TFI – Player Ratings vs Sunderland – 01 Feb 14

Click here to go to the discussion thread by Cal

To come up with these figures we ask forum members to rate each player’s performance in the concerned game out of 10, which we then average out to get a rating representative of the fans’ views, we also collect a few user comments to summarise how the player did and show a few different viewpoints from the board. The top scoring player is man of the match; the lowest is mug of the match. This time a record 35 members cast their votes and shared their opinions.

A depleted Newcastle side welcomed rivals Sunderland to St James’ Park for our seventh derby under Pardew, who was looking for just his second win in this fixture as his tenure has coincided with us losing the otherwise good form we’ve had in the derby throughout most the Premier League era. The opening exchanges were fairly even until Anita and a poorly timed challenge in the box gifted the visitors a penalty to give them the lead, which was quickly compounded with a second goal to cede all momentum and effectively end the match after 23 minutes. Half-time saw the introduction of loan signing Luuk de Jong, who looked every bit a player with less than 90 minutes of first-team football played this season prior to this match.

Although the stats sheet would make it look like Newcastle battled valiantly only to be denied by a top performance from Mannone, the truth was that for the most part Sunderland were able to sit back while we lumped the ball forward and crossed from deep to no avail; when we tried to go through the middle we peppered the goal with tame long shots as a side lacking creativity in the final third, without the transferred Cabaye, suspended Rémy and injured Gouffran, went their second game in a row without scoring, despite a total of 49 shots. The game was wrapped up 10 minutes from time when the visitors scored a third and final goal.

Our man of the match was Sammy Ameobi with a rating of 5.77. He was reportedly ill before the match and only played the first half before being replaced by Luuk de Jong, but in his time on the pitch he was a rare bright spark in an otherwise dull, lifeless side. Davide Santon and Shola Ameobi shared the honour of mug of the match, both averaging a rating of 2.35, after putting in equally atrocious performances, with the formed being ripped to shreds by Adam Johnson, and the other failing to provide anything resembling a worthwhile attacking focal point. As is no surprise for a match like this, emotions ran high and Pardew’s inability to fire up the squad yet again in a derby, as well as a change in style to suit Shola, has resulted in his worst rating of the season, 1.89. With Pardew, Shola and Santon earning most of the ire, the team as a whole fared slightly better and got a 3.98, which is also a record low.

Krul – 5.14 (Ratings ranged between 3 and 7)
“Decent game didn’t really do much wrong, the only complaint of mine would be for the 3rd he should have stood up more but other than that decent game. Saved a great 1v1 and made another good couple of saves.”
“Didn’t make any visible errors, nice stop on Altidore, but shouldn’t have conceded 3. Poor defending was to blame more than bad goalkeeping.”
“Actually had a good game. Stopped a one-on-one, came 35 yards off his line to stop another one-on-one, made an excellent save for the second goal. Kicking was decent. He effectively was playing with no defence and he didn’t make any mistakes.”
“One blinding save, could have done better for 2nd and possibly 3rd goals. Diabolical distribution.”

Debuchy – 3.45 (Ratings ranged between 2 and 6)
“Only saved from a 1 by some decent attacking play. Awful defensively.”
“Some moments of promise but Borini mugged him off today every time he was doing new things and Buche wasn’t adapting to the speed to play and trickery. Some decent balls in the box from him though.”
“Worst game in ages, seemed to bottle it.”
“Decent defensively, but oddly lacking on the attack, succeeded in just a single attacking third pass.”

Williamson – 3.58 (Ratings ranged between 2 and 6)
“He looked the Championship player he is today. Showed no intention of playing the ball out of defence constantly hoofing it towards a diabolical forward marked by O’Shea and Brown.”
“Was constantly dragged out of position, and hoofed the ball throughout the first half despite midfielders showing for it.”
“I didn’t think he was that bad. Perhaps we’ve built him up and expect more than we should.”
“A mix of effective and utterly hopeless, should never be paired with Taylor, and needs to reign in his hoof again.”

