 |
Site Features |
|
Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham United (h)
 Match
Date: 20 August 2005
By Howaythetoon
A look at each individual's performance at St. James' Park in the
0-0 draw, rating the players, the manager, the Toon fans, the opposition
and the referee. Also included are ratings for West Ham with a brief
review of their performance.
Shay Given - 6
Shay had very little to do in this game and wasn't tested at all other
than with his back passing, crosses and sweeping up. A quite comfortable
afternoon for the Ireland and Toon number one.
Steven Carr - 7
I thought Carr had a good game at both ends, using his pace and body
strength to good effect on a few occasions as he took on Konchesky
down West Ham's left. In the final 3rd he supplied one or two dangerous
crosses and was going strong towards the end. Defensively he stood
up to the challenge and was one of our better players.
Jean-Alain Boumsong - 7
Muscled off the ball once or twice by West Ham's powerful and quick
striker Marlon Harewood and was caught ball watching a few times too
but overall very commanding, assured and full of pace to snuff out
their attack. His partnership with Taylor is growing and growing and
getting better with each game. His distribution wasn't at best in
this match but a lack of options ahead of him at times didn't help.
Solid display.
Steven Taylor - 8
Another fine performance from the 19 year-old. It's hard not to get
too carried away as his performances belie his age and experience
and with every game he just looks better and better. He won countless
tackles in this one, was solid in the air, decent distribution although
one or two needless long balls (see Boumsong's review above) and he
organised the back-four superbly at times. My man of the match!
Celestine Babayaro - 7
Defensively I thought Babayaro had a canny game with a goal-line clearance
of some sorts and a few last ditch interceptions and blocks. Going
forward he got into space and linked up well at times but his crossing
and overall distribution was average. He seems to be playing within
himself to me. He can play, he's a good player, but his performances
are a bit of a mixed bag. To be fair, with him and Carr really, not
having regular wide partners to tandem up with can't help much can
it? Decent I thought and more of the same please.
James Milner - 5
As ever Milner worked his socks off and tried to make things happen
but a combination of sloppy control, an over eagerness to please and
lack of options ahead of him meant his overall contribution to the
game was somewhat subdued. Milner has yet to make an impact at Newcastle
and although time is on his side, with each passing game you can't
help wonder if it's all a bit too much for him. Being played in numerous
positions and in a team struggling to create doesn't help but he's
neither the problem nor the answer and his performance in this match
just about sums things up at the moment. Lots of huff and puff but
no thrust or cutting edge.
Jermaine Jenas - 6
Jenas started the game well, getting on the ball, spreading play and
looking to get forward. Indeed we seen more runs into the box from
him in just this one game than we have done for a good few months
now. He had arguably the best chance of the first half too, putting
a header just over which you felt had Shearer been under it, it would
have either hit the back of the net or forced a save. In the second
half he went missing however. Although he did break free with a good
run which resulted in Konchesky's dismissal. Overall, decent in patches
but ultimately disappointing when a one man advantage should have
seen him come more into the game.
Scott Parker - 8
Parker picked up where he left off at Highbury against Arsenal, although
not as dynamic as he was in that game. Won countless blocks once more,
kept the ball well and looked to play it forwards at all times and
his presence in the team not only gave us a defensive shield but allowed
Jenas the freedom to play more advanced. A very decent St. James'
Park League debut and sure to be a new crowd favourite. Well played.
Lee Bowyer - 5
Like Milner Bowyer toiled away, worked tremendously hard and got stuck
in but no late breaks into the box and no real quality on the ball
made it a frustrating performance from the midfielder who wasted the
ball cheaply at times. The odd time he did get into the box he dilly-dallied
on the ball. He did have a late shot which tested Roy Carroll in goal
but other than that, not a very good game.
Charles N'Zogbia - 5
In the first half he was arguably our best attacking player which
doesn't say much given just how lacking in the creativity department
we were but his willingness to take on men, get to the penalty box
and have a strike at goal, which Carroll did well to cling on to,
was a feature of the first 45. After the break he faded badly however.
Alan Shearer - 5
It's a sad sight to see Shearer looking so forlorn, hands on hips
and with back to goal but we and he must endure until reinforcements
arrive (if they arrive!). Quite simply he was awful, the Hammers defence
coped with him easily and while he won his fair share in the air his
control, link up play and his general all-round game was poor. Tired
is the word I'd use. He should not be used in this way. For a club
of our size it's a disgrace that we have to rely on a 35 year-old
legend to bail us out. Sadly, he can no longer do that and it's a
struggle for him and the team. Because of his lack of pace and movement
the midfield don't have any forward running to play balls to yet if
Shearer is to have an impact, he needs service - catch-22 situation.
Hard times for the player and the club which can all be solved with
some new attacking blood. Over to you Freddy...
Subs
Lee Clark - 5
It says something about the depths in which we have sunk to when a
local lad without a club, makes a return 7 years after leaving, to
help the cause. So short of numbers are we. It must be a great feeling
for Clarkie to pull on the Black & White shirt again and he will
be delighted with his reception but it says a lot when a player released
by Fulham can get a game for Newcastle. Nonetheless he did well when
he came on, forcing a save and playing a few decent balls. Welcome
hyem Lee.
The Boss Man
Graeme Souness - 5
I felt he picked the right players given the lack of numbers and with
the injuries to Dyer and Emre but the dreaded 4-5-1 formation should
never be used at home, regardless of the players we had out. It's
a formation that needs pace and width and we don't have that. This
puts us at disadvantage straight away because we are asking players
who lack those things to try, somehow, to make the system work. It's
nigh on impossible. And at no stage during the game did we change
the shape, not even after West ham's sending off. Bad tactics from
Souness and almost an acceptance of a point which isn't acceptable.
Shearer lacked support, the midfield were bumping into each other.
Milner and N'Zogbia didn't know where to run, what avenues to work
and who to play the ball to. It was an ugly mess in the final third.
Defensively this system makes us very strong, but against a newly
promoted side who finished over 20 points behind Sunderland last season,
the emphasis should be on attacking. Injuries and lack of depth or
quality is no excuse at home and against such opposition.
Magpies
Toon Fans - 5
It didn't feel like the first home game of the season. There was no
real air of hope or optimism in the air amongst the faithful and throughout,
the crowd just grew increasingly restless with proceedings and were
subdued and frustrated for large parts. The odd breaks of chanting
and singing that did puncture the air soon faded out into the ethos.
Overall, nothing to shout about but plenty to boo as the final whistle
came. A dispirited, restless crowd. And we've only played two games!
Referee
Dermot Gallagher - 7
Nothing major to be unhappy with, if you're not a Hammers fan that
is. Tried to let the game flow and wasn't card happy despite one or
two moments that many others would have shown a yellow for. But his
decision to send off Konchesky, after a chat with the linesman, was
the wrong one.
The Opposition
West Ham
Carroll: Nervous and flapping. 5
Repka: Solid in defence, rarely got forward. 6
Ferdinand: Solid and composed. 7
Gabbidon: Impressed and looks a good buy. 7
Konchesky: Never a red card. 5
Benayoun: Started well and then disappeared. 5
Mullins: Workmanlike but sloppy. 5
Reo-Coker: West Ham's best player. 7
Etherington: Attacked well first half, went missing
after the break. 5
Harewood: A handful outside of the box and unpredictable.
6
Sheringham: The brain hasn't went but the legs have.
5
Alan Pardew will be delighted with a point and rightly so, his side
played well and on this evidence and last week's against Blackburn,
should stay up as they have pace at the back, bite and balance in
midfield if no real star quality but they might struggle for goals.
Like Newcastle, they need some firepower. |
|
|
