Newcastle 3 United 0 -report

[Gavlar]

Actually I am not sure what foot he tried to use?! I think the point I clumsily made (nearly as clumsy as him) was that he needs to learn to use it properly - he just swings aimlessly at it. Surely he could have stopped it with his right and then turned and used his left if he did not think he could execute the clearance? It really was non league level defending.

Agreed that it was atrocious. Dunno why he swung wildly under no pressure.

 

[Webding]

I don't like this "momentum" and "surprise factor" talk. It's nonsense. We've been consistently putting in good performances for 3.5 seasons now.

We're solid at the back & we compete in midfield. This keeps us in games.

We all acknowledge we lack a bit at the top of the field & I'm sure this is where our budget will go in the Summer. Sharp has scored 3/4 times this season, we're hardly reliant on the lad.

We're not going to turn into an open shop overnight & become whipping boys. I think your concern, if you're talking of us as potential relegation candidates, is misplaced.

Under Wilder we generally start seasons badly and usually don’t do too well after international breaks, so I think momentum definitely is a factor.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Even game really, but poor quality until Egan got sent off
We then gifted them a goal straight away and then went downhill from there
No pace up front, I don’t think Sharp can play away from home, need someone with pace to run behind and open up spaces
Can’t really understand why Mousset is not getting any game time
If Egan hadn’t got sent off, could see a draw or even nicked a win.
Newcastle very defensive set up with two quick forwards, result was very flattering for them today really

 

[Deadbat]

Even game really, but poor quality until Egan got sent off
We then gifted them a goal straight away and then went downhill from there
No pace up front, I don’t think Sharp can play away from home, need someone with pace to run behind and open up spaces
Can’t really understand why Mousset is not getting any game time
If Egan hadn’t got sent off, could see a draw or even nicked a win.
Newcastle very defensive set up with two quick forwards, result was very flattering for them today really

I thought 2 or 3-0 was about right. We had more of the ball but did nothing with it...fashioned two chances all game and the keeper did not have a save to make. They had 2 or 3 efforts first half and missed the a few others outside the 3 goals. It was a comfortable win. Yes the sending off helped but let's not pretend that they were not better before that.

If Newcastle were defensive what were we? They looked far more of a goal threat.

 

[pommpey]

For me:

I think we've been found out. One of the the main routes over the past two matches is the long ball which has John Egan on his heels. Robinson and Basham aren't savvy enough to sweep behind Egan like Jack does and that is when we have encountered the most problems. We also, once again, have patchy issues regarding depth of ability throughout the squad. Robinson is 'okay' and maybe he will grow into the role. But elsewhere it is evident United have come back well below even their own expectations. How people on here expect fans to simply grin and bear is it beyond me. Two games in now and, really, no shots which has made the opposition keeper pull off saves, yet Deano has saved about six shots on target where he was doing more than swallow up the ball. That in itself should tell anyone where we are and what we have to do.

From the match though

Henderson - 7: I give him more than others will. He is a good keeper. First goal he could never have predicted Stevens fuck up hence he was out of position for Saint Maximan to latch onto the gift. Second goal I think given Baldock was effectively 2 on 1, Richie's shot came from behind Baldock and Henderson was flat footed, possibly expecting Richie to slide one left and him to then go out to intercept. Third goal was not his fault. We will miss this bloke when he goes, and after that it is Verrips and Moore, neither have the athletic agility and reflexes to do what he does and keep the ball out of the net.

Baldock - 6: He isn't getting up the wing enough, but then again, he has Berger's six o'clock to watch also, when he fails to track back or loses possession

Stevens - 4: A poor game, unusually for him, but this on top of an unspectacular Villa outing too. The fuck up was hopefully a one off

Egan - 3: Poor. Caught on his heels and shouldn't start mixing it and getting booked. When he was yellowed, I thought, "Y'know, that is Joelinton's best move all game. Watch him get Egan redded now."

Robinson - 5.5: Pretty standard. Still trying to fill Jack's very much bigger than his boots.

Basham - 8: Fucking star. Turns up at the right moment, dribbles through midfield and gets his head in.

Berge - 4: Again, a bit like BLM, I think people are being a bit too polite and forgiving. What's that? Oh, 'he's 22'. Last season I saw David Brooks (20) leave a Middlesbrough player sliding on his arse and then chipped a cross to Evans who buried it into the bottom corner. I also saw him the previous season make Sheffield Wednesday shit their pants at home, nutmegging players and contributing to one of the greatest days in Sheffield United's history. There's really no excuse. Berger is way, way underneath both his signing fee but his reputation and and his starting position in central midfield for a English Premier League outfit. JonJo Shelvey didn't have a particularly great game today but he was fucking streets ahead of this feller. Berger doesn't even have deceptive bursts of pace (you've heard me me mistakenly compare him with Currie ... who did and could deftly shift through the gearbox when he felt like it) nor does he have the ability to retain possession of make a telling pass. He has had quite some time with Wilder and the team to sort out strategy and playing tactics, where his teammates will make their runs and which voices he can hear (now very clearly) around him to distribute and receive from. He looks an imposter in red and white, like someone we have signed by mistake. Wilder needs to fucking sort this out, because we have spunked shitload on him and we don't want a modern day Brayford on out hands. There isn't the time and bandwidth for him to grow into this team, and any of this 'he's being played out of position' is fucking laughable. He's a pro footballer, in the Premier League. Even if he was playing in goal, I'd expect him to be doing better than this. Big game next, and if he is in, he is up against Matic, Pogba, Lo Cielso, Fred McTominay and Frenandez in any number of combinations. Given today's output, they'll fucking run his blood clear.