Taylor – 3.71 (Ratings ranged between 2 and 6)
“Not a good game always gets himself caught up in the derby atmosphere and does stupid things to rile/please the crowd rather than focus on the actual task.”
“Him and Williamson were as poor as each other. Allowed Sunderland to get in behind ridiculously easy.”
“Was almost as bad as Williamson but made a few notable tackles and blocks.”
“Classic Taylor, an irritating presence and an average footballer.”

Santon – 2.35 (Ratings ranged between 1 and 4)
“Destroyed by Johnson and seemingly useless without a Gouffran/Gutierrez protecting him, which isn’t a good quality for a supposed fullback. Please keep him away from set-piece duty.”
“I would genuinely say one of the all time worst performances I have seen in Premiership history let alone Toon history. Set pieces woeful, no discipline in his defending. Arguing with Krul… He should be proud of today’s masterpiece. ”
“Very very poor at fault for the 2nd goal as well as offering nothing attack wise despite being out of position all the time. I am usually a big fan today though Santon was terrible.”
“Awful defending, awful set-pieces, awful delivery, awful player.”

Anita – 3.56 (Ratings ranged between 2 and 5)
“Stupid decision for the pen, was isolated for most of the match, we should maybe try him in Cabaye’s old role pushed further forward where he can affect the game more.”
“Now I know why this guy doesn’t get a game. He can’t tackle. Gave away a needless penalty that a forward would have been embarrassed of. Feel a little sorry for the guy – needs a few games under his belt. Am worried that he may not be able to come with the pace of the premiership (maybe one of the reasons why Pardew has not played him much)”
“I think this was his worst performance for us. He is one of the few players we have that actually uses his brain but even he was idiotic in this match when he gave the penalty away. The rest of the game passed him by as he was outplayed.”
“Went missing when we needed him to step-up. Needless penalty to give away, and that gave the visitors the momentum. Still managed couple of decent interceptions and balls into the box though.”

Tioté – 4.88 (Ratings ranged between 3 and 7)
“Not as bad as Anita, but didn’t mark his man when he had to. Says a lot that he had our most promising shot of the game.”
“The man cares about Newcastle, he seemed genuinely upset as the game went on and to be fair to him, he had a few cracking shots.”
“It says something when your CDM is your biggest attacking threat. At least he tried to make things happen.”
“Tried to do the work of 3 men, but for all the effort he put in all he could muster of note was a single decent shot in a sea of wasted shots and failed attempts to emulate Cabaye’s wide range of pinpoint passing.”

Sissoko – 3.71 (Ratings ranged between 1 and 6)
“I think he usually creates more chances than he’s given credit for, again, not today though. Terrible decision making and execution.”
“Sometimes I despair with Sissoko had a great chance to score today and didn’t even shoot he just kept taking needless touches. He has all the physical attributes to be a footballer he just needs a footballing brain.”
“I thought going forwards and choosing when to release the ball he was better than usual, but his shooting and taking people on was awful.”
“Often wasteful, but put in a good shift defensively and took the game to them when he got the ball, resulting in some good chances from the right. Probably delivered our best pieces, but that’s not saying much.”

Ben Arfa – 3.92 (Ratings ranged between 1 and 6)
“Trading on past glories. It’s all well and good to jink the ball around if you do something with it (ahem, Johnson). Didn’t help that Pards played him on the left.”
“He has pace and skills but always plays the game at a snails pace….if he had half the directness of Johnson we would of been laughing.”
“Tried hard but given the rest of his team showed no interest in moving and trying to create space, he was always banging his head off a wall. Pardew playing him on the left in the 2nd half against Bardsley was a tactical master class.”
“The game was too high-paced for him to have been played in the midfield. He is a small player who needs the ball at his feet with time to start darting runs. Opposition knew he was a weakness and pressed hard…leading to the goal) He must be played as an out-and out forward in a short-ball passing style of game (not boot and hope). Looked as though he was going to cry at the end. Felt sorry because his mistakes were more to do with Pardew than him. Pardew doesn’t recognise what he can and can’t do, and expects him to defend – ain’t never going to happen, dude.”

