There was a lot of positive things that Alan Pardew will take away from the display yesterday against Manchester City, which we again lost 2-0 – with Manchester City scoring a late goal, after Newcastle had thrown caution to the wind in those final 30 minutes and and were going after the equalizer.
Jack Colback in action yesterday
One of those positives was the performance of Jack Colback on his Newcastle competitive debut, and the lad from Killingworth hardly put a foot wrong, and hardly ever gave the ball away – and this lad is a lot better than we thought he was, when he signed for us earlier in the summer.
This is what Jack said immediately after the game, when asked about the Newcastle fans support of him:
“I could have asked for any more. They have been fantastic.” “Obviously it was a controversial move but I just want to come here, get my head down and play my football – and hopefully do well for the team.”
“It was bitter-sweet really. It was good to play in the first game at St James’, it was brilliant.” “The atmosphere was brilliant but we are disappointed to come away with the defeat.”
“They have world-class players, and the movement around the ball is brilliant.” “It is difficult to get tight to them sometimes.”
“They showed that with two bits of quality for the two goals.” “We’re getting there. A lot of the signings were made quite early so we had the majority of pre-season to get it together. So that’s helped.”“We looked good at times out there. We looked strong and fit and we won’t come up against teams like City every week. We have to be positive.”
Our next two league games are a lot easier than City, and we are at Aston Villa next Saturday, then a week later we play Crystal Palace at home, and we have to start taking points from both those games.
But Newcastle looked a well organized side most of the time yesterday, and the lads should get (a lot) better as they get more games together.
Jack Colback is starting to look like a fantastic acquisition for us.
Comments welcome.
You can follow us on our three social media sites below:
10 comments so far
Tsunki
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:16 AM
Comment #1Well I still don’t like Pards insistence in playing workhorses and spinners (Dummet, anita) and players in uncomfortable positions that make them look worse than they are (Gouffran in the Jonas mode protecting a well off-pace Janmaat) but overall we showed a glimpse of promise today. A goal less than I thought they would get, they are much the same side as last couple of seasons, look at how many changes we have made. Riviere slightly worrying at his lack of knowledge of the direction of the goal but we haven’t had a string pushy striker like him for a while. Ayoze not fazed at all, he looks bright and already looks like he knows how to find space. Colback very solid, I hope he keeps doing that. With two quality players to come in, and acclimatisation to the PL for out new boys over the coming weeks, we should be able to turn over most of the test of the league with some style. Have to mention that it’s the same crew in defence, same old story there. Still think a better manager is needed to squeeze all the juice out this squad, and get HBA and Cabella competing for style on either flank. We would tear most of this league to shreds if we could have that.
Whos_SuperMac
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:18 AM
Comment #2Really impressed with the lads delivery on dead ball situations, he delivers a quality ball everytime. Got to credit AP he saw a playmaker in the lad, and he looks like he can grow into the role.
Tsunki
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:19 AM
Comment #3And btw using the lack of shots on goal lark is statistical criticism which isn’t a fair reflection of the much better movement and creativity around goal that on another day might have got us two or three goals. It’ll come together.
Tsunki
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:21 AM
Comment #4Agreed about his dead ball skill. That’s the single biggest improvement to our chances, must have been the highest count of successful deliveries into the box at the right pace, height and distance from the keeper for ages.
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:22 AM
Comment #5Whos-Soups
I agree about Colback’s excellent deliveries from dead balls.
YankeeToon
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:24 AM
Comment #6Both Colback and Anita looked good in the middle which was a concern without Tiote today.
Remy work rate was outstanding….tracked backed well.
Hate to comment about people not on the current roster but have to say if we had Loic Remy out there today Newcastle probably get a goal….can’t really blame Riviere though, first Prem game and look a little too excited on the ball.
Overall thought the tactics were spot on by Pards and the men played well and gave it their all!
jimmysmith
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:29 AM
Comment #7The striker is a problem I think. Rivierre from what I’ve read prefers to play in tandem or wide. Did look isolated for much of the game. De Jong might help there, but if he pushes up too much then we are left in that unhappy situation of potentially being over run in the middle of the park. Colbacks increased tempo alongside Tiote might solve this. Still some distance from figuring out our best 11it would appear, as you’d expect, but I think Gouffran and Anita will struggle to be a part of that. I wouldn’t ultimately be surprised to see Cisse down the middle and Sissoko and Rivière either side though.
YankeeToon
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:39 AM
Comment #8@jimmy
For me Cisse has proven he can’t perform as the solo foward….mistimes runs constantly, he’s best days were with Demba stretching the field and him coming off him with space.
Yet to see if Riviere can fill that role from one game but he did seem to time his runs well so with more Prem game time maybe he can contribute goals to this team….I still want to see Loic Remy there myself though….fingers crossed
Brutooon
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:54 AM
Comment #9Its Riviere first game, he is a work in progress so let him settle down first. He hold the ball well – which never happen under Ameobi or Cisse.
dannitoon
Aug 18, 2014 at 6:39 AM
Comment #10Thought rivierre played well.. at times even kompany struggled with his strength and movement. colbacks performance makes me feel a bit easier over the tiote situation.. same work rate with more forward movement and without the fouls. its Unfortunate that we always seem to start with a citeh like team. All in all promising… let’s see what it’s like with SDJ