Chris Hughton has said Newcastle will attack Arsenal and Chelsea, when they come to Newcastle in the next two games, just like we did against Macnhester United.
But why didn’t we go all out and attack Hull on Saturday?
Chris Hughton – we’ll attack top four sides
Chris talked to the local Shields Gazette:
“I think we have got to have an offensive option against the top four.”
“If you allow your Manchester Uniteds, Arsenals and Chelseas, teams with that type of quality, that much of the ball and that much of possession, ultimately they will break you down, and their quality will show.”
“You’re also lifted in the game if you can have a good enough period where you can get them on the back foot. That can give you a lift and inspire the lads to push on even more so.”
“And I thought we were able to do that for long periods.” “The game plan was to play Obafemi Martins up front, with Peter Lovenkrands giving us a little bit of security at the point of midfield.”
“But we wanted to break fast ourselves, and we were able to do that.”
“What we would like to be able to do is have a settled team, but because of injuries we haven’t been able to do that.”
We’re fine that we will attack Arsenal and Chelsea in our next next two games, but why we didn’t we go all out and attack Hull City on Saturday, we have no idea.
After all, that was a game we could have, and should have won – but it was Hull who started the game attacking Newcastle, and they got the early goal for theri attacking start too.
We cannot play one way against top teams at home, and not do the same thing against inferior opposition – that’s a recipe for disaster, and we seem to be proving that way of playing doesn’t get us too many points.
For every one of the 9 league games remaining, we need to have a plan to win it, and if that’s not by attacking the opposition, we’d like to understand why not. If we are to go down this year, at least let’s go down with all guns blazing.
Weak heart never won fair maiden – Fortune favors the brave – or however else you want to put it – but it takes bravery and courage to survive, and we didn’t show enough of it last Saturday.
Shame on us.
Comments welcome.
25 comments so far
Geordiedoonsooth
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Comment #1Because we are being run by incompitent people from the very top. The players have no faith in the management & therefore are all probably just thinking of getting out at the end of the season. Championship here we come
Toon Graeme
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Comment #2I agree with you Ed.
You have to have the same attitude against ALL your opponents.
I think we all expected an aggressive attacking game after Manure.
Yet again the toon delivered the usual.
Howay for Saturday – Im gonna grab a few pints first just to settle the nerves!
THE MAGPIE
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Comment #3Because Hull played a different game-they got right into our faces and made it a very physical battle and we didnt have the strength to win that physical battle or the technical ability to pass and move at pace.
If the management team for the next 2-3 years is Kinnear/Hughton/Calderwood then i despair.
GazzaToon
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Comment #4because we have nothing to lose against the top 4 teams as everyone will expect us to lose these game neway where as hull if we would have lost it would have pretty much sent us down where as a point keeps hull intouch with the relagation zone aswell. people will say we should be beating teams like hull and we should but in this situation a point away from home is a good result. we will still stay up aslong as we win our home games against pompey boro and fulham. have some faith guys!!!!! do this and see what results you get http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/predictor/default.stm
Micky Toon
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Comment #5The differences are –
ManU Game – At home, not expected to get anything but a mauling, may as well go for it and screw the consequences.
Hull Game – Away from home, can’t afford to drop points against a fellow relegation candidate. We dare not lose.
Hull were at home, so of course they were going to attack, especially against a team they’ve had good results against.
I still don’t think Saturday was a must win game. It was a must not lose game, but not a must win. We are quite lucky to have some crucial home games against other relegation fodder coming up as we will battle for everything at home, at least I hope so.
There needs to be an attitude adjustment on this blog too. The owner and some contributors to the comments often refer to teams like Hull as being inferior or poor teams. Well, I’ve got news for you, we are one of them now, like it or not. We often pour scorn on the fans of teams like ManU and Chelsea for being big headed and conceited in the treatment of other teams who aren’t are good as them. Well, at least they have a football team that can back up their attitude, we do not and we look stupid when we refer to teams such as Hull as “poor”, “poorer” or “inferior”
I also agree with most that the current coaching staff are just not good enough. We don’t seem to have anyone who can instill some passion in the players. They might be good technically, but you need more than that to be a good leader. I don’t condone his return, especially now, but Keegan would have been able to get this lot going, no doubt.
Apologies for covering multiple topics, but I don’t log on at weekends,
Prince Bassong
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Comment #6Obviously getting two from Smith, Geremi and Butt to sit in the middle and be the backbone of the team whilst spreading the ball out wide to Jonas, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands or even Lua Lua is far too difficult a concept to grasp for our management team.
It is truly pathetic and a complete embarrassment.
Equal failures against Stoke, Boro and Pompey and relegation will be well deserved.
Nobby_Long
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Comment #7You have to beat the teams around you. That is the key. Beating Arsenal and/or Chelsea is no good if you are going to lose against Porstmouth, Stoke & Boro.
DJM TOON
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Comment #8let whatever power there be give us a point agaisnt either one of our next two games and i will have a little twinkling of hope, the reality is, in two weeks time we might be second from bottom and 4 points adrift of safety. the most likely outcome is in the bottom three for sure, there can be no denying that
SpartanChris
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Comment #9Portsmouth, Boro and Fulham at home and Stoke away are the key games. I think 10 points will save us. Any other points picked up will be a bonus, with Spurs away being the only other likely candidate.
shearerbliss
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Comment #10Micky toon could not agree more! And Toon Grame the problem with this set up and Ed’s comments is that you do not play the same way all the time, hence why managers are called tactical. We must play every team the way that would give us a chance to get a positive result!
