Newcastle were just terrible yesterday at St. Mary’s (I almost ended this article right there), and we were completely outclassed and outplayed by a rampant young Southampton side, who should probably have been 4-0 up at the half, but for goalkeeper Rob Elliot and in that first half alone they had 14 shots on goal to Newcastle’s zero shots on goal. 🙁
Rob Elliot – wondering where his defenders were for that first goal
Here are some of the things we learned about Newcastle yesterday.
- Rob Elliot always plays well when he comes into the first team, and yesterday was no exception, and but for the Irish goalkeeper we would have been down by 4-0 at half time, but Rob made three brilliant saves, and seemed the only player awake in the Newcastle defense. And if Rob keeps up this kind of form he could stay in the side for the next six games to the end of the season, even after Tim Krul is fit.
Rob had another excellent game for Newcastle yesterday afternoon at St. Mary’s, and the performance will do nothing to harm his chances of remaining in the Ireland squad. - Just when we thought Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was settling down and playing consistently for Newcastle, he had another one of those nightmare first halves, which he last had at Everton last year, when he was also hauled off at the break. Davide Santon replaced the Frenchman at half time, and Mapou was the player who played Rickie Lambert on for that first goal, scored in added time in the first half.
Mapou also couldn’t cross the ball from the right wing, and at least twice put the ball into the stands – it was simply a terrible display by the French International. - It was one of those games where maybe 90% of the Newcastle players were not ready for the game, and all the talk about wanting to pick up as many points as possible through the end of the season seemed to be comical – not many Newcastle players turned up for this game yesterday – and at the end of the game the Sky Sports reporter said it looked like all out of Newcastle’s outfield players had an off day. 🙁
We’re not sure what happened, but a lot of the players yesterday are still playing for their Newcastle careers, and it was a bit like the Tottenham game in that we were never in it – and looked decidedly second-rate compared to a fee moving attacking Southampton side. It could have been 10-0 – it was that bad a performance from the Newcastle players – and it was totally unacceptable. - Newcastle have been in a slump since we hammered a 9 man Stoke City side 5-1 on Boxing Day, and in the last 14 league games we have only four wins and a draw, and in ten of those games we have failed to score a goal – so we’ve been in a slump – and don’t look like coming out of it any time soon either.
- Newcastle were again terrible in the final third of the field, and this doesn’t bode well for either Luuk de Jong or Papiss Cisse, since the two strikers have been unable to offer any real threat up front for Newcastle since Loic Remy has been out injured. But one of the things it shows up is our complete lack of creativity in the side, and we are now paying for selling our most creative player – Yohan Cabaye – in January – half way through the season.
- That was the 9th league game that Loic Remy has missed this season for Newcastle by our reckoning, and in those games we have scored only one goal – the last minute winner against Crystal Palace last weekend. That doesn’t auger well for next season, since Loic will be leaving Newcastle for a bigger club in the summer – which will probably be Arsenal – so we need to bring in a number of good strikers this summer – and it seems we need at least three decent strikers brought in.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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13 comments so far
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:03 AM
Comment #1Another f**king woeful display, I was told when i put my view across on the Everton game that woeful was harsh but can’t see how we’ve been absolute sh1te for weeks now
Elliot
The only player on the pitch today who looked like he wanted to be there, pulled out save after save after save as time and time again his protection simply crumbled, would of been a cricket score if he played like the rest of the lads
Yanga
Have said this since Fulham, this bloke is not a bloody RB!
He’s an absolute liability playing there, gets turned inside out and upside down
Awful game from a player who looks to be heavily regretting signing here to be used as a utility player
Willo.
Willo was Willo, solid at times but had no support from neither Yanga nor Colo
Coloccini
If we’re looking to this bloke for leadership and example it’s no wonder were sh1t
Had rings run around him all game and chased the ball round like he was on a playground
Where’s his ability to read the game gone?
