Your Shout: Newcastle United 3-2 Reading - Have Your Say - Write In
By A.K. Dholakia On Thu 7 Dec 2006 |
An entertaining and controversial game saw second-half goals from Obafemi Martins and Emre overturn a 2-1 deficit, after Newcastle had gifted the Royals a first-half lead following Antoine Sibierski’s opener.
A particularly strange game, but what do you think? Is the Butt-Emre central midfield partnership a powerful one? If so, why were Newcastle chasing shadows for periods after they lost the second goal? Is Emre better with Butt alongside him? What of the woeful defending? With Bramble out, is there an outside chance that a genuinely poor defender will receive blame? How was Ramage in his preferred position? What areas of the team do Newcastle need to invest in the summer? Are you just happy we’re beginning to climb the league again?
Have your say, people.
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Good game, but Butt was not my favourite player.
Babayaro made an absolute awful error, Emre has the talent, he was good. I want to see more from our Spanish Luque, he is a rising star that has to get some chances.
Sent in on: December 9th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
That’s a good question and I think you’ve made a good point about Parker. I’m not sure him and Emre are quite as sure what their roles are when they’re playing together.
Parker’s an England international, to leave him out, if fit, would be madness. The others haven’t done enough to walk straight back in. And even if they could come straight back in, I’d be reluctant to drastically change the team, I think we have enough excellent cover in those positions, not to need to do that. The problem hasn’t been so much that our players are bad, more that they are totally out of form.
And to be fair some of the changes have been forced. Parker, Dyer, Owen or Given would, and rightly should, walk into our team, as they would in almost all other teams in the Prem in my oppinion.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
My concern is what happens when we get some of our injured players back.
Does Roeder have the bottle to keep Carr, Duff, Parker, Moore, etc out of a team thats doing well. We’ve seen earlier in the season the youngsters do well in Europe and the cup only for the ’senior’ players to walk back into the squad.
Carr has been absolute garbage this season and Nobby and Milner link up well down the right.
Parker hasn’t really performed as well as he did last season and Emre and Butt appear to be forming a far better partnership than Parker and Emre.
Zoggy’s confidence appears to be on the increase as well now he’s getting a decent run
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Our squad is actually not in such bad shape - forgetting injuries. If we had the same number of injuries as Chelsea or Man U (2 or 3!) I wonder where we would be now. And it’s not so much the number of injuries, it’s the fact that players keep coming in and out. Our team against Reading picked itself, literally, but I still think it was a side most Prem managers would love to have. They would kill to get their mits on players like N’Zogbia, Milner or Emre.
Also, it wouldn’t surprise me if Babayaro has a much better game against Blackburn, if he didn’t play better that would concern me, more than the odd bad game, and I’m sure Roeder would look at it and think of giving someone else a chance.
But I personally think the attitude of all our players has been excellent this season, far better than I’ve known for quite a few years, and I’m not really concerned in the least about relegation. I’m looking up and basically seeing that we are 8 points away from the European places with a game in hand! And there is a long way to go yet.
To be honest I’m really sick and tired of all the negativity, not least regarding Roeder and the chairman. I understand people’s frustration but at the end of the day it’s where we end the season that counts not where we are now. 15th position is meaningless considering we have 69 points to play for.
I personally AM looking at the bigger picture. I’m not saying we can come top four this year, not without Owen and a decent run of consistency. I’m not saying we can even get into Europe. This was always going to be a tough season for us. But I know that if I supported another club like Wigan, Man City, or Fulham, it wouldn’t provide me with much comfort knowing that Blackburn, Middlesbrough, West Ham, Charlton and Newcastle are below me!!!! And ignoring form fitness and injuries we are streets ahead of those teams. You have to remember that when you aren’t playing well it takes a lot more out of your players, and we’ve played something like 30 games so far. That’s why it’s vital to turn our form around. And I think we’ve made strides in doing that. We just need to be patient.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
I don’t make a claim to be a manager, I’m a fan and as a paying customer and a decade of support to the club I am entitled to make any frustrations known. For example when I criticize Babayaro I’m not criticising just him, but the fact he is the team and it goes to make a point about our transfer policy and lack of strategy. Why we couldn’t sort out our defence in the summer is beyond me but it’s all about the wider issue. I personally do not boo, but I am just defending the rights of others to do so. Babayaro I agree, is one of these players who needs an arm around him but there’s a limit, he has to be able to cope in harsh pressurised atmospheres like the top pros do and if he can’t cope with a bit of nick of the fans how can we expect much from him???
