The Toon Army thread

[apollo_creed]

Sorry to interrupt all of the disrespect but have you guys ever thought (Tige19) that maybe, just maybe Villa actually have a good defence?

The captain of Sweden (is he still?), a former AC Milan player who is very good, a guy who's played for Holland (and essentially marked Martins from the game) along with a young dude, playing as a makeshift right back.

We have a good defence and we're a hard side to break down. You were trying to attack but you couldn't break the defence down.

Not really complicated. (I wouldn't have thought)

 

[ShearMagic9]

Sorry to interrupt all of the disrespect but have you guys ever thought (Tige19) that maybe, just maybe Villa actually have a good defence?

The captain of Sweden (is he still?), a former AC Milan player who is very good, a guy who's played for Holland (and essentially marked Martins from the game) along with a young dude, playing as a makeshift right back.

We have a good defence and we're a hard side to break down. You were trying to attack but you couldn't break the defence down.

Not really complicated. (I wouldn't have thought)

I was going to post that yesterday, but just couldn't be bothered actually doing it.

We were trying to attack, but the very strong Villa defence were rebuting all of our attempts.

Oh, and welcome to MM

 

[tribey]

Sorry to interrupt all of the disrespect but have you guys ever thought (Tige19) that maybe, just maybe Villa actually have a good defence?

The captain of Sweden (is he still?), a former AC Milan player who is very good, a guy who's played for Holland (and essentially marked Martins from the game) along with a young dude, playing as a makeshift right back.

We have a good defence and we're a hard side to break down. You were trying to attack but you couldn't break the defence down.

Not really complicated. (I wouldn't have thought)

You're totally right. Which is why our Boltonesque desire to keep pumping in long balls and physically hustling and bustling while hoping for a slip/lucky drop boggled the mind.

Those tactics might work against dud defences (ours circa 1969-2006, notso ironically Bolton's last week) or soft prima donnas (Arsenal) but against an experienced, tall and strong back four marshalled by a superb keeper you're not gonna get much if any joy.

With guys like Milner, Viduka, Smith, Geremi, Milner, N'Zogbia and then Owen on the pitch our inability to change-up was frustrating as fook.

 

[apollo_creed]

I was going to post that yesterday, but just couldn't be bothered actually doing it.

We were trying to attack, but the very strong Villa defence were rebuting all of our attempts.

MON is a conservative manager.

With good defenders + that mindset, we're always going to be a difficult side to get behind/break down.

By no means are we an all-defence unit but away from home (in particular) we wait for, instead of create opportunities.

Oh, and welcome to MM

He's only welcome if he posts reguarly.

You're totally right. Which is why our Boltonesque desire to keep pumping in long balls and physically hustling and bustling while hoping for a slip/lucky drop boggled the mind.

That's fair enough.

Milner was causing Gardner (through no fault of his own) all sorts.

And Owen barely/if at all got a touch of the ball since he came on.

There were issues.

Not enough was made of the Milner v Gardner - mismatch
& Owen wasn't being fed the ball on the deck.

BSA probably went more direct because of

1. Viduka - who didn't actually benefit. Laursen had his number. everything was coming into him at blimp height and it clearly wasn't working. 'The Big Dukes' is just as dangerous/tricky/effective when the thing is below blimp level. Infact, probably better. Long balls onto his noggin doesn't even suit him.

2. Martins - general ineffectiveness. probably saw this and realised he was getting nothing from the left. hence, the more direct tact.
Milner could've/should've switched sides a one of the genuine left-sided options could've been tried. Shame about Duff.
This is probably why he went direct (near the end), not wanting to be predictable (going to Milner on the left everytime) and also to utilise the small man/big man combo. Which was doing nothing other than cancelling out whatever rapport the two may have had.

Those tactics might work against dud defences (ours circa 1969-2006, notso ironically Bolton's last week) or soft prima donnas (Arsenal) but against an experienced, tall and strong back four marshalled by a superb keeper you're not gonna get much if any joy.

