What is going wrong?

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Does anyone have the first clue? I'm at an absolute loss.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

Answers

I worry it's a bit like a successful side (which we aren't) coming to the end of their time together.

Take Rangers recently. They had John Brown, Richard Gough, Super Ally, Ian Ferguson, Gordon Durie who had been the back bone of the side for up to ten years of pure success. It was nigh on impossible for the incumbent manager to get rid of them, they were his pals. It took the loss of Smith and the introduction of Advocaat to get the change started.

We are similalry 'stuck' with the old guard of Barton, Lee, Speed, Shearer as the dependable, recognised backbone of our side. None of these should really really be in our side if we intend to be good. The problem is that they are the senior professionals, the 90% every game players.

Our problem now is that there is no cash to replace them, it is (probably) too soon for youth so we are stuck.

IMHO Gary Speed adds nothing to our side. Occasionally he gets in the box and misses a header but thats all. Robert Lee goes in my all time best XI but shouldn't be in my currect starting XI. Barton has been a wonderful trier but again he's not really good enough (ignore the fact he was left back). Shearer is a great Geordie, a great 100% guy but he doesn't even scare First division defenders these days.

Doing a 'who would get in their side' analysis, how many of our side would Birmingham supporters be wanting this morning. Harper ? Goma ?

I don't have an answer, but for me our senior players aren't up to it.

Going forward, trying to be positive ...... goalies are good, Hughes is good, Griffin has his moments, Dyer can be good. Oh dear, taht's it.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000


well said mcb. i thought it was just me who thought that shearer and speed are shite. not only that, but their presence dictates the shape of our play. shite and double shite

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

Thanks, MacB. I am really worried, actually. Thank God we squirrelled a few points away at the beginning of the season.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

Im afraid its the same old problems 1/ Were lacking a decent partnership up front 2/ we need a left winger, 3/Speed+Lee arnet good enough for the centre, 4/Solano is excellent for crosses+the occasional bit of creativity but dosent contribute enough otherwise in general play. Unfortunately hes our main source of goals so what do we do? 5/Dyer should share the right midfield with Solano IMHO. 6/we cant play decent football when the other team gets stuck in.

Number 6 i think is the main problem. I believe our defensive problems is the fault of the midfield.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000


Okays what have we got to do.

We can't score so we've got to stop conceding.

Defence needs to be number one priority. Goma has to be told he's on a contract and he can't leave. We have to play Hughes and Goma at home, and Hughes, Goma and Lee away. Full backs are defensive positions to be filled with defensive minded players. Griffin is told to go no more than 10 yards into their half. Domi plays to same instructions. 4 solid defenders at home, 5 away.

Play 4 in midield. Play Solano wide right, Dyer inside him, matching on the left is Acuna inside someone, don't know who, maybe Cordone, better Gallagher, best someone else. Solano and Dyer are okay and should be left to be attacking minded, as we've already sorted defence.

Up fornt we have to have someone close to Shearer. In May 1997 we played Tino, Sir Les and Shearer as a forward line, since then we have NEVER played two good forward at the same time, only three and a half years. Cordone is Ketsbaia is sh*te. Cort is injured. As loathe as I am to say so...... play a kid. Might ruin them, might make them. Rather have the footballing one so make it Coppinger.

Bets I can do

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000



mcb, i think you first instinct was on target. get rid of the old guard including shearer.

i could have played better than him tonight and i'm an alcoholic. that incident with the back pass and the keeper was a joke

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000


There's a new song playing everywhere; "Life is a rollercoster" by Newcastle United. I'm not trying to be funny, but the text reflects on our performances this season.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

Shearer is carrying a back injury and a knee injury: don't blame individuals, blame what ever canker is at the heart of NUFC.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

Im getting very annoyed that Shearer cant get rid of his 2 or 3 markers, waltz into midfield, get the ball, beautifully waltz back thru the defence with the ball and thump it home. I hope we sell him and buy a decent midfield to supply the centre forward, actually putting the ball in the opponents box. Ooops but then we wont have a world class finisher in the box cos hes left.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

shearer is making 2 mil per. he slows down the attack can't win the ball can't beat a man on the ground can't make the space to get into scoring positions

bad knee, poor service - bollox- enough of these excuses, he's not doing the business

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000



IMHO, it was a big mistake to play Shearer tonight. He's not been fit for a while, and to be honest, we shouldn't have needed him against a mediocre first division team. What must this say to the likes of Coppinger, Ameobi and the rest? It's like waiting for "dead men's shoes". TOnight was an ideal time to give Shearer a rest and get him fit (or at least fitter) for the match at VP on Saturday.

No, I'm just beginning to wonder exactly what hold Shearer has over the management at SJP. Are they too scared he'll hoy his toys aroond if he's "rested"? Is YBR scared he'll be fired if he leaves him out? Make no mistake - no other EPL side would rely on one man so much - especially when he's not fit and not turning in the goods.