Sammy – 5.77 (MOTM) (Ratings ranged between 4 and 7)
“The nearest thing to a bright spark we had all match, so obviously Pardew took him off at half time.”
“Just about our best player in the first half. Laughable that he got subbed. It’s like Pardew works in opposite land or something.”
“Probably our best player yesterday, which, considering he came off at half-time, tells you everything you need to know.”
“Great first half I don’t know why he was taken off (though I think someone said he suffered with illness) however was great some great flick ons and touches to set up some great chances. Pressured their players on the ball well and was always available as an outlet. Looks like he has a great future ahead of him.”

Shola – 2.35 (Ratings ranged between 1 and 6)
“He brings nothing to the sport. His heading ability is terrible, he is slow, he is lazy, His shooting is terrible. I genuinely cant find a single postive. If you removed his season in the championship when he scored a few his strike rate would be nigh on 1 in 7/8. Incredible to think he might get a testimonial. Should have been shippped out years ago.”
“Laughably bad. Literally not a striker, not a footballer. I love the guy’s personality and his loyalty but maybe we should consider whether that is because NO OTHER CLUB WOULD GIVE HIM A LOOK IN.”
“I’m probably biased, but he did what he could. Formation and tactics were horrendous. If you play Shola you play him in a standard 4-4-2 with the other striker close to him. Yet we played most of the game as a 4-2-3-1 with the expectation of him being mobile. He isnt, tailor your tactics accordingly to him playing or dont play him Pardew you idiotic wankstain. It aint rocket science.”
“What is even the point in this man? If you start with him you’re as good as down to 10 men for the full game. Pardew’s undying love for him is what’s making me go off him more than anything else. He can’t run, he can’t finish, he doesn’t even seem to have the strength he had. In other words, a total disgrace that sums up the administration’s lack of ambition perfectly.”

De Jong – 4.86 (Ratings ranged between 3 and 6.5)
“Positionally very good, but clearly lacked match fitness. I think he and Remy could make a very good partnership.”
“Amazing positioning, loved his dropping deep to collect the ball but his finishing looks poor. He might just link up brilliantly with Remy if he drops deep and Remy plays off the last defender.”
“Timid shots and looked like had a poor touch. Hope he gets better with game time.”
“Got into great positions, they made a few good blocks on him. I thought he actually looked promising.”

Dummett – 4.07 (Ratings ranged between 2 and 6)
“Better than Santon… just.”
“Far better defensively than Santon, but still crap.”
“In the short time he was on the pitch Johnson had him on toast.”
“Didnt even notice him on the pitch except for that ridiculous foul.”

Marveaux – 4.43 (Ratings ranged between 2 and 6)
“He still looks a quality player and with a more mobile attack in front of him he could have set up 1 or 2 chances.”
“Didn’t do a lot but was available as an outlet as well as threading through some decent balls to De Jong.”
“Didn’t do much but seemed positive. Hopefully see more of him from now on.”
“Looked better than Anita, tried to get things going. He needs more game time and then we may see the best of him.”

Pardew – 1.89 (Ratings ranged between 1 and 5)
“Cowardly tactics. He seems to think that because it’s a derby there’s no point trying to actually pass the ball.”

“I hate Alan Pardew with a passion, the man is a slimy, lying, arrogant ****. Quite apart from that he is also one of the worst managers in the league. His inability to organise or motivate a team has never been more apparent. Starting Shola Ameobi, a man who hasn’t scored a league goal in over a year, on his own up front defies any sort of conventional logic. Playing long ball against two defenders who are more than happy, and capable, to deal with that sort of shite all day is equally moronic. The list of mistakes and failings goes on.”

“I feel sorry for the guy in the situation he’s in, but frankly if you can’t stand up for yourself against the small teams because the players can only get themselves motivated for the big games…well maybe it’s time you re-evaluated your career choice.”

“Not even good enough to get a rating of 0. Anyone who approaches a game how he did is severely out of depth. Its not all his fault, the board have fucked him over but at the end of the day if he had any self respect, pride and decency he’d walk. Just Pardew leaving wouldn’t make a lot of difference but its a start. The main problem is that the cancerous owner slowly killing our club. Until he goes we’ll never win anything, in fact we won’t even have the ambition to even attempt to win anything. We’ve all known it for years, this transfer window and today is just the tip of the iceberg. We need to rid the club of this cancer, sadly though there isn’t an awful lot we can do. I for one won’t be suffering in silence though, I’ll fight to save the club I love. Ashley out. JFK out. Pardew out.”

