How To Score Past Newcastle: Season Opener 07/08
By A.K. Dholakia On Sun 12 Aug 2007 |
So Newcastle score three goals in the opening 30 minutes away from home against a side which we’ve had trouble with since Sir Bobby Robson left, and ease to the top of the table with relative ease. All this, with key players out. Who could complain, eh…
Welcome to a new series of How To Score Past Newcastle. Now, yes, there’s no real need for negativity right now, and some of you may even complain, but believe me, this season [like every other] will have violent ups and downs. These will allow you to focus your rage for when Birmingham beat us 5-1 on national TV, someone drops a clanger in defence or we go crashing out of a cup.
This year, there will be monthly articles assigning and tallying the blame of the goals Newcastle United concede to the Newcastle player who is subjectively felt to be predominantly responsible for the goal - even if their role in conceding is only negligibly larger than someone else’s. Last year, bar a select few decisions, there were little arguments on who was blamed, and the front-runners at the top [or bottom, rather] of How To Score Past Newcastle generally seemed to correlate with the concensus of the worst defenders at the club.
Game 1: Bolton Wanderers (a)
Goal 1: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers)
Blame: Stephen Carr
Reason: Last year’s champ hits the grounding running in this year’s race [though not very fast, obviously] and, for the second year in succession, assumes the role of pacesetter from the get go. In fairness, the goal was a well executed and slick break from Bolton, but it was preventable. Geremi was muscled out a touch easily, perhaps Big Sam even chose the wrong people to stay back for set pieces, but Carr’s positioning was just woeful. Sitting so deep with no chance of playing Anelka offside, he invited Anelka to run at him. I’m pretty he sure he was aware of their respective running speeds. If he wasn’t, he is now.
BLAME COUNT - Season 07/08
Responsible For 1 Goal Conceded
Stepher Carr
Loading ...
I think that its same old same old again. Carr caught sleeping , Geremi in first place was a little weak and should have gave himself options, as for Harper, can’t really blame him for coming out. Name one goal keeper that wouldn’t with our track record of defensive mistakes. It basically comes down to the fact our goal keepers can’t trust their own defenders. Hopefully few more signings should iron things out and a new era of team gelling will fill the cracks.
Sent in on: August 16th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I dont think anyone can blame Harper for the goal. At the end of the day we were 3-0 up, so why on earth was their just 1 defender staying back!?!?!?!
Of course, Geremi was outmuscled in the first place, although it was a good piece of skill to get by him. Then when it came towards Carr, he should have marked Anelka more closely or played him offside. He did neither although he did push him slightly wide.
Harper cant be blamed for rushing out, if hed have stayed on his line then Anelka would have had a hole goal to aim for and wouldnt have slipped it under him, he would have aimed for a corner making it even more difficult.
If it was anyones fault then it was Carr’s.
Sent in on: August 15th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Bottom line - Judging him on everything he’s done in Black and White and not just this one incident, put simply - Carr isn’t up to it.
We need a new right back ASAP
Sent in on: August 14th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
harper or geremi’s fault. carr did all he could, he was in that position because he was told to be and did all that could’ve been asked of him. he’s a better player than most people give him credit. but us toon fans have to hate someone!
Sent in on: August 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Time and time again keepers come out and although I don’t think Carr should wear the shirt I think he pushed Anelka wide enough so that if Harper stayed near the goal he could’ve took it like a back-pass. So often keepers do this and it winds the shit out of me!! I agree Carr could’ve stepped up however that’s far more dangerous than chasing back with Anelka and forcing him wide with Harper staying on his line and picking up an easy shot. Totally Harper’s fault for me.
Sent in on: August 13th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
You can not blame Carr for that Goal there are 11 players on that pitch . Good game by the way
Sent in on: August 13th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I believe that Carr was to blame he was caught in no man’s land. He could have either stepped up and made Anelka offside or been more tightly marked to him. To me he was the weakness in our squad yestaday.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I agree with Seetow. A team game it is. And the whole team were at the the wrong end of the pitch! I can’t blame them pushing on for another goal. But maybe, just maybe, in future, can we just please leave Taylor behind as the last man Sam. Please!?
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
If he’s the one that forever keeps everybody on-side, then I will blame him!
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Carr is a right back. He wasn’t Anelka’s marker! He is not very good player, but don’t blame him!
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
The blame lies totally with Carr! a veteran like him should realise that all he had to do in that situation was ’step up’ and catch anelka a million miles offside!…anelka wouldn’t have even made it into the box.
couldn’t belive my eyes when i saw it.
Sort him out Sam or get a new right back please
Great performance though from the lads!
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Seetow… football is all about us fans having opinions.
Agreed it was a great result & we look like we have the makings of a decent side… but no harm is being done by a few fans trying to disect why we conceded a goal.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I’ve seen Given do the same thing a few times..with the same end result.
I hope this is something that will be looked at in training
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Football is a team game, and I believe we should not blame the guys for what is ultimately a goal conceded by the team. So why won’t we just enjoy the victory which hasnt come for 5 years? HTL
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Personally I couldn’t believe my eyes when Harper came rushing out like that. Bad mistake by Harper.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I agree with Glenn, my first thoughts were why did Harper come out. I was working at the time and only saw a couple of replays. But Carr was taking Anelka away from goal and it would have been an easy save to make if Harper had stayed in his 6 yard box. If Anelka turned Carr then you could blame Carr and not Harper. Harpers fault.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I agree completely that the blame lies with Carr, his positioning was woeful for someone with so little pace and although he made it slightly difficult for Anelka with the angle, the gulf in class between the two was so telling.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 11:32 am
I think the blame should go equally to Harper… Carr was close enough to Anelka to still make things difficult for him
If Harper had stayed in his six yard box instead of rushing out needlessly it would have been a simple save at his feet….Instead he came lunging out & it when underneath him
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Harsh to blame Carr for the goal. I thought it was a quality break away and superb forward play from Anelka. Geremi should have mullered McCann when he had the chance.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 11:24 am
It was Geremi’s mistake when he was beaten to the ball. He should have hoofed it instead of trying to retain posetion.
Sent in on: August 12th, 2007 at 11:23 am