Since we’ve seen Vurnon Anita play for Newcastle, we’ve always thought he would come good at the club, once he settles down and gets used to the English way of playing football, and we noticed on Sunday he was pushed off the ball in the first half, but came fighting back to recover the ball just outside the Newcastle penalty area, and that shows that he knows what he needs to do in the Premier League.
Vurnon Anita – after scoring wonder goal at Club Brugge
Vurnon is not big at 5’6″ tall, and he says the work rate in the English Premier League is much higher than he’s used to in Holland, and he’s also been feeling it in his legs a bit during games, so he has to get that little bit fitter at Newcastle, than he’s ever been.
The 5 times caped Dutch International scored a phenomenal goal in Brugge last week, his first for the club, and he also had a very good game and was our Man of the Match in the 2-2 draw at Club Brugge.
Vurnon is still in the process of adjusting his game in England, and he talked about that in the local press today:
“It is very different.” “The play goes up and down, up and down.” “It is different and you feel it in your legs – you become tired more quickly than in Holland.”
“You must work hard in training and if you play, you must give everything.” “It is great and it is the biggest league in the world, so I am happy to play in it.”
“I have to adapt quickly and make it my own.” “It is very, very good – everybody is as one.” “That is good. Everybody is nice to each other and helps each other.”
“It is nice to be in that kind of dressing room.”
Like all good professionals Vurnon has an excellent attitude, and once this lad gets his game together he will be challenging for a starting position at either full-back or in defensive midfield, and we think he’s good enough to win a starting position in the team.
How do you rate Vurnon after a few months at Newcastle?
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57 comments so far
tequilamag
Nov 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Comment #1I think Anita had a decent game on Sunday considering it was always going to be a battle. His passing was very tidy and I liked the way he looked to find space as soon as he passed the ball to create an outlet for a return pass. I think he is starting to get adjusted to the PL and will be an asset for us.
beefman13
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #2Tequilla, for me anita will come through he just has to acclimatize to our league, which i believe he will.
Fans saying he is not a midfielder imo are wrong he has that movement as you say when he gives a ball he straight away looks for space to recieve it back and move it forward, i think he will continue to improve for us and maybe a bit more time is needed to reach his full understanding of the premiership but i believe he will get there for us.
He has a great work ethic and always wants to improve also.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #3It’s nice? Nice? NICE? There will no niceties and no fun until we win!
Puppet out.
Good to see him getting adjusted to the league, he seems to be finding his feet now. With his size, I don’t feel he can do the same job as Tiote, but to play them together should be effective.
On paper, it all seems so easy really. If all players play as they should, we have a devastatingly good midfield. Tiote, Anita, Cabaye and HBA. On top of that we have Marveuax who I feel with some games will come good. Obertan is getting better and provides pace.
If these players step up and play the football we know they are capable of, they will create more opportunities for the strikers and knowing our strikers, they will score given the right service.
Defense is what it is. We know where it needs improving and hopefully it will, however, they’re not actually letting in too many goals imo, if we could avoid the silly goals of late it would almost be a really bloody good defense.
We’re not a million miles off, I think our core problem is getting the midfield ticking.
There is an argument that we’re hoofing it past the midfield, although, I think this is getting a little more attention than is justified tbh. Even when the midfield have it, they don’t seem to have much understanding or ability to do anything with it, which we all know they do. This for me is our biggest problem.
People say last season was mainly down to luck. I disagree. There was a good element of it, as there has to be with any team in the league to do well. However, hard work, scoring strikers and one of the most regarded midfields in the league got us 5th, under the guidance of Pardew.
geordiesteve520
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Comment #4Years ago Arsene Wenger said that all foreign signings will need a year to properly settle in, I think that still holds true (for the most part) and I think that once Anita has completely settled in, both culturally and in footballing terms his quality will rise to the top. Pardew has a knack of guiding people into the 1st team and not dropping them in to flounder like some of our previous managers have done; Santon and Ben Arfa are perfect examples of this.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #5Swansea’s Ki Sung-Yeung is our injured which means Laudrup will probably play Danny Graham on top with Michu just behind. This is how I think they are strongest since Graham is a #9 kind of striker and Michu is the perfect #10.
They are still vulnerable and that was evident against Soton; lets get those three points shall we 🙂
Special K
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #6Been feeling pretty down after Sunday’s game until my Dad texted me there reminding me it’s exactly ten years since THAT Feyenoord game, what still remains the highlight of my Newcastle supporting life. What a game, almost a decade later I still can’t believe we pulled it.
