what was the parading like?

what was the performance like and stuff like that...

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Answers

I'm going out swift - I'll post something later. I was rather disappointed with our performance, but not of course the result!

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Robert's introduction was a bit of a non-event. He sauntered out in a white tee-shirt - a Toon top would have more appropriate, even if a little cheesy - to thunderous applause, gave a few waves, shook hands with BR while the photographers did their bit, and sauntered off.

As for the match, it was like the proverbial curate's egg - good in parts.

This is probably a tad controversial, but overall I was disappointed with our performance, although not the result. However, I felt we were flattered by the result.

We started off well, playing some nice one touch stuff, over-elaborating at times, but nevertheless it's nice to watch. Excellent driven FK from Nobs; GS flying in gives the keeper no chance: effectively, game over.

However, as we often do, we sat back invited them on, and allowed them to play their way back into the game, if not the tie.
KK may have been tactically naive, but he knew we couldn't defend a lead, and therefore didn't try. There is a certain logic in this, and I'm afraid it's still true today that we cannot sit back and defend a lead - so why do we seem to believe we can?

For the middle hour of the game I thought we were disappointing - sloppy both in m/f and defence, continually giving the ball away, and allowed them to create several half-chances that they spurned, before finally equalising - principally due to atrocious defensive marking. I thought we looked uncomfortable in 3-5-2, especially the 3 at the back, and lacked bite in m/f. For all his knockers, I thought Speed was the pick of the m/f bunch, although Nobby had a decent game.
Hughes never got tight enough to Hassler, and he caused us a few problems - nice, tidy player.

Up front, Shola produced some delightful cameos without much end product, but continues to improve. Unfortunately, he lacks presence in the box, and crosses to him are invariably wasted. Bellamy stated brightly, causing a lot of anxiety in the Jorman defence - and a lot of sly fouling - but faded badly, and imo should have been subbed long before he was.

The 'antics' of the Jormans was despicable to watch, and if that is typical of the Bundislega then I'm glad I don't have to watch it - they were arguably worse than Roma!
One incident with Bellamy summed it all up perfectly - he chased a huge 6'2" defender to the by-line and as he went to challenge him the big jessy leaped into the air, crashed to the ground in a swallow-dive, writhing around like a big girls blouse. As soon as the FK was awarded, and Bellamy spoken to by the Ref, Jessy got straight up walked away entirely unharmed.
There was lots of sneaky off-the-ball stuff, including a blatant knee in the back for Quinn, plus some very dangerous tackling that the Ref did SFA about. Fortunately - although I didn't think so at the time - wor lads didn't react, or it could have become WWIV.

Really good win, but I'm still concerned about central defence and m/f.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Why did Rob Lee play? He was visibly knackered and ended up looking like a pub player. I thought Speed was OK for most of the match. Bellamy was pants. Shola was ace, as was Hughesie (who, I'm told, Bobby picked out to pat on the back after the match). Bartinho had a great game, as did Dabs. Great reception for Laurent. Only two or three twats dambusting and waving their arms about. For me, it was Rob Lee playing that pissed me off.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Anyone know what happened to WWIII?

;-{)

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Dougal,

RL's performance last night makes me even more anxious about our m/f - we just have to sign a good energetic central midfielder.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I agree, Clarky. I was actually really upset for Rob. We were baying for him to be subbed for a good twenty minutes before he went off. Do you think Bobby is spawny with his substitutions - I was wailing when he brought on Lua Lua cos he can't hold up the ball and we were up against it. Next thing, the bugger scores...

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Good match ratings here: http://www.fromtheterrace.co.uk/newcastle/news.cfm?newsid=18214

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Hardly a mention of Lua Lua? Awesome. The guy is dynamite. Scored a goal with superb self confidence. Ran down the defender who failed to clear, rounded the keeper with (seemingly) effortless ease - but - he's gone too wide? - no! - strokes the ball in first time when many players would have wanted a better angle or be looking for an incoming striker. Later, receives a ball out of defence, superb Pedro- like shimmy throws the defender and then strokes a brilliant through ball to Acuna running intelligently into the space created. At his current rate of progress Lua Lua is looking like a superb buy. Still very young, lots to learn, but has raw talent in spades.

Excellent game for Bartinho - positional play excellent - some crucial interceptions and at least 3 times was the last man with a blocking tackle or enough of a challenge to force the player to shoot wide. Distribution very good - but, incredibly, fans got on to him for the 2 or 3 passes which did go astray. People seem to look for Barton's mistakes.

In the first half hour or so, United played some superb flowing football reminiscent of the KK era. Whether it was a stamina thing or players just went off the boil is hard to say but for a long time after that we came unstuck and handed the initiative to Munich, until the subs came on. Quinn looked surprisingly good at several times last night, taking players on, doing the one touch stuff well and getting in some good crosses. I've not seen him in this form and was impressed. Can't see him as a regular in the starting line up but may well make a useful contribution on this form as a squad member.

