Verdict v Bradford

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Well a home win, two terrific goals, and a very important three points from a hard fought victory over what was frankly a very average City side.

I actually thought we played some nice football in spells and created a stream of chances and half chances, but we just give the ball away far to often to sustain any degree of control over games, even against the poorer sides.

The customary defensive shambles made it 2-1 with about 15 minutes to go to make things awkward, but City weren't good enough to do anything more about it.

While we were never under any sustained pressure, the defence still managed a few wobbles. Hughes and the two FB's had decent games. During the game, I thought Marcy was pants, but on reflection he didn't too badly considering that he's been out for so long and so much was expected of him. His experience helped us on a few occasions, but he tended to get pulled out of position too often for my liking.

I felt we generally bossed the midfield for the first time for quite a while. I thought Rob Lee and Nobby Solano were outstanding, and that Gary Speed and Bassedas also made valuable contributions, with Speed lashing a thunderbolt in off the underside of the bar from outside the penalty area. Yes, he's really sh*t, Gary Speed!

Shearer looked about 50% fit, but still made a real contribution, had a hand in Dyers goal, and got up really well to put a great header inches past the far post near the end. The man's a bloody marvel - but he shouldn't have been playing. In addition, he could reasonably have been brought off for the last 20 minutes or so after the second goal.

Dyer remains the great enigma, missed an easy chance to lob the keeper in the first half, but buzzed around usefully throughout and scored a blinder when he took on the defence in a long run from midfield, went the long way around the man mountain CB, and with the keeper coming out clipped the ball over his legs and inside the far post - fantastic composure. In his goal celebration didn't exactly look to me like a man at ease with his lot - shades of Chris Armstrong at Spurs!

The atmosphere was very flat, and the crowd only occasionally got into it - usually when the Referee intercepted a pass for about the fourth time, or gave the 25th marginal offside decision against us. I was actually thinking that it is quite difficult for 50,400 people to make so little noise.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2000

Answers

Thanks for the report, Clarky! Wonder where the radio announcers sit? The crowd sounded incredible in patches today. Glad to hear the team seemed to be playing a bit more like a team today.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2000

Woh - dead as a dodo on here tonight!

Yes ciara, I thought the teamwork was much better today - played better as a unit, and worked hard to dictate the pace of the game. We played some pretty patterns, but we really have to learn how to be more patient on the ball and retain possession better.

It wasn't a great game, but Given didn't really have a save to make, and there were some encouraging signs - I thought Griffin had a good game, Dyer showed signs of at least wanting to influence the game, even though not a lot actually came off for him, and Solano was creative.
Bassedas showed some nice touches in the first half, but faded badly again in the second half. He looks like a good passer of the ball, is fairly strong on the ball, and appears to wants to keep possession and be patient - but he hasn't yet become fully accustomed to the frenetic pace of the game in the PL.

I'm obviously biased, but I felt this was the just the kind of game where the experience of AS/RL/GS/WB proved invaluable to the team. The main concern obviously is how Shearer's knee reacts to the game. He did really well even to turn out when he very obviously wasn't anything like 100%, and in the circumstances why he played the full 90 minutes only BR could answer.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2000


Must admit Clarky, I was really concerned to hear that Shearer was playing. I hope his appearance means that his knee wasn`t as bad as was first thought. Wonderful to follow last weeks drubbing with a home win and some very positive comments in your match report. Don`t know what it is though, we`re back up to seventh, and I still can`t throw this feeling of anxiety. I was also just about jumping up and down on my desk when the ref was so late blowing the final whistle - I was just so sure that they were going to nick another one! (:o)

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000

Nice report Mr C. I thought Barton had a really good game and looked to get forward as much as possible. Which was nice. I remain unmoved regarding Dyer who had at least two/three chances and bottled two of them. His goal was class but he didn't create enough to change my opinion of him. He would definately benefit from a few tattie dinners.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000

The anxiety is understandable Galaxy, and shared by most fans. It is based on a number of factors:

* the continuing lack of cover at CB and striker, and our apparent ongoing inability to address these situations - which necessitates us taking imprudent risks with our captain's long-term fitness. It doesn't help when players like Hendry and Camara, who are regarded as players who could materially help us out, change Clubs for little or no money, without us appearing to show any interest whatsoever in them.
* the relative financial weakness of the Club that precludes major signings
* the lack of impact to date of BR's signings
* over-dependence on a few aging senior pros
* the lack of committment to the Club of several expensive imports.
* a lack of the traditional fighting spirit shown by the team in several recent games
* worries over BR's health and durability, particularly in the light of the increased pressure on him recently

These concerns have crystallised into leaving us all anxious about the possibility of the train really coming off the rails (unfortunate simile considering recent events with our railway system), and sending the Club into free-fall.