He is always injured and frankly I’m not going to congratulate him on coming back from *another* groin problem so soon, we don’t even know if it was that soon - he could have been fit for a few days?!?! Players like Parker and Harper have done the same, in fact half the team is probably carrying knocks of varying degrees so it does not make Babayaro sum kind of hero.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Emre played great. I think it’s better if he plays as a offensive midfielder. When he has the ball he is able to at least pass it well to create a chance.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Ash and others are missing the point about Babayaro.
First, as he’s just come back, probably rushed back in fact if you look at who was available against Reading. We needed Ramage in the centre, so we simply needed Baba to play, and I don’t know if he got a great deal of training under his belt beforehand. Big thumbs up for being willing to do that.
Second, you would make a lowsy manager, because you’re oblivious to the fact that there are different types of people, some require support, some require a good ear bashing. Sir Bobby was great at that, and so is Roeder in my outsider’s oppinion. Booing the player himself is the wrong way to go.
People who don’t know Baba personally (like me) should just shut up because all they are doing is undermining the manager, the player, and showing zero respect, and they aren’t supporting the club, even if they claim to be supporters. And it’s that kind of negativity that drags the club backwards.
I’m not saying Babayaro is as good as Ashley Cole. But he’s not that bad. I still agree that we need another left back though, even if it’s a short term deal.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Ash and others are missing the point about Babayaro.
First, as he’s just come back, probably rushed back in fact if you look at who was available against Reading. We needed Ramage in the centre, so we simply needed Baba to play, and I don’t know if he got a great deal of training under his belt beforehand. Big thumbs up for being willing to do that.
Second, you would make a lowsy manager, because you’re oblivious to the fact that there are different types of people, some require support, some require a good ear bashing. Sir Bobby was great at that, and so is Roeder in my outsiders oppinion.
People who don’t know Baba personally (like me) should just shut up because all they are doing is undermining the manager, the player, and showing zero respect, and they aren’t supporting the club, even if they claim to be supporters. And it’s that kind of negativity that drags the club backwards.
I’m not saying Babayaro is as good as Ashley Cole. But he’s not that bad. I still agree that we need another left back though, even if it’s a short term deal.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Agree with Jangles, however looking at Right back I must disagree with Tank.
Nobby is doing OK, and I think that the current pecking order must be Nobby, Ramage, Taylor, Carr both Ramage & Taylor having demonstrated that they are adequate cover at Full Backs, although both better in the Centre. Left Back is the problem. Baba is not good enough, Duff has been suggested and is an interesting option, whilst Ramage is the more defensive option whilst playing out of position. Finding a good left back long term frees up our options elsewhere
In the centre we still have problems. Taylor looks good long term, Ramage good cover. Moore Ok for short term. Now Tightas should be gone he has had too long to show his merit. So a good Centreback is also needed
Having said all that our goals against is not the disaster you would expect from the above analysis.
Holding Midfielder Butt & Scotty give us different options and may be both at times.
Attacking midfielders are present in abundance and merely need to get the best out of them.
Up front the give Luque a run clamour is dying down, and Martins looks OK long term. Will Owen & Martins play well together? If so we need a temporary solution, we have Sib, if not then what will be our best combination? I still say that we should have bought Ashton last January and hope we do if the Hammers are relegated. He is the only Shearer replacement playing that I have seen.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 10:20 am
I think a lot of people underestimate the importance of fullbacks, both goals on wednesday were the result of crosses into the box that could’ve and should’ve been blocked out.
For the first goal Nobby didnt track his man, prefering to run into the centre - Taylor couldn’t get out quickly enough to block the cross, the ball was cleared to the edge of the area and they scored.
Second goal Babayaro could’ve done more to cut out the cross/shot.
If a central defender has no faith in the full backs they tend to drift wide to try and cover the fullback meaning that theres more space in the middle. Look at the difference in the last few matches when the central defenders knew that they could rely on Ramage/Solano to handle their men.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 9:44 am
I can’t see why you’re criticizing Babayaro so much when the other defenders we have are Bramble, Ramage and Carr only Taylor is allright. The three idiots are the worst players in the league alongside Mark Gonzales. Sure Babayaro is shite but I think we got to worry about a central defender and a right back before him. Solano may have been doing allright in the right back but he’s still no defender and no solution… it’s just a must to buy 2 defenders in January right and central. That has to be a priority over buying a striker.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 4:04 am
But your context is out of place. As a supporter I dont see myself as a ‘relative or a father figure’ and therefore they are not my ‘children’.
Babayaro is a grown man, who’s had to endure far worse than a bit of booing which he deserves off the back of his performances. Did you read what I wrote earlier?