Elliot was a big disappointment last night. The goal resulted from a cross from his wing and there were 2 or 3 more very dangerous crosses from there as well. Some poor distribution also. He is better than this so hopefully just had an off night.

I'm not able to give a judgement on any of the others - shouldn't they all dye their hair a different colour so we can see who's who?

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Didn't look very much different from the first leg to me.

Even though he was booed non-stop, I reckon we could do a lot worse than go for their number 7.

Talk about action man. He never stopped running all night, and he was involved in just about everything Munich did.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I was happy with the performance, with the proviso that it was "only a pre-season friendly".

We must never play with a three man defence, or not with those three anyway. It worked but if we'd played a team with a bit more wit/width we would have been stuffed.

I though Hughes was amazing. Hassler ended up looking neat, or wahtever Clarky described, but back on his own half way line as Hughes presence just stopped his team mates passing to him.

Shola is lovable, but as someone else says a bit light in the box. Talking after the match I suggested that Peter Reid should be offering the earth for him as a natural replacement for Quinn. His pace is so deceptive, and his wee tricks too much for most defenders. Love him.

Lua2 took his goal superbly and will become the substitute from heaven this season.

Robert Lee needs to dye his hair, can't take grey haired players seriously. He shouldn't have really played beyond half time at his fitness level, and as it was 'only a pre-season firendly' Acuna or Bassedas should have been on for a run around.

Bellamy tries but looks like Gallagher with a couple of step-over tricks. Need to be convinced.

Thought ref was appalling. The bloodshed if this had been 1860 v an Italian team would have been memorable.

Again though Barton looked okay, no better nor worse defensively than the other two, prefer him at right back, rther than centrally, although the time he jockeyed the guy who was a just outside the six yard box at the Leazes End and let him get a shot in wasn't clever.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I forgot to mention Shola - looks better every time I see him - great skill - lots to learn but can become a great player. Be nice if he learns to head the ball - with his natural height advantage this would add a lot to his game. Fingers crossed - with the right development Shola can be one of the best.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Given, Barton Marcelino Hughes Goma, Lee Speed Cordone, Shearer Cort who played first league game of last year becomes

Given, Barton Hughes Dabizas Elliot, Solano Speed Bassedas Robert, Ameobi Bellamy

better or worse one year on ?

Clearly we aren't missing Elena and Cordone, Bellamy v Cort who can tell ? Not much difference really. Last year we had Dyer/Solano/Domi and Charvet as subs this year Acuna/Lee/Caldwell/Lua2 sosubs bench is weaker.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Forgot to mention Elliott - he was very poor, wasn't he?

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Robbie's only excuse would be playing at left centre half rather than left back. He looked okay in Germany but not particularly last night. Just as Warren deserves credit for trying to cope with unnatural position (so to speak) then so does Robbie.

Warren clapped more enthusiastically at the end though

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Agree with most that has been written here. Thought Shola continues to get better & better. Bellamy is riyt nakka. £6 Million? A donkey in a jacket. Laughable if only he was playing for someone else. Sorry, but he's had his chance. Next please. ps why didn't Larry Robert wear a B & W top before being introduced? Surely the shop can't have run out already.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

obviously that should have read "Bellamy is a riyt nakka", otherwise it makes even less sense.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

True, MaCB, and he has a lot of credit in the bank after that tackle last week..

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Did you really see his tackle last week, Dougal. No underpants?

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Yes, it was quite a thrill, I can tell you...

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

How has been wearing the captain's armband in the absence of AS ? has it been Bartihnio?

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

give Bellamy a chance... :-)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Now I've had the thought that Bellamy is Gallagher I'm stuck with it. He tries hard, runs a lot, will be an excellent workhorse but probably won't ever win a game for us. I don't see him getting the standing ovation the way Gallagher did.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Bellamy's still low on confidence, isn't he? He holds up runs and slows to invite tackles rather than face the nightmare of missing the target. That "goal" against Lockeren won't change it for him any more than JDT's deflection in off his arse did for him. Why is it that the players with the pace aren't the ones you want in 1-on-1 situations with the keeper? Oh for another Les ferdinand: that goal against Coventry on his debut! Big, strong, fast, shot like a thunderbolt and pogo-sticks for legs.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

the scary thing is that we haven't an out and out goalscorer in the first team at present. It's nice to have enough skill and movement elsewhere that you can get goals from all sorts of players...and teams that depend on one man for all their goals are on a hiding to nothing. It would still be nice to have a 20 goal man in the side. Hopefully Cort can be that...

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Any news on Cort?? I've a feeling he'll make it for the second leg of the intertoto final. Last report I heard was that he was flying in training, or was it crying. Anyway has anyone got up to date info AM

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001