Post by Ghostrider on Feb 7, 2016 11:35:11 GMT
In a sense this was a must win game. It was a game that demanded a team performance and a show of togetherness. I think we got that, but as Newcastle usually do, we never get an easy ride on our nerves, do we?
This game was literally our game all day long. We controlled it and basically made them look worse than they are, which isn't much better.
It would be easy to say that we won but we only beat a mediocre team at home and blah blah blah, as we normally hear and see, but the truth is we've played like this and better against the bigger teams. Our problem was not converting excellent chances and then slipping up at the back.
The longer this game went on the more I could see W.B.A nicking a point from some kind of deflected shot or a set piece, such is our luck. Anyway that didn't happen, which makes me feel really good and content, even though W.B.A deserved to be hit for 4 or more, such was our dominance.
Tiote's goal being ruled out for offside by Mitrovic blocking the keeper is a complete and utter load of bullshit. Why in the hell a ref has to do that is beyond me. Why spoil something like that. Unfortunately that's what you get when arse-holes ref your game. To be honest W.B.A were getting away with a lot of fouling as well. I can say that we aren't one of Lee Mason's favourite teams.
There could have been many names on that score-sheet yesterday with a bit of luck and a bit more focus.
The pass from Shelvey into Mitrovic for his goal was brilliant. Shelvey is definitely looking like the missing Cabaye piece of the jigsaw. Hopefully he can keep it up on a regular basis.
I hope that goal instills more confidence into Mitrovic because that's all that's missing from his play. Yeah it would be nice if he was quicker, but then again, if he was, he'd be playing for a much bigger outfit wouldn't he and at a cost of gazillions. Well, you know what I mean.
Overall it was a good team game and if I have to be a little bit picky, I have to say that Sissoko and Wijnaldum were a tad off the boil. I just wish Sissoko had that little bit of skill to take his man on at times because he tends to go on a run and somehow thinks players are going to step aside for him, then he loses the ball.
Wijnaldum's footballing brain is top notch but he was a little erratic I thought. I'm nit picking though.
Shelvey had a very good game and put some great balls through, as well as probing their defence. Also Townsend had a very good game as well and caused a lot of trouble down the wing as well as chasing back. He's quicker than I thought.
Anyway, overall I was happy, even though I beg for a game I can relax watching - just one to stop my nerves fraying any more than they have.
Player rating's.
ELLIOT: An excellent job he done. Every ounce of concentration went into it and he finished the game having also knitted a scarf to go with the cardigan. Knit one pearl one. He was more of a spectator than the spectators. Seriously though he had so little to do which was obviously down to how much we basically dominated the game. 7/10 for no real reason other than being there.
S.TAYLOR: This lad has had a lot of stick and has been the scapegoat many a time, not to mention his injuries - but you know what?...he had a very good game with Colo and he looked like he'd been playing there all season. He looked assured and strong, as well as tidy. Even late on when his lack of match fitness got the better of him, he soldiered on like the pro he is and the geordie he is. I feel confident with him as long as he's fit. 7/10
COLOCCINI: Another one who gets stick but played with a slight injury and did a fine job alongside Taylor. He had the defence organised and led by example, plus is never afraid to bring the ball out to get an attack going. Good display. 7/10
AARONS: I have to hand it to this lad. I know he was playing emergency left back against a woeful West Brom side but he still stuck to his task well and also got forward plenty of times. He toughed it out and actually surprised me. Yeah he made a few errors but seriously he outweighed those.
If he has to play again there then obviously he's in for a massive bigger test, yet I'm not worried because I think in two games he's actually learning extremely fast. 7/10
JANMAAT: How in the hell we only paid 5m for him is a mystery. The man is class. He's top class and shows it regularly. His willingness to look for that ball and run with it at pace and using his ability to take on defenders is a joy to watch. Hopefully we can get some more luck from his excellent forages as the seasons comes to a close. His defending gets better as time goes on,too. 7.5/10
TIOTE: Considering he's just came back into the team after his China move fell apart, I thought he was outstanding and deserved his goal but for the ref (Lee Mason) to be a party pooper. He protected the back 4 and allowed Shelvey to do his stuff with a lot more ease. He fought for everything and gave no time on the ball for W.B.A. He even risked a bad head injury in the closing minutes to stop a W.B.A attack by heading away from the feet of an in rushing player. He looked like the Tiote of old and in this frame of mind he literally allows that midfield to tick. 8/10 My man of the match.
