The back four that played against Everton, with an average age of just 21, are receiving praise this morning for their weekend efforts.

Firstly we must say that this was against Everton who are not exactly attacking masters but neither are many Premiership teams we have lost to this season.

Has Bobby taken my suggestion on board and housed the four lads in a big house in the country and given them videos of Adams, Bould, Dixon and Winterburn to look at in their spare time?

Rob Lee is praising them on the IC Newc site. Could it be said that the midfield and front players actually think they need to protect the back four so they do more defensive work, something which we may have been lacking all season?

If we continue like this the confidence in the team will grow defensively and we might be able to keep a clean sheet.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Answers

DeB, I was impressed by Caldwell's performance on Saturday and Andy Griff made some great tackles, holding off until exactly the right momet. Quinn was either on the far side of the pitch in the 1st half or the other end of the touch line in the 2nd, and as I was pretty low down I didn't get a gret view, biu he did seem to struggle with Stevie Watson on more than one occasion.

To be honest, the one goal they got could have been more. SC says he didn't push Campbell for the penalty, so I believe him ;-) However, for once, Campbell missed an open goal and there were other opportunities which on another day they would have scored. In contrast, we had very few attempts on goal (maybe one or two headers from Shearer).

But, it is encouraging that even if they don't play together as unit for a few more seasons, we do have the basis of a good defence. The challenge for YBR, should he decide to accept it, is to keep these promising youngsters at the club until they are ready (assuming they will be).

It may also be more than coincidence that we had an on-form Rob Lee playing in front of them.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

It's a bit worrying that the reliance on a good game for Lee means a good game for the team.

I think Lee has the discipline and reality to decide that he protects the back four and does nowt else but pass the ball out of defence to others. Are we effectively playing with a back five but with Lee in a more advanced role? Surely Acuna could do this to great effect if he was told and carried out that instruction?

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Could it be anything to do with having a back 4+keeper who speak the same language - even if they do represent 4 different countries!

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

I think we have to applaud the young lads but don't start piling pressure on them - remember the centre back partnership is the same one that got stuffed 5-0 at Highbury and they all have a lot to learn. It's interesting - SuperMac was on about Lua Lua and how his confidence has been shattered and he blames the fact that we put a lot of expectation on him, saw him get pasted at Highbury and he's been on the wane ever since. Let's be patient with the back four, eh?

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Language? We had a back four of Brits and an Oirish goalie. With Rob Lee commanding from m/f, is it much surprise thay all understood what was going on? Not sure Clarence could crack that.

Back on my hobby-horse comparing us with other more successful teams. ManUre have a predominantly Brit back four - the rest being made up of a Dutchman (who as a nation generally speak good English) and a Brit midfield. Noticeably, they've looked weekest when Sylvestre has played - good buy?? @rse are a different thing - but they are predominantly (?) French with a French coach and previously had a Brit back four with Adams in command.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Screach, the Mancs are now raving about Sylvestre - apparently he's really come good this season.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Steph - I didn't mean to pinch your isea. We must have "crossed". Great minds eh, while bigger fools..........

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

I've said this before, but Arsene Wenger says that he has been searching for adecent centre back for years and that there just isn't a good one anywhere. This ties in well with Hansen moaning about how bad defending is at the moment - his argument was that defenders are terrified of giving away pens and free kicks so they back off instead of leraning the art of the foul free tackle.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Everyone was enthusing about Manure's defensive performance on Saturday. Do they have any weaknesses now?

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

DIAMOND the diamond formation is this very thing. if the covering midfielder keeps in position as Lee did then it's very hard for teams to break down, but you need an experienced pro in that position. Barry Venison imho was the best by a mile in that position, you also need wingers prepared to attack from deep and overlapping fullbacks with energy. strangely i could see Shearer making the diamond pivot position his own, he's tough, got outstanding vision and is probably the most underrated passer around

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

With the Diamond you also need your wingers to come in narrower when we haven't got the ball in order for the midfield area to be contested. Manure have Keane in the holding role. Scholes as the front man and Beckham and Giggs doing the wide job. Giggs and Beckham have the combination of tremendous energy and both pose a threat from the flanks.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Salty Sellars was a marvel on the left, i loved him, top player

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

".....SuperMac was on about Lua Lua and how his confidence has been shattered, and he blames the fact that we put a lot of expectation on him."

I've often seen this type of comment - effectively saying it's the fans fault that such-&-such a player has gone backwards. However, I've never really understood exactly what it is we do that causes the said effect. From my perspective, LooeyLooiy has had nothing but support from the fans. If he'd been barracked for his performances I could certainly then understand the associated 'cause & effect'.

I actually think it's all a load of bollox. Can anyone enlighten me?

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

it's the media by numbers cack that wastes so much paper and valuable 'life' time that it pains me to even think about it for a second mate.

Macdonald is talking arse

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Question from the colonies: So does this mean that Barton is done? If so what finally (?) saw him off? Has Robson shuffled things to give this group a chance - or did wor Warren finally blow it? That seems difficult to understand because he seems to have had bad patches before - but perhaps there was no replacement. Wasn't he "captain" a while there?

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

I think he wasa suspended for the Man City game and Griffin then kept his place. With the changes in the Centre it is wise to keep things as stable as possible and lets face it before his suspension Barton was going through some really bad form.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Barton was dropped for the City game and suspended for the Everton game. If he hadn't been suspended on Saturday I believe he would have played - possibly in midfield, allowing Acuna to rest his achilles injury.

His recent form has been awful, but he still has a role to play in the short-term.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

So are we to presume that unless Griffin gets injured or "does a Barton", he will remain at right back for the rest of the season?

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

I wouldn't presume that DeB, even tho I might wish it. YBR still seems to rate WB so I think he might make a return later, especially if we need "height".

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Griffin will be injured within 2 weeks. I'll stake my life on it.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Did anyone see Villa's defence last night? Jesus - and they are supposed to have one of the best defences in the PL.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Clarky - I have to say that Lua Lua got a hell of a booing from the Gallowgate after that attempt at a cross against Man City last week.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Hhmmm - didn't notice it, or hear it, from the East Stand.
I really can't imagine what the booers think they are achieving by being so infantile - certainly nothing positive.

Are you posting from your hospital bed? What devotion.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Actually, Clarky, the Gallowgate was largely on the team's back fromj the second they ran out on the pitch. If it wasn't the poor attacking, it was urging the defenders to be men (and basically give away pens). Lua Lua was probably mortified because there was real anger in the reaction to his cross attempt, ironically because in those early games, the team were attacking the Gallogate goal when he came on and we were treated t0 the spectacle of those dribbles etc - on one occasion, he had about 6 men on him and their only answer was to try and strangle him. I'm not in me bed yet - will be in about two hours!

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001