This is no critism of Shearer's effort on the pitch (tho I can't comment about tonight as I didn't see or hear it). Perhaps a criticism of his arrogance and influence over the rest of the squad and management.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000


This result has left me far more depressed than the result against the makems.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Shearer has done nowt wrong (bar the penalty miss), he holds tha ball up well , what do you expect from a One man up front team the midfield are so slow at helping out he has no options ,In a team like man u or even the mackems hed score a hatfull.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

He is also carrying two injuries. That isn't an excuse - it's a fact. If we have to risk a player like that, then you can see the paucity of our resources. Christ - even Spurs and Villa have more forwards.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Aye, Shearer worked his nuts off again tonight. Take the instance in the first half; picks the ball up just outside the centre circle with back to goal, gallops to the right wing, beats two men, gets to the byline and rifles a cross onto the penalty spot. Chance missed by Solano. If that had been Shearer receiving his own cross it would have burst the net. MacBeth highlighted Al's problem; he's not had another centre forward who has had the first clue for nearly 3 seasons. Looking back over recent weeks over my extensive collection of Shearer scoring for both us and Blackburn, it's reinforced several things for me. (1) He's *never* had pace; just look at how many of his goals for Blackburn were from outside the area; reason is he prefers to create half a yard and then smah it. (2) His best times were playing alongside Sutton or Sir Les, both in sides with decent wingers. (3) He's always moaned at the ref, but gladly accepted that defenders kick lumps out of him. He gets really upset though when he can't kick lumps back out of the same defender.

Poor bloke must have been pissing his pants at the thought of playing alongside another bloke who's actually a forward; unfortunately Cort succumbs to the jinx.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000



I refuse to blame Shearer, he is not getting the support up front.

They way we conceded our second goal really rankled with me because the build up play was entirely the way I have been saying we should be.

Their wide midfielders were stretching our defence wide. With a player like Lazaridis you cannot afford to defend narrow. We got stretched from pillar to post. Dragging Griffin and the laughable Barton out wider than they wanted left room for Adebola and Horsfield to run down the channels, which they did all night. Goma and Hughes played well I thought given the support they had. With Horsfield and Adebola running the channels the Brum midfield was able to push up on the edge of the box and wait for any balls to come out.

Blackburn played the same way when SAS were so succesful, SAS ran the channels created by Ripley and Wilcox. If the defence let them go wide they go round the back and whip the ball in for all and sundry to hammer it home.

Now, this seems so bliddy simple to me and some might say it is a tad basic but the fact is we are not getting the ball into the box enough for Shearer and co to attack it. Only a couple of times last night did we do this and one time Shearer got the header but it went straight to the keeper, give him another two of those and see if he doesn't score.

What do we do.? Sort out the ffffing left midfield. Shoot Barton.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


Shearer was to blame for one of the goals. He was so busy trying to back into the scorer to put him off, he couldn't make any attempt to jump with him.

And far from their goalie being yellowed, Shearer should have been sent off for the most blatant dive you'll ever see. Their goalie never touched him.

Words fail me regarding that performance last night. I'm getting disillusioned to the point of apathy. It's getting to the point where I don't give a sh1t what happens to them.

The whole place stinks to high heaven.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


I don't think last night's result is totally indicative of where we are as a side. We just weren't fully up for it, at least not as much as Birmingham were. I don't think it's Bobby's fault, I think it's inevitable with the cramped fixture list. Bobby is right to say what he did - he needs to motivate them for the next game, which is ultimately more important.

In general terms, it's not all gloom and doom, but we are in a transition period. Things gel every now and then, but with no consistency. Our older pros still have a large part to play in this transition, but let's not ignore the youngsters - Griffin, Hughes, Dyer, LuaLua, Caldwell etc. The foreign imports (for the most part) are also there to aid the transition and fill in for present deficiencies, but in my mind most of them (not all) should only be viewed as temporary fill-ins - professional players from which we have a right to expect professional attitudes, but almost always with a shorter shelf life at the Toon just as if you or I took up a post abroad. The whole thing is a step by step process and throwing money at it won't help. To sum it up, I think we doing okay. Not brilliantly, but also not disastrously. We're just about on track, helped I have to admit by the fact that other teams are experiencing the same issues. As an example, look at Leeds. Good side with quite a few injuries..but we would still envy a lot of their players. West Ham too. But neither are doing any better than us. Then look at some of the big spenders..Chelsea, Liverpool, Boro, Arsenal....all variable performances this year to say the least. The last thing we want to do now is lose impatience and lose faith with the manager, as frustrating as it might be.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


Oops Better?

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

I agree with you about not throwing money at it Windy. I really don`t think we know the full extent of what potential we have yet.(:o)

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

It was interesting to note that the British players (Shearer,Barton,Lee, Dyer, Speed et al) warmed up together to the right of us and the "foreigners" warmed up on the left.