That milestone almost deserves it’s own article! “Bellamy It’s In!!” still gives me shivers to this day. That was some team we had in 2002/03, probably the best we’ve had since the entertainers.
Actually on a more upbeat note than dissecting the depressing West Ham game, who do you reckon would win? The 02/03 side oer the 11/12 team? Forget what we’ve seen this year, based purely on those seasons what do you think?
I’d personally go 3-2 or 4-3 to the 02/03 side.
Sav
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #7Needs 9 outfield players alongside him who can pass and move as well. We seem to always think if we have 2 lads in the team who can pass decently, that is the passing part covered. That’s not how it works these days, if ever it did.
Phatoon
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Comment #8I agree Ibiza, but as with anything in life if a problem is occuring it will get emphasised because it’s believed to be the main problem (the hoof ball).
I like Anita, I think he is good at right back and centre midfield. As sad, he isn’t a wall like Tiote but he does provide a more technical side to the and greater range of passing. He’s also quick and makes some good runs.
If we do end up with Sissoko, who I think will come in and replace Gosling, we would have some quality midfielders there!
On the transfer front, all I can see happening in the following 2 windows is as follow (sort of hoping as well 😉 ).
Jan:
In: Debuchy £?
Douglas – Pre contract – arriving in July
Sissoko – Pre contract – arriving in July
Out: Simpson £?
Gosling £?
Summer:
In: –
Zoet (GK) £?
Bazoer (CB) £?
Out: –
Harper – Retired
Xisco – Free
Ranger – Gunned down in a Toll booth for the Tyne Tunnel (like in the Godfather)
davis_toons
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Comment #9Alexandre Pato- http://www.football-italia.net/27229/pato-jeered-milan-fans
Transfer Sage
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Comment #10Loads of things determine how a player settles. The league they come from, their ability, style of play, etc.
For me the big thing to remember about Anita is that he came from a team which won the league, a team which play with 3 men in the middle and all 10 outfield guys pass and move well, a team that beat man city in the champions league.
He has gone from that, to a good team in us, but a one currently playing a different system and what is probably the 5-8th best side in the league.
If he had moved to man utd or Chelsea his settling in would be ok as he would be in a team dominating every game so the odd mistake would go unnoticed, he would also be in a team what has more of the ball than we do.
The difficulty for him is not just the new league but also the drop in level from top of the table side to a middle/slightly above ranked team.
Armageddon Comes 01.12.12
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #11I suppose the real question is, why buy Anita, a technically gifted player of small stature when you’re going to play long ball and pass the player by all the time?!
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #12I would love to see this team in January after a couple of signings.
————————Krul————————–
–Debuchy—Taylor—–Collocini—Santon–
————–Tiote—————–Anita————
——–HBA———–Cabaye———Sissoko—
—————-Cisse—————Ba—————-
Sissoko on a free and Debuchy for 6 million. Come on Ashley give us a late Christmas present 🙂
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Comment #13The front two is meant to be Cisse or Ba not both 🙂 . Although the way we have been playing lately we could use the extra man 😉
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Comment #14————————Krul————————–
–Debuchy—Taylor—–Collocini—Santon–
————–Tiote—————–Anita————
——–HBA———–Cabaye———Sissoko—
———————–Cisse/Ba———–———-
Thats better 🙂
lewytoon
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:05 PM
Comment #15http://www.football-italia.net/27232/santon-recall-and-newcastle
Munster Mag
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Comment #16Anita will come good – its only a matter of timke, physique and fitness. I do think that he will be best as part of a two man midfield shield. Ibiza, I dont share your belief in Obertan. He’s a strange amalgam of a player with few clear assets. Of course he’s quick as hell, but I’m not sure he even uses that to best effect. Amalfitano has technical ability, but I’m not certain he will make it either, but both have time. Its now up to Pardew – if he continues to demonstrate this level of uncertainty about best line up, hoof ball ( worse than Allardyce!! ) , then I will happily say to ta in the summer. Then we’ll be discussing why we gave him such a big contract , because undeliably it will cost us more to leave him go – or else its a worthless contract and a publicity stunt. Hopefully all will work out though – I think it will.
Phatoon
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Comment #17Sissokho is still under contract til summer, which means we’d have to pay to get him in Jan, we can sign him to pre contract in Jan though.
