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Opinion

John Carver ‘We had all five foot seven jockeys – that is something we have got to look at’

9 years ago
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John Carver pointed to set-pieces as both a positive and a minus when reviewing the West Brom match.

The Newcastle Head Coach though that for the first time in a ‘long long time’ United were a threat from set-pieces, due to Ryan Taylor’s deliveries from free-kicks and corners.

He also talked about having the ‘desire’ to get on the end of them, though I wasn’t sure whether he felt that was what his players had showed, or was bemoaning the fact that this end product was missing. I know what I think…

Rather bizarrely, when comparing the relative heights o the two teams, Carver referred to Newcastle having all ‘five foot seven’ jockeys and that this needed to be addressed. Did Graham Carr never meet Vurnon Anita before he bought him…?!!!!

“For the first time in a long long time I actually felt we were a threat from set-pieces.

“Which is good beacuse when Ryan Taylor puts that ball in with pace, if you have the desire to get on the end of it…”

Five foot seven jockeys:

“I looked at the two sides in the tunnel and it was like land of the giants, they were all six foot four centre-halves at the back.

“We had all five foot seven jockeys – that is something we have got to look at because set-pieces are important.”

The reality of course is that set-pieces are a massive problem and in the last five matches, every game Newcastle have conceded at least one goal from a corner or free-kick. In the Leicester match all three goals came from set-pieces.

Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0

Second goal conceded from a corner

Newcastle 1 Spurs 3

Second goal conceded from free-kick

Newcastle 2 Swansea 3

First goal conceded from a corner

Leicester 3 Newcastle 0

First goal conceded from corner

Second goal conceded from a free-kick

Third goal conceded from penalty after challenge on a corner

Newcastle 1 West Brom 1

Goal scored from a free-kick

When it comes to these last two weeks of the relegation battle, it is a massive disadvantage if there is this kind of resignation that from John Carver and his team that they are vulnerable to set-pieces and almost expect to concede from them.

For John Carver to have been involved in coaching and as assistant manager, to now talk of the height of the team as suddenly a problem that has crept up on Newcastle United is just bizarre.

Wonder whatever happened to those 6ft+ ‘jockeys’ Davide Santon and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa…?

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