Newcastle’s captain Geremi has said that during pre-season Sam Allardyce set a target of 15 clean sheets for Newcastle in the league this season.
Sam thinks that if Newcastle can achieve that target then they can finish in the top five this season.
After 10 games we have kept just 2 clean sheets, against Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic and we also kept a clean sheet in the Carling Cup against Barnsley. Not nearly enough to meet Sam’s target.
Geremi – Sam set 15 clean sheets as target for the season – we’re nowhere near that
If we are to meet Sam’s target, then Newcastle need 13 clean sheets in the remaining 28 league games, almost a clean sheet every 2 games. Possible but very difficult.
The Cameroon international admits Newcastle still have a long way to go to achieve that feat and knows an improvement in performances away from St James’ Park is also necessary following the woeful defeat at Reading.
Geremi said:
“The manager has told us on more than one occasion that, if we are to finish in the top five this season, we are going to have to keep 15 clean sheets.â€
“At the moment, we don’t really look like getting anywhere near that figure.â€
“We’re a long way off that target, and nobody in the team is defending as well as they can do. If we want to start improving our away form, the first thing we’re going to have to do is keep a clean sheet.â€
“But we haven’t done that in any of our away games this season.”
Sam’s right about clean sheets because basically it says that if we can keep a clean sheet regularly we’ll be a very hard side to beat. We also know we have the players up front who don’t find it too difficult to score. So we think building the team from the defense forward is the right thing to do. Something no manager at Newcastle has even attempted since before Kevin Keegan’s time at the club.
We do think we now have the players to do it – it’s just having them form the cohesive unit necessary – but please cut out those stupid mistakes. As Sam said yesterday, those stupid goals are just soul destroying. We’re sure fans will agree with that!
Comments and opinions always welcome.
10 comments so far
Kash
Oct 30, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Comment #1Realistically Sunderland will hopefully kickstart our away form this season. We have to win that game and win it comfortably, with a clean sheet! However, the festive schedule will be our make or break regarding picking up valuable points and cleans sheets. I think if we do turn around our away form, then we’ll hopefully pick up alot of points of that period. Fingers crossed!
iain
Oct 30, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Comment #2if by xmas were still not keeping clean sheets having tried several formations and sets of tactics id say we might as well go all out attack away from home and see where it gets us.
even if we just won/drew a couple more games a season away from home and still lost the usuall amount it would be worth it for those extra points. id rather go down the 4-3 at derby than a loose a 1-0 where we play like a sunday league pub team ut without the effort as we have done so many times away from home in the last few seasons.
ed any idea what our points tallies away from home have been each season since weve been in the pl ???
id bet our best point hauls away are under robson/keegan when we attacked for fun and defending was something left to the goalie and woodgate if he was fit.
col
Oct 30, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Comment #3dream on…same old defending yet again…be lucky to keep any more clean sheets again this season.
George
Oct 30, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Comment #415 clean sheets in a season is not a bad target, but when you`ve played 10 and only got 28 to go, the target is quickly becoming monumentous. I think if we are lucky we may keep 8 clean sheets, as i am taking into account the players we lose in january for Africa Cup of Nations, plus any other losses through injury.
I think in order to end up 5th we need to win to geta minimum of 50 points from our remaining games. Not immpossible but highly unlikely.
Slowly this season is becoming another middle of the road season.
skip_toon
Oct 30, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Comment #5I think the standard approach to playing away is flawed – “defend, soak up the pressure and look for a goal on the break”. The less we attack the more pressure there is on the defense.
Why not play the same away as we do at home?
I don’t think it’s the fans or the pitch at the away games that make it less likely for us to win, it’s our negative tactics.
The only teams who attack away from home are in the top four!
Leo
Oct 30, 2007 at 2:06 PM
Comment #6dont care about the clean sheet thing myself. but if we do get them then it for sure shows that our defence is working pretty darn well. and that the midfield have stopped giving the ball away in stupid areas.
Leo
Oct 30, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Comment #7dont care about the clean sheet thing myself. but if we do get them then it for sure shows that our defence is working pretty darn well. and that the midfield have stopped giving the ball away in stupid areas.
but giving the mackams a good kicking would be good also, if newcastle win on the field also would be tops
Dirk
Oct 30, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Comment #8cleansheets are needed but 15 is something that liverpool can just about do or chelsea, and look at there defences! we should aim for 10 at the moment maybe 15-20 next year when we can crash the top 4.
Alex
Oct 30, 2007 at 8:24 PM
Comment #9Clean sheets. Cleansheets ,clean sheets its getting to be an obbsession.The thing big Sam should be more concerned with is getting his team on a long winning run .If he does that the clean sheets will follow because the confidence and belief will start to flow through the team and fewer defensive mistakes will be made.The way to get a winning run going is to play attacking football home and away.
valle
Oct 30, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Comment #10Alex… Whats up with all that negativity?… U always seem to get on Sam’s back no matter what the subjekt is… U say the way to go is by playing attacking, well attack can be good. But if we wanna be truly among the big boys, we will need to know how to play smart and defensive and i reckon Sam will get things right.