Blackwell

[Micalijo]

Two home defeats, as expected, but I don't think Blackwell's position has weakened. It really pains me to say that. I'm really fed up that we have lost the last two at home but I don't think it has come the hopelessness that would have caused serious pressure for Blackwell

If I were reporting back to our great spin meister I'd have to say that the players kept going and very much deserved a result from a game they approached in the right way. As with Cardiff, I enjoyed the game.

We have a manager who I think talks rubbish to the press and therefore to the fans. He plays Stewart on left flank for ten minutes when he has a £1.5m right winger on the bench. But, for all that it is hard to criticise on back of last two performances. The only crumb of comfort is that it is a results business and he aint getting them so the table will guide McCabe, hopefully.

Thought Henderson's miss was really bad in injury time and I thought as usual he did all the running into channels and did all the competing whereas Evans did nothing, other than a decent little burst in first half that allowed him a shot, a good effort.

Incredible how fat Nolan was and how poor France is.

 

[SwissBlade]

I agree with a lot of that Micaljo, I think the team are starting to recover.

Some of the team selections were odd to say the least. We now don't have much of a back four for Dingles away. Which is very worrying.

Positive - we defended well in the main, a very unlucky goal out of nothing, but we'd had warnings a couple of minutes before. Evans, although not great is improving... in my view

Negatives - Morgs wasn't great last night but also had no luck at all. We can't bloody score!

Oh and no matter how positive I try to be, no matter how well we play, it doesn't hide the fact that we've lost 4 on the bounce.

I'm concerned, still not panicking, but the performances look better, we're creating chances and also defending better.

Blackwell still has plenty of time if we keep showing the signs that we showed last night.

We desperately need to beat the dingles.

 

[Ollessendro]

Hear hear Micalijo. And some useful additions Swiss. Although I don't agree with all of it. Here's my thoughts on last night .....

I'm not going to come out and criticise the team as they put in a valiant effort. Other than the first 20 mins of the second half (where we were slow to react and Newcastle loked very dangerous) we completely controlled the game. We played a decent mixture of direct and passing football and on another night would have won 4-1. Sure Newcastle could have had a couple when they came out of the blocks quicker for the second half, but we had a lot of chances. Henderson could, and probably should, have had a hat trick. Evans was unlucky on the turn, if our left back turned right winger could head the ball and if Treacy and Harper had have brought their shooting boots things might have been different.

Blackwell deserves some credit for attempting to take on top of the table and play some decent stuff. We took the game to them and I'm grateful that we did so. But what about the team selection. I can understand playing Killa at left back as Stewart and Taylor have been below par. Also Killa needs bringing down to earth and Davies needs games (especially as Morgs was one game from suspension and now is out next week). However playing Stewart (a fucking left back) on the wing and hence the left winger Treacy on the right, when you have 2 right weingers on the bench, is just lunacy. Then to go 1 down and for 15 minutes play with a left back on the right wing is just ridiculous. Cotts did well when he came on and looked very lively. Would it have made a difference if he'd been on an extra 15 minutes? We'll never know of course.

Positives to take from the game. Harper is finally starting to show signs of his class. He got his foot on the ball, created space and was always an option. I hope he can start to show what he did last night week in week out. I disagree with Micalijo as I thought that Evans played well last night. He didn't set the world alight, but he looked sharp and was unlucky not to score with a great shot on the turn. On the whole we played very well and were desperately unlucky not to get something out of the game.

Negatives. I thought didn't think Henderson played well last night. He seemed more interested in grappling with the centre backs and could have been sent off for kicking out at Collocini in the first half. Micalijo, you say he worked hard and did all the running. I'll give you some of that, but he is a striker and he is there to score. His headed miss at the end was nothing short of criminal. I can forgive him for his miss in the first few minutes (tight angle and on his left) and the chance that Harper smothered, but his lethargic effort at the end was simply pathetic. Stephen Quinn. Need I say any more? After showing signs that he might get his form of a few years ago back he goes back to disappearing. If it hadn't have been for his bright ginger hair then I wouldn't have known he was playing. He was the weak link for me last night. Get him dropped Blackwell!

 

[Currie on Radio]

I confess to being a fan of Harper.

When the ball went through him he looked good and rarely gives it away.

He passes along the ground to a player in space.

But like all our midfield players in the past - he often gets ignored.

Having said that and despite a weakened team - I thought we bossed Newcastle for most of the game. But at least we have stopped playing hoof ball most of the time.

Interesting in that with a weakened team we play passing football along the ground - with a full squad we play hoof ball. One thing is for certain Blackwell shows about as much logic as Benitez.