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Toon Player Ratings Vs Blackburn Rovers
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 Match
Date: 21 January 2006
By Newcastle Rocker - N.O Reader/Forum Member
An in depth look at each individual performance from Newcastle's 1-0
defeat against Blackburn Rovers at St. James' Park, rating the players,
the manager, Toon fans and the referee. Also included in our match
analysis are ratings for Blackburn.
Players |
Shay Given - 7 (My man of the match) |
Apart from the controversial goal and his magnificent save early on,
our Irish international and official Man of the Match had a fairly
quiet game.The keeper known amongst fans as "Lazarus" could not really
be blamed for Blackburn's only goal, in which Peter Ramage was fouled
by Kuqi and where Pederson handled the ball over the line. According
to Mr Shepherd, a Given re-sign is on the cards, on our recent performances,
I wouldn't be too sure.
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Peter Ramage - 6 |
With Stephen Carr out with a muscle injury, it was back to to the
right side of defense for our lad from Ashington, a position where
Steven Taylor made his imprint in the first team last season. Ramage
has not taken to the position quite as well as Taylor did, but may
I stress, this is not his best position, and I feel we saw this against
Fulham last week, where he was very composed as a centreback. Against
Blackburn, Ramage was hurried in possession as he furthered up the
pitch, and with Nobby basically playing in the centre, Peter had no
support in front of him.When it comes to defending, he is alert, composed
and dedicated, but heading into our final third, he is a bag of nerves.
Was fouled by Kuqi for the only goal of the game.
|
Jean-Alain Boumsong - 5 |
No slip ups today from Jean-Alain, but far from a convincing performance.
His distribution is awful, and it seems his first reaction to receiving
the ball is to boot it up field to Shearer. He coped with the aerial
balls well, using his height and strength, but his positioning needs
to be addressed, as many times he is caught running back to find his
man. Another average performance from the French international.
|
Titus Bramble - 7 |
Still not the Bramble we came to see during last season, but this
was better. Our only defender that commanded the box, and threw his
proverbial weight around. Playing in pain, he limited the opportunity
for Blackburn to capitalize on our weak midfield, by pushing up slightly.
Bramble needs a partner who can play the ball out of defense, as I
feel Boumsong plays a too similar game, with not one of them playing
the ball out of defense, opting for the hoof and hope tactic.
|
Celestine Babayaro - 7 |
A solid performance from Babayaro, a performance we need to see every
week now. Good on the ball, and the only attacking option on our left
hand side, with Luque again failing to impress in that position. He
used his pace and played the ball into midfield, unlike his centreback
counterparts, opting for the long ball. Keep these performances coming
Celestine, and you may have a future here.
|
Nobby Solano - 4 |
A sorry performance from our Peruvian winger. Nobby was tucked in
far too deep, and saw very little of the ball. Playing this narrow,
limits our attacking options down the right, with Ramage as our only
outlet. The fans were screaming at the space that was left in front
of Peter, with plenty of attacking moves breaking down as the middle
of the park was so congested. Nobby needs to play wide right or his
precision crosses are wasted.
|
Lee Bowyer - 5 |
Lee was obviously forced into the team late on taking the place of
Emre, who we were expecting back today, but had our hopes quashed
when the team and substitutes were read out just before the kickoff.
Lee started the game brightly and was constantly hounding the opposition
for possession, but again with the defence hitting looping balls over
the top, he was bypassed just like his colleagues. Bowyer had a decent
chance wasted when his volley went wide, in one of our few attacking
moves all game. For me, Lee's time at Newcastle has been all about
passion and little talent, although it seems as if now, he's lacking
a fair amount of both.
|
Lee Clark - 5 |
With our two first choice midfielders out with injuries, Clark was
called upon again in the centre of the park. Lee was largely anonymous
for extended periods of the game, with the balls being played over
his head and onto Shearer. When Lee did have the ball however, he
tried to play a passing game which resulted into a few breaks down
the left flank, but ultimately, like the rest of our midfielders,
the game was quite literally 'over his head'.
|
Albert Luque - 4 |
Another disinterested performance from Albert Luque, although he produced
our one and only clear cut chance at goal all game. The ball fell
to him perfectly, and he struck the ball well, only to be superbly
denied by goalkeeper Brad Frediel. Had that went in, we could of seen
a different Albert Luque, but his head dropped and after that he was
largely anonymous, like the rest of our team. This performance again
reinforces my opinion that he is not a winger.
|
Alan Shearer - 5 |
Apart from his one foray down the left flank which subsequently came
to nothing, the only time I caught a glimpse of the man is when he
was jumping for Boumsong and Bramble's long balls. Shearer needs a
pacey partner that can do his running, and find the space for his
flick ons, but Chopra was not that man today, and in my opinion, will
never be this man. The return of Michael Owen before the season ends
is a must for our strikeforce, as we are lost without him. Another
average performance from our hitman, who shows his age without his
highly priced and highly rated partner. The weight shouldn't be on
his shoulders at 35.