In truth, all that is really needed are a couple of judicious loan signings to carry us through the current hiatus and steady the ship. This has to be regarded as a transitional season and part of a steady rebuilding process that being realistic might take three, or even four years, and one in which a mid-table finish would not be a disaster.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000



Very well clarified as usual Clarky.

I am dumbfounded at the stupidity over Shearer situation - which has gone on far too long. Short term gains at the expense of a man who could offer the Toon invaluable service over 4 more years.

For gods sake man, sort something out Freddie. Its bloody insane.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000


>>>>players who could materially help us out, change Clubs for little or no money, without us appearing to show any interest whatsoever in them.

Quite so Clarky - one or two stop-gap solutions are called for in the present circs (limited cash -uncertain future for the transfer system). There are quite a few players out there who could fit the bill admirably as did Gallagher last season. I'm concerned at the apparent lack of activity. (Mind I'm sure it is apparent - I'm pretty sure a lot of work is going on behind the scenes - it would be comforting to see some result from it)

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000


My comment on transfer activity was part of my explanation for present fan anxiety Jonno, and I did say "...without appearing to show any interest..."

I was lead to believe last week that there is a lot of activity going on behind the scenes. Like everyone else, I'm just so anxious to get some cover in, and not have to keep pushing AS onto the pitch when he clearly isn't fit enoug to be playing, and we could be seriously risking his playing career by doing so.

Sometimes you just can't wait for the ideal, or even preferred solution to come along, and have to settle for a stop-gap to buy you some time.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000


Any thoughts on trying to get Sir Les back here? Just a thought.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000

A great boost before Newcastle was the fact that not only was Shearer in the side but the Slick Spaniard was back in contention, Marcelino was back in the side after a horrific injury to his tarsal incurred in the opening match of the season.

The team lined up:-

Given

Barton ... Marcelino ........ Hughes

Solano....... Bassedas ........... Lee ......... Speed .... Griffin

Dyer

Shearer

It was a strange kind of line up, at times it looks as though there were two at the back, with Barton playing as a wing back, At times Griffin pulled back making a back four. But whatever the plan, the defence boosted by Sid the Spaniard did their job well for all much of the game. Keiron Dyer came closest to getting first on the scoresheet, as early as the forth minute. Solano had played the ball over the top of the Bradford defence, Dyers pace saw him onside with only the keeper to beat. An attempted lob didn't come off , Walsh anticipating Dyers intentions well. The 12th minute saw another chance go astray, After a short corner the ball fell to Shearer but Molenaar got his body in the way to deny the captain. A minute later United did get their first goal . Warren Barton played a ball into the area, it wasn't cleared and Speed hammered the ball into the net. What followed in the next 10 minutes was shocking, Newcastle were adjudged to be offside 4 times . The flag happy linesman seeing Dyer as the main culprit, when in fact TV replays will show that he was in fact onside. Midway through the half the majestic Marcelino made an uncharacteristic error, when his back pass failed to find Given. Windass got to the ball but the alert keeper block saved the day. Solano and Griffin . Speed had a chance to get a second goal on the 35 minute mark, when Griff played a good ball to him, but his shot went well wide. Shearer also had another attempt in the half but his header was straight at Walsh. What must be said (again) about the game though was the amasing amount of offside rulings. In all the first half saw NINE flags raised against Newcastle. Is Dyer simply too quick for the Linesman? or is Dyer miss-timing his runs? Something has to be done about these decisions as it leads to Newcastle giving the ball back to the opposition at a time when they could have gone on to get another shot at goal.

