Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear has today challenged Argentine International Fabricio Coloccini to show that his very poor performance against Liverpool on Sunday was a one off.
Fabricio Coloccini – off day against Liverpool
Coloccini is usually a big game player, but he was way below par on Sunday and just couldn’t handle the heading ability of Liverpool’s Sami Hyypia.
Newcastle United’s defense were torn apart time and time again by the Premier League leaders on Sunday, and the Newcastle defense were surprisingly weak at set pieces, of all things.
Coloccini struggled to contain Liverpool’s 6’4″ Sami Hyypia, who seemed to be able to win headers at will, and scored one after 36 minutes, and could have had more on Sunday, but for the brilliant Given.
Steven Taylor, David Edgar and a hardly fit Jose Enrique, who at least gave it a go in the first half, were hardly good enough in a disappointing defensive performance, for what looked like a decent back four before the game.
Joe Kinnear has blamed the enforced changes from the Wigan Athletic game, with both Habib Beye and Sebastien Bassong missing, but he will be disappointed by the perfomance of his defense, as they just weren’t good enough – by a long way.
Kinnear told the Shields Gazette today:
“Fabricio was below par because we had two of the normal back four missing,”
“That’s why it’s so important to have a settled back four. We must improve. We’ll learn from this, but we do need some reinforcements.”
“Normally he’s Mr Reliable. He was below par, but that’s also probably to do with the quality of the team we were playing against.”
“However, the last thing I would have expected was for them to beat us in the manner they did.”
Kinnear will have 22 year-old Sebastien Bassong back for Saturday’s third-round FA Cup tie against Hull City at the KC Stadium, and his presense will bring a calming stability at the back, which shows just how well the youngster has been playing this season – a fantastic buy for the club last summer.
The 22-year-old has now served his one-game suspension against Liverpool after his dismissal at the JJB Stadium for pulling down Wigan’s very experienced England striker Emile Heskey – an experience the youngster has vowed to learn from.
It will be good to have him back in the back- line on Saturday.
Even though Coloccini is an Argentine International we feel that both he and Bassong are still imporving, and their partnership can become a keystone in Newcastle’s defense. Certainly they seem to complement each other, but we missed Bassong’s heading ability on Sunday.
62 comments so far
Alex
Dec 30, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Comment #41As some have already said Taylor’s problem is he has not booked any progression in the last couple of seasons . When he first broke into the team everyone was raving about him and talking him up as the next Terry and how he was our future captain . This seems to have boosted his ego a bit too much and he thinks he is already the finished article , Hopefully come the next transfer window we will get a couple of good defenders in and Taylor will be knocked down the pecking order for a while , this would then give the lad the kick up the backside he needs to take a long look at himself and rediscover the potential and talent that he does have .
As for new midfielders how about trying for Diop from Portsmouth they are up for sale and in free fall since Arry mercinary Redknapp left . With a decent offer i think there would be a good chance we could get him
steve
Dec 30, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Comment #42Lets see if the FA treat everyone the same when Gerrard gets banged up – I notice the players aren’t calling for his head in the same way they called for Bartons, no doubt Gerrard will get off scott free and walk straight into England team.
Makes me sick
steve
Dec 30, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Comment #43did i say players – sorry i meant papers
StevieA
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Comment #44It’s counter productive for the papers to call for Gerrard’s head. Him being a first team international player and captain of Liverpool. Barton is a much easier target, not only that but Gerrard hasn’t made as many offences as a player at least so he will get a much easier time.
No doubt he will get a suspended sentence they seem to be the norm these days for assaults like this.
Alex
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Comment #45The Fa have said his position with England was not in danger . I wonder what Cappello thinks ? when he took the managers job he made it clear the players needed to be professional both on and off the pitch . If his place in the team is not affected by this then Joey must have a chance of getting back into the squad once he is fit .
simon376
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Comment #46People are giving Taylor so much stick. While I think he’s far from the best defender at the club, I think Colo needs to be looked at a lot more. I’m not just talking about the Liverpool game either, I think he’s been well below par for many games and doesn’t look anything like a 10 million pound player. Hopefully he will only get better. But from what I’ve seen, Bassong could be the big money player and Colo more like 3 – 4 million
Brazilian Geordie
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Comment #47I’ve nothing to expect from Coloccini, he’s just argentinian.
But hey, Bassong is who is actually the leader of our defense.
