26th October 2004
Shape of things to come as we move backwards in going forward?
Whenever a new manager comes in one of the first things we look for
is a change, or any changes, in the playing style. Well, 7 games into
Souness' new reign and there isn't much of a difference in the way
we 'play' under the Scot than how we did under Sir Bobby. We are still
sloppy on the ball, look bereft of ideas when going forward at times,
and fail to kill off the opposition. That is going forward however.
Off the ball, going backwards it is a different matter. We have changed
and for the better as the results are proving.
Cast your minds back to Bobby's last match as United manager. A 4-2
defeat at Villa Park. Going forward we looked capable of scoring at
every opportunity. Off the ball though we were a shambles and all
over the place. That was the story of our start to the new campaign
really.
Boro away we lead 1-0 and as soon as the home team started attacking
us, we once again fell apart (twice!). Exactly the same thing happened
at home to Norwich. Off the ball under Bobby we had no shape whatsoever
and throughout his 5 largely successful years at the club this was
more often than not, the case. At times it was exciting and reminiscent
of the Keegan days but to move up an extra level we had to ditch the
'headless chicken' impersonations when not on the ball. To an extent
that did happen last season. We become more difficult to beat and
tightened up but Bobby couldn't quite manage to strike the right balance
between attack and defence and this season, in the 4 games he was
in charge of, well it was same old same old. Good going forward, a
shambles going backwards.
Nicky Butt would be sitting in front of the back four with his fellow
midfielders running about like headless chickens. Bumping into the
opposition, occupying the wrong defensive positions and generally
not having a clue. Each man going for the ball or man on the ball.
We were like bees swarming to the honey, but as ever, we were the
ones being stung.
Under Souness when we don't have the ball there is clearly two lines
of 4 in defence and midfield who move back in unison when under attack
- each occupying a set position and sticking to it. No headless chickens,
no mass Black & White invasion in the direction of the ball. Hence
we have become more rigid and more solid when not on it. Difficult
to break down. Indeed it is sloppy individual mistakes, hesitancy
on the ball and lack of concentration that leads to Shay's net bulging.
We haven't so far, been carved open or outplayed. We haven't fell
to pieces. We were put under more pressure against Birmingham and
Charlton than we were at Villa Park yet we came away with some points
on the board.
Although it's merely speculation on my part, I get a feeling had Bobby
still been in charge, we would have lost both those away games in
a similar manner to how we lost to Villa.
Even against a team as so poor as Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin and Panionios
to some extent, we looked solid off the ball and held our shape. That
bodes well for the future because against lesser teams under Sir Bobby
we tended to be far too open and far too gung-ho, off the cuff if
you like. Hence unexpected 3-0 drubbings away to West Ham and a 3-3
draw against First Division Wolves in the FA Cup. Teams who we should
have been seeing off comfortably.
It's early days of course. We haven't played anyone yet but so far
so good. We are looking in great shape and although there are still
things needing addressed, solved and fixed. Souness is heading in
the right direction it seems. Like Bobby, his big test will come down
to finding the right balance between defence and attack - the achilles
heel of most managers and clubs. The difference between an also ran
and a contender. At the minute we are scoring goals and defending
well. A few quality additions at centre half and, given what for me
is once again a poor Premiership, there is nothing remotely frightening
in the way of the opposition to stop is challenging for AND achieving
a Champions League spot which is surely the aim.
Disclaimer: Given the nature of the beast that is Newcastle United.
Any smattering of optimism should be tempered with a pinch of realism.
It could and often does, go pair shaped so be warned.
P.S I wrote this before our 4-3 victory against Man City, but perched
high up in the heavens you get to see things you don't always see
on the box or certainly behind the goals in either the Leazes or the
Gallowgate End and once again, off the ball, we had a shape about
us and although 3 goals against will suggest we were all over the
place, we weren't. |
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