By Wasim
December 11 2011

Demba Ba has been named Man of the Match for his contribution to yesterday's 4-3 defeat at Carrow Road against Norwich City. Tyne-Talk player rater Wasim4nufc also praised Yohan Cabaye with a high score, but following disappointing performances by Obertan and Gosling, neither scored highly. Read on to see how the rest of the team faired....

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Conceded four goals although he wasn't really at fault for any of them. Needed more protection from his defence.

Ryan Taylor (7) - I thought he did well at right back. Went forward a bit and held his own in the air.

Danny Simpson (7) - Made one or two blocks in the first half and marshalled the back line nicely for the first 40 minutes but then was unlucky to see the ball deflect off him for their first and he struggled from there on in.

James Perch (6) - Did not have a bad game, conceding four was a disservice for his performance but ultimately he could not handle Holt in the air and that's where two of their goals came from.

Davide Santon (7) - I was very impressed with him when on the ball. He looks very comfortable and has a fair bit of pace. Had a difficult day on the defensive side of things but gave a good account of himself non the less, considering it was his first start in the league.

Gabriel Obertan (5) - I was very disappointed with his performance. Needs to look up a bit more for sometimes there's a player open and he'll just look down and take on the two defenders in front of him instead of passing. Provided very little service to our strikers.

Dan Gosling (5) - Had a decent first half, in which he popped up in their box a few times, making some good runs. Then had a nightmare second half, firstly giving the ball away needlessly which led to their third goal and then minutes later getting sent off for a stupid challenge when already on a yellow. Blew his chance to stake a claim for more first team football.

Yohan Cabaye (7.5) - Played a delightful ball forward for Ba to run onto for our first goal and worked hard throughout. Just misses Tiote to protect him so that he can use his passing ability to greater effect.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) - Another who disappointed a bit. Not as bad as Obertan but he too provided very little for the strikers. Did seem to form a nice partnership with Santon down that flank though which was encouraging.

Shola Ameobi (7) - Had a quiet first half but a much better second half. Won the ball for us which led to our second goal and linked up nicely with Ba a few times. Also held up the ball well on a few occasions.

Demba Ba (9) - Scored two quality goals, the first with great control and the second with a clinical finish. Apart from that he was good on the ball and always looked a threat.

Substitutes

Sammy Ameobi (6) - Had very little impact but does deserve more time especially with Obertan playing below par.

Alan Smith (N/A) - Was only on a few minutes.

Shane Ferguson (N/A) - Don't think he had a touch after coming on in injury time.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Demba Ba

Player Ratings v Norwich City (A)

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 11/12/2011 11:53

TyneTalk
11/12/2011 11:53

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lincolnnufc
11/12/2011 13:38

can someone tell me what pardew's problem with Ben Arfa is? you're losing a game and are not looking dangerous at all yet you have your best player sitting on the bench. Madness

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mentalman
11/12/2011 17:04

he provides no defensive cover at all and loses the ball to easily, he'll play a bit part roll for the club until the latter stages of the season and we'll see his full potential next season when he's used to the league!

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wasim4nufc
12/12/2011 18:05

I think Ben Arfa was rightfully dropped for this game. Pardew made the correct choice as Ameobi did well when coming on in the second half against Chelsea and we did look dangerous against Norwich. We scored twice and Ba hit the bar as well so we did fairly well going forward considering we were away from home. Ben Arfa still has a big role to play for us and will get more opportunities so hopefully he'll grab his next chance. There's no doubting his ability but the team should be selected on form and not on reputation, like our relegation season.



Wasim's Sport Blog

Toon4life

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waffles
13/12/2011 00:47

I normally don't give you stick for posting higher values, but the average rating you gave this match was a 6.7 when we lost 4-2 to a not very good team. Norwich might finish in the low teens this season, but we should still get a result despite the injuries. Furthermore, 6.8 average rating for the back line, which conceded FOUR goals. I know we had match-up issues with their big strikers, but that's serious leniency. Both full backs were sloppy, which led to crosses getting in. Simpson kept pushing forward, as if he was playing full back, when he was supposed to be the Center Back. He's not Albert. Krul didn't command his back-line, which he needed to be doing since Colo wasn't there to take care of it.

You tend to score an "average" performance as a 7, and that's fine, but on a day when the back line gives up four goals, no one should get higher than a 6 according to your scale.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:13:00:54:11 by waffles.

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lincolnnufc
13/12/2011 12:59

I thought Ben Arfa played quite well against chelsea. He's never going to achieve his potential if he's in and out of the team all the time. Perhaps, since we were playing Norwich he could have been pushed into a front 3 along side Shola and Demba but also sitting a bit deeper to support Cabaye. In a game where we needed to score more than the opposition I just don't think Pardew picked the best team. I wouldn't have started Gosling. Krul
Raylor Simpson Perch Santon

Obertan Cabaye Gutierrez

Ben Arfa
Ameobi Ba.

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lincolnnufc
13/12/2011 13:14

you can't tell me you'd rather have obertan in your team than ben arfa? ben arfa played out wide under hughton with great success. Why suddenly MUST he have to pkay through the middle? surely you'd rather have him on the field than not?

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mentalman
13/12/2011 15:04

agreed, i think obertan could do with a rest and a reminder that he's not guarenteed his place but again i think Obertan was preffered over HBA with supporting the defence in mind!

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tunyc
13/12/2011 20:05

Central defenders were poor-though they accepted the responsibility and did their best. Playing CB is about more than winning high balls and making blocks. Our central defenders' inability to carry the ball out of defense and find a pass doomed us to defending against Norwich for 60-70 of 90 minutes.

Obertan-I'm completely out of patience with him. Don't compare him to Jonas, who runs his ass off and doesn't dawdle while he's beaten to 50/50 ball or while his fullback is being run ragged by opposing wingers.

The only positives for me out of this game are Santon-he looked great, in the mold of JE and should promptly displace Raylor once we get a couple guys back-and a recomfirmation that Ba is a brilliant finisher.

We need Colo and Tiote back ASAP. We're screwed as long as they're out.

I'd really like to see us get Kolo Toure in January if he's going to be loaned.

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