Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2012 15:12:08 GMT 1
Although in my view not a total season decider the importance of this Saturdays game against visitors QPR is clearly not lost in most Toon fans minds.
The thing is can the same be said for some of the players?
There's been enough in the papers this week about Demba Ba to last a life time. Not with standing his well documented get out clause and the lost in translation reports of his come and get me plea to The Gooners I really do wonder what this guy is after. Clearly more money comes into it, but what else? Yes he has scored goals for us, but for me he has brought little else to the party. Last season he led the line with a good degree of conviction and provided the perfect link with our midfield. This season he has been far more selfish and quite frankly at times totally disinterested. It's not as if APee hasn't accommodated his wishes by playing him through the middle up front, however the latest talk of being unhappy with the teams style of play just beggars belief. He is part of it for goodness sake! If that hasn't annoyed quite a few in the dressing room then something else is more seriously wrong.
There's no doubt about it Cisse is struggling to find any kind of form up front never mind actually score goals. What is actually behind it remains a mystery, but I would now take him out of the starting eleven. Bring him on from the bench as an impact player or perhaps start as the lone striker should Ba get injured. Ba may well be doing the moaning about the sides style of play, but for me it's Cisse that suffers the most from any long ball, hoofed forward in the air kind of approach.
The business of Ba and Cisse being unable to play together also just doesn't quite ring true for me. I honestly believe Ba feels threatened by Cisse and goes out of his way to make him look bad whenever he can. It's another of the reasons I would take Cisse out of the side, revert to a five man midfield and play Ba on his own up front. At least until he or more likely his agent finally decide whether Ba is staying or going in January.
Another player who for me needs a right good talking too is Danny Simpson. I just wonder again whether it is worthwhile persisting with a player that ultimately intends to leave. I did think for a while that N'Dubz was actually being very professional in his approach to playing for The Toon, despite the contract wrangle. However lately it's been all talk and very little substance. Drop him, play Santon on the right and give Fergie a run of games on the left or play Perch there until it can be sorted come January with a no nonsense bid for Debuchy.
What is going on inside the head of Tiote? Ever since the red card at the home of The Mackems his play has just got worse. It's as if he has forgotten where he is supposed to be playing and what his job actually is, that's if he ever knew what it was in the first place. The fact he is one card away from another suspension may be a blessing. It may be a baptism of fire, however I would take the risk and play Bigirimana for a run of games now even before Mr T heads off to the ACN.
Jonas is another having a nightmare of a season and appears to be having real difficulty in deciding just what his role and position is in the side. I admire the guy for never hiding or giving up during a game, however I reckon it's time someone else is given a go. The problem of course is who do you replace him with..... Certainly neither Marveaux, who has shown glimpses of talent but not played enough to really tell or Obertan, who simply flatters to deceive, are ideal replacements. Real shame Haris Vučkić struck down again with injury as he may well have been the man for the job.
Like his fellow Argentine Jonas, Fabricio Coloccini is also going through a bad spell at the moment. Is it the pressure from being skipper or simply the demands of The Premier League or both? Who knows, but he is another that is finding it difficult to come to terms with what is happening at The Toon.
With so many players out of sorts there's a real fear factor at games now among the support regarding the current side. Quite simply it's that should Newcastle go behind they don't have enough mental strength to recover and win the game. Tomorrow against QPR that fear may well be put to the test again.....
Will it be a case of much needed Christmas cheer or more Ba Humbug, what do you think?
WL
The thing is can the same be said for some of the players?
There's been enough in the papers this week about Demba Ba to last a life time. Not with standing his well documented get out clause and the lost in translation reports of his come and get me plea to The Gooners I really do wonder what this guy is after. Clearly more money comes into it, but what else? Yes he has scored goals for us, but for me he has brought little else to the party. Last season he led the line with a good degree of conviction and provided the perfect link with our midfield. This season he has been far more selfish and quite frankly at times totally disinterested. It's not as if APee hasn't accommodated his wishes by playing him through the middle up front, however the latest talk of being unhappy with the teams style of play just beggars belief. He is part of it for goodness sake! If that hasn't annoyed quite a few in the dressing room then something else is more seriously wrong.
There's no doubt about it Cisse is struggling to find any kind of form up front never mind actually score goals. What is actually behind it remains a mystery, but I would now take him out of the starting eleven. Bring him on from the bench as an impact player or perhaps start as the lone striker should Ba get injured. Ba may well be doing the moaning about the sides style of play, but for me it's Cisse that suffers the most from any long ball, hoofed forward in the air kind of approach.
The business of Ba and Cisse being unable to play together also just doesn't quite ring true for me. I honestly believe Ba feels threatened by Cisse and goes out of his way to make him look bad whenever he can. It's another of the reasons I would take Cisse out of the side, revert to a five man midfield and play Ba on his own up front. At least until he or more likely his agent finally decide whether Ba is staying or going in January.
Another player who for me needs a right good talking too is Danny Simpson. I just wonder again whether it is worthwhile persisting with a player that ultimately intends to leave. I did think for a while that N'Dubz was actually being very professional in his approach to playing for The Toon, despite the contract wrangle. However lately it's been all talk and very little substance. Drop him, play Santon on the right and give Fergie a run of games on the left or play Perch there until it can be sorted come January with a no nonsense bid for Debuchy.
What is going on inside the head of Tiote? Ever since the red card at the home of The Mackems his play has just got worse. It's as if he has forgotten where he is supposed to be playing and what his job actually is, that's if he ever knew what it was in the first place. The fact he is one card away from another suspension may be a blessing. It may be a baptism of fire, however I would take the risk and play Bigirimana for a run of games now even before Mr T heads off to the ACN.
Jonas is another having a nightmare of a season and appears to be having real difficulty in deciding just what his role and position is in the side. I admire the guy for never hiding or giving up during a game, however I reckon it's time someone else is given a go. The problem of course is who do you replace him with..... Certainly neither Marveaux, who has shown glimpses of talent but not played enough to really tell or Obertan, who simply flatters to deceive, are ideal replacements. Real shame Haris Vučkić struck down again with injury as he may well have been the man for the job.
Like his fellow Argentine Jonas, Fabricio Coloccini is also going through a bad spell at the moment. Is it the pressure from being skipper or simply the demands of The Premier League or both? Who knows, but he is another that is finding it difficult to come to terms with what is happening at The Toon.
With so many players out of sorts there's a real fear factor at games now among the support regarding the current side. Quite simply it's that should Newcastle go behind they don't have enough mental strength to recover and win the game. Tomorrow against QPR that fear may well be put to the test again.....
Will it be a case of much needed Christmas cheer or more Ba Humbug, what do you think?
WL
