Yes we know we don’t have enough cover for the first teamers at the moment and they have had to play two games a week, but the way we slump at the end of these games is alarming – and we wonder if our lads are fit enough. It was obvious once Arsenal scored their fourth goal that it took the heart out of the Newcastle side, and our players probably felt even more tired than they would have been if we had scored that fourth goal for instance.
Alan Pardew – fourth goal was a killer
So we think in part the collapse yesterday was caused by almost the waving of the white flag once their fourth goal went in – as Arsenal came to life and did what they love doing – scoring goals.
Alan Pardew has refused to put any blame onto his players, but he does concede we let in some really poor goals in the last 20 minutes and the last goal – scored by Theo Walcott – was it four or five of our players he beat in the penalty box before he slotted the ball home?
This is what Alan said in the Sunday Sun today:
“I thought at 3-3, we should have shut up shop and we couldn’t do that. The energy levels between the two teams was evident towards the end. Arsenal looked energized and our team looked really leggy.”
“The fourth goal knocked the wind out of our sails a little bit because we then conceded some bad goals. It’s why we ended up with the scoreline we did.” “It is hard to take. But we put in a real effort against Manchester United on a really sodden pitch, and that took its toll.”
“And the bench today really didn’t have enough on it.” “I didn’t put Remie Streete on there to make a point. He really was my only defender and he shouldn’t be anywhere near my bench – that’s the truth of it. We really were down to the bare bones.”
“At least Mike Williamson will come back on Wednesday and hopefully Vurnon Anita.” “We put the ball at risk too many times today and at the end showed too much naivety as we tried to get another goal. Maybe the fact we are scoring so freely has made us too open.”
“Even with the players we had available, it was important we attack the game, which we did.” “We had some great offensive performances today.” “Sylvain Marveaux had what was probably his best game for us and Demba Ba scored two goals.”
“But you need to defend as a team and we needed to show a little more nous in the last 20 minutes.” “If Arsenal had played on Boxing Day, we certainly wouldn’t have had the scoreline that we did.”
One good thing is the lads have an opportunity to put things right against Everton on Wednesday night at home – and we want to see an all out performance from our Newcastle players in that game – and please – no letting up in the last 20 minutes – especially against a side like Everton.
If we can do that we could even win the game.
What do you think?
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49 comments so far
toonbrother
Dec 30, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #41Amazing that so many fans appreciated Marveaux’s qualities long before Pardumb. Simply amazing. Same goes for Bigi. The man rated Ferguson and Jonas ahead of Marvs until recently. Fact is Pardumb is a terrible judge of player ability. The minute he is given any power with regard to player transfers this club will implode.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 30, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #42Beattie
If your applying that logic then surely its a cop out from the players and not pardew?
How do you get a squad of players who can no longer be ars3d to play good football, if that is the case of course
He cant his hands would be tied until the window opens
criticalsteve73
Dec 30, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Comment #43Got to say lads really impressed with some of the football we have played over the last 2 games and the conceded 11 goals could of been prevented but we mustnt forget the opposition 2 of the highest scoring teams in the league.I can’t believe we played as well with our injuries obertan,marv,biggi,all were great last night I think it was a fitness issue these players aren’t first teamers so will not have the match fitness of the other lads,but as for tiote starting to lose all faith in him for me Anita and biggi would get the nod ahead of him now when the rest of the team play that well then he goes and gives the ball away cheaply it’s criminal and for the forth goal him just standing watching in the box just can’t happen,hopefully the score will favor us on Wednesday with a win hwtl
criticalsteve73
Dec 30, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #44Got to say lads really impressed with some of the football we have played over the last 2 games and the conceded 11 goals could of been prevented but we mustnt forget the opposition 2 of the highest scoring teams in the league.I can’t believe we played as well with our injuries obertan,marv,biggi,all were great last night I think it was a fitness issue these players aren’t first teamers so will not have the match fitness of the other lads,but as for tiote starting to lose all faith in him for me Anita and biggi would get the nod ahead of him now when the rest of the team play that well then he goes and gives the ball away cheaply it’s criminal and for the forth goal him just standing watching in the box just can’t happen,hopefully the score will favor us on Wednesday with a win hwtl.
proudtobageordie
Dec 30, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #45the crap that most people write on here is ridiculous and uncalled for. If people want to try and demoralise our club i suggest you stay away from this blog. We all know Pardew is playing his best hand at the moment and he is down to the bare bones to the fact we havn’t got a bench at the mo due to injuries. How could he look at the bench to change things in the last two games which are arguably our two hardest away games of the season. Fair enough our defence just isn’t good enuf against world class forward’s/midfielders, but how many teams score 3 at them two grounds. we are playing really well also defending really poor but lets face it i was proud to be a toon fan over the last two games regardless of the score. how many fans get to cheer goals at them two grounds. we did 6 times. get behind our team,manager and club and we will be ok second half of season when our key players return and any additions we aquire
yorkshire mag
Dec 30, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Comment #46Its all well and good everyone on here slagging the team off and fair enough the defending was shocking at times. But at the end of the day once it went 4-3 taking in to account the manure game and that we came from behind three times already we just gave in and Arsenals freshness compounded this. It highlights the need for defenders but the way Tiote has been playing he should shoulder some of the blame and we need to consider getting another dm
magicbus
Dec 30, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Comment #47Ashley needs to shoulder the blame too for not getting defenders in last summer to replace a couple of our Championship at best current defenders
taker83
Dec 30, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #48a)Simmo- nonsense
b)Saylor- injury prone
c)Willo- nuisance
d)Collo- average
e)Santon- not a defender.
So a+b+c+d+e= shambolic defense
Sav
Dec 30, 2012 at 3:50 PM
Comment #49No-one on here ever seems to see Santon as another weak link in defence. The lad is decent going forward but can’t cross when he gets there. For the first goal he was totally at fault and often looks only half awake. Don’t like the look of him any better on the right (for those who say he’s playing on his unfavoured side).
Hope Debuchy can give us some pace and crossing on the right, even if his defending is no better than Simpson and at least he’ll be comfortable on the ball unlike Simmo and Williamson who look as if they believe its about to explode.