I'm glad you rate Carson.

1. The dude could be mistaken for about every pr0n dude in history.

2. Not a thinking mans keeper. See - penalty shootout, U21 Semi England v Holland. The Holland dude was jumping about 12 feet off his line, narrowing the angle to such a ridiculous level that if the player even though about kicking the ball in the wrong direction, it would be saved. Amazingly the ref let the Holland dude get away with this. So what does Carson do? Follows the ****ing rules!!

3. A little small for my liking. (Given is an obvious 'against' but he's a far better shot stopper)

4. From Liverpool.

5. From what I've seen, convinced I have not been.

He did have a good, somewhat commanding game though.

Amazingly Rozehnal nearly scored his second goal (in whatever the commentator said), in I think 4 or 5 years. His high-speed broadband connection shot suggested otherwise.

That save was top-class.

With guys like Milner, Viduka, Smith, Geremi, Milner, N'Zogbia and then Owen on the pitch our inability to change-up was frustrating as fook.

Remembering,

The Spanish LB dude is not fit, forcing a talented attacking and non-defensive player to line-up there.

Cacapa could/will slot in somewhere. Eventually. (Kudos to being the 1000th dude as well)

N'Zogbia (moving back), Duff, Emre and Barton are pretty big 'outs' from your midfield. Alot of goalscoring, creativity potential there.

4 points from 2 games. Not the best performance from your lot but considering the injuries, how you played and all. 1 point isn't/wasn't so bad.

 

[ShearMagic9]

So we have the 'notso big but still a derby' match on the weekend.

I think Cacapa will start at left back personally, with Enrique making the bench.

I'd revert back to the 4-4-2 and play two wingers (Milner and N'Zogbia) with Geremi and Butt in the middle, and slip Smith back to the bench. Start Viduka and Martins in attack, and bring Owen on after about 60 minutes (depending on how things are going).

Our defence (for once) is looking solid, so other than bringing Cacapa in at Left Back, should be left as is.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Sounds like Luque's on his way to Ajax. And Newcastle have introduced a third strip ...

 

[wellsy]

So we have the 'notso big but still a derby' match on the weekend.

I think Cacapa will start at left back personally, with Enrique making the bench.

I'd revert back to the 4-4-2 and play two wingers (Milner and N'Zogbia) with Geremi and Butt in the middle, and slip Smith back to the bench. Start Viduka and Martins in attack, and bring Owen on after about 60 minutes (depending on how things are going).

Our defence (for once) is looking solid, so other than bringing Cacapa in at Left Back, should be left as is.

Sam has said Enrique will probably take his place in the starting line up against Barnsley later this week, so i dont think he will play.

Cacapa i think will start at the back with Rozehnal with N'Zogbia and Carr. I think it will be pretty much a similar line up to what we saw last week. Should be good and i hope Viduka gets off the mark.

Boro have lost the Yak as well and Mido has to pass a fitness test on his ankle so there could be a makeshift strike force for Boro tonight.

 

[ShearMagic9]

No love for my man Stevie?

Luque is off to Ajax.

Undisclosed fee, anyone know how much?

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I think Newcastle will just be happy to get Luque's ₤60K/week off the books.

 

[Cameron_K]

As stated the major bonus in the move is clearing out his paycheck each week.

Not a huge fan of the third strip either.

 

[GeordieRoo]

And Newcastle have introduced a third strip ...

What is the point? You could swallow the grab for merchandise $$$ when it was a "European" kit, fair enough. But no Europe!

Does anyone have any ideas as to whom we will wear it against? Will it be worn in place of the away kit, which would make people who forked out for it pretty pissed off.

 

[wellsy]

What is the point? You could swallow the grab for merchandise $$$ when it was a "European" kit, fair enough. But no Europe!

Does anyone have any ideas as to whom we will wear it against? Will it be worn in place of the away kit, which would make people who forked out for it pretty pissed off.

It will be worn in the cup competitions... well at least against Barnsley this week anyways...