Useless
Haidara
No wonder this lad hasn’t had a look in, bloody useless, fluffed his lines time and time again and would struggle to deliver a pizza let alone a decent cross
Tiote
Did what he does, tried to break up play etc but without Cabaye he has no one to knock the ball to so try’s to hard and just isn’t good enough with the ball at his feet to try and make runs
Sissoko
So frustrating, makes some amazing runs, does some amazing passes but has the touch of a rapist
No close control whatsoever, just ran around lost today
Anita
Done okay tbf was left fairly isolated on many occasions
Goofy
Looked either shagg3d or disinterested either way he offered nout today and should of been taken off
Ben Arfa
F**king useless fully deserved to be dragged off at half time
World class? Na not even close, got a lesson from a 20 yr old FB in his breakthrough season, please stop comparing him to Messi unless Messi has a overweight brother who’s a bog standard footballer
Cisse
Many thought the flood gates would open for him, he looks a big sharper but nothing like a NUFC number 9
Santon
Hardly changed the game, just as poor at RB as he is at LB
De Jong
No way should we pay more than £9.50 let alone £9.5 million
Dummett
Strange sub, didn’t really have time to do much, but what impact does bringing in an extra defender whilst getting routed really do?
All in all a woeful performance by some players who should be ashamed today
Overseen by a inept management team with no game plan
And please please please stop saying this is the best squad since SBR because that’s a plain fcuking insult to the players we have had here who would graft and fight
This lot are a bunch of lads who at some stage had potential but look no where near fulfilling it
Fcuking glad I have my tickets up today!
beermonkey
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:14 AM
Comment #2apart from his first season Elliot has done ok when played, why has it taken till now for him to have a game
its not like krul has been in sparkling form
arctoa
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Comment #3Six things?
1. What
2. a
3. Bloody
4. Shower
5. of
6. Shite.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Comment #4So at what time can we expect that news conference today where Pardew resigns?
…wouldn’t want to miss it for the world 😉
cestriasteve
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:27 AM
Comment #5TDS, I think that is a fair summary of what I have seen this morning, dreadful performance.
Think it’s fair to say we need to rebuild but Jesus where do you start we need a centre half, full back, attacking midfielder and a centre forward.
All of which need to WANT to play for us.
Dennis Twice
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:28 AM
Comment #6Attack Toon attack attack!
Visten
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:28 AM
Comment #7Try two things……Heartless………Gutless
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Comment #8What I have seen Elliot looks decent keeper worth playing him till end of season maybe. His distribution is a lot better than Krul’s shot stopping not bad either. But like Krul needs to command his 6 yard box better.
Looks like we have given up for the season – not good enough.
Hope Ashley takes note of the display players we have got and dips into his pocket big style in the summer.
If I was him I would have a meeting with staff and players and read the riot act.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Comment #9You start fresh with a new manager and a new found belief!
blew
Mar 30, 2014 at 9:44 AM
Comment #109 of the team who started were Graham Carrs
recommendations also the 2 who came on in
the second half. We are looking to Carr to
bring in some more gems in the summer. Either
I have the situation wrong regarding most of the
players he has already brought in or the coaching
staff are useless.
Malta Mag
Mar 30, 2014 at 11:40 AM
Comment #11M’Biwa had an awful game but why is he playing at right back where he’s clearly uncomfortable. Collocini showed once again that he’s a good footballer but not a good defender or a good leader. The midfield is just too similar with Anita and Tiote not creative enough however if HBA was half the player he should be, he’d take over the role of playmaker. The priorities in close season has to be a solid experienced Centre back, midfield playmaker and a striker. Rumours of Micah Richards excites me because play him centre half and I think he’s exactly what we need. The other I’d go for is Hernandez from Man U as he’s a natural goalscorer and great little character.
It’s not all doom and gloom as some would prefer you to believe but we do need additions and I think this summer will see us spend. Mike Ashley may not be top of everyone’s Xmas card list but he hasn’t got where he is by being stupid.
Deana
Mar 30, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Comment #12Interesting that you mentioned these players are ‘playing for their Newcastle careers’. Perhaps they are sick of the clubs lack of ambition and want out.
Barton
Mar 30, 2014 at 1:03 PM
Comment #13Spineless
Gutless
useless
lack of respect in club/themselves
Pardew…i give up,if he was a Man and had any self respect would have left a long time ago.
Cashley = C$nt
There your 6 things,but did we really learn this yesterday………ofcourse not we have known this for ages and its only going to get worse, all you Pardew,Cashley sympathisers out there……….Hang your heads in shame!!!