Quote Originally Posted by HughieG View Post
Our main problem is that players like Elanga and Gordon have not delivered adequately.

Sure, we have a general challenge with our style of play at the minute. Sure, there are many positions that need improvement and players that have performed below par. Most top teams go through these kinds of spells - not that we're necessarily a top team at the moment - and come out better on the other side. But they still manage to get results in the meantime.

There are many games I can think of this season where we should've gotten a result but didn't, even if we didn't play all that well. That, to me, primarily comes down to our wingers not chipping in with deliveries of quality and goals. In a nutshell.
23 goals scored all season in the league Hughie, you make a compelling argument.

The attack simply hasn't been good enough.

As we can attest, from a decade and half of sh!tty, clueless managers who idea of tactics was calling the take away 15 mins before full time to that the Lamb Bhuna and Pashwari nan was ready for delivery right on time, a lack of attacking threat = considerable more defensive pressure = leading to more goals conceded & more games lost.

The team have been ahead in many matches, yet, unfortunately the threat has then fizzled out during the later part of the first half or in the 2nd.

The legs go due to the fatigue and injury list. The team drops back and back inviting the pressure that has inevitably ended in goals being shipped and 15 odd points being dropped.

Best form of defense is attack. The team have the balance at the back despite the injuries. The squad is flexing and stretching to maintain but Eddie is able to put out a competitive team.

JJ is starting to come good and looks better and better with every performance. Elanga, I kinda feel sorry for. He's had a touch start to life on the Tyne. I get the feeling that he's now putting a lot of pressure on himself to perform whilst the terraces collectively shy and grumble each time he miscontrols or misplaces a pass.

The decision making in the final 3rd hasn't been great from Either winger. Gordon has no excuses IMO. He's proven his quality in previous seasons. The Chelsea game proved he's still got it. Malo Gusto (In English - Bad taste) should have seen red. However, against a top team expected. Away to the filth at the swamp in a few days he needs to take the muppet Dalot to school and dominate that left hand side.

Elanga I really want to see get on at 60 mins at the swamp and bang in a goal against his old club.


All that being said. I still think the best solution to the current defensive woes would be resolved with a more deep lying DMF. Not expecting the club to go out and this gen's sign prime Pirlo. However, I firmly believe that the best solution is to enable the CMF 3 to get into the opposition physically and intensely get ahead and make the tactical changes to maintain an attacking threat and work rate in the middle of the park but bring on a more combative shielding DMF to see out matches.