A Point about Today

[Mav]

In fact six points:
1. Michael Owen
2. Harry Kewell
3. Milan Baros
4. JC
5. Henchoz
6. Stevie F

Six members of our 'team' were missing when we went to Bar Code land. Not squad players. All of the above are first 11. That's a hell of a blow. Could you see any other team coping with that amount of casualties?

So at kick off I'd have settled for a point. How the mighty have fallen huh!? I'm less pissed off by one up front away from home as I am by it at Anfield against shit opposition in a cup game. Things improved further when the one up front was FSP. Have no idea what H****y was doing in midfield but that was ok, neither did he.

Houllier set his stall out for a draw and got it...but only just. Thought the first half was ok, very reminiscent of last year. Play it tight and hope to nick a goal which in light of the absences I was prepared to stomach. Well taken by Spud, I thought then Plan A reared it's ugly head. Now Chairman Ged holds great store by shots on target rather than goals/winning matches. Ok - how do you like this stat: First half ONE SHOT ON TARGET. The warning signs were there and played in full evidence in the second half when we were bloody lucky. We were under the cosh for much of the second half and we don't defend one goal leads as well as GH thinks we do. The Geordies got their danders up after the penalty and I'm not entirely sure we got a kick after that. Our ball retention was abysmal and were it not for two goal line clearances we wouldn't have got one point.

My point being the tactics were clearly be content with a draw and once we got our noses in front we were nearly undone by the mission statement of Plan A when I think if we could have had a little balance to our play that three points may have been on offer.

Why was FSP withdrawn? If it wasn't an injury, Vlad up front on his own was never going to set the world alight (no disrespect to Vlad). If Pongo wasn't injured that also screamed draw. What if they had got a second? Who the fuck was going to get us back into the game then? The prolific Emily? Who was fucking no where to be seen when Vlad had that half chance late on.

Poll was a knob but we knew that. Penalising a clean tackle from Didi, not giving a corner when the ball practically turned 360 degrees having been deflected behind and handing out cards like confetti for having an opinion that differed to him provided you played in a red shirt. Shearer disagreed with everything and nothing was done about that. Dual standards - nah.

I guess my overall assessment is that basically in light of our injuries I'm content with a point at St James's. But as has been proven time time again if we aim for a draw right from the off that is a dangerous strategy and that is what we did today. We were lucky but perhaps we are entitled to a bit of that.

[Scouse Missionary]

I agree with all of the above, but would just add a couple of points.

Firstly, Pongo may not have been holding the ball up as much as we'd liked, but the lad was closing down the Newcastle defence, and with his pace always presented a danger.

Secondly, we change him for Vlad. Who is too lightweight to hold the ball up, does not have Pongo's pace, and as a consequence the ball was coming straight back at the defence when it was hit clear.

It is taking the piss when Woodgate spends more of the second half in our penalty area than in his own!