The second half offside count was only three, on par with Newcastle united Penalty appeal counts that were turned down. The first came after 5 minutes when Nobby had burst into the box, only to be chopped to pieces by Robert Moulinex . ten minutes later a cross by Solano hit the arm of Atherton, but again the penalty appeal fell on deaf ears. After another hit and hope long ball by Newcastle, Dyer almost got a second goal when he broke clear of his markers . He was again one on one with Walsh, this time trying to go round the keeper, he went too far, and another chance was wasted. It was a tactic that nearly paid off a coupe of minutes later, this time Nobby finding Bassedas who fired over the bar. With Bassedas having removed his gloves , I at first thought the wayward shot was Rob Lee. The general didn't disappoint us though with his customary blast over the bar some minutes later. Luckily Newcastle were 2 up by that time. Dyer was the scorer after a great diagonal run from the Milburn side he outpaced the defender and the Keeper to place the ball into an empty net. It was then Bradford's turn to be flagged offside by the pathetic official patrolling the line on the east side. They had six against them in the half. How many other games that day had 19 offside rulings? and Why is it a regular occurrence at St James' park? As for the game, Newcastle were two up, Bradford looked pretty hopeless, so how did they manage to get a goal back? Carbone played a short corner to Beagrie, two defenders went towards him leaving Molenaar with no one covering him . Beagrie found Molenaar's head 2 - 1. It was a nervy and quite exciting final ten minutes. Shearer barged both keeper and ball over the line, but wasn't given the goal, Another penalty appeal was then turned down and Barton got a good header in, which went inches away from the post, a move that was echoed at the other end by Windass who kept us all holding or breaths when his header in the dying second went just wide. The final whistle was a great relief. It hadn't been a classic game, but two good goals and three valuable points see Newcastle in Seventh place, just 2 points behind Sunderland and that vital sixth place European spot.

Who was hot and who was not? Most were fairly average, Given had little to do, Barton and Griffin played well in whatever positions they were supposed to be playing in. Marcelino was strong and after a nervous first few minutes, looked like the commanding centre back that he undoubtedly is. Hughes had a bit of an off day as did Lee and Bassedas were OK. Dyer scored a great goal but must work on that offside problem, and of course his finishing. Speed gave his all as did Shearer, unfortunately he is only firing on 3 cylinders and needs another fresh striker to take the load off his shoulders. Man of the match through my rose tinted spectacles is Nobby, the man can do no wrong in my eyes and is playing the best football of his career, my MOTM.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000



Tony GJ,

I think most fans would be warm to the idea of Sir Les returning. However, we couldn't take him on loan from another PL Club even if Spurs would release him, which is doubtful as he's in the side, scoring the odd goal and playing well.

I'm sure I read somewhere that he's planning to retire at the end of the season when his contract ends. Even if we could persuade him to play on, it would be risk as he's been very injury prone since he left here. However, if he was available on a Bosman, and was interested in making an emotional return to SJP - even just for one season to give us the occasional option, it might just work. He was top-class for us, if only....

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000


Teletext (or something) had it over the weekend that they've come to a decision on the transfer thing, which will come into effect next year, so there shouldn't now be any reluctance for the club to release some cash.

Details a bit vague cos I was hungover, but it sticks in my mind that it didn't seem much different from now. There was something about a transfer window from May to September.

Maybe somebody less challenged may be able to throw more light. :-))

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2000


>>> from May to September

Ye silly owd git. That's the bliddy programme you were watching when you inadvertantly hit the text button.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2000


Pit Bull, I saw the cefax and it had 2 main features:- 1. No free Bosman's for players under 23, transfer fees will have to be paid and 2. a worldwide transfer window from May to August. This will mean that who you have on the books at the start of the season will have to see you through til the end. This will favour the large squad teams. Smaller squads which have serious injuries will not be able to obtain loan/bought cover mid-season.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2000

Where would I be without you looking out for me Screach ? Probably hardly see the light of day. :-))

Thanks Cliff, you were obviously watching 'May to September' with a lot more attention than I was.:-))

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2000



Well, somebody has to look after yer.

Actually, this proposal seems a bit strange. The northern hemisphere will have a xfer window in the close season while the southern one will have it in the middle of their season (presumably).

However, in principle, I agree with a xfer window which means you start the season with a squad and you continue with it. It will stop a lot of the shennanigans. It may even force players to stick to their contracts - hmm - 10 more jobs in the aviation industry please for those pigs over there please.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2000


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