How are we supposed to pick just three of our customary post-match points from one of the sorrier performances of this or any other Newcastle United season? The demented lineup, the absence of defensive organization, the near-total lack of visible effort or concern from the squad, the inability to generate a single decent scoring chance (or any shot at net until the waning minutes)...Saturday's sickening-yet-flattering 0-4 result against Southampton was a nightmarish smorgasbord for critics of a club in apparent free-fall as the 2013-'14 campaign lurches to its merciful conclusion.
So, as much for the challenge as anything, here's an attempt at finding three bright spots, or at least dim ones, in a pitch-black day:
Class in goal. Newcastle's consistently shoddy marking at the back, especially by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and sub Davide Santon (can it get much worse for him?), gave Rob Elliot a golden chance to impress in goal. And did he ever. Beyond the acrobatic stops that kept the scoreline looking something like a soccer match, Elliot's smart and accurate distribution ignited some of the day's only build-up from the back. His facial and body language indicated he might have even cared about the outcome. It's difficult to judge a keeper from infrequent performances - any player can get up for a rare start. But this backup has a way of making his patchwork club look like it has at least one area of true depth on the roster.
At least we know what's not working. So many players looked so clearly out of place on Saturday that even Newcastle's stubborn management should be moved to stop forcing square pegs into round holes (or maybe even start finding players who fit the holes to begin with). Every step Yanga-Mbiwa made seemed to scream "I am not a right back" - the New Yorker among us suggests MYM be tried in the middle especially with the continued threat of Fab Coloccini's departure, and while I'd be watching that between my fingers, there's not anything to lose now and it can't get much worse than it already is. The closer Moussa Sissoko gets to the center of the field the more he looks like a winger. Hatem Ben Arfa generated plenty on the right side - for the opponents. It's painfully apparent he needs to be played somewhere else...geographically.
Not even the owner could bear to look. TV audiences (in America at least) were treated to a devastatingly symbolic shot of Mike Ashley paying absolutely no attention to the match from the stands. Not that anyone could blame him. Newcastle looked every bit like relegation fodder, especially in my living room with Crystal Palace dispatching Chelsea on an adjacent screen. Only the shortness of the season will keep this club in the Premier League, and the timing and cushion for a collapse might not be so advantageous in the future. Media reports in Newcastle that Ashley is endorsing a summer makeover might just be true. If ever there was evidence it isn't safe to liquidate talent for money, Saturday was it.
Why do people view MYM playing at centre back as a worrisome option? Have they all forgotten how good he looked there with Williamson earlier in the season? Should never have been dropped for Colo the minute he came back.
Posted by: Rob | 03/31/2014 at 03:23 AM