New here - Best of johnkent

So Demba Ba plays as a midfielder?

 

I am still undecided about.

He's done sod all in his entire career, and now suddenly Newcastle fly high. Did he finally crack the code of football managment ? Sadly chances are against it. To me it looks as a correlation of a few very good buys (BA!), maiden seasons of other players (Tiote, Cabaye, Cisse) who the opposition has not yet figured out (hello Gareth Bale), form of other players with some undisputed quality who struggled a bit earlier (Ben Arfa, Santon) and just pure luck in games ??which could go either way.

That's no criticism. It's not negative to have new players savaging the league, to kick potential into ability or to be plain luck. Credit for that.

All I'm saying is, that Newcastle's position doesn't by necessity reflect Pardews managment fully.

 

This isn't Toite's maiden season but I agree with the rest by and large

 

Well twice. But you're right Pardew changes around his formation all the time.

 

?

Demba Ba and Cisse have started their last 9 games in a row bar Arsenal. Where is this 4-5-1 coming from?

 

Ba has switched to the flank since Cisse arrived. With Ben Arfa on the other flank.

 

Please do not interupt my rantings with facts.

Thank you :-"

 

He most certainly hasn't or at least no more than Rooney helps out in the middle. Guttierez is their other natural wide man.

Those are 2 pure strikers he's been starting any way you want to spin in.

 

Ba played out the left against Liverpool and Swansea. Against Norwich they played a lopsided 4312.

 

OK, so nobody not even Newcastle fans know what system the play.

Right. He sounds a suspicious lot like Redknapp ...

 

2 natural strikers in the team = 2 man upfront

Come on, guys

 

Not right now - do like pardew, didn't he have a spat with wenger once ? GET IN !!! Hard boy attitude and all that, and he was very humble when we beat them at the lane a few games ago (my how things have changed).

He's developed into quite a clever manager and got / getting the right of experience. Not too sure of his style of footy, but that's because i've never really watched his teams to be honest. Will be fascinating to see how he handles the squad with the run in.

This run in at the top, then 3-4, then bottom 3 is becoming squeaky bum time for a lot of teams, so many stories going on and we still don't know the end of most of them. Apart from wolves.

 

To be honest, to me it looks like Jonas and Ben Arfa play on opposite wings with Cisse poking the back 4 and Ba roaming. A sort of 4-4-2.

Dunno why they want Ba to roam, I'd stick him in as a box player and have him horsewhipped if he left his position. Same a bit with Ben Arfa and Jonas, I consider either to be brilliant wide players.

All this manangers letting "star" players roam around is really taking the tinkle.

 

If he brings Ben Afra, Tiote and either Ba or Cisse with him then come on in, the water's lovely... he is an Inter-Toto Yiddo after all!!

But I stress again... Levy will have to stock up on PLENTY OF THIS;

 

No. When I've seen them recently, Ba has been playing on the left. Cisse up front, Ben Arfa on the right, Gutierrez in the middle alongside 2 others. The formation is defined by what shape their players are in, not just what their natural positions are.

 

Ba has been playing as a left forward not a left winger or midfielder.

 

Whatever you want to call it, it's not a 4-4-2! Ba has been getting goal-side of their right-back when Newcastle don't have possession.

 

It's not a matter of 'calling it' - it is what is is. 2 strikers working off each-other. Cisse on the last man, Ba working the gap behind him, winning balls, using his strength to feed the channels, etc.

You do not play 2 natural strikers in a 4-5-1. No science here, mate

 

Well this isn't going anywhere... the original point was that Pardew always played 4-4-2. Recently their system has changed, as when Newcastle don't have the ball, Ba shifts to the left and Gutierrez comes inside, giving them a more solid 4-5-1 defensive base.

 

Well, he has started both Cisse and Big Ba for their last 9 consecutive games bar Arsenal so I'd maintain my original stance of 2 men upfront.