SHELVEY: Had a very good game. Obviously there's a few mishaps here and there but overall he's a class act and even more so with Tiote aiding him in that frame of mind. Our Cabaye replacement and can be even better I think, as long as he stays focused. A little bit more mindful of the defensive side at times and he's cooking on gas. 7.5/10
SISSOKO: I love this player and he's literally like a bullet train. I just wish he would be a bit more accurate in his passing and also I wish he had a little bit of skill, enough to go past his man on a one on one, instead of running into him and losing the ball. Take a leaf out of Janmaat's book. 6/10
TOWNSEND: Ran his socks off and got down the wing very well. Caused plenty of problem and could have had a goal to cap it all off but for the post. If he carries on like this we have a massive asset. 7.5/10
WIJNALDUM: Works hard and is a class act, no doubt about it, but of late, I think he's been a bit below par and against W.B.A it was the same. He played well in fits and starts and had a few chances to score. His football brain is top notch but he was a bit erratic in this game. 6/10
MITROVIC: Could have had a couple of goals but at least he did score one and deserved it as well because he bullied their defence and was a nuisance. This lad will get better and better because he's getting stronger and fitter due to being up against big defences. He might be a hit and a miss on many occasions but this is why you play him, because he is well up for it and has the ability to unleash hell when lady luck gives him a break. 7.5/10
SUBS:
SAIVET: Not enough time to be rated.
PEREZ: As above.
It's never ideal when your defence looks patched up, but to be honest, we coped very well, regardless of it being W.B.A. We take each game as it comes and we coped with this one with ease.
They may have made us look better than we were but so what. We did what we set out to do, which was to gain 3 points. We got a clean sheet as well, which is a bonus.
This team is capable of rattling some cages and putting many teams to the goals sword. If lady luck can smile on us for a while and give us a break, we can really motor on towards the end of the season, I believe.
Well there you go, that's my take on it. UP THE MAGS.
This game was literally our game all day long. We controlled it and basically made them look worse than they are, which isn't much better.
It would be easy to say that we won but we only beat a mediocre team at home and blah blah blah, as we normally hear and see, but the truth is we've played like this and better against the bigger teams. Our problem was not converting excellent chances and then slipping up at the back.
The longer this game went on the more I could see W.B.A nicking a point from some kind of deflected shot or a set piece, such is our luck. Anyway that didn't happen, which makes me feel really good and content, even though W.B.A deserved to be hit for 4 or more, such was our dominance.
Tiote's goal being ruled out for offside by Mitrovic blocking the keeper is a complete and utter load of bullshit. Why in the hell a ref has to do that is beyond me. Why spoil something like that. Unfortunately that's what you get when arse-holes ref your game. To be honest W.B.A were getting away with a lot of fouling as well. I can say that we aren't one of Lee Mason's favourite teams.
There could have been many names on that score-sheet yesterday with a bit of luck and a bit more focus.
The pass from Shelvey into Mitrovic for his goal was brilliant. Shelvey is definitely looking like the missing Cabaye piece of the jigsaw. Hopefully he can keep it up on a regular basis.
I hope that goal instills more confidence into Mitrovic because that's all that's missing from his play. Yeah it would be nice if he was quicker, but then again, if he was, he'd be playing for a much bigger outfit wouldn't he and at a cost of gazillions. Well, you know what I mean.
Overall it was a good team game and if I have to be a little bit picky, I have to say that Sissoko and Wijnaldum were a tad off the boil. I just wish Sissoko had that little bit of skill to take his man on at times because he tends to go on a run and somehow thinks players are going to step aside for him, then he loses the ball.
Wijnaldum's footballing brain is top notch but he was a little erratic I thought. I'm nit picking though.
Shelvey had a very good game and put some great balls through, as well as probing their defence. Also Townsend had a very good game as well and caused a lot of trouble down the wing as well as chasing back. He's quicker than I thought.
