Unai Emery

[eamonn]

CD slaying know-nothings about Newcastle 

[cdbearsfan]

I was agreeing with JP I think.

[andyh]

The midfield has been compromised and because of PSR our attacking options have been limited too. Now that we've signed Elliott and Sancho I'd expect things to improve.

I’m sorry, but we have to stop blaming external factors.
PSR/SCR doesn’t make us take 20 touches and 5 minutes to get to the half way line, only to stand on the ball and then pass sideways.

Tippy tappy football has had its day, and until we change our approach things aren’t going to improve.

[Ads]

We don't play "tippy tappy" football. We hold a shape and play patiently for channels to appear so we can pass through them and then the tempo/directness increases as we punch through the gap. This happened 3 times in particular on the weekend and Rogers bungled every attempt. It happened when Buendia nearly scored from a deflected shot too.

We have played, broadly, the tactic of a patient crocodile for the past 3 years; attacking the half space. This is why we have signed the profile of player we have. Rogers, who can run into that space (rather than pass through it) and he really needs to be higher up the pitch. Torres, who has good passing through the lines (see Bayern Munich), Tielemans who can find space to pass in a phone box. Onana, who is meant to be a crash ball style hit the box type with his athleticism and size (the lack of this in Luiz is why he was picked to leave). Maatsen who has tremendous pace and running from full back, as displayed en route to the European Cup final, to replace Moreno who did a similar job. Elliot is an archetype; industrious pressing, can play in the spaces or maybe (probably hopefully) at 10.

We also sometimes and often go long from Martinez.

It has not happened so far this season, because we can blame SCR given the significant constraints and disruption that has clearly been felt. Confidence isn't there, which impairs execution. We have injuries, as usual, by the bucket load. We are also not getting close enough to Watkins and we're not using the ball well when we find that space.

We do not play "tippy tappy football" and it baffles me the conclusions people come to from what they must have been watching for years.

[PeterWithesShin]

Steal My Toilet

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crrj752lrglo

[eamonn]

Great Post, Ads.

[Brend'Watkins]

I agree with it too. More than anything, we have an out of form Watkins and the biggest problem is that the undroppable Rogers has not just been out of form but useless for too long.