I know we have had to play the 3 because of lack of midfield players but 
come on, enrique should have started in today's game against man city 
and pushed N'Zogbia into the left midfield.

With milner and n'zogbia on the wings we would be more balanced and not 
lop sided like we are.

Also I have to question Given's placement of the wall for Elano's goal, 
granted a great strike but one replay showed the wall was not lined up 
right and Elano just had to keep his shot straight (which he did).

until we get our midfield balanced with 2 wide men and a play maker in 
the middle we are always going to struggle. We need someone to create 
things in the middle of the park and not rely on Taylor or Rosehnal to 
hit long balls up to the front 2.

we are doing what we did most of last season and that was bypass 
midfield , this time we are doing the same but the midfield players are 
not getting forward to help the strikers.

On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:11:08 +0100, bRiAN
 wrote:

>I know we have had to play the 3 because of lack of midfield players but 
>come on, enrique should have started in today's game against man city 
>and pushed N'Zogbia into the left midfield.
>
>With milner and n'zogbia on the wings we would be more balanced and not 
>lop sided like we are.
>
totally agree.

>Also I have to question Given's placement of the wall for Elano's goal, 
>granted a great strike but one replay showed the wall was not lined up 
>right and Elano just had to keep his shot straight (which he did).
>
sorry, but there was no stopping that goal it was riht in the top
corner. no keeper in the world could have stopped that.

>until we get our midfield balanced with 2 wide men and a play maker in 
>the middle we are always going to struggle. We need someone to create 
>things in the middle of the park and not rely on Taylor or Rosehnal to 
>hit long balls up to the front 2.
>
yup.

>we are doing what we did most of last season and that was bypass 
>midfield , this time we are doing the same but the midfield players are 
>not getting forward to help the strikers.
>
>
aye, our midfield is shit.

frankly.

he's strengthened the defense, but we are sorely lacking pace and
creativity in the middle.

needs to be sorted urgently.
-- 

gamertag: Chrisflynnuk
http://live.xbox.com/member/Chrisflynnuk
Current eBay auctions: http://tinyurl.com/hutcb
360, DS, PS2 and Saturn Games For Auction.

On 29 Sep, 18:10, Chris F  wrote:
> On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:11:08 +0100, bRiAN
>
>  wrote:
> >I know we have had to play the 3 because of lack of midfield players but
> >come on, enrique should have started in today's game against man city
> >and pushed N'Zogbia into the left midfield.
>
> >With milner and n'zogbia on the wings we would be more balanced and not
> >lop sided like we are.
>
> totally agree.
>
> >Also I have to question Given's placement of the wall for Elano's goal,
> >granted a great strike but one replay showed the wall was not lined up
> >right and Elano just had to keep his shot straight (which he did).
>
> sorry, but there was no stopping that goal it was riht in the top
> corner. no keeper in the world could have stopped that.
>
> >until we get our midfield balanced with 2 wide men and a play maker in
> >the middle we are always going to struggle. We need someone to create
> >things in the middle of the park and not rely on Taylor or Rosehnal to
> >hit long balls up to the front 2.
>
> yup.
>
> >we are doing what we did most of last season and that was bypass
> >midfield , this time we are doing the same but the midfield players are
> >not getting forward to help the strikers.
>
> aye, our midfield is shit.
>
> frankly.
>
> he's strengthened the defense, but we are sorely lacking pace and
> creativity in the middle.
>
> needs to be sorted urgently.
> --
>
> gamertag: Chrisflynnukhttp://live.xbox.com/member/Chrisflynnuk
> Current eBay auctions:http://tinyurl.com/hutcb
> 360, DS, PS2 and Saturn Games For Auction.

We shouldnt be that surprised, Sam plays a pair of Manure rejects in
the middle.

 A sign of a player who lacks technical ability is to play aggressive
football, run his socks off for the cause but still create nothing
going forward (pick up a couple of bookings on the way). OK, Smith is
verastile but does he really play that well in any of these positions?
I dont know where his best position is. We cant play Butt and Geremi
in the middle of the park together.

We lack about 4 top quality players- on the wings and in centre
midfield. Man City were slick in their passing and we coudlnt keep the
ball for more than 3-4 passes.

You think Joe Barton will made that much of an impact? I hope he does
but im not that optimistic.

"arby"  wrote in message 
news:1191160198.823708.261250@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...

> We shouldnt be that surprised, Sam plays a pair of Manure rejects in
> the middle.
>
> A sign of a player who lacks technical ability is to play aggressive
> football, run his socks off for the cause but still create nothing
> going forward (pick up a couple of bookings on the way). OK, Smith is
> verastile but does he really play that well in any of these positions?
> I dont know where his best position is. We cant play Butt and Geremi
> in the middle of the park together.
>
> We lack about 4 top quality players- on the wings and in centre
> midfield. Man City were slick in their passing and we coudlnt keep the
> ball for more than 3-4 passes.
>
> You think Joe Barton will made that much of an impact? I hope he does
> but im not that optimistic.

The worst player on the pitch was Smith. However, in general the NUFC players were at most times 
abysmal and witless in their passing. Martins needs to have a mature and controlled attitude to 
shooting (despite the fact he scored a great goal via an excellent controlled approach!) I feel we 
should have kept Carroll rather than loan him out - he would have fared better in Amoebi's place as 
a ready and available substitute forward. (Thankfully Amoebi was out injured).

On the other hand, Man City were a joy to watch going forward... Newcastle seemed to lack heart and 
team spirit. Perhaps the team will be better when Barton comes back and Smith can be used as a 
forward like at Man U?

Philocophus

On 30 Sep, 17:57, "Philocophus"  wrote:
> "arby"  wrote in message
>
> news:1191160198.823708.261250@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > We shouldnt be that surprised, Sam plays a pair of Manure rejects in
> > the middle.
>
> > A sign of a player who lacks technical ability is to play aggressive
> > football, run his socks off for the cause but still create nothing
> > going forward (pick up a couple of bookings on the way). OK, Smith is
> > verastile but does he really play that well in any of these positions?
> > I dont know where his best position is. We cant play Butt and Geremi
> > in the middle of the park together.
>
> > We lack about 4 top quality players- on the wings and in centre
> > midfield. Man City were slick in their passing and we coudlnt keep the
> > ball for more than 3-4 passes.
>
> > You think Joe Barton will made that much of an impact? I hope he does
> > but im not that optimistic.
>
> The worst player on the pitch was Smith. However, in general the NUFC players were at most times
> abysmal and witless in their passing. Martins needs to have a mature and controlled attitude to
> shooting (despite the fact he scored a great goal via an excellent controlled approach!) I feel we
> should have kept Carroll rather than loan him out - he would have fared better in Amoebi's place as
> a ready and available substitute forward. (Thankfully Amoebi was out injured).
>
> On the other hand, Man City were a joy to watch going forward... Newcastle seemed to lack heart and
> team spirit. Perhaps the team will be better when Barton comes back and Smith can be used as a
> forward like at Man U?
>
> Philocophus

Big Sam made a mistake in loaning out Carroll rather than Shola.
You're right about Smith being pushed forward when Barton is back.
Although I rather we played Martins than Smith upfront. Smith is not a
15 goal a season forward and by the look of things, Sam likes to have
a taget man upfront for the long ball game. :-((