06
6
For about four days
following the 1-0 victory over Spurs
at White Hart Lane it seemed
everyone I met, as I walked my
dog, repeated the Sky Sports
mantra of the moment, "Fourteen
saves Tim Krul made, that's a
record in the Premiership, you
know".
"Brilliant, wasn't he?", I
would reply, thinking he was, but so
were others who perhaps didn't stand
out so, didn't grab the headlines,
didn't get a mention, and some of
them had done it two games in a row
having beaten Chelsea the weekend
before.
Two straight wins, and
against Top 6 sides, leaves my mind a
jumble as I recall the home defeat to
Hull City. Beat them and go joint top
was on offer that day, and looked as if
it would happen during the first
twenty minutes and again at halftime. But, well, typical!
Yes, typical Newcastle
United, no matter the generation or
team, beat the clubs above and loses
to them below. Frustrating doesn't
cover it for the ever present fans.
But there is some
consistency finally being shown in
the back four in the unlikely frame of
Mike Williamson. In the strained
groin absence of skipper, Fabricio
Coloccini, the Potteries-born centrehalf has brought no nonsense, play it
simple attitude to the back line.
Both full backs, Davide
Santon and Mathieu Debuchy, are
enjoying the license to adventure
forward from the no frills, no risks
insurance Williamson provides. As
they go deep into opposing territory
they know everything is being
covered and organized behind their
backs.
But Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is
the player who is truly reveling in the
simplicity Williamson brings. There
are no complications in the
understanding he has developed with
his partner, and thus he simply gets
SUPERMAC
SAYS
on with what he is best at and not feel he
needs to complicate matters.
The man from Bangui is hugely
benefitting from this straightforward
simplicity, and hence, the rest of the
team forward of these two stalwarts is
able to get on with their jobs much
better.
been
“ My mind haschanged
immensely
by Yoan Gouffran
with his
determination to get
into the heart of the
game. . .
”
Tiote creating the shield in front of that
back-line, and, thank heaven ̰