Newcastle's half baked French omelette

The influx of Frenchmen at Newcastle seemed to have gotten a flagging campaign back on track. Or so it seemed. The French contingent seemed to have galvanized the Magpies into back to back wins, the last one over Chelsea, no less. However, any hope of a hat-trick was quickly extinguished by an adequate Tottenham side. When such a mass influx happens, one of two things can happen – the players could just hit it off like they were childhood pals (and perhaps some of those Frenchmen are), or it could all go pear shaped with the players needing the necessary bedding-in time.

Newcastle, perhaps, was so intrigued by the French revolution that the players themselves had, perhaps, been playing at some zen state over the past couple of games. However, as the hangover subsides, the dizzy heights vanish and only the dizziness remains. In accordance, Newcastle seemed to be suffering the post-hangover syndrome. They seemed to be all over the place, brilliant at times but erratic at others.

Players seemed to be getting in each others way. The lines between defence, midfield and attack were blurred at times but at other times, they were simply too far apart. Attacks lacked intent or direction and there was general confusion. Of course, they were not abysmal and for much of the game, held off Tottenham but the performance was not what a team looking for a hat-trick of wins would’ve particularly wanted.

Cabaye was playing a deeper role which enabled Sissoko to play further up, supporting Cisse. Clearly, Sissoko is a battering ram of a man with brilliant strength and drive and going forward, he is a threat. However, just one goal and two assists in 40 odd games prior to his move to Newcastle does say something. He was brought in as a holding midfielder and although Alan Pardew played him further up to accommodate Cabaye in the previous game and it worked, it does not mean that it will work every time. This time, it did not. His understanding with Cisse was barely anything to write home about and the two often got in each other’s way or got too far away from each other.

Cisse does not look anything like the man who staked a claim for being considered for the signing of the January transfer window last season. He seems to look average at most times and when he does drop deep, the supporting runs from midfield seem to be missing and he ends up playing it backwards and sideways more often than not. The absence of Ben Arfa quite clearly is being felt quite badly.

James Perch has held the ship steady in Tiote’s absence but perhaps it is time for the Ivorian to be put back into the starting line up. If nothing else, he has a better presence and in spite of his tomfoolery, when it comes to fouling, the in-your-face and at-your-boots is what is needed to complement to complement the silk of Cabaye.

There is work to be done. Pardew has to find a system that fits all his players in, and properly at that. It will take another game or two, perhaps. Perhaps a few more. Gouffran’s injury does not make things any better either. Newcastle does not seem to be the finished product – not by any stretch of the imagination. The dizzy heights of the season past will not be reached again this term. They also seem to be in no imminent threat of relegation although the more cautious minded would perhaps not completely agree. This time could perhaps be a testing period, an on-the-job training so to speak for the Magpies to put together a squad – not just a team – and who knows, perhaps the Geordie nation might have something to celebrate come 2014.