Pardew's first real mistake?

The defeat against Everton was a disappointing result, but it's the performance that has got me feeling more angry than anything else.

I can handle defeat, but not when the performance isn't there and, in my opinion, it wasn't yesterday. Of course part of the problem is the fact that we are carrying a lot of injuries at the moment, but when that is the case you have to make sure you make the best of the resources available. In my opinion, Pardew didn't do that yesterday and made his first real tactical balls up as Newcastle manager.

First off, the decision to include Steven Taylor in the starting line up was an absolute joke, not because it's Steven Taylor before people start getting their knickers in a twist, but because his inclusion unsettled a defence that had been solid and had only conceded one goal in the previous three games. Never unsettle a settled defence as they say.

So we saw Steven Taylor at right-back, which meant that Danny Simpson was played at right midfield. This was another mistake in my book. Danny Simpson has done really well this season at right-back, but he is not a right midfielder.

In fairness, we actually don't have a recognised right midfielder at the moment, but there were other options that could have been used, like playing Jonas out on the right, Lovenkrands or Ferguson on the left with a different striker up front to partner Best. It wouldn't have been ideal, but it would have at least kept player in positions in which they have played before. Playing Danny Guthrie on the right (shudder) would have been another option that would have left the defence settled.

I just cannot get over how bad our right side was yesterday. Arteta was allowed the run of the park for the first goal, and that was after a warning shot from the Spaniard when Taylor backed off and backed off him and allowed him to run inside and have a shot at goal.

Those are my main gripes about the game yesterday. I understand that players have off days, and I understand that we are carrying a lot of injuries, and I understand that those two things can't really be legislated for, but I just can't see why there was a need to change the defence. I'm generally happy with Pardew and feel that he has improved us as a team, but for me he got it wrong yesterday.

Ah well......