Phatoon
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Comment #18*Sissoko
BelfastMagpie
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Comment #19Have my doubts about this guy at as a central midfield player,but he should be given time to settle into the league.
Premiership is way more physical,than the dutch league.
Was really impressed with Ajax against City.
Would love it if we played with that style.. 😉
shearermania
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Comment #20honestly dont want him anywhere near the starting positions…personally i hope he comes good but for the moment i think hes the worst player we got….yes its all dandy he needs a bit of time but then he should play in the reserves until he gets the hang of it cause at the moment hes a passenger……would have preferred Mulumbu or diame, good players who dosnt need bedding in…Anita might be all right in 433 for the moment but never ever in 442……too weak
check the toastie
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #21Pardew seems totally confused about what style he wants to play, sign technical midfielders who like to pass and move, (Cabaye, Anita, Ben Arfa even Tiote) then when we go a goal down instantly birng Shola on an hit long balls onto his springy chest or head and completely bypass them.
Cisse and Ba as a partnership has never worked, he should for me be playing all our technical players, keeping the ball and creating chances, but NO he wont do it, he is clueless on how he wants to take the team forward, footballing style wise, his continued pursuit of Carroll is worrying as it does not fit in with the remit given to Carr regards strengths of potential players..
Never been convinced, and still to be so. Talks a good game, doesnt have the conviction to put it into practice.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #22Munster……..Anita will come good, agreed.
Obertan, I’m still not sold on how far he will progress, but he has improved imo (although I recognise that isn’t hard to do 🙂 ). I know he wont be a world beater (well, I’m pretty confident of it, but never say, never #delusional – apologies for the hash tag), but could he become a decent enough squad member for now? Sure, I think he’s already doing that in EL (maybe more a reflection on others performing poorly – open for debate).
The youngsters are what they are, young. Promising, but at the same time not ready to make an impact on a consistent basis. Subs and injury opportunities will bring them along and if they are good enough, they will make the step up, this isn’t a big concern for me at the minute.
Pardew is I suppose the tricky topic. I think he has done a really good job to date. He is, shall we say / assume, floundering at the minute. Does that make him a bad manager? Imo, no. He is adjusting. This is all new to him and I think he has done enough to deserve some support and patience during the transition. It’s not like we were a European team, winning this and winning that. He hasn’t derailed us or anything, just isn’t moving as quickly as some would like. If come season end there aren’t enough signs of improvement, then may be the time to start questioning, not now, as I don’t see what we could or would do to improve anything.
He clearly has some work to do with the team and I am sure he is.
As for longball, I really really do doubt that is any member of the coaching teams instruction to players. I really do. Longball is the oldest fall to tactic. If a player feels pressured, whack. If a player can’t see the simple pass, whack. If the crowd are on their backs, whack, you get the idea. These changes do and will take time. We have seen little bits during games to suggest they are working on it, I remember they did it a lot in one particular game this season, to great effect and to my amazement.
Having watched the games, surely people can see what is the old tactic and what is the new tactics they’re working on? As long as it is being worked on, is that not all we can ask of Pardew?
You then have the formations nightmare. Which we’ve all covered and I don’t think it requires any more input really. There is no one formation, but really we should be generally setting up differently. We have in the past to great effect and I imagine there is something being worked on that is delaying this happening again. We shall see.
Overall, I find it hard to fault our manager. He does a good job with the owners, meaning I think he toes the line well with regards to getting what the team need, whilst not getting himself fired or p*ss*ng the powers that be off so much that he is unable to do his job. He communicates with the fans well imo. Yes, some of it is a cliche, but that is expected really. I think he tries to be as honest as possible, but sometimes in his job, I imagine telling the truth isn’t always the best way forward and I think most people can understand that and why, even if they don’t really like it.
Anyway, I am officially rambling on and on and on, so will stop for now. Hope this has made some sense, even if it has come across as a random rant. 🙂
Transfer Sage
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Comment #23Ibiza
I the long ball is not the tactic why bring on shola?
His game is purely about the long ball.
Surely the smart option would have been to replace cisse another midfielder and get cabaye up the pitch.
Dutchmag
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:17 PM
Comment #24Wilfrid Bony has come out today and announced he wishes to leave NL, not for footballing reasons but family ones. Currently top scorer in the Eredivise and may be worth looking at come January. Only downside would be African Cup, currently plays for Ivory Coast.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Comment #25TS….Well that doesn’t fit in to my argument, so I’ll ignore it 🙂
I honestly don’t know why. Throwing some ideas around though….