For the record i dont mind it, what is wrong with it? Pointless top i know but who cares. If they want to make a 3rd kit go for it, i couldnt care less.

 

[moomba]

Anyone know when Enrique was with Spain U21? We've been pretty impressed by our Spanish U21 left back, but am not sure if they were with the national team at the same time (and if so who was preferred out of the two).

The talk about Ashley wanting to sell up isn't going away. Not sure if there is anything in it, but where theres smoke?

 

[ShearMagic9]

He's still in the Spain Under 21s moomba.

 

[Metallica_Man]

Not a fan of that kit, why did they make another?

 

[Masss#10]

I havn't seen this kid play but when you see how much we bought him for, surely he has some talent...im talkin bout Enrique

 

[ShearMagic9]

Not a fan of that kit, why did they make another?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[moomba]

He's still in the Spain Under 21s moomba.

Cheers for that. Our lad is 22 so no longer eligible. Don't think he played in the last Euro's whether he was injured or not selected I'm not sure.

Or maybe he lied on his CV and was never an U21 international at all.

 

[wellsy]

Good to see our billionaire owner wearing the Newcastle kit to the game...

 

[drewie_rama]

awesome goal

 

[tribey]

I have come to the conclusion Alan Smith is Emile Heskey.

He puts himself about and tries hard, but what does he actually accomplish? Did he make one pass today? One shot? What about at the end when Downing(?) went around him like he wasn't even there?

We had no righthand side at all. Pointless.

 

[apollo_creed]

I know you're not a fan but an 'on' Damien 'Duffer' Duff is desperately required right at the minute.

Milner is a home-game performer. Well, imo he is anyway. From what I saw of him at Villa and during his time at Newcastle I've always noticed his performances are very good at home and usually uninspiring on away turf. It may be an incorrect observation, I'm not sure.

Ideally you want N'Zog up the field as well. His talent is wasted at LB. And the one month in the year that he's not injured, you may as utilise his extreme talent.

Owen? He's really, really struggling. Hasn't done anything of note for about five years and the commentators still talk him up as if he's Mr. Goal Scoring. His miss for England v Germany was worse than Robinson's goalkeeping error. Yet nothing was made of it. Owen looks off the pace and completely unthreatening at the moment.

 

[jod23]

How Viduka has never been signed by a massive club is beyond me. Great striker.

 

[tige19]

What the hell is Alan Smith doing, or on otrher hand what is SA doing with Alan Smith. He just looks likes another Kieron Dyer in the midfield, runs and run and runs but really does nothing. Alan Smith is better used as a 3rd striker coming of the pine, weather we like it or not SA has got to sell 1 of either Martins or Owen, it is going to be pretty much impossible to keep all these boys happy. At this stage we know Alan Smith will stay, I really believe that Oba Martins is a big chance to leave, did anyone see when he was substituded he walked straight into the rooms and never even acknowledged SA or the bench??

I thought once again Nzogbia was our best player and has been our best player since the start of the season, constantly gets forward and attacks, his tackling has also improved out of sight.... absoloute gem of a footballer. Butt was ok, Geremi was shit, he is gives little dinky doo 5 yard passes that create nothing, Martins was dangerous and Viduka was ok up until that goal he scored which lifted his ratings for the match, the strike was fantastic. Taylor I thought was down a bit but Cacapa was excellent when he came to play at RB, I hope he becomes a regular fixture at RB, covered really well and is super quick, a really good purchase by SA.

Overall I thought Boro created more chances and probably could have snatched the game, at crucial times we did look a classier outfit, we only played good footballer for probably 30 minutes of the game and during that time we where well on top.

6/10

 

[Cameron_K]

The most disappointing thing for me was Martins reaction when he was subbed.

Wasn't the best game once again. hopefully Big Sam can get his combinations right up front. They also have to work on the way they get the ball in. I didn't realise Smith was out there until half time. Not sure if it was because I was half asleep or he just didn't do anything of note.

If only Owen got something on the cross in the last 8 minutes