By Tyne-Talk
August 8 2009

The new season is underway and our resident player rater Wasim has given his first ratings of the season with Goalkeeper Tim Krul achieving the highest rating of the evening after replacing Steve Harper for a brilliant second half of the game.

Player Ratings

Steve Harper (5) - I hope his not too badly hurt, but he was at fault for their goal. Came out and didn't get the ball away from the danger zone.

Ryan Taylor (6) - Played okay at right back, and almost scored with a free kick but apart from that, I'll expect better from him at set pieces.

Fabricio Coloccini (6.5) - Wants to spend far too much time on the ball for a centre back. Was troubled with the pace of Moore, but all in all we got something from today so he couldn't have done too badly.

Steven Taylor (6.5) - Made one or two good blocks, but shouldn't be holding his opponents as much as he does. On another day he could concede a penalty like that.

Jose Enrique (7.5) - Impressive on the left hand side of our defence. Linked up well with Gutierrez, while he made some good runs going forward. Don't think we'll be able to keep him.

Damien Duff (7.5) - Tremendous finish for the goal, while he was busy and ran into space often.

Alan Smith (7) - He did his job well in midfield. Won the ball for us on many ocasions while he may just be a good option as captain.

Kevin Nolan (6) - Didn't impress me too much. It perhaps wasn't his worst game, but I'll start Joey Barton in place of him for the next game.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) - Was involved in some good moves, while his energy down the flank caused West Brom problems. Could soon be his last game for the club though.

Andy Carroll (6) - Gave away far too many fouls, while he didn't really make the keeper work enough. Worked hard though in fairness to him.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Had a hopeless 1st half, while he did better in the 2nd half. Doesn't give me great confidence if his going to lead our attack though.

Substitutes

Tim Krul (8) - Made 4 simply outstanding saves. What a talent this guy is. Not yet the finished article, as he came for some balls he didn't always get but I hope we make it up this season, otherwise he'll be leaving for a top club not too long afterwards.

Joey Barton (N/A) - Not on long enough to judge.

Nile Ranger (N/A) - Not on long enough to judge.

Player Ratings v West Brom

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 08/08/2009 23:22

TyneTalk
08/08/2009 23:22

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mentalman
09/08/2009 09:16

Steve Harper (6) - looked strong in goal until he went off, he commands and communicates with his defenders which i like.

Ryan Taylor (5) - our worst player on pitch, poor set pieces apart from 1, caught out of position on numerous occasions

Fabricio Coloccini (6) - needs to learn when to play the ball out of defence and when to just clear it needs to get his hair cut so he can see where high balls are other than that one of his better performances for us recently

Steven Taylor (6.5) - Made good blocks and is happy to get forward and be a threat

Jose Enrique (7) - good solid display however like colo he needs to learn when to play out of defence and when to clear it

Damien Duff (7.5) worked hard and never stopped running great positioning and finishing for the goal .

Alan Smith (8) - fantastic in midfield today great tackling commitment and leadership, we would have lost this game without him

Kevin Nolan (5&7) - non entity in first half hence 5, it was as if he wasn't on the pitch, however in the 2nd half he came out and attacked, supported the front 2, played where he should be playing and assist for goal was excellent

Jonas Gutierrez (4) - Although his energy down the wing was good and he he helped in defence it disgusts me when players ask the ref to book another player and also his attitude in the 2nd half was shocking when a couple of decisions didn't go his way, also his final ball was poor

Andy Carroll (6) - good first game of the season for the young lad, coped with the physicality of it and gave their defender a tough time, good aerial threat however due to nolan not pushing up he was dropping deep and not being a threat on goal.

Shola Ameobi (6) - this was shola's best performance i have seen in a very long time not much of a threat on goal but then the service wasn't that good

Substitutes

Tim Krul (8) - 4 world class saves which any top flight gk would be proud of, got a bit excitable at times and made some mistakes when coming out for crosses, hope we can keep hold of him

Chris Hughton - thought he got the team selection and tactics spot on (he's obviously learning)

to summarise i thought it was a very good performance against a strong team

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wasim4nufc
09/08/2009 12:20

I see we agree with most of our ratings, however I think you a bit harsh on Jonas. Yes I remember him going down for very little contact, but that's a South American thing and he did look a big threat in the first half.

