Disappointment Once More

I got back late from work to find Newcastle one-nil down to Derby and Shola Ameobi mis-kicking the ball after lumbering through on goal. That was about as good as it got. For all his innovations off the pitch, Sam Allardyce doesn't seem able to alter his tactics whenever Plan A fails: his substitutions changed nothing, and the little and large pairing up front - understandable when Mark Viduka's fully fit - falls apart when it relies on the over-rated Ameobi. It's early days of course and not always easy to judge a team while players are settling in, but a performance like this has been on the cards: too many square pegs in round holes - Alan Smith wide left? - and not enough width, pace or penetration through the middle.