he was also very good.

It was good to see more of Baines and Coleman in attack too – I'd almost forgotten they could do that.

Really enjoyed seeing Barkley running at the defence again too – his best assets are the power and mobility; the tippy-tappy stuff is more Osman.

All-in-all, a much better performance than of recent past and no coincidence that the return of Osman helped Baines a lot. Gibson and Alcaraz also had fine games which should lift confidence.

Kone and Lukaku together has been something I have gone on about for ages. Newcastle had success with Ba and Cisse when the played them both. Now both Ba and Cisse are struggling since they have been parted!! I would use that combo for home matches and leave one of them upfield when defending corners, it ties up defenders and stops the big boys coming forward from the back.

All around a much more positive display although the passing needs to be improved. Keep the improvement up boys and stay fit, Gibbo and Ossie.

The only reservation I have is how poor Newcastle were, they were nearly as bad has we were against Southampton, Hull, Stoke City etc. Apart from that, I am well pleased.

Assuming they are all fit I would stick with the same back line for the next two games. Alcaraz looked a class act yesterday but it remains to be seen if he can cope with better attackers and above all steer clear of injury.

The save from Howard was tremendous and spared us a nervous last 10 minutes. There were good contributions from Gibbo and Ossie in midfield while Lennon worked his stocks off and gained his reward in winning the penalty.

As for Lukaku the 㿈m looks like money very well spent. He has 17 goals; the much lauded Costa has 18 but has proven to be something of a liability with his poor disciplinary record.

Lets give the fella some credit, he identified things have worked well and implemented them. Usually the criticism of Moyes was that he was stubborn - so much so that he really didn't evolve us. Martinez like many managers has to believe in his philosophy and stick to his guns. Its very easy to sit on the outside and say why he is wrong but he looks to have changed things - whether it be late in the day or not.

I would dare say that against that young boys team Costa would have got 6-7 goals.

Anyway, onwards and upwards for Rom. He needs to apply himself with the same attitude in every game.

John, I agree. Ross was direct, running at the defence. And Osman direct in his passing - perceptive, breaking the gain line rather than tippy tappy just for the sake of possession. Their contributions in that game were very different but equally important and well appreciated by all in the posts on TW.

For me it showed what a difference it can make to the ethos of a team when your midfield contains creative players and not just defensive midfielders. Gibson and Osman both took the game to NUFC. Jags and Alcarez looked great and looked to be on the front foot too.

Kone deserved a goal for all his endeavour but his first touch is akin to Lukaku's earlier in the season, now the big man seems to have the ball stuck to him. Thought his link up play was sublime in places.

Great game for my lad plus he also got to see some of his heroes beforehand as they went into the ground, and their expensive cars - on that note Barclay seriously needs to give his a clean !

Certainly agree that Alcaraz grew in to the game. He's a player I want to like but he must maintain the progress.

I thought Kone could have been sharper at times but I reckon we should persist with him. He must be due to star scoring soon.

Some good performances all over the pitch. Lennon was clapped of as much for effort and tackling back as for success going forward.

As soon as we got ouside the ground we all said "no negativity today - let's enjoy a good 3 points". And we did!

I think one of the biggest problems has been that Martinez isn't getting his ideas across to the players. I don't believe for a moment that he wants the team to play slow, dull, pointless football and create no chances. I also don't think he's telling the players to play like they're on Mogadon, though his fitness methods may contribute to this.

It's all part of the job and if he can't do it, he's got to go. I can't understand why he did this last season, but not this one.

For whatever reasons – and I doubt we'll find out the full picture until a post-season autopsy is carried out – things have not come off for us.

One thing is for certain: he does deserve credit for changing things around this weekend. Newcastle players have been saying in the media how having Rom and Kone up front screwed their tactical preparation and contributed to their defeat. Sadly, I'm not surprised to see large numbers of posters here generally unwilling to give the man any praise, however.