Besides, when I talk about booing I’m talking about criticism in the general all round concept too. It’s about time Babayaro got the message and started to buck up his ideas, these men on the pitch as the leaders of our hopes and dreams. If they cannot stand up to us, the mere mortal non playing folk, who throw them a bit of criticism now and then. How on earth can we then can we expect them to stand up for us on the pitch and in the midst of a battle all the while protecting our hopes and dreams…
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 3:12 am
With Solano performing admirably at right back and Duff showing he is willing to play left back (and because Babayaro is shite) I think it’s time we adopted the Brazil formation of 4-2-2-2.
Given
Solano Taylor Ramage Duff
Parker Butt
Dyer Emre
Sib Oba
Parker and Butt can protect the back four allowing Dyer and Emre to link up with Sib and Oba as well as the over lapping Solano and Duff. It allows our attacking players to get forward with freedom and Solano and Duff whipping in crosses at will. Parker and Butt can assist/cover for their respective fullback when were defending and Solano and Duff are over lapping.
If hypothetically we commit to this system, we should then sign attacking young fullbacks (Micah Richards and Gareth Bale) who can cover and eventually replace Solano and Duff.
Word to your mother.
Sent in on: December 8th, 2006 at 12:35 am
I am happy to start climbing the league but our defending is poor and we need a new centre back and a new left back with maybe a new striker to be cover for Sib and Obi. Rossi needs to play more and if we can get him on loan for longer that will help.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
If a player isn’t playing well it’s up to the manager to drop him until such a time when he displays the required form.
I take all points regarding Baba’s performances and his attitude but he doesn’t pick himself to play. We are where we are…we have no other fit recognised left backs, although Ramage has done a good job in Baba’s absence and by signing Bernard GR has already shown that he feels we are weak in that area.
My point is around supporting the team regardless of who’s playing and not booing them. That affects all the players not just the individual concerned.
You wouldn’t boo your own son or daughter if they were playing badly in whatever sport they were participating in. No you wouldn’t, you’d try to motivate them and provide encouragement …well, that’s the way I see the toon!
I’m off home…
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
We need to improve our defence with players that will walk straight in the starting line up.
We need to bring a centre-back who is a commanding player, someone with great international expierence. A player that everyone respects and admire.
We also need to bring in a leftback of good quality, Baba is a worthless player Mourinho didn´t want him why should we?
Thats were we should spend our money. We have always spend alot of money on the frontside of the team it´s now the time to spend that type of money on the defence.
We have quality on the front and anyone should be able to score with quality we have in the midfield whom can deliver great passes. We just need to get them in form.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
CONTINUED…
Because Milner is enjoying good form and puts in the effort and talent required for our club he enjoys significantly less cussing and booing from the crowd when he does something wrong or makes a mistake…
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Nobody boos a player unless he truly deserves it for his performances…
Babayaro is poor 6 games out of 10 and he only plays in about 50% of our games anyway. He deserves any criticism he gets, he’s a paid professional in the world’s toughest most competitive league. If he cannot handle it, then as paying fans we should be able to show our displeasure in equal right to any pleasure in success! If Milner has a poor game, the boos would be neglible - BECAUSE he consistently puts in the hard yards and good performances on a regular basis.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
While I agree that the booing of players isn’t going to help anyone, if Babayaro (& Carr/Shola) wasn’t consistently so shocking on the pitch… he wouldn’t get that kind of reception from the crowd.
I think that he’s had less then a handful of good solid displays for us since he was signed and that the timing of our recent run of good form was no coincidence that Baba, Carr & Shola were mostly missing from action.
Sadly I don’t think Glenn had any option but to play Baba this time or a youngster. Maybe a youngster would be the safer option in future?
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
I remember a time at St James’ Park when the loudest noise from the ‘Toon Amry’ came just after we’d conceded a goal!
It was a roar of support/encouragement to the team from the fans. It said we are behind you, we support you no matter what, we want you (the players) to know we support you and to believe in yourselves like we do!!
People complain about the state of the team, the players, the management and the board but quite frankly the terraces (or rather seating area) are in a state too?
Please do not think this applies all those who attend SJP…..just a few who probabaly didn’t go to the old Gallowgate (the Scoreboard!), didn’t get urinated on by some bloke old enough to be your Dad and didn’t show an interest in the Newcastle United until the Messiah (KK) came along (when we got good!).
Ban all fans from St James’ who boo their own players….regardless of their ‘crime’; get behind them and support the team!
No arguments about over paid players, no desire or whatever else. You’re not good enough to play for Newcastle but you’d take the money if you were.
Rant over….
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Ash talks about Babayaro’s costly error.
The sad thing is, that error was just one of the ucountable errors the guy made yersterday. He couldn’t put a foot right. He was found drifting around out of position all night and Taylor and Ramage had to cover for him. We actually played with ten men, and had a left back missing. We could not possibly be worse of. And I hoped for Roeder to handing Huntington a chance. But it never materialised.