That is where the management team are useless. At least KK last year decided to go all or nothing with 3 up front. Not a tactical masterstroke but last chance saloon.
bennytoon
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Comment #11Why does everyone use the performance against united as a yard stick? Newcastle were easily beaten with man yoo hardly having to break sweat after they went ahead.
Dragonera
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Comment #12SpartanChris
Exactly. Everyone needs to write off the next two games and prepare themselves for the bad position we are going to be in in 2 weeks time. We WILL be in the relegation zone and a few points adrift. However, after that we should get a point from Spurs and Stoke, and wins from Fulham, Pompy and Boro at home. This is 11 points i fully expect.
bennytoon
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Comment #13dragonera- i would write the spurs game off aswell! Just think, if you hadnt got that lucky and undeserved win against us at sjp you would be firmly in the bottom 3.
Martin
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Comment #14When I heard Saturday’s team announced, specifically the midfield, I feared the worst, as it seems did many others. I couldn’t see how we could create many chances for the two strikers with this very pedestrian middle four. Well at least three of them. But, despite all the talk beforehand of total commitment to a must win game, I wonder what message this team selection sent out to the players. They must have realised that the coaching staff regarded this as a must not lose game rather than must win. And, although it was predictable that Owen would come off early in his first game back from injury, I’m sure they wouldn’t have been really inspired when he was replaced by Ameobi.
It’s no wonder they are playing with little confidence. It was said before the game that we have a more talented squad man for man; but not if we don’t play them.
sahota
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Comment #15People are talking about Fulham, Pompy and Boro game. Guys wake up, we need to get some points in other games. You can not say that we will get 6 points from these 3 games. Just need to look at our recent ratio of points/games. I never ever imagined we will be in a state to count every point for us to survive. Its frustrating but lets see whats in store. I don’t expect any miracle from players now as they have let down everyone by encouraging words and then performing like a school team.
Johno Toon
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Comment #16Pains me to admit it think bennytoon is right dont think we can count on 3 points at spurs a point would be a massive reult for us there, we need to win our 3 homes games against boro fulham and portsmouth, 3 points against stoke will be a massive help but again id be happy with a point , and if we picked up any points anywhere else be another massive boost for us
sirjasontoon
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Comment #17We will pick up nothing against Arsenal and Chelsea.
We will be well in the crap after them games if fellow strugglers pick up any points from their next 2 games we will be rooted in the bottom 3.
So 2 weeks time….panic has well and truly kicked in from the board to the manager to the players and the fans,the players have failed to perform when not under pressure Imagine what it will be like during the run in?
We will struggle against pompey,stoke and the boro as we don’t fair well against fellow strugglers and we will get nothing against Spurs,Fulham or villa either.
Sorry to be negative but on this seasons shocking performances I fail to see us picking up enough points to survive.
Darling27
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Comment #18Spot on Ed.
batty
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Comment #19does any one know the last time we lost 3 home games in a row ?i think we will get at least a point out of one ov them for that reason only cant see us loseing 3 in a row
Whumpie
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Comment #20I am so gutted about Saturday, not because of the result, but because it brought the optimism from the Manure game crashing down.
What the hell was the thinking behind the line-up and subs? I just can’t see how they expected to win with the players and formation they sent out.
Really scared now. If Ashley keeps putting loyalty to failing (or ill) staff ahead of results, then he will reap the rewards: a relegated club worth less than half what he paid for it.
Davy Craig
Mar 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #21I agree with you Ed but Micky Toon also makes a few good points as well.
We feel that we need to go all out to win every remaining game but to go out and lose them would be disaster.
None of us are in the position to have to make decisions and are simply afforded the luxury of having opinions. My opinion is that the current management are simply not good enough because they can’t come up with anything better than the man on the street and often come up with worse decisions.
It is a difficult time and we have a job to do as well. We all have to get behind the team and spur them on to victory and safety.
Dithering either way is not an option from management, owner, players or fans.
lesh
Mar 16, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Comment #22Is this guy serious when we all know that an average of even a point a game means we’re down.
Strikes me that we’ve no option than to go for the win, get a couple then batten the hatches!
Sav
Mar 16, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Comment #23We have 3 ex-Spurs defenders as manager and senior coaches. I’m sure they get on great and rarely have a cross word but its not what I’d look for in a balanced coaching set-up. In fact I can’t think of anything more limiting and uninspiring to get the team to play creatively.
Tom_Toon
Mar 16, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Comment #24–
Brutooon
Mar 17, 2009 at 3:56 AM
Comment #25how can we win in hull when we play two below average players? (Smith and Geremi – both good enough to be on the bench….)
Lovenkrands and R.Taylor is two times better than either of them…
Its the selection that cost us the points, maybe cost us to relegate. Even the crap Ameobi manage to play for a while…
Lovenkrands score 2 goals for less than 2 mths, smith can’t even had a shot in 2 years…. (notice the different?)