Newcastle-Online comment: 29th August 2004
Shay Given - 6
Made a couple of fantastic saves but his positioning at times was
slightly flawed. Looked dodgy on crosses too. He doesn't look a happy
keeper and who can blame him when he has no protection. I don't want
to alarm people but his body language (IMO) speaks volumes. If we
keep conceding goals he will be off in January or next Summer because
a keeper of his calibre should not be picking the ball out of the
net so often, especially in the comical and sloppy manner that we
concede goals. Looks frustrated, angry and bewildered.
Stephen Carr - 6
One thing that Carr has shown since he signed for the Toon is that
he is comfortable on the ball, has a great engine and gets forward
very well. In this match he did all those things but defensively he
hasn't looked the best since joining. In this game he was great going
forward and with the ball at his feet but his defending was poor.
He gave away the free kick which was cleared for a corner, a corner
that Villa scored from and throughout he was beaten in the air. Another
mixed bag of a performance on the day he was made Skipper.
Aaron Hughes - 5
Bullied quite easily by Vassell on a few occasions and in the air
he didn't have the best of games. Nervous and sloppy. Made some good
interceptions and had to help out Bernard quite often but this partnership
with O'Brien is very suspect and the two look weak. Up against the
likes of Henry, Van Nistelrooy, Drogba et al I worry. New centre-halfs
of comparative quality to Woodgate are a must and so is the return
to fitness of Bramble. Christ it's bad when Bramble's our saviour...
Andy O'Brien - 5
Couldn't handle Cole in the air or on the deck and like his partner,
he was sloppy and indecisive. Allowed Angel to shrug him off before
the Colombian unleashed a shot that cannoned off him and over Shay
into the back of the net. Shaken and stirred. All over the place really.
Olivier Bernard - 4
Awful performance. Solano had a field day down the right and Bernard's
positional play was at it's worst in this game. The game just passed
him by and he just hasn't got going this Season. Wasn't helped in
the second half by Robert who just decided he didn't need to track
back, something he did quite well in the first half.
Lee Bowyer - 5
He is not a right-winger Bobby and by playing him there you may as
well leave him out of the team full stop because he's just no use
as he proved once again in this game. kept on coming in-field which
meant the full-back often nicked the ball off him, which left big
holes behind him leaving Carr back peddling and facing two attackers
on his own. Passing was shocking and although he gave his all and
worked hard this just wasn't his day. To be fair he is still not 100%
fit having recently recovered from Conjunctivitis and a knock. Play
the man in the centre Bobby for christ sake.
Nicky Butt - 7
Another fine performance from Butt who did his best to get a foothold
in midfield but he alone can't stop attacks. Passing was very good
and it was his little dink that set up Kluivert for his goal. Put
in lots of little tackles and challenges and bust a gut all afternoon.
By the end however he was overrun as we lost our shape.
Jermaine Jenas - 6
Despite some neat touches and some good passing he had an average
game overall where he was often nudged off the ball (quite easily
at times) and towards the end he just disappeared. It should have
been Bowyer in the centre. Away from home you run the risk of being
overrun with JJ in the middle because he's simply too light weight.
At home we can get away with this where the emphasis is on attacking
but on the road we have to be solid, composed and patient. Everything
JJ wasn't.
Laurent Robert - 6
In the first half he was having a great game. Tracking back, putting
in tackles, getting forward into good positions and using the ball
well. After the break though he just drifted and ambled. He was a
passenger in the second half and in one passage of play where he gave
away the ball and stopped, Nicky Butt flew past him busting a gut
to retrieve the ball while Robert stood hands on hips. Not good enough
and it's getting to the point now where he's becoming a nothing player
for us. I would drop him. His crossing wasn't that great either -
in stark contrast to Solano's, which were excellent. Why didn't we
buy him...
Patrick Kluivert - 7
Making his full Toon debut in place of Alan Shearer, Kluivert had
an excellent game and scored a cracking goal, turning Delaney as if
he wasn't there to slide the ball past Sorenson. Worked hard for the
team and got stuck in and when he was on the ball, some of his touches
were sublime. Took over Shearer's defensive mantle at corners and
did Big Al proud with some top notch clearances and in the air he
looks to be very potent. Made Sorenson pull off a great save when
he turned on a six-pence and screwed a shot goalwards, which had to
be tipped over. If anyone was ever in doubt whether he would score
goals in the Premiership take a look at his goal - a half chance at
best. When he's fully 100% match fit and settled in he will be the
player we all know he can be and then sum. Well done Paddy. My
man of the match simply for his goal, work rate and eagerness
to help out the team.
Craig Bellamy - 7
An intelligent game where he didn't see much of the ball but his running,
movement and of course work rate created openings. He was a constant
thorn in Villa's side and had a busy afternoon. I'd hate to think
how we'd cope without him and he's started this Season on fire. Keep
it going Craig.
Subs brought on:
Shola Ameobi - 4
Brought on for Bowyer on 76 minutes and apart from a few dribbles,
lay offs and one mazy run into the box where he should have pulled
the trigger earlier he didn't get on the ball much.
Shearer - 4
Come on for Kluivert on 76 minutes and hardly got in the game. One
or two tussles, headers won and a few throw-ins but nowt much else.
Elliott - 4
Brought on for Bernard on 73 minutes and had a better game than the
Frenchman, which doesn't say much... |
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