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Toon Player Ratings Vs Charlton Athletic (h)
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 Match
Date: 22 February 2006
By Howaythetoon
An in depth look at each individual performance from Newcastle's 0-0
draw against Charlton Athletic at St. James' Park, rating the players,
the manager, Toon fans and the referee. Also included in our match
analysis are ratings for the Addicks.
Players |
Shay Given - 7 |
Like the Southampton game Shay didn't have too much to do in the main
but when he was called on he produced the goods, making two fine stops
to deny Charlton in this match. This was the Republic of Ireland man's
10th clean sheet in the Premiership to date and for my money, he alone
has been responsible for at least half of them. Another flawless game
catapults him further ahead in Newcastle-Online's player of the season
race.
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Peter Ramage - 6 |
Ramage was defensively sound as usual, although he got beat for pace
once or twice, but in the main he did well enough. Attacking wise
he just didn't get going. He got into some good positions once or
twice like against Southampton but his delivery was poor and he often
cut back inside to play a ball into midfield instead of whipping a
first-time cross in. He did slice the top of the cross-bar late on
from a cross, but it wasn't intended, it was a miss-hit which just
about sums up the youngster's game in the final third.
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Jean-Alain Boumsong - 7 |
Before Bramble went off Boumsong was a bag of nerves and was having
a mare. Wobbly on the ball, hesitant with his clearances and decidedly
shakyalongside the big man. Once Titus went off however, he was a
different player and had a really strong finish to the game, putting
in a few decent last gap tackles, being strong against Charlton's
attack in general and much better on the ball. He also had a chance
to register his first Toon goal but his header was directed straight
at the 'keeper. His form is up and down this season and he verges
on the embarrassing to the sublime on a weekly basis now. He needs
to find a level of consistency in between those two extremes if he
is to prove a success at United or become just another expensive flop.
Fingers crossed, when he's good he's good, when he's poor he's shocking.
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Titus Bramble - 6 |
Bramble was having a fairly solid game before he went off injured
with what we now know as... a hamstring. He was certainly performing
the better between him and Boumsong and seemed to be doing a good
enough job on Marcus Bent before that piece of fleshy meat went pop.
How long he will be out for is anyone's guess, some reports suggest
3 weeks, but given our record with these things, who knows. It's a
shame as well because he was coming into some decent form and Elliott
at the heart of the defence fills me with dread...
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Robbie Elliott - 5 |
Elliott was poor again for me, and is the weak link in our side, certainly
down the left. His overuse of the long-ball doesn't help N'Zogbia
whatsoever and it's no surprise that the little Frenchman failed to
have any kind of impact. Defensively Elliott did well enough, especially
after moving to the centre of the defence when Bramble went off but
someone should tell him Souness got sacked a few weeks back now and
the long ball is history.
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Nobby Solano - 7 (My Man Of The Match) |
Once again Nobby was the brightest player on the pitch and in the
first half especially, he did his level best to break down Charlton's
stubborn 5 man midfield and that back-four of theirs behind it. Some
of his through balls were sublime but Shola in particular made them
look poor with his poor timing and positional sense. Nobby needs pace
and running alongside him, a Kieron Dyer or a Michael Owen (both would
be nice) to fully shine. In the second half he disappeared like most
of the side as he got bogged down in midfield. Still my man of the
match though. He's slowly but surely getting bang into form and I
predict a strong finish to the season from the little Peruvian.
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Scott Parker - 7 |
Captain again and against his former side too which was a canny bonus
for the man. As ever Parker ran his bollocks off and put in the type
of display that we have become accustomed to seeing from the Londoner.
He was everywhere at times, putting in tackles, throwing himself into
the ball and his partnership with Emre is getting better with every
game. Faded in the second half and picked up another booking. I'm
nit picking here like but I do fear he will do himself a serious injury
one day with his relentless desire to chase down everything. Stay
on your feet more and shepherd more Parker lad. As much as I love
a bone crunching tackle or a forceful barge, I wince at times. He
must be black and blue after every match.
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Emre - 6 |
Up against 5 in midfield Emre was always going to struggle to exert
himself on the match as he would have liked to and how we all know
he can. He was bright and lively in patches and sometimes he's on
a different wavelength but overall he failed to get fully into the
game. You do sense that it's coming though, that he is still adapting
and trying to earn the right to do his stuff which is always good
to see from a new player, especially a foreign player.
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Charles N'Zogbia - 5 |
After a fine performance against Southampton where he put in a man
of the match type display, he failed to live up to that against Charlton.
Full credit to Young however who had him well shackled and Elliott
must also take some of the blame because his long balls and square
passes infield did little to get Zoggy into the match. As ever he
worked hard and defended well when he had to. We can't expect too
much from him so early in his career. Some good deliveries from corners
mind.
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Shola Ameobi - 5 |
Southampton revisited for Ameobi. Another mixed bag of a game. Some
decent moments, like his first half strike from Nobby's through ball,
some good link up play and lots of effort. But again, he does not
look like a centre-forwad and is incapable of being that player, up
there alone, leading the line. He has no sense of timing where his
runs or heading is concerned and his positional sense also leaves
a lot to be desired. He missed a glorious opportunity to win the match
with a header which he somehow ballooned over the bar. It would have
been easier to score and Big Al would have buried that. I don't want
to be too harsh on the lad because he's improved of late but he's
so frustrating...
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Lee Bowyer - 5 |
At times you didn't even know he was playing that's how rare he was
involved in the game. His job I assume was to break forward to support
the attack and to take Charlton's extra man in midfield out of the
picture but he failed on all counts and for me, he seems to be going
through the motions as his United career winds down. One to peddle
in the Summer for sure and I for one, despite being patient and wanting
him to succeed, believing he is a good enough player, will not be
sorry to see him leave. He offers absolutely nothing these days.
Subs |
Luque - 2 - Came on for Bramble towards the
hour mark and did nothing whatsoever. He looked and played like he
just didn't want to be there and is doing himself no favours whatsoever.
Howay Albert, pull your socks up lad.
Boss Man |
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Glenn Roeder - 6 |
Again I felt he could have started Luque, especially with Dyer and
Shearer out injured. Playing with Emre just off Shola was a big mistake
as the little Turk isn't cut out for that role, as he proved by constantly
dropping short and effectively giving us a 5 man midfield which just
basically meant a ding dong in midfield to win possession and control
of the game. Which never happened of course. That said, the run continues
and Roeder is doing a good job regardless.
Mags |
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Toon Fans - 6 |
Pretty much similar to the atmosphere against Southampton, largely
muted with just the odd but short lived burst of chanting/singing.
Can't really blame the fans as the game was a complete bore from start
to finish. Fair play for clapping the team off, under Souness a torrent
of boos would have followed such an uninspiring performance.
Referee |
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Uriah Rennie - 4 |
Rennie is a poor referee and nothing he ever does will convince me
otherwise. He isn't fit for this level. He was fussy, pedantic and
irritating. When does he retire???
Opposition |
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Charlton |
Myhre - 7
Young - 7
Perry - 6
Hreidarsson - 6
Spector - 6
Kishishev - 5
Holland - 6
Hughes - 6
Ambrose - 6
M. Bent - 6
D. Bent - 7
Subs
Euell - 4
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