1) 4-4-2 doesn’t mean you have to play longball. Shola isn’t only effective when hoofing the ball to him, he can also hold it up if it’s played to him on the ground. So, putting him on doesn’t mean Pardew wants long ball, but maybe he feels he can help bring others forward and therefore in to the game.
2) Maybe you’re right and Pardew does view him a highball specialist player. If he’s watching the game and thinks his players are lost, he may feel longball is in fact the way to go, so put Shola in there and try to win some of it. Rubbish reasoning really, if that is the case.
3) Shola is the current 3rd best striker we have. Campbell looks promising in the reserves, but that doesn’t automatically make him better than Shola. He will need to play, but perhaps he isn’t really what we need, more a case of what we have. So his inclusion shouldn’t be taken as an indication of what Pardews master plan really is.
Personally, I am of the thinking that we should be playing one up front. Whether thats a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 I’m less fussed about tbh, but only one of Ba or Cisse. As you say, that is the better option to control the game by having 5 midfielders and hopefully creating more substantial chances for the one striker, or dare I say it…a midfielder.
Although, this explanation is not really useful, I still struggle to believe the long ball is coming from the coaches, but will happily be proved wrong (well, not happily, but you get my drift I hope.
Transfer Sage
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Comment #26Ibiza
I can’t imagine pardew wants the long ball either but some of his tactics are questionable, not terrible but not getting the best from his squad.
I think 442 works well with 2 genuine wingers like fergie. But Ben arfa likes to come inside and doesn’t stay wide enough to stretch the game.
Also you need to attack with pace in 442 to take advantage of space for the wide men and get full backs overlapping.
Our build up is too slow and only one of our full backs is useful in the opposition half (not having a dig at Simmo but his delivery is poor).
Look at Rodgers at Liverpool, not getting great results but you can see his philosophy on the side already.
Pardew has had nearly 2 years and we look terrible this year.
But I trust him and he deserves more time to put it right.
Munster Mag
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Comment #27” He isnt moving as quickly as some would like?” Ibiza, i dont want him out, but lets be clear – we have regressed. Almost every player is playing worse and we have turned into a hit and hope team. I hope it changes – it needs to.
dead man walkin
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Comment #28tequilamag
last page
i have watched all the games in EL as well as PL, and i can tell you, i have not seen obertan have a good game yet, he has played ok
in one of them on here he got man of the match for the goal only, because on the day we had at least 4 better players,
romain did go off last night ,but what i watched was a guy trying to drive forward, until the man u player ttripeed him up
abied, the PL is a big step up, but surley ots the same step for obertan, bigi, perch, he needs a chance
IBIZA
i think your wrong about pardew,
he took over from CH and has taken the club backwards despite his 5th place finish, that only glosses over how poor the football is,
he treats the fans as numpties , and by this i mean he will say one thing and always do another,
HBA he is the perfect no 10, i see him in this roll, he sticks him wide right,
we could not get our passing game going today,, last season and this season, we never have played a passing game,, so what is he talking about
he is supposed to be good with kids,, i dont see many getting a chance
and when they do, its never in a position that there good at, its always to cover someone else, then they dont look as good and you dont see them for months,, unless your name is obrtan,,
this summer was a big summer for us, and for me he blew it, i like anita, he is neat and tidy, and has ability, but that money should have been used for defenders, simpson can talk to anyone from jan and willamson is not good enough, ( is he this 8 goal a season defender?),
i listened to comentators a few weeks ago, they said this should be a good game, LIV v NEW they both try and play football,, have they watched us ??
we now sit with the 2nd most amout of long balls in the league, willamson to shola to ba
we have wonderful players at out club, colo cabaye santon HBA these 4 are great ball players, but pardew is coaching it out of them,,
make no mistake about it, its pardew, cabaye plays for france everyone is talking about him, he plays for us, he is just another not pulling his weight, funny how 11 players on the pitch, and we find it hard to pick a man of the match because there all so poor,
please take your glasses of when you talk about him,
my ramble over
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Comment #29TS….Agreed. We don’t really have the players for a traditional 4-4-2 to be at it’s best. We’ve got the players he wanted, it’s time to get the formation those players are best effective in happening. We have seen it and it’s results, so Pardew must be aware (Iantoon has even said during post match discussions wiht fans he has said he is and that is what he wants), therefore there must be a reason why he’s not other than he’s clueless.