Both players are quite similar, but I think, possibly because of advancing years, Barry's horizons are somewhat more limited. There is no doubt that this year he has failed to live up to last season's heights, when I doubt he wasted a single pass all season. He has a knack of diffusing pressure situations by turning away from danger, and delivering short passes to teammates to switch momentum.

Gibson is much more dangerous offensively, and has a clever eye for defence splitting passes. I think on balance Gibson is the better tackler, with Barry much more likely to concede fouls in his attempts to regain possession. I always thought that Barry was recruited as support for Gibson due to the latter's poor fitness record, and so it proved. His chronic knee problems may still come to haunt him and prevent him from making a real impact at Goodison.

I believe Besic should be the natural heir to Barry's role within the squad, if only if he could resist the occasional attack of show boating. The problem however, is we lack a young, creative and energetic midfielder to replace Gibson or for that matter Ossie in the medium term. Is it young Ledson possibly? Gibson is only 27 I think, and should have years left in him, if only someone could invent bionic knees!

The reason that you stated you "are not surprised to see large numbers of posters here generally unwilling to give the man any praise however" I think you may find the reason for this is, it has taken him counting pre-season and cup games, over 40 games this season plus the large vocal discontent against Kyiv to realize that he had to do something to stop the slide down the table, and realize that what he believed was the only way to play was right was not working.

As they say, "one swallow does not make a summer" and a lot of supporters are not going to forget what happened pre-season and the poor play that has gone on through the season that he refused to accept any blame for.

Just 4 home wins... numerous games home and away where we’ve hardly troubled the goalkeeper... slow pedestrian predictable football... him sticking with his favourites – and you don’t need me to tell you who they are. It’s been a disaster and the only way he’ll get any credit off me is if we win the Europa League.

Highly unlikely in my view and get some sort of respectable league position. Because I donÂ’t know if itÂ’s escaped your attention but weÂ’re not out of the mire yet.

I'd love to hear that at the end of the season, obviously in more diplomatic language, but not now. I've don't recall an Everton manager apologise and grovel part-way through a season. Poyet did it and look how that helped him.

My guess is that if Martinez came out and said something like that, people would be straight on here saying he'd lost it. And they'd be right. Best thing for him is to say nothing, then beg for his job behind the scenes in the summer.

We all know the season's been awful. Just look at the state of Martinez, he knows it more than anyone. First time he's had a proper arse-kicking as a manager.

Good result, just a start. Like I said in January, if it was Kenwright, I'd have the mother of all chats with Martinez in the summer about what's changed this season and how it's going to change next season. I'd also speak with a couple of the senior players and get their take. If I didn't like what I heard, I'd pay him off. The only worry I've got is he'll replace him with an old-boy or a very old boy ex-manager.

Pundits are wondering why we are not having a good season in the league and many of them are putting their four pennorthÂ’ in. IMO, we have a small squad and cannot ride with injuries as other clubs can. It has been patently obvious that we have suffered injuries to our most influential players and that is the main reason our form has dipped.

Osman and Pienaar have been instrumental in aiding Baines in his efforts to get forward without worrying about cover. That has been our most attacking threat and with that nullified we have suffered. No other player has been able to cover this position and the team have become no-trick ponies. Baines has provided more assists than any other defender in the league, but this has dried up due to the absence of Osman and Pienaar. None of the pundits seem to have taken this fact into account.

LetÂ’s just hope that Ossie stays fit and helps that left flank to get forward as it used to. I donÂ’t know whether Pienaar will return to full fitness but he has also been missed when he is at his best.

Perhaps, it has been a combination of bad management and player power but if the players have been told in no uncertain terms that the manager is in charge for the rest of this season and beyond, and that the board have no intention of letting Roberto go, the players will have to perform. It would also have been prudent for the club to advise Roberto that he must do what is right for the club and that means winning football matches in whatever is the best way for the current squad to achieve that.

Obviously there are at least another ten games left of this campaign and hopefully another fifteen in which Roberto and his team will be judged. But I believe Roberto will be given the first-half of next season until the board re-examine his position, unless of course results don’t continue on an upward curve.

They have been well organized in the games I've seen them.