On The Air: Unleashing Xisco, Invading Belgium

In this week's lush podcast offering, the American Toonsters wrestle with the resurgence of Xisco and its significance (if any), the depth chart at striker, the lineup against Bruges at SJP and the interrelation thereof. Shots like a truck, truck, truck! Goals like what, what, what! Plus: How do you solve a problem like Tiote? Click below to listen, or visit our iTunes page to download your very own copy. (Photo credit: @PanicAtTheXisco)

 

I Wish I Was A Geordie 2013-5

 

Comments

[Shabilla]

Great listen, some good thoughts. You fellas are right - what a difference a games makes - Xisco would proabably get a massive cheer should he come on against Bruegs on Thursday. Keep it up!

[geordiepat]

Nice stuff. For me, the Tiote red was a borderline decision, not a clanger by the ref. I would say yellow but it went their way and we should have been bolder in going for all 3 points - as opposed to parking the bus for so long against a poor side. The refs decisions are an unavoidable, at times unfathomable, facet of the game. How we react is more significant - and as you've said yourselves - Pardew's compact, cautious approach at times undermines our ability to win more convincingly - the 1 goal advantage approach is dangerous and invites pressure. Maybe this result is a bit different as a derby, and being 1 man down but still think AP's fist-punch to the away support was telling - having just conceded the win with minutes on the clock.

No statistical evidence to back this up, but I still reckon our problems are at full-back and centre midfield. We haven't had any consistency in those positions. We need specialist performers given a run in those positions to get us going- Simpson and Tiote back should help. How can we hope to hit our stride when we don't even have a formation cemented that favours the skills (or egos) of the performers?

Tiote is one of those players that gives away silly fouls, misplaces passes, can't score or shoot, etc, but we still miss him when he's not there. The only explanation I can suggest is 'presence' - a hallmark of top players, and he gives us it in midfield when he plays (and stays on the pitch). Hopefully Bigi can become that player in time, but until then we do really need Cheick - as much as Krul almost - and need to get him match-fit which is the real reason he is conceding fouls - as opposed to a temperament problem.

[fink]

Hi lads n lasses from ower the waata! (the pond!)
I do a Newcastle website caalled 'The Geordie Times' (www.geordietimes.com) and have a canny few followers in the U S of A
I go to every Toon game home and away includin Europe and do a report on every game!
"Toon Army USA AALL THE WAY!"

Cheers!
Fink (the mad-sad groundhopper!)

[Dave from Newcastle]

Bob:
Were you grading papers as this was going on?
Also, are you guys getting Matt to Camp Randall at all while he's in Madtown? If so, bring home a win this weekend, HWTL and On Wisconsin!

[Bob]

Haha Dave - I don't know what that scratching was, I think one of my co-bloggers might've been taking notes presidential debate-style to use against his mates in future commentary. We had Matt at Camp Randall for the Minnesota game last Saturday, but the true blast was last night at the UW-UMKC soccer match, during which we may have found a future star for NUFC, kid can flat-out play: http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/kristensen_anders00.html - we were chanting, "Anders scores, we're on the pitch..."