Munster….Duly noted, but it was already clear. The fact we’re discussing it shows things aren’t as they were, we seem to have regressed.
It’s the reasons for that we’re discussing. People seem to just point at Pardew as clueless, which I don’t think it is down to personally. Is it no new players coming in? I don’t think so, they seem happy enough and they did it themselves last year.
Difference this year that I can see, is the EL. Is that all it’s down to though? I guess the only other thing is luck and whilst we were lucky last season, that wasn’t the only factor and it would be rude to suggest it was.
bettyswallocks
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #30On the Pardew issue, I must agree with cheick the toastie.
More and more of us are becoming disgruntled with the style of play under Pardew.
He is a very commited hard working guy of that I m sure but sven after the huge over achievement of finishing 5th last season toon fans have never completely accepted him.
There is an air of the jury still being out as though we re waiting for the inevitable collapse.
We never embrace him with any sincerity even after a big win. Why is that?
We never sing his name with any conviction. Why?
Because Geordies have an instinctive awareness of what brand of football we want and Pardews version isnt it.
He will organise the team into a solid defensive unit but it is not in his nature to encourage swashbuckling attacking play.
I have yet to see the midfield and forward line connect with any consistency underPardew and I m sure our players are capable.
dead man walkin
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Comment #31bettyswallocks
his defensive style is getting him no where, we conced more than we score,
we never look like score
but always look like conceding,
if some of these teams had demba ba in there team, we would be beating 4 or 5, sundeland murdered us, but could not score because of poor forwrds
the guys around me where i sit, not many of them like him, or his style,
ppl are starting to see through him
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Comment #32dead man…Glasses off (so please excuse any errors as my vision is somewhat skewed now).
Yes, he took over from CH (who did a great job at Newcastle, wonderful in fact). This however is not the same players that CH was working with. The main starting 11 has approximately 50% of the same team. The ones that left were also arguably some of the biggest personalities within the team (Nolan, Enrique, Barton & Carroll – incidentally, I don’t think Pardew was to blame for any of them leaving, that is a board issue).
So, surely any argument of inheriting a team is off the mark when you think about it. The one thing he did inherit was what we could call the backroom players and the amazing team spirit.
Team spirit is an important topic. Yes it was there when he came, but it could very easily go the other way. We’ve seen it time and time again, new guy comes in and loses the team, that doesn’t appear to be the case, although it could be there are some not too happy with him behind closed doors – but this is purely speculation. Pardew deserves credit for keeping it going, despite losing what most of the team would consider key players.
Treating the fans as numpties. I can see why you think that, he has been caught out saying one thing and then doing another. My point earlier was I don’t think it’s as simple as we’d like for a manager to be upfront to the media and or fans. It just isn’t. He needs to protect his players to some extent. There is an element of damage control to be done as well. It’s something most people will try and play down as it is in effect just a controlling the masses exercise and often involves smoke and mirrors stories. I don’t like it, but understand it. It is not beneficial to the club / team for sh*t to be flying all over the place and bringing everyone down. There is also a need for some honestly, but the balancing act can be tricky – it’s not a job I’d like in the spotlight, especially given the way our owner likes to go about some things. Most fans know what the real deal is anyway, you know, reading between the lines. I don’t see this as a reason to dislike him intensely as some do. Just make educated guesses and watch out for the hook, like, cos you know the sinker is coming next…
Summer incomings. I’m sure Pardew is busy enough without looking for, identifying, holding meetings etc for new players, knowing full well that none will arrive. After he’s done his bit, it’s down to the board, what exactly is it you want Pardew to do that will help get players in?
Obviously Williamson isn’t the 8 goal defender, but I get you’re being facetious.
Liv vs Newc – Have they watched liverpool either? Yes there are signs of the passing game, but I can’t say I’ve found them good to watch for 90 minutes (not that I take in many of there games). I do remember games from last season where I was proud of how we played and we were even getting recognition from all sorts of people, so I don’t buy in to this seasons form is the same as lasts, just without the luck. So it is understandable people would think we can give someone a good game – we can, just don’t seem to be doing it this season as of yet.
Longballs….Thats one statistic. I would need to look at other aspects to, as was raised in the West Ham game, we also played more ground passes that WH, in fact the difference was more than when comparing long balls. That would indicate there is more to consider that just how many times we did try the longball tactic. To use everyones favourite argument when i use stats for positivity – they
don;t show the whole picture and can be selective to prove a point.
