The Times Football Handbook informs us that our top five players last month were:

Bellamy - 1190

Speed - 1158

Shay Given - 1112

Aaron Hughes - 1054

Nolberto Solano - 985

Also, we had 50 shots off-target, the highest no. in the PL; Laurent Robert tried 27 crosses, more than any other PL side.

Finally, interesting interview with JDT who said he was being played out-of-position but loved Newcastle which he says is very much like Feyenoord: working class with knowledgeable, passionate fans and he and his girlfriend loved living in Jesmond.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Answers

I'd tend to agree with the top three, although not really in that order.

Speed has been pretty good since he came back from his injury - his two goals probably push up his rating a bit as well.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Are those the same knowledgable and passionate fans also told JDT where to f**k off to, when he wasn't flat on his arse or scuffing a 6 foot shot in front of an empty goal. Pleased he liked it in Newcastle, but I'm happier he's not living there any longer.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Yeah but to be fair to him - and this is one of the few things Nick Raphael and I agree one - he was played out of position for virtually his entire Newcastle career. I know the Dutch league is an easier league than the Premiership, but he looked great there before he came to us and has looked great since he went back, even in the Champions League.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

The only reason Robert has the most attempted crosses is because he hits the first man too often and gets another cross.

If he could "shake off his injury and regain his form" then we could benefit from the number of crosses he gets the chance to make.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

If he was aiming at someone a bit bigger than Bellamy he might be able to float the ball in to the back post instead of trying to whip it past the first man and keeper into the Welsh Wizard's path. Not an easy target in anyone's books. If Sir Les was here it would have been a very different story. Watching Shola in the Worthy you notice that he has been learning to head the ball at last and so long as somebody applies a cattle prod at the right times he has the pace to get into the danger area with Bellamy.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Great points Softie. My recollection from his early season games was that Robert was knocking in fantastic, precision crosses. Admittedly, he's gone of the boil and his crossing in recent games has been awful. However, I genuinely believe he doesn't like simply knocking looping crosses to the back post that might produce a few "oohs" and "aahs", but which no one has a hope of getting onto.

He likes hitting fast, curving, low crosses early between the keeper and the defence for on-rushing players - a delicate skill - but I suspect has recently been encouraged to "get the baall ower the top man!"

Despite everything, I really believe this guy is a genuis who needs careful man management and encouragement. Imo, he should become the focal point for our attacking play from the back, and should have minimal (but not zero) defensive responsibilities.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Another factor is that Shearer rarely beats his marker in the air. This isn't a criticism, just an observation.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Dougal - if you put the ball into the right areas, where Shearer can run onto the ball rather than having to outjump two 6'3" CB's for looping high crosses to the far post, he will put it away - guaranteed!
That is precisely the point, and precisely what Laurent Robert is so skilled at - albeit he hasn't been doing it recently.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

His favoured move is to get his marker turned and then cut inside, so long as his running mate goes past him and takes the centre back away then he is absolute dynamite at threading it through for anyone who fancies making a run. Anyone who was at Boro will remember that ball for Shearer - no accident, between 3 players and into Al's stride.

Oddly everyone wants him to go round his man and pump a high ball into the box: who for?

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

That was my point, Clarky, we see high crosses going in that Shearer will never get onto. It's for the same reason that we never score from crosses anymore. Shearer is good in the air but most CHs are at least six inches taller than him. I'd fancy him in an aerial battle against our tiny CHs 9apart from Distin)but against very few other PL CHs.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

A high looping ball to either post can still reap huge rewards.

Balls to the back post don't need a big striker as they can be headed back across goal - the accuracy is obviously better from close range.

Front post balls - as in the one for Shearer at Bolton - again they don't need a huge striker to put them into the net.

Undoubtedly we are better with a range of crosses, but floated balls to the back or front posts are still a massive part of our game at present. At least with a floated ball it gives Robert (or indeed Solano) time to run in afterwards for a rebound that may come about.

Playing precision passes across the six yard box is a difficult skill to master but one that Robert is pretty good at. However, playing these balls relies on Bellamy almost entirely to be in the right place. In a counter attack where Robert seems at his most dangerous, Shearer is never in a million years going to be up in the opposition's penalty area, so it basicallyy relies on Bellamy - oh, and Dyer as well I suppose :)

I still suspect he is carrying an injury, but because he is so dangerous if given space he is an asset to us even when injured. Even if he does absolutely nowt during a game defenders still need to stick tight to him - leaving more room for people like Bellamy to run with the ball. Vital to our success, even more so when he is on top form.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Mention of JDT playing out of position brings back the nightmare of TSM once more. When Speed came he said he disliked playing wide left - so TSM stuck him there (and he was awful in the position). The sight of Tino's sublime skill being wasted as a lone target man is the only time in my life I harboured serious thoughts about assassinating a Newcastle manager. Then there was TSM's version of Italian Roulette as Pistone's position in the back line was randomly chosen week to week.

And then there was Pinas. Unsure whether to shove him up front or slot him in at the back TSM didn't have the balls to play him and he was simply withdrawn. :-)

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

When a manager can't decide how to use his Pinas you know he'll be out sooner or later.

I was always waiting for the commentator's line, "Pinas lobs Seaman" but it sadly never came.

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

.....and shoots/scores in the box??? Or was it just a dribble?

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2001

Seaman spilled and Pinas got whacked in the face with the rebound.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001

Pinas pulled out of the box limp and shaken by the ferocity of the shot. Seaman managed to dribble out with ease. etc etc

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001