kevo
Well-known member
- Mar 8, 2008
- 9,119
I think that criticism of JP is unfair. Thought he was generally very good bringing the ball out and with his passing. I think he may not be quite there yet defensively. Tbh every time Newcastle attacked it looked like they would score.With RDZ the key is the defence. JP isn't as bad as some on here are making out. But when you have a nervous player, who is inexperienced and (in all honesty) probably doesn't have the passing ability or composure to do this at this level (yet?) the whole thing goes to pot. If you have a bad game higher up the field It doesn't matter as much under RDZ, because everything comes from the back. GK and CBs are our playmakers. They set the tone, dictate everything and make the key early decisions in our build up play. Dunk has nailed it. Pervis has nailed it. Veltman is getting better. But it's obvious to me that RDZ will see another CB and another RB, in his mould, as absolute priority over the summer.
It's important to remember that we do very little defending. But when do have to defend we are massively exposed. So you need players who are exceptional defensively but whose key attributes are composure and passing. We have between 60 and 70% of the ball and Dunk has had the most touches and made the most passes of any player in Europe. That's what is happening now.