Fleck - 4: Two things here. He is either still injured, or he's switched off because of 'other matters'. I'l just leave that one here.

Norwood - 4: Crap. Norwood has two games where he pings passes across the pitch to Baldock and Stevens and then five matches where he's either trying to break Basham's shins with a pass (like today) or his short game is fucking wank with wank aspects. And d'you know, since we got all bone hard about bringing this supposed gifted individual to BDTBL, he's hit the net only a few times (once, this season, from a penalty) where by I was expecting a bloke with sweet feet to bend them in from distance. All he is notorious for is those long range passes. He's becoming a one trick pony.

Sharp - 5: Again, If I said to Billy Sharp, "Go and stand on the opposition's penalty spot and I will find you this match with at least three passes or crosses. Stay there and don't move" he's bag at least one, if not two of those. When he's out muscling and chasing yeah, he's wearing the armband and doing what we want from The Captain - but I expect Lundstram, Fleck Berger and Norwood to be fucking well doing that spadework and then feeding the front two. You can't fucking score goals, when you are out on the wing winning the ball. Ask Alan Shearer, Ian Rush and Jimmy Greaves. Should have buried the header, but that was his only absolute clear chance in both matches.

McBurnie - 4: Only just. Again, he's got nowt to go on and although he's big, lanky and awkward, he isn't Peter Crouch who had the ability to stay on his deft feet, turn defenders inside out and had a remarkable ability to hit the ball goalwards at speed. McBurnie is fading fast, and it largely isn't his fault.

Wilder: 3/10: One thing. When your defence is shaky and you've just lost a key player, do you not think

----------------------------------------------Henderson--------------------------------------------

Baldock---------------Basham--------------Robinson--------------Stevens-------------Freeman K

----------------------------------------------Norwood-------------------------------------------------

---------------------Lundstram--------------------------------------Freeman L-----------------------

-----------------------------------------------Zivkovich------------------------------------------------

Is a better tactic and play for the point? Newcastle's only real outlet was Saint Maximin, and he was giving Stevens a had time, so with fresh legs and parking the bus, the gaps exposed by Richie and Saint Maximin aren't there. That is one point out of six where really, we should have had at least four. Going 4-3-2 was asking for trouble and we have seen him shake dice like this before - Middlesbrough at the beginning of last season when he got it very wrong and went 4-4-2. I am also questioning the amount spent on transfers and the earned value from his signings, Either he is incredibly naive (I doubt it) or someone has had his, and the club's pants down.

I fear a fucking drubbing by Man United next week.

pommpey

 

[KiwiBlabe]

This performance (not the result) was better than the Villa performance in my book. We were still poor, but apart from the individual errors (Henderson 2nd goal was poor, Stevens and Egan) we looked better, not good but better that Thursday.
We do need something different up top, we are so one paced its not true. Even there you cannot fault the effort of the 2 boys.

 

[Blade59]

Also thought we played better than against Villa and at least showed more some attacking intent even though never looked like scoring or even making a clear cut chance. At 11 v 11 it probably would have been 0-0 or we may have even nicked it. Newcastle were however the better team both before and after this. Sadly the last 2 games we have become the team many people expected us to be lacking in quality and just trying to stay in games. Basham and Henderson are the only 2 players looking anything like premiership class a the moment. It would be sad if this continues and the season just falls away from us. The game on Wednesday seriously worries me that we could get embarrassed.. However one thing I have learned these last 3 years is you write this team off at your peril.

 

[Wards]

Fleck - 4: Two things here. He is either still injured, or he's switched off because of 'other matters'. I'l just leave that one here.

Go on then...I'll bite...

 

[coaxingstar71]

I thought we played better in the Newcastle game for about 10 minutes, but then individual errors crept in and it became contagious. I actually wondered if part of the problem is that we've been told the players have been given rigourous fitness programmes, but it's looks like none of them have touched a ball for 3 months.

I also wonder with the continued absence of Mousset if he's come back unfit.

