Newcastle-Online comment: 31st May 2004
Time to move on...
If
anything, last season highlighted just how far behind we really are
and I'm not just talking about in terms of the quality of our squad
either but the way we play football...playing being an operative word.
That is down to our game plan being centred around one man more than
anything - Big Al.
In a way Shearer's presence in the team restricted our development
last season. In 2001/02 Bobby employed Robert and Nobby to fire in
crosses for Big Al to get his head on them. That worked a treat and
with the pace of Bellamy alongside him doing his running, Shearer's
job was simple - just score goals.
In 2002/03 the same tactic was used to similar effect but last season
we saw the good, the bad and the ugly of having Shearer spearheading
our attack.
Without him we'd have finished outside of the top 10 and for the majority
of the season he was our sole goal threat - he literally carried the
team at times, but as the season wore on it was as transparent as
glass that the opposition were finding it easier and easier to defend
against him and Bobby's play to Shearer's strengths tactics - especially
away from home.
Without the pace of the injured Bellamy and the crossing of Nobby
from the right as well as an erratic Robert, Shearer was having less
and less of an impact on the team and more importantly the opposition.
As his age and battered body caught up with him towards the end of
the season he looked a pitiful figure standing hands on hips watching
the game go by. A figure not too dissimilar to the one that eventually
brought about the demise of Ruud Gullit.
That was over 5 season's ago, Shearer had a good few years left in
him and a change in management and ideas would see him back to his
old self - which it did. However he's edging towards 34 now and the
man credited with revitalising his career will once again attempt
to get the best out of him - in his last ever season as a footballer.
A season that demands a top 4 finish and a trophy.
But if Bobby continues to stick with Big Al up front their final year
at the club as manager and player will be as fruitless as all their
previous years because we will not win anything nor finish in the
top 4 playing the one dimensional, play to Shearer's strengths football
that brought about a quite pathetic attempt last season.
Thankfully Shola took some of the responsibility and burden off Shearer
at the end of the season and in doing so he showed a glimpse of a
future without Big Al.
Away to Southampton in the 3-3 draw Shearer was virtually none existent
- the game simply passed him by. Yet we scored 3 goals and created
numerous chances - all because we didn't play to Shearer's strengths.
We played to Shola's, Bowyer's and Ambrose's. That night we were not
the one man team that we are. Had we played that way in other games
we would have finished 4th with room to spare. Had we played that
way over in Marseille we would have scored...
For Bobby to get the best out of Shearer he needs to play pace alongside
him and with two wingers to fire in the crosses. With Bellamy incapable
of playing a full season, Ambrose clearly too young and untried at
this level to be expected to supply the demand and a left winger who
turns it on when his fancy takes it, Shearer's supply next season
could be as dry as Fat Fred's powder.
Even so the problems of last season will still surface. Playing to
Shearer's strengths kills us away from St. James' Park. On the road
Bobby instructs the midfield to play a little deeper and the two wide
men to tuck in. That effects Shearer. In an attempt to utilise Shearer's
strengths on the road without compromising the defensive aspect of
our game though Bobby instructs the back four to hoof it up for Shearer
so he can nock it on for Bellamy - but Bellamy missed half the season.
It was no surprise that we struggled badly away from home, and it's
no coincidence that Shearer only managed to score 3 goals in open
play away from St. James' Park in the League.
It's no coincidence either that we have lacked a goal threat from
the centre of the park in Bobby's time as a manager. That's because
the central pair are instructed to launch it long to Shearer or to
slip it out wide so the flank men can cross it in. They are instructed
to do this quickly and at all opportunities - giving them little time
on the ball or to join up with the attack.
Quite a large portion of our goals come from set-pieces because the
hub of the team - the engine room - are very rarely involved in attacking
situations. Meaning we have three players who provide a goal threat.
Robert, Shearer and whoever partners him. Cut off the left flank and
there goes the main goal threat in open play (Shearer), leaving Shola
or Bellamy to score individual goals - likewise Robert. Cut off Shearer
and our goal threat comes solely from set-pieces or a blockbuster
strike from Robert.
At home we often get away with having so few real goal threats but
away from home we very rarely trouble the opposition keeper in open
play - hence we struggle.
All our attacking problems stem from playing to Shearer's strengths.
Yet if we don't play to his strengths he becomes ineffective and that
leaves us without the goal threat of a 25 a season striker.
It's now time to decide...
Playing to Big Al's strengths will enable us to finish 6th or 5th
because those teams below us don't have a 25 goal a season striker
but if we want to finish 4th or above and to win a trophy along the
way, playing to Big Al's strengths will inevitably result in major
disappointment. It worked in 2001/02 and 2002/03 but those above us
have moved on since then - we haven't! |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
|