“Tactics were beyond nonsensical. Didnt adapt. Left his subs too late (Santon should of been saved from himself at the latest at half time) and TOOK SAMMY OFF WHEN HE WAS OUR BEST PLAYER!!!!!!!!!! Had no positive impact on the game and numerous detrimental impacts through terrible decisions or lack thereof when we were getting passed off the park.”

“Johnson was allowed to control game. As for Shola starting this really must stop. Any one of our youngsters could put in a better shift. Poyet better than Pards by a country mile.”

“He’s in the job long enough to be judged and I can’t find a single redeeming element to him. He is probably the most hated coach in the premiership who unlike Mourinho cant get the results to back up his gobbing off. He just follows the fad of 4-2-3-1 and switches to 4-4-2 when desperate. Tactically out of his depth.”

“Was adjusting to life after Cabaye. Major changes. Was forced to play Taylor and Williamson who are not good enough to play. Clearly weren’t coordinated well. Big coaching fault here. BIG! Defensive line lacked a leader (our captain!) and just fell apart from the start. This is an issue with the director of football and the chairman not buying players so can’t entirely blame Pardew. Selecting Santon to take set-pieces was a major mistake – he can’t cross at all. So so embarrassing for the guy (major error in management). Ultimately Pardew’s fault not Santon’s. Forced to play Anita who doesn’t look ready or maybe even capable of playing in the premiership…probably why Pardew hasn’t played him) – this is a fault with transfers (ultimately the director of football’s fault – not Kinnear, though). Big mistake to play Ben Arfa as a midfield player as he will eventually give the ball away (play him up front or not at all). Pardew didn’t recognise that Sunderland would press him hard and wait for a mistake. Pardew’s fault to take off Sammy (not a good player but wasn’t playing badly). PICKED GEORDIES OVER FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!! Grr! Played a game of short-term tactics of luck (long-ball football) over grown-up long-term intelligent strategy of possession and passing (working hard, movement, skill., etc.).”

“Changed the team and the philosophy for one game, had we just stuck to who we are like we did against Norwich we would have won today, I have no doubt about it. He thought he was being clever setting up for a rough match and a ‘traditional derby atmosphere’ the problem was bar Willo & Shola no one else in that team wanted to play like that. Add to the fact a Pineapple could motivate someone more than him and it was the perfect recipe for our downfall. I expect he will be embarrassed and so he should be, needs to show like last time the real NUFC and push on with good performances against Chelsea & Spurs, in fact apply that sentiment to the whole squad.”

“Needs to go, though at this point I will now point out that two other people need to go before him and that is Mike Ashley and Joe Kinnear.”

“I could see the thinking behind the substitutions. It was the players that underperformed today.”

“A complete and utter joke. The way he set us up yesterday led to one of the most inept displays I’ve ever witnessed at SJP. Completely outschooled (again) by Poyet, think that makes it Poyet 4 Pardew 0 now? Pardew sets us up right most of the time but he needs to have a good think about yesterday, if this is what he wants us to play like post-Cabaye then he should just leave, no chance will fans put up with watching that horrible hoofball shite every week.”

“This was an absolute disaster and we all saw it coming. The fella is clueless when it comes to big games. Bigger problems lie elsewhere but he is creating more with his shite tactics, clueless substitutions, no sense of accountability and a complete lack of grace.”

“Dealt a bad hand by injury, suspension and the sale of Cabaye, and still managed to under-perform in the circumstances. Our defence lacked organisation and Pardew persisted with the Taylor-Williamson CB pairing that is so slow and easily undone. Our attack was toothless, with our only threat from the previous game, Rémy, out owing to suspension, yet Pardew decides to go with a similar set-up but with Shola upfront and Ben Arfa switching roles with Sissoko, hoping that pinging balls at Shola’s isolated head would come to anything. This resulted, again, in no creativity or penetration, save for the occasional spark from Sammy in the first half, and our players, not having the patience to make the space or perhaps under command to do so, firing in innocuous long shot after long shot.”

Do you feel these ratings are fair, or do you have anything to say about this match in general? If so, do so in our discussion thread here.