Alan Smith did do well in midfield. I saw a threat on here, saying he was terrible, so I'm glad we both agree that he did his job really well.

Thanks for your comments though.



Wasim's Sport Blog

Toon4life

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TOONTILLIDIE
09/08/2009 15:03

Jonas might have ran with the ball, but what did he do, nothing, to me 4 or 5 was a fair score him

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Gallowgate Luke
09/08/2009 15:05

Ameobi is a waste of time.
He's had years to perfect his game and has never done so.
Give Young Ranger a go instead

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TOONTILLIDIE
09/08/2009 15:11

It seems stupid to play people who have let us down so many times when we have the perfect opportunity to give some of the kids experience. If we are not going to try the kids in the championship what is the point of having an academy. If they are no good then we are f@ck#d as they are going to make up the squad, if they are good enough get them in

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Omar_786
10/08/2009 00:33

jonas had alot of work ethic unlike some of the other players display.. he might have not had the end product but was frightning them with pace.

shola was the biggest waste i cant believe hes been with us that long and still cant do the basics

ranger danger !


He's The Next Ronaldo (Sir Bob R.I.P)

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tunyc
11/08/2009 21:17

This has been an interesting read. Didn't see the game, as they're not readily available here in the States.

Most other reviews I've read have described Colo as horrible, which is what I'd expect tbh. The common line is that he regularly had attackers in behind him. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

As to Harper, I haven't rated him since the game against Arsenal last season. I think he spents years on end as a backup for a reason. From what I've heard, I hope Krul gets a run.

Ryan Taylor-more disappointing free kicks? We've been saying that since he arrived. Still trying to figure out what he adds to the squad, but I guess he has to be played at this point.

I was chagrinned by this team selection. Starting Shola belies Hughton's amateurism as a manager. This is what he's done for seasons on end, train passably well and do nothing on matchday. How could anyone imagine that he'd partner well with Carrol? START ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE.

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Gallowgate Luke
11/08/2009 22:14

I was just waiting for Colo to give a penalty away

I'd like to have Krul in goal for us but I cant see it happening.

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TOONTILLIDIE
12/08/2009 08:43

For the moment I would start with Harper, Krul was fantastic and will only better over the years but on a couple of times he had the rush of blood to the head and in other games could have cost us, but Newcastle can't do what they did with the Given/Harper thing, where Harper only get a game when Given is injured, fully agreed with it then, both keepers were experienced so you pick the best. But Krul needs games and they should be hand picked, on who we are playing, a lot more than 6 or 7 a season otherwise we will lose him.

Ryan Taylor was dissapointing but the lack of bodies will mean he will play every week, he hasn't discovered the free-kick role for us, but then how many did he get before he signed for us. Once Guthrie is fit, I would get him on the free kicks.

Colo was sh@t, the goal scorer lost him when they scored and Colo was just looking around, he was out of the game and couldn't pick up the pace. Seemed to be getting wound up a lot, and think if we kept him he would pick up stupid cards out of frustation. He ain't up for the fight and lacks the strength.

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tunyc
12/08/2009 21:39

Without the free kick ability, I see R. Taylor as an essentially useless player. He's a poor defender, positionally and as a man marker and he has no pace. I know he was just a throw-in along with Insomnia's fee, but still...

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Fat Frank
13/08/2009 13:08

Enrique - 4

Coloccini - 4

Gutierrez - 3

Amoebi - 5


How Coloccini and Gutierrez have ever been capped by Argentina completely mystifies me

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tunyc
13/08/2009 17:21

Meh, SA teams are often light in defense these days, and Jonas has shown flashes of greatness. Wouldn't be surprised, however, if one or both of them has a very short international career when it's all said and done. (More likely Coloccini, who is awful.)

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