You have no proof Pardew is coaching things out of players like simple passing. You’re basing that on viewing games this season, a season where we’ve seen the masterful passer Cabaye not be able to complete the simplest of passes. If that really is Pardews work, then Ashley should fire him right now as it’s ridiculous. I am still on the idea that it’s bad form or at worst lack of belief in the system (which if if the case, is serious and needs addressing).
Make no mistake, I do see what you see on the pitch, it isn’t up to standard and not what we should expect as fans. We’re at a stage where you either believe in what is to come or you don’t. I believe ground work is being done and that these things don’t happen overnight. Some disagree and they are entitled to and with that in mind, I can understand your frustration and need for panic. If you really have no faith in Pardew the future must be really bleak indeed.
I’m just not there and I have looked closely with and without glasses on.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #33Betty…Really? We’re the fans not on board with Pardew by the end of last season? I don’t get to games, but have heard lots of reports of signing and chanting about Pardew at games, they even said that the fans had starting using Robsons wonderland with pardews name, I remember as some fans weren’t happy as it wasn’t his song.
I know there were extremely few who liked his appointment originally, but I honestly felt the majority had warmed to and accepted him by the end of last season.
bettyswallocks
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Comment #34Launchig the ball into a big target man with the rest of the team playing as a tight defensive unit is still effective against many less physical teams.
The game however is moving forward with pacey skillful strikers looking to run the channels and in behind defences.
Liverpool have realised this hence the removal of old school Dogleash as have most successful European teams.
Ba can play some football but Shola and Cisse are target men.
Carroll is the epitomy of an old fashioned English centre forward.
Rodgers doesn t want him anywhere near his team P ardew ravs about im and would love to have him back.
I rest my case!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #35were*
Transfer Sage
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Comment #36Ibiza
I accepted pardew after initially disliking the appointment.
He won me over with results. The performances we solid and we didn’t often look in too much danger.
I have always not been a fan of how defensive we play with him.
We often won 1-0 or 2-1 last year clinging onto a lead.
We would score the goal to put us on front then a striker would come off for perch with 20/30 mins left.
It worked so people didnt complain too much.
However when this defensive tactic doesn’t work that’s when people are annoyed. You pay to see a game and get a poor result and a boring match.
Losing 4-3 at least you have been entertained on defeat.
The problem for pardew is that negative/defensive football is accepted when working but very easy and heavily criticised in defeat.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Comment #37Betty…Good discussion. Case rested. I am converted. Hallelujah!
tequilamag
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #38DMW, never suggested Romain was subbed for tactical reasons but still thought he had done very little,
Also not suggesting that Obertan is the best thing since sliced bread but I do think he has shown a marked in improvement and to my mind is a better option than Romain.
As for his motm performances this is decided by a vote of a lot of posters so I think I will give more credence to the opinions of a lot of people over one poster though of course you can only call it as you see it and I respect you have your opinion.
Griff-toon
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Comment #39Hi all, how are we doing today? Im ready for some good blogging. Anything to discuss?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Comment #40TS….Thats fair enough I guess. Seems a little short sighted as I thought what the fans ultimately want is a team that can progress and move towards winning something, not just attacking football which ultimately won nothing.
People have said Pardew would do the same if he was managing Barcelona, of course speculation to suggest either he would or wouldn’t, does seem a bit far fetched to me.
Everyone and I mean everyone, has identified our defense as the area which needs improving. The board have failed to do that to date, only Santon is, but that was to replace Enrique. Pardew is still working with that same defense. He shouldn’t have great confidence in it, as although I praise them when they do well, they aren’t the defenders to take us forward. They are PL standard, but not CL. With that in mind, I believe he sets up defensively to protect them, it’s that simple for me. Whilst not entertaining, if you don’t concede, you have a great chance of getting the points. Is that really an awful plan until we get the defenders we need in (which is seemingly out of the man in question hands)?
I don’t believe for a second that people would be more forgiving if we were attacking teams, but getting beaten. It would be short lived at best. It is a results business.
As I said earlier, it’s come down to belief. I believe what I do, so I see this current period as building towards something, but not expecting too much in the meantime, therefore I am less worried. I could be wrong, but I don’t know how to alter from what I believe is happening and am going to have to accept it if I am wrong in the end.