
How To Solve The “selection Headache” Of Midfield
Thanks to a very strong start to the season that has shocked some, but not all (at this stage in my points predictor I had us on two more than we have) Newcastle's once much-maligned squad is being called strong quite frequently, and Alan Pardew now finds himself interviewed on the positive problems of selection “headaches.” And all media exaggeration aside, the midfield does ....
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Armchair Tactician By Simon Gallagher
Whenever anyone talks about the attacking brilliance of former Toon players like David Ginola or Laurent Robert, or even Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert, there's always an element of commenters who'll say “aye, but he never defended”, or “aye, but he could be a right lazy get”. But while industry and proper forehead-soaking graft are things to be valued of ....
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Armchair Tactician By Simon Gallagher
A lot has been said this season of Newcastle’s failure to dispense with supposedly inferior footballing sides (especially at home), with cloggers like Stoke and Blackburn taking three points apiece from the men in black and white up at St James. So what exactly is it, tactically speaking that makes it so difficult to beat teams like that who will, come season’s end, most likely be ....
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Armchair Tactician
Widely held as the greatest team ever to grace any turf, the Brazil team that waltzed to glory in 1970 can at least lay claim to the most memorable finals victory to date. Such was the power of that victory, and the manner of the performances that lead to it, that runners-up Italy are barely mentioned when the 1970 victory is discussed. That victory was more than the inevitable result of ....
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The Armchair Tactician With Simon Gallagher
Every column we look at the best innovative tactical models from history, because, let’s face it; we’ve never really had much experience of owt like that supporting Newcastle.
The Barca Model
Football commentators wouldn’t be worth their free tickets if they didn’t entertain us with the usual clichés and tired old phrases to go with our pints and pies, ....
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