Anyway, overall I was happy, even though I beg for a game I can relax watching - just one to stop my nerves fraying any more than they have.
Player rating's.
ELLIOT: An excellent job he done. Every ounce of concentration went into it and he finished the game having also knitted a scarf to go with the cardigan. Knit one pearl one. He was more of a spectator than the spectators. Seriously though he had so little to do which was obviously down to how much we basically dominated the game. 7/10 for no real reason other than being there.
S.TAYLOR: This lad has had a lot of stick and has been the scapegoat many a time, not to mention his injuries - but you know what?...he had a very good game with Colo and he looked like he'd been playing there all season. He looked assured and strong, as well as tidy. Even late on when his lack of match fitness got the better of him, he soldiered on like the pro he is and the geordie he is. I feel confident with him as long as he's fit. 7/10
COLOCCINI: Another one who gets stick but played with a slight injury and did a fine job alongside Taylor. He had the defence organised and led by example, plus is never afraid to bring the ball out to get an attack going. Good display. 7/10
AARONS: I have to hand it to this lad. I know he was playing emergency left back against a woeful West Brom side but he still stuck to his task well and also got forward plenty of times. He toughed it out and actually surprised me. Yeah he made a few errors but seriously he outweighed those.
If he has to play again there then obviously he's in for a massive bigger test, yet I'm not worried because I think in two games he's actually learning extremely fast. 7/10
JANMAAT: How in the hell we only paid 5m for him is a mystery. The man is class. He's top class and shows it regularly. His willingness to look for that ball and run with it at pace and using his ability to take on defenders is a joy to watch. Hopefully we can get some more luck from his excellent forages as the seasons comes to a close. His defending gets better as time goes on,too. 7.5/10
TIOTE: Considering he's just came back into the team after his China move fell apart, I thought he was outstanding and deserved his goal but for the ref (Lee Mason) to be a party pooper. He protected the back 4 and allowed Shelvey to do his stuff with a lot more ease. He fought for everything and gave no time on the ball for W.B.A. He even risked a bad head injury in the closing minutes to stop a W.B.A attack by heading away from the feet of an in rushing player. He looked like the Tiote of old and in this frame of mind he literally allows that midfield to tick. 8/10 My man of the match.
SHELVEY: Had a very good game. Obviously there's a few mishaps here and there but overall he's a class act and even more so with Tiote aiding him in that frame of mind. Our Cabaye replacement and can be even better I think, as long as he stays focused. A little bit more mindful of the defensive side at times and he's cooking on gas. 7.5/10
SISSOKO: I love this player and he's literally like a bullet train. I just wish he would be a bit more accurate in his passing and also I wish he had a little bit of skill, enough to go past his man on a one on one, instead of running into him and losing the ball. Take a leaf out of Janmaat's book. 6/10
TOWNSEND: Ran his socks off and got down the wing very well. Caused plenty of problem and could have had a goal to cap it all off but for the post. If he carries on like this we have a massive asset. 7.5/10
WIJNALDUM: Works hard and is a class act, no doubt about it, but of late, I think he's been a bit below par and against W.B.A it was the same. He played well in fits and starts and had a few chances to score. His football brain is top notch but he was a bit erratic in this game. 6/10
MITROVIC: Could have had a couple of goals but at least he did score one and deserved it as well because he bullied their defence and was a nuisance. This lad will get better and better because he's getting stronger and fitter due to being up against big defences. He might be a hit and a miss on many occasions but this is why you play him, because he is well up for it and has the ability to unleash hell when lady luck gives him a break. 7.5/10
SUBS:
SAIVET: Not enough time to be rated.
PEREZ: As above.
It's never ideal when your defence looks patched up, but to be honest, we coped very well, regardless of it being W.B.A. We take each game as it comes and we coped with this one with ease.
They may have made us look better than we were but so what. We did what we set out to do, which was to gain 3 points. We got a clean sheet as well, which is a bonus.
This team is capable of rattling some cages and putting many teams to the goals sword. If lady luck can smile on us for a while and give us a break, we can really motor on towards the end of the season, I believe.
Well there you go, that's my take on it. UP THE MAGS.
