Premier League Discussion 1st/2nd/3rd November 2008.

Does Jonas ever have a bad game?

At least when he played in Liga, He had off-days in his passing. But of course, he isn't anonymous in most of the games. He is actively involved, and tracks back admirably.

Shockingly poor performance by AVilla. Newcastle was solid enough to win, hate him or hate him (since it's impossible to love him), but Joey Burton had a good game, as well as Duff, Gutierrez and Martins.

Only saw the 2nd half, but if the first half was anything similar, thank Christ. To call that atrocious would be like calling Joey Barton a mite unpopular. We did not successfully pass the ball once. Everyone should be shot.

Well done Newcastle

Yes, I heard before the start of the season that his passing was a bit hit-and-miss, or that he maybe wasn't that creative - but I've been really impressed with his passing for us - he's tidy, and his strength means he can hold the ball and find a pass; and he has an eye for through balls too. His work rate, dribbling ability and strength make him so consistent. And I think it's good that he got his assist today - he and Martins are our most dangerous players, and hopefully they will both be pretty confident after today. My only question with Jonas regards where he should play - he can do a very good job on the right; perhaps we'd see more of an end product from him on the left; the other option would be to allow him to roam, which I guess we do to an extent at present, with him and Duff swapping sides.

We were superb in the second half. We passed the ball well and moved much better; Martins was fantastic after his goal; we looked solid at the back too, as Beye improved through the game, with Coloccini looking very composed and keeping his feet well, with Taylor heading and blocking, and I thought Enrique had two very good halves. That team, with Guthrie in for Butt, does look promising.

Told you Kinnear would work

Article about Roy Keane:
http://football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_4448571,00.html

Good article IMO, not only because it brings up just how awful and wasteful Keane's transfer record is, but also for the point made about the relationship between the press and players/managers. Who knows how many managers have come under undue pressure, just because 1 or 2 journalists didn't get on with him. Or vice versa of course.

kas wrote:Article about Roy Keane:
http://football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_4448571,00.html

Good article IMO, not only because it brings up just how awful and wasteful Keane's transfer record is, but also for the point made about the relationship between the press and players/managers. Who knows how many managers have come under undue pressure, just because 1 or 2 journalists didn't get on with him. Or vice versa of course.

You could also say it apllies to players, I read The Sunday Mirror's report on the Spurs-Liverpool game, it might have well have been an assassination/hit piece on Gomes.

I'm not denying he hasn't made errors, but to say that he should've done better with Kuyt's goal, and to not give him credit for that INCREDIBLE save from Gerrard's deflected shot, reeks of a Journalist following a blind agenda, and not reporting what happened in the match. Bear in mind this same Journo gave Gerrard MOTM, saying he dominated the match, when at least IMO, there were a couple of Liverpool players better (Kuyt & Arbeloa spring to mind).

kas wrote:Article about Roy Keane:
http://football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_4448571,00.html

Good article IMO, not only because it brings up just how awful and wasteful Keane's transfer record is, but also for the point made about the relationship between the press and players/managers. Who knows how many managers have come under undue pressure, just because 1 or 2 journalists didn't get on with him. Or vice versa of course.

ie: Wenger = untouchable.. Rafa = Get rid of the goatee faced f@ck.

Rafa - Get rid of the Spanish wanker..uh..waiter...

I missed like 10minutes of last nights game and I missed Barton's slap on Gabby. What the f@ck is wrong with the guy. What is it, he has played againist WBA and Villa and he is already making a show of himself.

Kimmy will probably defend him and say it was nothing slap, and I agree it was a nothing slap but the idiot raised his arm and got away with it.

If Jeremie Aliadiere gets sent off for a nothing slap on Masch then so should that muppet, Barton.

Rafa doesn't have a plethora of kids and pretty football to hide behind - his excuses like Rotation & zonal marking just don't cut it...

Barton did little wrong last night, besides from passing the ball about sloppily at times. I thought that Bennett was right to give a free kick against him for blocking off Agbonlahor initially, but Agbonlahor retaliated by swinging Barton to the ground before mouthing off at him - at which Barton literally put his finger over Agbonlahor's lips. He didn't slap him, he touched him, and perhaps that constitutes an invasion of space, and I know I wouldn't appreciate anyone putting a finger over my lips, but his behaviour was no worse than Agbonlahor's, and what has been made of the incident even thus far is ridiculous. In general, people cause so much fuss over acts of petulance, whereas play that is actually dangerous is entirely ignored - and there were a number of bad challenges last night that went unpunished.

