Much Better but Still Not Good Enough

Newcastle had almost 6,000 fans down at Blackburn, support which the team does not deserve and I believe only Newcastle could do at this difficult. This was certainly a 100% improvement on the Liverpool in terms of commitment. The first half was not the greatest of spectacles with both side’s not even testing the opposition keeper. Newcastle made a great start to the 2nd half with Geremi finally producing a decent set-piece for Martins who was unmarked to send the away fan’s into raptures. Newcastle seemed to found their attacking front for the 1st time this season but Blackburn then upped their game and the quality showed. Bentley producing a stunning free-kick which left Given rooted. This sparked the game into life, with Newcastle finally starting to produce some attacking play and not route one to the strikers, we pressed Blackburn we failed to create any chances with the 2 chances we had came from errors on Blackburn’s part. First was the Joey Barton chance with a goal mouth scramble after a bad pass back to the keeper that somehow ended in Friedel’s arms. Then Martins missed an sitter with a header from Joey Barton catching the Blackburn defender’s short and Martins got his head to it he went to put above the keeper when putting to either side of Friedel would of been easier and it went over the bar, this was the defining moment as Blackburn capitalised from a Stephen Carr mistake (no surprise) and then Bentley came steaming him to hit an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner. There was the big Difference today Bentley was deservedly booked for a challenge on Barton and he then just got on with the game, Barton then wanted revenge for that challenge just show’s how immature he is. Newcastle we’re shell shocked and Blackburn could of had a few more after this with the post and an excellent Shay Given save, and with Newcastle pouring forward they we’re vulnerable to the break and Tugay eventually scored after a couple of good blocks.

Analysis:

As long as Charlie is playing LB and Milner LM/LW then a massive unbalance will exist in the team. We are effectively playing each game with another player playing out of position on RM, usually Geremi or Alan Smith both of whom are liabilities in the team. Playing Charlie LB contributed to the first goal as it was his rash challenge which brought about the free-kick which Bentley scored from, he’s not a LB his pace is useful there but why is Enrique who cost us over 6 million and was bought to fill the problematic position not starting, it’s not like he’s been as bad as Alan Smith or Geremi so far this season. Newcastle we’re the better team till Blackburn scored, then they fell apart completely at the back. The long ball football is still rubbish, if you are going to do this at least play someone with a bit of height like Viduka, who apparently was one of the players who has confronted Allardyce of his tactics and who also can score goals unlike Alan Smith. Arsenal come to St James and most fan’s are being realistic to the fact we are going to get beat, Arsenal have scored in every game this season we haven’t kept a clean sheet in eleven and their reserves totally outplayed us down the Emirates in the League Cup. The Birmingham therefore become’s are most important game of the season, we have to WIN if we don’t then we are in for a long winter fighting teams like Sunderland, Birmingham and Wigan in a Relegation battle, who would of thought of that at the start of the season.