posted Mar 16, 2007

Newcastle are a mystery. They spend all their money on new strikers and new midfielders, when for the past decade defence has been their biggest weakness. And what have they done to address this issue? £17m spent on Michael Owen could have bought 4 quality defenders.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

I think newcastle lost it all from the begining.The game plan was wrong.
There was no way that defence line could have held up against an AZ team that was playing at home and has a young and talented side.The best way to play those kind of teams is to attack thereby reducing the pressure on the defence and giving them little or no room to exploite the weakness in the defence.I think the coach got it all wrong.However they should work hard in the league so as to make it to the continental level next season.IT'S A SHAME.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

A terrible performance and unfortunate defeat. i always expected us progress further but same old newcastle.

I feel newcastle supporters have become very fickle as one week they are praising people like bramble then the next slateing the player and he should have been out the door seasons ago.

I feel it is unfair to critisise the younger players like taylor who is still young and is expected to have poor matches he will be a great player in the future.

And i believe we should stick with Roeder for at least another season as he should be judged on his full strength team as im sure a fully fit owen would have made a massive difference last nite. And also remember it took a few years before Alex Ferguson won a major trophy with Man U.

I just hope he signs a couple of quality defenders in the summer. And hopefully some fresh investment upstairs in the board room.

In the meantime we shud get behind the team and concentrate on finishing as high as poss and look for an ilusive trophy next season then complain

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

The way they have been playing this season, they were lucky to get this far in the UEFA cup.
This week the defence to blame,most weeks the attack who don't put away their chances.Let's hope they can keep away from the relegation zone,but there will be no Europe next season.
I have previously defended Roeder,but Shepherd should really start looking for someone better for next year.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

"How do you beat AZ? Close them down at all areas on the pitch, stop them playing their nice pretty game, keep the ball yourself, let them get tired, and at some point they will certainly over-commit to an attack, and then you can strike (not even necessarily on the break.)"

Easier said than done. With eleven players who are all comfortable on the ball, closing them down has no effect other than getting very tired from running around. The whole idea behind their nice little game is that it can't be stopped unless there's an error or risks are taken to create chances. Then it's the team without the ball who do the most of the running. Overcommitting to an attack isn't necessary either, that's a matter of tactical discipline.

The way to beat them is to keep the ball, all the players of AZ are picked for what they can do in possession. Their weak points are exposed when they don't have the ball. NUFC didn't have the skills and the positioning to keep the ball from AZ. If NUFC could have had 50% ball posession, AZ would have been doing half the match things they are not particularly good at instead of having it 75% of the time their way, and then the class of players like Martins Solano and Emre would have been decisive.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

For the people who said the AZ strikers aren't that good a reminder of the following : AZ has not lost a single european match for 24 times on a row! They beat Sevilla nr 1 or 2 in Spain! They beat Fenerbahce etc. And they are the most scoring team in 1st division! The game vs Feyenoord is considered a top match and therefore 0-0 is a common result.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

I wrote: "How do you beat AZ? Close them down at all areas on the pitch, stop them playing their nice pretty game, keep the ball yourself, let them get tired, and at some point they will certainly over-commit to an attack, and then you can strike (not even necessarily on the break.)"

Gonzo said "Easier said than done."

That plan seemed to work except for the last time.... and that was won via a dogdy corner that went in direct.

Recent history of PSV against AZ

Played 8 won 6 drawn 1 lost 1

03-02-2007 PSV - AZ ERE 2-3
22-10-2006 AZ - PSV ERE 1-3
22-03-2006 PSV - AZ BKR 2-0
26-02-2006 AZ - PSV ERE 1-2
15-10-2005 PSV - AZ ERE 3-0
12-02-2005 AZ - PSV ERE 0-0
21-08-2004 PSV - AZ ERE 5-1
16-05-2004 AZ - PSV ERE 2-4

And how much is the PSV budget compared to Newcastle's? My, they even seem to have to resort to a reject Newcastle striker (Kluivert) as the pinch hitter.

So is it about buying the most expensive players/manager when things go wrong?

Or is it about putting together a committed team that is tactically smart, well organised at the back, and hard to beat.

Go figure!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

I also think that spurs are lucky going 2 the quarterfinals without playing vs Feyenoord! ( prick Platini ) Feyenoord get's kicked out the tournament and with the riots of Valencia vs Inter Milan there were only fines and a single matches some players can't play in. Something stinks there in France. Then it would be 3 dutch teams in europe!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2007

...uh, we would have beaten Feyenoord. Don't be deceived by their reputation, they weren't up to much. They finished third in their group, don't forget that.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 15, 2008

wow...

add comment | complain about this comment