Barton has mildly impressed me in our last two games. There is a distinct cowardly streak in him I think, and last season, I was most surprised at how often he would bottle out of challenges - but in the last two games he has really worked hard, tackled firmly but, by and large, fairly, and he was very strong in the centre of the pitch for us last night.

Football wise he has been decent. Much better than he was last season that's for sure

David Axelrod™ wrote:
You could also say it apllies to players, I read The Sunday Mirror's report on the Spurs-Liverpool game, it might have well have been an assassination/hit piece on Gomes.

I'm not denying he hasn't made errors, but to say that he should've done better with Kuyt's goal, and to not give him credit for that INCREDIBLE save from Gerrard's deflected shot, reeks of a Journalist following a blind agenda, and not reporting what happened in the match.

He's made a number of incredible saves, even if he's at fault for the majority of them in the first place, to rescue Spurs this season in just about every game and yet you won't hear a word of it. Then there's talk of bringing James back, which doesn't even bare thinking about in it's wrongness.

He hasnt exactly rescued them has he?

borocooper wrote:He hasnt exactly rescued them has he?

Given like rescuing rather than Myhill like rescuing, he saved them from ever losing big.

He was usually at fault for the first goal though. I still think he isnt good enough. Not that many are, but he's worse than many.

Turnbull looks like a very good keeper whenever I've seen him play, Spurs should sign him

I always said Turnbull would be our next keeper..if only we still had that "young players to look out for" thread from the oldest board

It was never going to be Jones..Turnbull was excellent in most games even a couple of years ago. He then had the honour of being written off by The Frank Tavern(just as he did with Wheater) and has gone from strength to strength since.

Gomes is the reason we're in the UEFA Cup, and he saved our arses against Chelsea. Apparently he's been playing with a rib injury - but whatever...'arry will sort him.

He'll be the reason you arent in the UEFA cup eventually.

borocooper wrote:He was usually at fault for the first goal though.

Can't believe that, hes made a number of costly mistakes granted but for most goals the defence in front of him can't have helped. He should become more consistent as the season continues, helped no end by him not being punished for his every mistake because his attack gets him out of trouble.

Gomes is the reason we're in the UEFA Cup, and he saved our arses against Chelsea. Apparently he's been playing with a rib injury - but whatever...'arry will sort him.

And against Wigan I'd assume.

He seriously doesnt appear to better than Fat Paul. I'll give it half a season before you want him out.

Robinson spent last season making the same kind of errors, *and* getting beaten by soft shots. So far I can only hold the Ashley Young goal against Gomes when it comes to shot-stopping.

It's funny, It took that incident against Croatia to make people realise Robinson was playing $h!t... He had been ever since the World Cup.

Gomes is a much better shot stopper that Robinson

If he can work on his communication with his defenders instead of giving them a smash forearm into the back of their heads and reduce these rush of blood moments when dealing with crosses he become a top keeper.

Not sure he can.

Maybe Arry will sort him out. I think like James did and I still does.. he needs some help on the ol mental aspect of the game.

Gomes will do better once there's an established defence in front of him. Can't help confidence when it's a different 4 every match. It's tough for King that he's in one position (besides keeper) where stability is most important - only playing every 2 or 3 games just doesn't work in establishing a CB pairing.

Having said that some of the mistakes (e.g. the Young goal) have been pretty painful, and we can't say if they are wholly down to confidence.

Im sure the defence changes dont help, but now with idiot Ramos gone that might stop. I still think he'll go down as the Brazilian Robinson. Robbo maybe did let in the soft shots as well..but Gomes has only been here a few months and he's made loads of errors..the soft shots are around the corner

I can't agree with my good man TS:

Gomes is an absolute liability in the air. He can't catch the ball, and that is a BIG problem in the Premier League.

In the dutch league, playing at a dominant PSV, and the CL, there is a lot less worry in terms of the aerial threat. He could probably get away with the odd awkward punch away every now and again.

However, in a typical Premiership game, he makes at least 5 or 6 mad cap leaps and fisting attempts (ooh err), and every one of those causes me to cringe and look away.

He's fantastically athletic and has brilliant reactionary instincts, but give him time to think and make a decision, and he's a calamity.

He COULD improve and prove us wrong, but the question is : we're bottom of the league so do we have time to take the risk?

I'd like to see us get Foster from United on loan for example, or maybe even poach James from Portsmouth. A keeper with Premiership experience is vital if we're going to remain in the relegation zone past Christmas

Too right, bitch.