“ Would you be happy with this against Arsenal next week? “

A good discussion on Sky Sports after the late game today.

The pundits were Jamie Redknapp, Graham Souness and Shola Ameobi. They were talking about how Newcastle went into the game to stop Chelsea. They had no intention of playing football, just sitting behind the ball and leaving one man up front - who obviously won very little.

They lost the game 2-1, because they were forced to attack after going a goal down due to a dodgy penalty. Even when they equalised, the match was much more open and Chelsea got the winner soon after.

Their tactics are shown in the stats as Chelsea had 81% possession.

Redknapp said that Benitez is the only manager in the league who can get away with playing like this at home, due to the problems the Newcastle fans have with the owner.

Redknapp also said that you can understand these tactics away at Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd etc but to play like it at home is a disgrace.

Would you be happy if we played like that AT HOME to Arsenal next week, and we got a 0-0 draw?

Personally, I’d much rather us have a bit more attacking intent but interested to know other people’s opinion?

I watched the game today and I would say Newcastle fans would not have put up with this sort of display if they didn’t have their issues with the owner. 19% possession at home, at any level of football, is a disgrace.

I would totally understand if warnock played this way against the top teams

Would prefer more attacking intent against the rest off the division.

Against Real Betis for example we created great chances second half ,so we’ve got it within us plus ,we’ve added Arter and Camarasa since then
I just think he’s being too cautious when we need to have a go at teams who will be around us

I just think our final ball is poor. That's our issue.
Nothing training can't sort

We have got to be more offensive, especially at home. Fair enough playing more defensive against the likes of Man City or Liverpool etc away, but at home we need to be playing someone up front with someone supporting him, regardless of who we are playing. Personally, I think this is how we should be setting up against teams who will also be in the relegation battle when we play away as well

This is the conundrum of the lesser teams in the Premier League.

Survival means scrapping for points. There are few wins and not a lot of goals

I'd be happy to grind out 0-0 draws at home against the top teams.

This is the conundrum of the lesser teams in the Premier League.

Survival means scrapping for points. There are few wins and not a lot of goals

I'd be happy to grind out 0-0 draws at home against the top teams.

Agree. This season is all about survival. We’ve not got the quality of players to play attacking football
against the top sides

All our games since probably the last third of last season have been about stopping the opposition and looking to nick a goal. It was and can be effective but I think from time to time we need of offer more. Frustrating as we started last season so we'll and really took games to the opposition. I think as a team we have become fixated on stopping the opposition over anything.

Would I take 0-0 yes probably but also think we can do more in games. As soon as we had the extra man we started to pass it about, yes it's easier then and we have more space but we didn't even try to pass it before that. I think the players like any kind of confidence to be able to play.

We are going to be forced into a different formation without holliet and lang as i have said on bobby reid post lets have bobby reid playing off zohore or madine like he did at bristol which worked there a 10 million player needs more time than 10 mins here and there we could try this out against norwich mid week if we don' t have the wingers we must try a different approach .

getting a point home or away against teams like arsenal is important regardless of how we set up or play! set up like ncastle and get point job well done lose and its a poor performance such fine margins in football

All our games since probably the last third of last season have been about stopping the opposition and looking to nick a goal. It was and can be effective but I think from time to time we need of offer more. Frustrating as we started last season so we'll and really took games to the opposition. I think as a team we have become fixated on stopping the opposition over anything.

Would I take 0-0 yes probably but also think we can do more in games. As soon as we had the extra man we started to pass it about, yes it's easier then and we have more space but we didn't even try to pass it before that. I think the players like any kind of confidence to be able to play.

Would totally agree with this
,
I think once warnock felt we had a great chance of automatic promotion we became very conservative in our play compared to say the beginning of the season where we actually played some great stuff

I guess he feels this will be out best chance of survival

We do look pretty good defensively but would like us to offer mote in attack especially against teams outside top 6

getting a point home or away against teams like arsenal is important regardless of how we set up or play! set up like ncastle and get point job well done lose and its a poor performance such fine margins in football

Agree Would take a point anyway against the top 6 even if we did play like Newcastle did and would welcome a more attacking style at home against other bottom half teams.

Tactically there is no right or wrong way to play as long as you do it well. Our greatest strength is our defense so most of our games are going to be played to that strength,if you can keep clean sheets chances of scoring will come by. Im sure our coaches are working to improve those chances.