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Michael Chopra - 6 |
I want Michael Chopra to succeed, I really do, but I can't see it
happening at Newcastle United, especially this season. With Owen out
with a broken foot and Ameobi out with his hip injury, it was the
perfect opportunity to show the management and the St. James' Park
faithful what he could do, given the chance. Chopra ran his heart
out, and looked the only lively option in the final third, but he
has not got the pace to burn that we have come to expect with Shearer's
strike partners, and that's what has hindered his progress in the
first team and the Premiership. Chopra was involved all game, but
just lacked that instinctiveness that you need at this level, but
you can't fault his effort and commitment.
Subs |
|
Alan O'Brien - 7 |
Replacing the lackluster Luque on 62 minutes, Alan Obrien dashed onto
the pitch to a generous applause. I've had the pleasure of watching
O'Brien for our reserve team, and I've always said that if he worked
on his crossing and final ball he could quite easily make it in the
Premiership. Alan made a seemingly immediate impact, dashing down
the left flank like a whippet without effort, pulling the school yard
technique of knocking the ball in front of the defender and dashing
ahead. A real bright spark for the future, this lad deserves a start.
Boss Man |
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Graeme Souness - 2 |
As the team selection was read out over the public address system
at St. James's, I was confused. I could not understand why we were
starting Albert Luque on the left of midfield. He has shown absolutely
nothing in that position, and he seemingly does not have the pace
at this moment in time to be effective on the wing. We have two 'out
and out' wingers in our squad in Charles N'zogbia and Alan Obrien,
and both were on the bench today. Having no natural winger on our
left side down to poor judgement, he then tells Nobby to tuck in so
deep, that we were virtually playing with no wide men, and no wide
men equals very limited service. We have no organization, and our
only tactic is hoof and hope for the best, all of our players look
unfit and lethargic and it finally looks as if our players are no
longer playing for him, and are resigned to the fact that he will
be off soon. The end of the game signaled some nasty and just responses
from our crowd towards Graeme Souness, and it really is when and not
if Graeme Souness is relieved of his duties at the helm of Newcastle
United.
Mags |
|
Toon Fans - 7 |
Sitting in the stands, you would find it hard to believe that there
was fifty thousand others sat right next to you, it's really that
quiet. It's anxious, nervous and just not the St. James' Park I know
and love, and it finally boiled over after Saturday's game with Blackburn
Rovers. Throughout the game we were never in voice, with a few chants
fading out after ten seconds or so. We did graciously clap the team
off at halftime, if only for the effort from a small number of our
players. In the second half however as the crowd were growing more
and more frustrated, a ball handled over line from Pederson sparked
off a chorus of "Souness Out" from the home faithful. With the fans
knowing we have not got the stamina and passion to come back from
a deficit, thousands left, and the rest that stayed directed the anger
at the manager Graeme Souness. The final whistle brought boo's and
jeers, and once again a much louder version of "Souness Out" echoed
from the stands. This was not the final act of the Toon fans on Saturday.
Outside the ground, several hundred of the angered masses gathered
and several anti-Souness chants were sung, amongst the impromptu version
of "One Bobby Robson". On the steps of St. James's, the protest continued,
this time with the presence of Sky TV cameras. Stewards limited the
views of the press, while the local police shifted our lot with horses
and were quite rough with the young lads too. As far as I'm concerned,
job done. The few hundred at the protest were doing what 52,000 others
were thinking.
Referee |
|
Howard Webb - 4 |
The referee had a torrid afternoon at St. James's. He misses several
key developments in the game, two being involved in the only goal
of the game. He first missed the challenge from Kuqi on Ramage, which
was a stonewall foul, verified from our resident referee at Newcastle-Online.com
- Paul Mosley. He was in no position to see the blatant handling of
the ball, but I can't fathom why the assistant referee didn't hold
his flag up for those decisions. All of the games' 50/50 descions
were given to Blackburn, which only enraged the hostile fans more
so. A bad day at the office for Howard Webb.
Opposition |
|
Blackburn |
Friedel -8- First half brilliant save kept his team in it early on.
Neill -7- Had no problems all afternoon.
Nelsen -7- Enough to handle Shearer and Chopra all day.
Khizanishvil -6- Out muscled in the air, but a steady game.
Gray -5- Stray balls all over the place, never really got a foot on
the game. Fans gave him stick all game.
Reid -6- Coped with our poor attacks on the flanks well, quiet afternoon
though.
Tugay -7- Out muscled our midfield in the centre of the park, kept
Blackburn ticking all game.
Savage -5- Nothing of note at all, largely anonymous apart from a
few drives from midfield which resulted in nothing.
Pederson -6- Apart from the handled goal, didn't impress as much as
he did in his previous games.
Kuqi -6- Won a number of balls in the air against Boumsong, and fouled
Ramage for the only goal of the game.
Dickov -6- Early shot superbly saved by Given.
Subs
Peter - (53) Largely anonymous, never had a sniff in the second half.
Mokoena (90)
Emerton (85)
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