First of all I'd like to say how much I like appreciate round table discussions. The post match thread on Sunday was littered with posts saying that we were poor. I'm really sure which perspective fans view the game in these days, but we certainly weren't poor. In fact, the match was symptomatic of a well known problem that we face currently. It's the usual suspects – opposition score on first shot, chances not put away, not enough firepower. There are continued signs of encouragement but we're continually hampered by the same issues.
This is not the ideal team, remember. We had 5 first 11 starters absent. Reina, Johnson, Lucas, Kelly and Borini would all have probably played if fit. Neither are we the finished article yet. We are much more solidified in midfield though. Allen, Sahin and Gerrard have dominated most midfields this season, and Newcastle were no exception. They couldn't get a foothold and distribute the play to look for Cisse or Ba. I thought Suso was OK, nothing too extravagant. I almost feel he's being a little wasted out there on the right when he can be most damaging at the apex of the midfield. The problem is, how does he play there when we have Gerrard in that role. I would actually give Suso a rest for Chelsea, because like the Everton game I feel he'll be a bit drowned out in that atmosphere. He's not having as much of an impact on the game as Sterling is.
Suarez is a genius. Remember those days when Fernando Torres was in his prime, and scoring goals for fun? I often pinched myself just to re-affirm that he actually played for us. That we actually had an individual that was so good at his trade. Well my friends, cherish Luis Suarez, because we should be grateful he plays for us. I like many others echo the sentiments that had he not been here we'd be up shit creek without a paddle. At times you feel the little flick ons he tries need to be received by someone on the same wavelength has him. He seems to just be a level above everyone else on the team. I believe that he'll cause even more havoc with better players around him. With another goalscorer in the team that impact will be far greater because the chances he creates will get tucked away - hopefully. I think he'll trust another forward who's regularly scoring.
He is absolute delight to watch, and even going in to games like Chelsea away you still feel confident that we could take something from the game, because a moment of brilliance from him can snatch us a goal or two.
Sterling impressed me yet again. Not only is he putting fear in opposing defenders, but he's a little terrier. His tenacity in chasing back, or harrying for the ball makes him even more crucial to the team. I thought yesterday was one of this best games for us. He very rarely loses the ball, and has the strength to hold off the defender. I think a lot of defenders start the game thinking they can bully him off the ball because he's smaller than them, but are quickly surprised when he holds his own against them. He was just a headache for the Newcastle defenders all game long, and unlike the Everton game, where he didn't get much joy, he had a lot of open space to play with, and he just ran at their defence. I noticed a lot of the free kicks went his way as well. If he could just add the finishing element to his game, we'd have quite the player on our hands.
The lack of firepower has to be addressed in January if we still harbour hopes of a top 6 finish, or indeed breaking through in to the top 4. We do create chances and one more 20 goal man would have put a lot of chances away by now, and we'd be higher up the table. if Shelvey's 'sitter' had been presented to a '20 goal man', the chances are he would have put it away. I often hear the argument that we didn't buy a striker in the summer. Well actually, we did buy one. It just so happens that he's injured for 3 months. Whether or not he would have been banging in the goals is up for debate, but the larger issue of course is that our position was effectively compromised by the lack of a decent replacement for Carroll.
We're playing some good stuff, but there is always room for improvement. Our crossing, and corner delivery needs to get a lot better. Every corner basically met the first man, and the ones that didn't sailed over everyone in the box. Some players are still making the wrong decision in the final third. Enrique played some bewildering passes in their half.
That's 5 unbeaten in the league. They say that winning breeds confidence, but surely not losing instills some form of steel as well.
