There is a middle ground between the two. You don't have to either just pass it around aimlessly or hoof it long all day. In the autumn we retained possession well much of the time but we had no idea how to turn that into scoring chances. In these fixtures, particularly the Luxembourg and Qatar games, I'm looking for progress on that. Controlled possession by all means, but with an attacking threat as well and a willingness to counter attack or play a direct ball or a cross when the opportunity arises.
Come on; that's strawman stuff, and not what anybody that I'm aware of on here has even vaguely suggested. But in a situation where Kenny has determined he wants to play out from the back we do need to have some sort of cohesive game-plan on how to move up the pitch to some sort of effect and look to start creating chances. I'm just not at all certain what we are trying to do. Do we go through a playmaker? No. Do we look to get crosses into the box? No. Are we attempting to utilise pace in attacking areas? No. Are we looking to play off a targetman? No. Are we making the best of set-pieces? Again, no.
We look vulnerable defensively and utterly toothless in attack.
The playing resources we have at our disposal are extremely limited, especially with the injuries we've sustained, and no-one's expecting miracles. But I would at least expect for Kenny makes us difficult to play against and hard to beat, and perhaps for us to score the occasional goal.
Last edited by Trequartista20; 12/03/2021 at 4:49 PM.
Unused sub in Newcastle's opening game of the EPL season: a 2-4 defeat to West Ham.
You can't spell failure without FAI
Only one PL start this season; under Howe, just 10 mins on the pitch. TalkSport and Football League World suggesting today (Tues) that a move to Middlesborough is likely.
He and Robbie Brady show their caring, charitable side once more:
https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2022/0...ess-in-dublin/
Jeff's an important player for us and has done well of late under Kenny, so needs to be playing regularly really, whether that's at Boro or elsewhere.
A loan move back to Burnley until the end of the season would seem to make sense; they're short on numbers, and Dyche is obviously a fan.
Don't think Newcastle are going to loan a player to relegation rival. If I was him I'd be wary of Boro as the ones aren't pleased with the link and don't rate him. He'd need to be on his A game from minute one or face the same abuse Doherty gets from the Spurs fans.
If Newcastle are paying all his wages for any loan could look towards Blackburn who might lose Joe Rothwell to Bournemouth.
Now (8 pm, 31 Jan) reported to be signing for QPR (Football League World).
Moves to Reading on a season-ling loan deal.
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/202...son-long-loan/
Signs and then almost immediately scores the opening goal in their 4-0 win against Maidenhead.
Scores at home v QPR today.
scored a sublime volley today. a thing of beauty
This is a good angle:
https://youtu.be/TA1cGe8O08k
He has been playing well lately and scoring a few goals.
His season might be about to end in relegation. Rotherham's win today means the only team they can catch is Huddersfield who are three points ahead with a game in hand.
For Readings sake the game in hand is against Sheffield United who beat Preston 4-1 even with promotion secured so won't be easy for Huddersfield. Failure to seduce a point in that game and it comes down to Huddersfield vs Reading on the final day.
For Hendrick though he's still got one year left on his Newcastle contract so should pick himself up a loan somewhere next season in the championship.
Hendrick told to find a new club, despite having a year left on his Newcastle deal. What does this mean? Will they pay him out the rest of the money owed?
They don't really have an alternative unless he voluntarily chooses to move on. If I was Jeff I'd do a Harry Arter and sit tight for the duration of the contract, he won't be seeing money like that coming into his account again.
We're starting to build a team of unwanted Premier League players at this point - Duffy and Clark at the back, Arter and Hendrick in midfield and Connolly up front. The five of them have been earning Premier League wages for the last year with only Duffy's token few minutes for Fulham to show in terms of actual playing time in the league. Kelleher hasn't seen a minute of action in the league either of course.
Only has a year left on his contract and will likely find himself back at another bottom half championship team with Newcastle covering his wages.
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