I must say I am enjoying the approach we have applied int he last few rounds. We are trying to have more of the ball and assert some dominance.
Yes, sometimes it's been a bit slow. Yes, sometimes we've struggled for ideas. But with an off-season I really look forward to what Robinson can have us achieve.
I thought O'Toole had a strong debut last night.
Ibini looks reaaaaaaally short of match fitness.
The Championship Chronicles - The Jetstream's review of the 2007/08 season. www.newcastlefootball.net/chronicles
If Dimi ever decides to take his blinkers off when he is dribbling he'd be some player. Some of the things he did with the ball last night were supreme... then the very next play he runs himself into a corner he can't get out of with 2 players free 10m to the right of him.
If you watch Millar all he's ever looking at is the player with the ball. You watch a player like Ledley and he's scanning everything from other players to free space - even the position of the referee.
All you need to do against Millar is hold the ball then have a player run into the space behind him - it's almost comical.
People expect to much from Dimi - have a look at his stats - the blokes one of the best players in the competition.
If he goes on the market every club will be falling over themselves to sign him for their starting 11.
Sure he takes the odd touch too many and his corners are pretty shit - but the things he does well more than compensate.
Having 2 up top has been his blessing this year. They deal with the 4 defenders and all he has to do is get the ball in between their midfield/defensive line and he's ready to dribble towards goal. His game has been simplified and it's been very good for everyone.
I'm still not in the "Dimi is da best" brigade, but he's looked much better behind Roy and someone else doing lots of work ahead of him and wingbacks giving us width.
Yeh nah. His form is certainly not what is was a couple of seasons ago but i am tipping his deal is no smaller. Given Sport is a business and not a benevolent society IMO its time to move him on and find the sort of player Dimi was a couple of seasons ago.
He had a fine game last night but he was putting those types of performances in week in week out a couple of seasons ago, Last night was his first decent game in how long ?.
We have the likes of Fitzgerald, Ibini, Millar and Hoffman to get rid of before we worry about Dimi. I'm all for moving him on, but we have bigger issues than him and as Dunster said, his numbers are good enough to justify his position right now. 8 assists in this squad is pretty good.
He's looked way off the pace and running around aimlessly to me. It's to be expected given he hasn't played for a while, but he's going to want more money than he is worth given the contract he got knocked back for last time. He obviously has a long term injury as well. Rather sign an NPL player if we want a backup forward and spend the money on a new CB and resign Wessi.
Well, I think you are over excited and talking up his performances as much as I'm talking them down. Fitzgerald looked as good or better than him against City when he came on.
And considering the money I think Ibini will likely demand, we might be able to find better value elsewhere.
It is a positive to me that we have currently 3 ****ing HAL starting standard strikers at the club
Exactly what the **** has been going on in the past when Roy had his suspension.and we had to rely on Hoff
Exactly what the **** has been going on earlier this season when Arroyo was out and we had Thurgate / Hoff up front
What a joy it is that we can actually sub on strikers and you don't feel we going backwards having them out there
If it means keeping Gypo Ibini so we have 3 strikers next season I am all for it