No divide there then

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

I think were trying too hard to find 'reasons'. I've not heard Steph indicate problems at the training ground, where it would be most evident. Let's not start unhealthy rumours, just because the team weren't up for it. I'm not saying it's acceptable, but it's not the first time either and it happens in just the same way with other sides.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

How you can blame shearer for conceding a goal is beyond me , The lad heads out more corners then all the rest of defenced put together. The fact is he is one of the only people in the side who will give at all for the entire 90 mins. Defenders know hes a handfull dso theyll put two men on him, this should make space for the other striker /midfield to score SO WHERE THE **** ARE THEY>>>>>>

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Simple fact. Shearer is not team captain material.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Don't thik it's that simple Hiro. Take the captaincy off Shearer and he will get a bit cross, and probably want to leave. Does the captain really make much differance?

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Total diff. Rik. How many times have we fallen in a heap after being in front! Once yer on the pitch it's up to the captain to inspire and drive the team on. Shearer doesn't do it!!

So what if he takes the huff and wants out. To me he's a good center foward but he's no God!

It's a pyschological barrier that Robson has to cross.Sub the guy now and then. It can only be good for the rest of the team.

There disjointed!!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


NT

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Has anyoned actually asked the question who exactly we replace Shearer with at the moment? Are Coppinger/Amoebi or Lua Lua really ready? From the NUFC.COM and True Faith reserve reports, they haven't been that good in recent reserve games. The niggle shouldn't be with Shearer, it should be with the club allowing itself to have so few forwards despite claims of being ambitious. I don't think Robson would, be scared to drop him and has actually said that it will be a happy day when we can afford to rest him. Give them both a break!!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Most of the problems we have could have been avoided had the board NOT decided to sell , Howey and Charvet whilst at the same time knowing that Goma wanted away. IMHO Charvet was a good strong Strong fast defender , who could also play midfield and cross and also score the occasional cracker.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

But the rest of the time he flattered to deceive!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

I hope my original drunken diatribe didn't read as a 'get rid of them all now' moan.

The senior players aren't performing at the moment and they should be the dependable ones. In Shearer's case he is still, three years on, playing on his own, which is a severe condemnation of all management in that period (management = all NUFC staff above playing level).

Lee and Speed and Barton haven't done it for a while, in some cases ever. (Swift, for one, needs to recognise Speed hasn't become the great player he thought he would be).

The lack of good senior players makes the transition to younger players all the more difficult. I was on the RTG baord reminiscing about us beating the Man U kids back in 93/94ish. Man U played us with teenage versions of Gillespie, Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Smith (whoever he was) but the backbone of the team that night was Schmiecel, Pallsiter, Bruce, Ince and Hughes. It was far easier to bring youth thro with that around than it would be for us to play Kerr, Ameobi, Coppinger, Chopra with Lee, Speed, Barton and Shearer.

Dougal sounds liek a Sunderland fan saying we need sounder foundations. Yes we need youth but the foundations bit, IMHO, are the sernior players too. If building solid foundation means building slowly then no I disagree, or I offer you Coventry and Southampton who for 30 years have been building foundations, just can't seem to find a house on top.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


Although of course, MacBeth, it's done Leeds and Man United no harm at all. I mean that we need an infrastructure. I can only think of one rootless team to win anything in recent years - Blackburn. And that's hardly the model, is it? Obviously we need to start challenging while the youth develops but we need foundations. We wouldn't be in the shit we're in now - no money and no immediate youth team prospects had we been a bit more careful in the past. Anyway, I think YOU sound like a Sunderland fan when you slag off Shearer. And I know you spend plenty of time on RTG. :O)) So there!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Ameobi has always looked sh*te to me so he's probably the next big thing.

I'll keep banging on about Coppinger until I choke on my own bile but quite frankly I'm sick of it now. He scores goals. Plain and f*cking simple. He's quick on his feet - extremely nippy - and he wriggles through gongested penalty areas and finds the net. Shearer slows play down because he can't move all that quickly, and the rest of them fall over themselves to make sure that they aren't the one left in front of goal when it comes time to take that shot (pass the parcel in Belfast springs to mind here). No problem with Shearer's passing, layoffs or crosses in the area, but nobody wants the job of attempting to score. Coppinger would have a go though.

I know he's only a kid blah blah blah blah, but needs must, and he likes scoring goals which makes him worth any three midfielders playing off the lone, slow front man.

I've alraedy said it a hundred times and I'll not say it again.

p.s. What the Hell did Gavilan do wrong?

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


No one sounds remotely like a Sunderland fan here, and especially not the noble Thane of Cawdor or the equally noble Dougal.

Group Hug?

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


We need a critical mass of talented young players, who have grown up together, with the right attitude and team spirit. easier said than done, but this has to be the primary objective.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Well I suppose we have got the Caldwell brothers who know each other pretty well and they both play centre back a position which requires communication and understanding!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Re the Caldwells, the only question mark is how good they are..or rather how good they can become. But we're some way off a critical mass from what I've heard. It's probably those playing in the U-17 that are most important to our future. I see a critical mass as being around 5. And deveoping the right attitude is as important as developing the right skills.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

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