And I have to say that Babas non-performance last night is the worst I’ve seen in a black and white shirt ever! And that’s making quite a point. Of course booing your own players is not doing any good, and should not happen, but last night I could in a way understand the frustration.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
The booing of Babayaro was a disgrace. It seems there’s a section of the SJP crowd who aren’t happy unless their spitting their dummy out.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 11:27 am
Butt-Emre is good as it releases a quality and creative player but the problem is that with Parker-Emre we have to sacrifise one of their attacking quality to “sit” in front of back four…
Babayaro is simply not a quality full-back: His positional sense is wayward and composure off the ball is chronic.
When Dyer comes back in a couple of weeks leads to selection problems as well, especially seeing as Super Sib keeps banging them in.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 11:04 am
We were the better team for 30-35 minutes and could/should’ve been 3/4 goals up with Sibierski, Martins and Milner’s chances but instead let Reading back into the game with Nobby at fault for their 1st, then we fell to pieces and we could easily have gone in 3/4-1 at half time bar a couple of good saves and a clearance off the line.
Half time arrived at the right time, and could those people that booed at half-time get a grip!! And those booing babayaro - yes, he was utter pants but how’s that going to help?
Second half Reading started better but we fought our way back into it, note must be made of Ramage trying to gee the players on and the crowd turning the volume up and the players responding. Nice to see Martins demanding the penalty, god only knows why sibierski’s goal was chalked off (some great build up for it) and Emre’s winner was fantastic.
Special mention to the lost, confused and terrified bird. I’d have stuck it at left back as it had more fight than Babayaro
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 10:01 am
Babayaro is not worthy of a place in our team but the lack of alternatives is frightening. Roll on January when we can get a bit of quality in our full back rolls although Solano is doing a stella job at RB. Keep putting the effort in lads, another 3 points on Sat will keep us ticking over. We showed a lot of balls last night where previously we would have waved the white flag and rolled over. Emre was outstanding and I hope he continues putting in these performances (I hope he’s not just playing for a move in the window). Another mention to Sib, great header and the goal that wasn’t allowed was a cool finish. Good pen by Oba!!!!
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 9:15 am
We need two top class strikers such as Huntelaar and Bent and two decent defenders.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Yes, Babayaro had a horror but what exactly was booing the player going to prove and how exactly was it going to help? Some fans really have no sense at all.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 8:25 am
Good result last night
Babayaro - No comment (I’m trying to be positive)
When I first saw Emre, maybe his first game (Yeading pre-season) I immediately thought he could have played the “Beardsley role”, seeming to always have time on the ball, a great shot and the ability to thread a pass into the box. It’s been years since we’ve had somebody like this, though I think we’ve only seen it in fits and starts. Butt - Emre works as well as Parker - Emre. The fear is of course that Emre might up sticks and leave. Maybe summer, not in January.
Martins is still not producing the goods in terms of goals, though I think most people feel that they will come. He just seems to be rushing his chances. Although sometimes he looks at a loss what to do, on other occasions his raw boned aggression and ability to get into the right places, see him make a chance. This and “super Sib” as he must now rightly be called, show why Luque shouldn’t get a look in.
Taking aside all of the negative remarks people have made about Roeder recently, I hope most people appreciate the way he has been trying to get the team to play. The style of play of the team with limited personel (numbers and sometimes quality of players), I think is very good in comparison with the previous regime. He also has the team playing as a team, we’re fighting for every result and not resorting to kicking the hell out of the opposition and hoofing hopeless long balls upfield. Compare us with some of the teams around us at the moment and things don’t look so bad.
End of the season will be time to take stock and decide how to take the club forward. I just hope the numpties don’t come out of the woodwork shouting for Freddy’s / Glenn’s head if we are beaten at the weekend. If we all pull together, fans and players, until the end of the season; it should secure our safety. That is the time to sort out the off field problems.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 8:12 am
Emre is a world-class player and we are extremely lucky we have him. He probably has the best first touch in the league, and his vision is excellent. However, to see him shine, Emre must be allowed to play an attacking style. Bravo to Nufc and bravo to Emre.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 8:11 am
From what I’ve read so far:
Babayaro made an absolute awful error, I’m afraid he needs to go in the summer. He consistently underperforms and is the exact type of character we don’t need nor want playing for NUFC!
Emre’s wonder goal is a good example of the freedom a player like Butt gives him just to go forward at will and have a pop. Emre has the talent to do this more often but because of Parker’s attributes as a player he has to hang back more when they’re together.
Sent in on: December 7th, 2006 at 7:08 am