Let's see what excuse Benitez comes up with this time after inevitably ****ting the bed tomorrow. Even though everyone is pretty much in the same boat.
Choked away the CWC, the League Cup, nearly the FA Cup and lost ground on the two Manchester teams under his reign. I can't put the CL and Super Cup on him, but they performed pathetically in those competitions too.
I'm interested to know if all 5 guys played and how they did if someone watches the game (I can't find it on my TV).
Moussa looked great out there.
Played in a relatively advanced role in the middle and put in a great ball through to Cisse for the first goal of the game.
Gouffran was very active on the ball in the first 20-30 minutes of the game and did alright. Didn't really create any chances but didn't lose possesion either.
M'biwa just came on for Moussa.
If the other 2 you're talking about are Cabaye and Debuchy....
Solid game from Debuchy until he made a challenge that resulted in a PK for Villa's first goal. It was minimal contact but a stupid challenge as Agbonlahor was with his back towards goal and on his way out of the penalty area anyway.
Cabaye's been Newcastle's best player as usual with a remarkable goal off a volley that will merit consideration as one of the season's best.
Moussa looked great out there.
Played in a relatively advanced role in the middle and put in a great ball through to Cisse for the first goal of the game.
Gouffran was very active on the ball in the first 20-30 minutes of the game and did alright. Didn't really create any chances but didn't lose possesion either.
M'biwa just came on for Moussa.
If the other 2 you're talking about are Cabaye and Debuchy....
Solid game from Debuchy until he made a challenge that resulted in a PK for Villa's first goal. It was minimal contact but a stupid challenge as Agbonlahor was with his back towards goal and on his way out of the penalty area anyway.
Cabaye's been Newcastle's best player as usual with a remarkable goal off a volley that will merit consideration as one of the season's best.
Thanks, no I was thinking about Haidara, but I guess he didn't play.
Weird to use Mbiwa at DM when you have trouble keeping the ball out of your net.
I guess they're bringing up slowly.
Debuchy I'm not surprised I wrote that much to Shameus (tendency to make stupid challenges) though PM.
Thanks, no I was thinking about Haidara, but I guess he didn't play.
Weird to use Mbiwa at DM when you have trouble keeping the ball out of your net.
I guess they're bringing up slowly.
Debuchy I'm not surprised I wrote that much to Shameus (tendency to make stupid challenges) though PM.
Did Gouffran play striker or on the wings?
Newcastle played a 4-2-3-1 today. Sissoko played CM and played a more box to box type with his partner, Perch, playing the more defensive roll. Gouffran played as a RAM, I know you said this wasn't his best position and it showed a little. I really would like to see him partnered with Cisse up top instead of that far outwide. Mbiwa did come in at DM but honestly he sat very close in front of the CBs and stayed there. He threw himself in front of a shot and blocked what would probably have been a goal. His positioning was pretty good. Haidara didn't even make the bench.
Sissoko usually played this position with Toulouse (Capoue on his side). He also plays wide sometimes (on the right).
Who's starting on LB for Newcastle?
Sissoko usually played this position with Toulouse (Capoue on his side). He also plays wide sometimes (on the right).
Who's starting on LB for Newcastle?
To Arsenal fans :
It seems from the parts of the game and highlights I've seen that Giroud has been pretty good the last few games.
I saw him score some nice goals (like his ball control from a Diaby pass) but most of all try some thing he tried when he was confident with Montpellier (like shots from outside the area, etc...).
How have you found him? Is he adapting to the EPL, or do the players around him simply try to play with him more?
Thanks, no I was thinking about Haidara, but I guess he didn't play.
Weird to use Mbiwa at DM when you have trouble keeping the ball out of your net.
I guess they're bringing up slowly.
Debuchy I'm not surprised I wrote that much to Shameus (tendency to make stupid challenges) though PM.
Did Gouffran play striker or on the wings?
Asked about his expectations for the new signings, Pardew stated that he believes defenders need time to learn their place in the system, especially on set plays. (I'd suspect he also considered Steven Taylor to be a good match up with Benteke). Attackers, he opined, can be thrown in more or less straight away because they "play on instinct".
He described Haidara as "young and nervous", one for the future rather than the remainder of this season, but didn't exclude the possibility of him playing. The strong implication was that he is Santon's backup and in truth Haidara has few specialist LBs for competition.
I sure hope he gets some playing time because the guy has been playing in L1 for 2 years now - full time - and he needs playing time to develop. A loan would be better if he doesn't.
But if he's a backup, he'll get playing time for sure at some point.
As for being patient with defensemen, it does make sense. But Debuchy was thrown into the fire early, as soon as he was available.
CB is a different position and indeed, you need communication and a little tactical work. We'll see in the upcoming weeks if Mbiwa is fully trusted.
To Arsenal fans :
It seems from the parts of the game and highlights I've seen that Giroud has been pretty good the last few games.
I saw him score some nice goals (like his ball control from a Diaby pass) but most of all try some thing he tried when he was confident with Montpellier (like shots from outside the area, etc...).
How have you found him? Is he adapting to the EPL, or do the players around him simply try to play with him more?
I think it's taken time but I think he feels a bit more comfortable now in the team, it seems as if he's shaken off the 'I need to be RVP good' cloak that many Arsenal fans would want him to wear. He always makes himself available for chances, not quite with the same skill as say Henry or RVP, but he works hard in the box and is quite the assist-er in goals too.
But I do find he seems to play at his very best when Podolski, Walcott and Cazorla are all playing.
I like him, he always tries hard and isn't always a greedy striker, and he seems to be full of confidence. Tbh he's doing exactly what I thought he would when we signed him, maybe it took a while to pay off but now we are seeing the fruits of endeavor here.
I sure hope he gets some playing time because the guy has been playing in L1 for 2 years now - full time - and he needs playing time to develop. A loan would be better if he doesn't.
But if he's a backup, he'll get playing time for sure at some point.
As for being patient with defensemen, it does make sense. But Debuchy was thrown into the fire early, as soon as he was available.
CB is a different position and indeed, you need communication and a little tactical work. We'll see in the upcoming weeks if Mbiwa is fully trusted.
As I type this, it so happens that Haidara is playing for the reserves in a closed-door game. Santon has struggled in a struggling defence recently and is not a fully-formed defender himself, so if Haidara makes a quick start, the playing time will come.
I'd suspect that since Newcastle play Chelsea and Spurs in their next two games, Pardew will probably have pinpointed the UEFA Cup in mid February to give Mbiwa a start. Haidara too, possibly.
In Debuchy's case, his only competition at right back is Danny Simpson, who is out of contract in six months and was playing poorly. Hence the quick introduction. Steven Taylor, on the other hand, has been out injured for several weeks, so he's not tainted by association with the recent defensive collapses. In due course, I'd expect that Mbiwa proves himself the better option, because Taylor is all heart and no brains and, as such, can't play more than a few games without injuring himself or making hideous mistakes.
