How To Score Past Newcastle: Parts 34, 36, 37 & 38 Of A Plausible 38
By A.K. Dholakia On Fri 22 Jun 2007 |
Newcastle tied with Reading in finishing the season 9th defensively, with the ball hitting the onion bag 47 times a piece. The Chelseas, Arsenals and Manchester Utds justifiably decimated our tally, but Manchester City, Aston Villa and Portsmouth beating us proved far less digestable.
The midfield engine provides the bridge between attack and defence, and Roeder clearly devoted much of the team’s engine room to the latter at the unforgivable expense of the erstwhile. The lack of options and outlets for the defence lead to the loss of possession though, which inexorably invited pressure upon themselves. In summation, poor attacking play seriously undermined the team’s defence - not that the defensive element of the team was perfect, with mistakes infrequent, but occasionally costly, and often the subject of skewed and unfavourable notoriety.
Game 34: Portsmouth (a)
Goal 42: Mwarurari Benjani
Blame: Steven Taylor
Reason: Ball caught under Taylor’s feet
Game 34: Portsmouth (a)
Goal 43: Matthew Taylor
Blame: Nolberto Solano
Reason: Another wonder strike but Nobby should have closed him down.
Game 36: Reading (a)
Goal 44: Dave Kitson
Blame: Nolberto Solano
Reason: Lost his marker doing the right thing, judging the flight of the ball to be coming to the oncoming midfielder runner, John Oster, who was unmarked. I should blame Sibierski as well, and Dyer too for giving it away, but this is Highlander time though, and there can be only one.
Game 37: Blackburn Rovers (h)
Goal 45: Benni McCarthy
Blame: Oguchi Onyewu
Reason: Off the pace, played him on when the defence pushed up.
Game 37: Blackburn Rovers (h)
Goal 46: Jason Roberts
Blame: James Milner
Reason: Diced by Bentley, he picked his spot. If I might add a dishonourable mention to our Carr who did absolutely zilch to help.
Game 38: Watford (a)
Goal 47: Marlon King
Blame: Nicky Butt
Reason: Handball in the box.
BLAME COUNT - Season 06/07
Responsible For 6 Goals Conceded
Peter Ramage
Responsible For 5 Goals Conceded
Stephen Carr
Steven Taylor
Nicky Butt
Responsible For 4 Goals Conceded
Celestine Babayaro
Scott Parker
Nolberto Solano
Responsible For 3 Goals Conceded
Shay Given
Responsible For 2 Goals Conceded
Steve Harper
Craig Moore
Oguchi Onyewu
Responsible For 1 Goal Conceded
Titus Bramble
Paul Huntington
Matthew Pattison
Damien Duff
Kieron Dyer
James Milner
So Peter Ramage hangs on for the win, or the loss,… I forget which. A final surge from Steven Taylor and Nolberto Solano couldn’t displace Ramage from the top, who amassed his score despite starting just 20 of the 38 Premiership games. Every sheep’s favourite scapegoat, the recently departed Bramble, leaves with just one conceded goal in the Premiership against his name. There were some who argued that he was was responsible for both goals conceded at home against Bolton, as opposed to the one he was blamed for, but that aside, accusations have been distinctly and markedly lacking. Interestingly, in our competitive season, we conceded 26 goals in 29 games when he started, compared to 39 goals in 26 games without the “inconsistent” Titus. Our best defender gone, but there is no use crying over spilt milk, but if we were willing to let him leave [and for free, no less], am I to take it we have plans to bring in at least 3 better defenders so that we might, at least, literally, have enough bodies at the back? Strange season.
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I thoroughly enjoy this “How To Score Past Newcastle” feature.
I do though have a suggestion for how you could improve it for the new season:
Rather then just naming the person you feel most guilty & then keeping a running total of that over the season…
How about awarding different number of points (at your discretion obviously) depending on how bad their ‘crime’ was & if they were the main culprit or someone that maybe could have done more.
For example, Bramble may have only been the main culprit once last season, but I’m sure you’d agree that he should certainly have shouldered some of the blame at least for many others.
So points would be awarded something like:
1 point = A Player that could have done more (i.e Bramble missed a header earlier in the move).
2 points = The main guilty player but you can understand what he was trying to do.
3 points = What the hell was he doing?!
Might give a clearer picture of what happened over the season. But hey, it’s your feature & I like it regardless.
Sent in on: June 30th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Titus Bramble was ultimately to blame for more goals than one and some of those in the list have been wrongly accused. How many times did the ball fly over Bramble’s head, leaving another player to make a decison he shouldn’t have to make. Way too many.
Sent in on: June 30th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Don’t agree with Nobby taking a pasting on the blame for goals, a couple were either well taken or Nobby got caught out with more than one option to go for.
God only knows how Stephen Carr only takes the blame for 5 goals, even then I bet he would blame someone else. He’s supposed to be the experience in defence so I can forgive Ramage and Taylor, as they hopefully will learn and improve.
Carr, can’t pass a ball without hoofing it, doesn’t tackle, doesn’t dribble, can’t head, doesn’t shoot on target(for us anyway),is all to often easily taken on and passed…..I could do all that, so can someone remind me what makes him a footballer?
Also if he stopped getting on Taylor/Ramages/etc backs they might be able to play with a bit more confidence, at least they play like they want to be at the club.
Sent in on: June 29th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
No, Nobby never uses his left foot
WE WANT NOBBY OUT! :D :D
Sent in on: June 24th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Yeah, what a great defender Peter Ramage is then!
Solano wasn’t as good as people make out at right back. Has he ever used his left foot?
Sent in on: June 24th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Yeah, agree with Gareth fully Solano was so overrated as a right back he has now pace, never even uses his left foot and constantly lost his marker. His crosses weren’t decent anyway. We should not have renewed his contract. Just because the fans like him we have better younger options in Jimmy Milner and Zoggy.
Anyway, Haway The Lads!
P.S- I managed to get a season ticke today thought they were all sold out!?
Sent in on: June 23rd, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Good to see that stat on goals scored against us, with & without Titus. If stats like that were made more public more often it might change a few peoples ideas of who is & isn’t a decent defender.
Sent in on: June 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Y’know, you’d think after all that’s happened at the club over the past month or two, anybody would let that season go and be looking forward to next season.
Yet again, the pessimism kicks in when it doesn’t even matter anymore, just to force the blame someone because you can’t think of anything else to whinge about.
Sent in on: June 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 am
get michale richerds for left back and bains for left back with taylor(captain)and curtis davies
Sent in on: June 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
It’s funny to see how many Newcastle fans rate Nobby as a right back, I never have and thought he was overrated but the statistics prove it.
Sent in on: June 22nd, 2007 at 9:00 pm
our defense is poor but i also think that the midfield and attack must take some blame as when they lose the ball not enough effort is used to try and get it back.the lack of tracking back then adds pressure to an already poor defense.
Sent in on: June 22nd, 2007 at 7:56 pm