midfield energy

[Nigels Tackle]

none whatsoever last night.

could johan cabaye provide that spark when yaya and silva are missing?

very impressive for newcastle so far, even more so when you consider that he's a premier league rookie...

would love to see us test tempt ashley with a bid for him....

...or do we stick and hope that samir steps up?

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

none whatsoever last night.

could johan cabaye provide that spark when yaya and silva are missing?

very impressive for newcastle so far, even more so when you consider that he's a premier league rookie...

would love to see us test tempt ashley with a bid for him....

...or do we stick and hope that samir steps up?

I think we have to hope for Samir to up his game. But there isn't much sign of it yet. His confidence looks shot.

[Dameerto]

I thought Nasri had one of his better games last night.

[thegoatfeeder]

Nasri was better last night, and really we should have started with him. Our midfield though looks infinitely worse without Yaya and I can't think of a ready made replacement who would also be willing to act as backup when he returns, maybe Tiote but he is also at the Cup of Nations.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I agree Nasri played well last night and definitely should have started. Somehow we should have started with Milner and Nasri in the middle of the park probably with Barry to give us some chance of having control. Milner out of the way playing wide was a surprise to me and Nasri not even selected was major shock.

[Blue2]

I thought Nasri had one of his better games last night.

Agree, we looked miles better when he came on.

also agree with Doug, I was amazed that he wasn't starting, we lacked creativity.

[branny]

The tempo is far too slow. It starts with all this side to side business with the back 4. Savic and Lescott last night just wouldn't pass it forward. They then have to wait for Barry or NDJ to come and take it off them. NDJ just slows it down too. There can be nobody within 30 yards of him and he just strolls or stands still looking for a pass. It just gives the opposition more time to get 11 behind the ball. We need to speed it up and get it into midfield while the opposition are still on the backfoot.

[Ted Hughes]

The tempo is far too slow. It starts with all this side to side business with the back 4. Savic and Lescott last night just wouldn't pass it forward. They then have to wait for Barry or NDJ to come and take it off them. NDJ just slows it down too. There can be nobody within 30 yards of him and he just strolls or stands still looking for a pass. It just gives the opposition more time to get 11 behind the ball. We need to speed it up and get it into midfield while the opposition are still on the backfoot.

When they passed it forward, it was taken off whoever they passed it to & they had to defend again, or if it was Nige, he gave it back to them, over & over again, until they passed it to someone else, who lost it, & they had to defend again or until they were pressed into passing it to Joe Hart or lumping it down the pitch. It was a tactical disaster.

[branny]

On one occasion when we did actually show some urgency, Savic took it to half way and had Milner on the right touchline halfway into Scouse territory screaming for a pass. Savic just stopped with no scouse player anywhere near, turned back towards his own goal and ended up passing it back to Lescott. Very frustrating.

[sheblue]

nasri was better last night, lets hope he keeps the effort up.

[john68]

I am increasingly of the opinion that the difficulty Nasri has is down to the energy and movement of Silva and Aguerro. Those guys cover a lot od ground and fill thosegaps so well that I rthink Nasri has a problem finding wehere he can fit.

Last night when he came on, he was all over and for long periods was the guy most stuff went through...he had the space to operate.

Not sure how Mancini sorts this though.