I'm suprised nobody has mentioned this but we started Saturdays game with 5 recognised defenders.
Basey Crainie Hudson Primus Moo2
At home.
At the bottom of the table.
Needing a win.
Now, the question I want answered is this.. just at what point exactly did Alan Pardew decide that this was a good idea?
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Therefore, it stretches the idea that Pards was playing 5 out-and-out, leaden foot defenders.
Basey is another. He's labelled a fullback, but there is much debate as to whether he is more effective as a midfielder.
So, two of those five, are not none-shall-pass defenders who line up on the half way line. Given our form, I'm not surprised that Pards looked to keep it tight in this manner.
But starting so defensively AND throwing Josh Wright in for his début? Given our performance in the first half Pardews team selection could be seen, at best, to have been a dreadful and dangerous dalliance and at worse, a complete and utter joke far below what we should expect from a manager of his experience.
That's what I thought it was, Bing - Basey at left mid. Difficult to tell at times, though!
"First half we were dreadful. Missed pass after missed pass. Set up was all wrong with Basey playing wide left and instead of bombing forward he seemed more intent on acting as Crainie's minder at full back. Pards compounded the situation by moving Ambrose inside behind the front two during the half which meant, effectively, we had no width whatsoever."
Curbs used to pack the defence with centre forwards!