And we need a player such like Mascherano.
xploozz nufc mauritius island
Dec 30, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #48we need players..appiah as midfield,sell owen..roque santa cruz better..why blame ze back players..we had 3 games in 1week..players r tired!they need rest..look at liverpool players lik gerald did play only 1hr football..ze blame goes 2 management..such small squad…fan wake up!its time ..bfor we r in ze bottom 3..we need 2 make ashley n joe b aware of ze need for a big squad..more players more options..
fostino
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Comment #49my god,,,,,some of ye fans are only happy when your criticising our players…..lay off taylor and colo, colo formed a good partnership with bassong and taylor is one of our own who loved the club and is english u21 captain……he is vital to our future
fostino
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Comment #50* loves the club
cause I got the girth
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Comment #51Ok, couple of points on this:
People who even think of discrediting Coloccini really need to have a quiet word with themselves, the bloke has played, what, 25 games in a foreign country in a crap side, but, has still come out each games with a good and consistent 7/10 if not higher! Ok he was shat the other day, but imagine what he will be like after a season or 2 in a settled defence with quality defenders around him! Need I reel off the names of absolutely terrible defenders we have had in our side?
Secondly, don’t know about anyone else, but im tired of people talking about and being linked with full backs who are “good getting forward”, “have a great cross on them” or “have an eye for goal”….THEY ARE DEFENDERS!!! Look at the goals we have conceded from these positions this season which could have been dealt with with better defending, therefore I for one would like (if we indeed go for full backs in Jan) us to build from the back and buy a full back who is a good defender first, the rest second!
The Entertainers
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Comment #52Yeah Colo did have a poor game, but Given aside, who didnt?
Have been impressed with Colo and Bassong partnership recently and loking forward to those 2 reuniting.
Prehaps Joe is being clever and hoping Colo gets wind of his comments and makes up for them.
Heres hoping
CLINT FLICK
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Comment #53Gerrard should go down, he’s done the same thing as Barton & he’s a scouser, so, let’s have ya stevie G’ailbird, off to jail you go.
Got to keep up the precedent set when they sent Joey down, ho’way.
CLINT FLICK
Dec 30, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Comment #54Given let 5 goals in.
mervyn the martian
Dec 30, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Comment #55Don’t you have a spell check on your computer before uploading the page?
Toontastic
Dec 30, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Comment #56Joe should try Colo in nicky butts position Ive seen him play defensive mid for depo and villarral loads of times and has been brilliant, hes like makalele of frings
Sav
Dec 30, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Comment #57Its pointless castigating any of the p
Sav
Dec 30, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Comment #58Its pointless singling any of the players in that make-shift line-up. But to blame Taylor because Colo wasn’t quick enough and didn’t jump for headers is plain daft. Taylor was only having his first game back after a lay-off, and is still very young for a centre-half. Indeed in the long term, our back two may be Taylor/Bassong in a Mr. Nasty/Cultured partnership.
However, I’ll make an exception for Enrique. He isn’t good enough and I don’t think he’s going to be.
Volume33
Dec 31, 2008 at 7:31 AM
Comment #59Having read all the comments here there are some obvious things that should be said:
Before he was injured Taylor and Colo had started to put a good relationship together
Bassong is very good but still a learner as he says. Taylor would not have been conned by Heakey like Bassong was.
Taylor is not a talker as Kinnear wants him(someone) to be, he is aware – too much – and needs to concentrate on his own game. Difficult when there are faults elsewhere.
Since coming into the 1st team Taylor has never had the Adams/Moncur/Butcher type beside him and has learnt some bad habits, but nothing he can’t put right.
For me I would like to see Bassong and Taylor together. Colo has cost us several times and it is he who needs to lern his trade in the premiership, not Taylor.
People go on about Boumsong but he is now playing – again – Champions league for the no 1 club in France and doing very well. We are too quick to complain without being constructive – small changes are sometimes good enough – a good defensive coach would be a start.
Guinea Mag
Dec 31, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Comment #60Regardless of what defenders we sign they will always look poor as the team in front of them is poor.
We need stability and consistancy on and iff the park. The midfield is inadequate and does not protect the defence.
We urgently need two central midfield players in January and cover for our fullbacks to secure our position in the PL next season…..
Ageordiedoonsooth
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Comment #61I think Bassong has been outstanding but I wouldn’t put all of the blame on Taylor. I think that Bassong & Taylor could be the best partnership we’ve got. IMO Collocini can’t tackle or head a ball he is one of the worst centrebacks we’ve had in the past 10 years up there with Marcelino & Boomsong.
heavyhitters
Dec 31, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Comment #62Taylor looks to me like he has lost a bit weight since he played last? I dont feel he will ever be a good CB. Colo looks good next to Bassong and it would be good to see how either look alongside Edgar who has only played with Taylor at CB. Edgar is a CB and it would be nice to see how the kid plays in his natural position.