 

[metalblade]

For a side that is all about teamwork the lockdown has hit us hard, the players have had weeks in isolation and have come back as a set of individuals. This might not affect clubs too much who's individuals are quality players but sad to say on this showing quite a few of our individuals don't have the required quality at this level. Hendo looked like a show pony he has to do better of two of the goals it no good doing photo shoot saves and then getting caught flat footed. Bash was our best player by a mile, Baldock wasn't too bad the rest though, Robinson looked like a low grade stand in and Stevens had a mare God help him when he comes up against Traore. Berge keep him on the bench or put him in in place of Norwood who the less said about the better. Fleck surely can't be fit on that no show. When we are playing so poorly as a team Billy Sharp is a passenger really that said he was the only one to put a decent ball out wide shame he made such a bollocks of the cross when it came in. McBurnie won a few headers but they went to no one he has to rough defenders up more than he did yesterday. One of the leagues worst defences coped with our front two easily but having said that our midfield never got forward to help them.
Lundstram if he don't want to be here make him available for transfer but leaving him out for Berge or playing him on the left at Villa does nothing for the lad. Lunny does need to bear in mind what the agent did for Mark Duffy. Way too many players off their game and looking unfit, fitness was one of our strengths but not any more other teams have players with much more technical ability and it is showing, I can see Man U knocking 5 past us on Wednesday night unless Wilder can kick some arses into gear and work some magic. Two of the worst team showings for a long time since the restart and our heaviest defeat since the 0-3 at Boro at the start of the 2018 season.

 

[The Crab]

Egan first yellow was a nothing card but fact is he got one. So for me, what he did for the 2nd was utterly hair brained. He was all over Joelinton like a Primark suit.

Hendo has been brilliant but far too slow to his near post for the first.

Bad day at the office, hopefully that's all it was.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Send them all back to school.......could try harder

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

They were all very disappointing - some were just shit,

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Hendo has been brilliant but far too slow to his near post for the first.

I think that’s a bit harsh. His position in the middle of the goal was ideal for the situation he (and everyone else) was expecting – Stevens clearing under pressure and the clearance potentially not clearing his lines. What resulted was a completely unexpected thing, and Henderson reacted as quickly as he could to reposition himself. The moment that error happened though, barring a wonder save he wasn’t able to set himself properly for the shot that came.

 

[The Crab]

I think that’s a bit harsh. His position in the middle of the goal was ideal for the situation he (and everyone else) was expecting – Stevens clearing under pressure and the clearance potentially not clearing his lines. What resulted was a completely unexpected thing, and Henderson reacted as quickly as he could to reposition himself. The moment that error happened though, barring a wonder save he wasn’t able to set himself properly for the shot that came.

Awful rick from Stevens to be fair so I do take your point.

Just as an ex goalie, your always disappointed when one gets in at the near post.

The culpability for the performance certainly didnt begin and end at Hendo. Nobody came out of it too well.

 

[CentralQuay]

I don't like this "momentum" and "surprise factor" talk. It's nonsense. We've been consistently putting in good performances for 3.5 seasons now.

We're solid at the back & we compete in midfield. This keeps us in games.

We all acknowledge we lack a bit at the top of the field & I'm sure this is where our budget will go in the Summer. Sharp has scored 3/4 times this season, we're hardly reliant on the lad.

We're not going to turn into an open shop overnight & become whipping boys. I think your concern, if you're talking of us as potential relegation candidates, is misplaced.

I like to view every argument from both sides of the coin, i'm not suggesting next season that suddenly Sheffield United will be the whipping boys of the league, but little changes can make a big difference.


We're solid at the back & we compete in midfield. This keeps us in games.

Absolutely, it's the reason Sheffield United have been far more successful this season than the other two promoted sides. A clear plan, structure in terms of both system and personnel, it's been admirable. It's why I take offence to the intention of the 'Just another Stoke under Pulis' comment.....Stoke under Pulis were a very successful side, who had all I listed previous. Maximize your strengths, reduce your limitations, Wilder has done it well so far.


We all acknowledge we lack a bit at the top of the field & I'm sure this is where our budget will go in the Summer. Sharp has scored 3/4 times this season, we're hardly reliant on the lad.

You're right that there is not an over reliance on Sharp, there is not a reliance on any of the forwards....That is a good thing when you look at their goals scored this season. What there is a reliance on though, is defensive stability. Just half a dozen more goals conceded next season than this, without offensive improvement, could easily see a final 8 game run in where there is more emphasis on the teams behind than in front.


I've never bought into the 'surprise factor' argument, but the 'momentum' stuff I am a big believer in.
More will be obvious after Old Trafford though.

 

[boggy1959]

Maybe try running with the ball into the box earlier from out wide instead of a few triangular passes which gives defences time to reorganise/cram their box with players.
Its frustrating the number of promising moves which end up with the ball ending up back in our midfield or or with a knock back to Henderson.

 

[Kop sufferer]

The Blades had the opportunity to move up to 5th place but failed to take advantage as they crashed to defeat on Tyneside as Newcastle won their opening game since the break. United were once again second best for the second consecutive game since coming back. In truth, they were inferior with eleven v eleven. After John Egan was sent off though, United imploded conceding three goals without reply and in truth look a shadow of the side we have seen all season. It has to be a concern that two very winnable games against two poor sides has seen United not even have a shot on target. With Egan suspended and O’Connell injured, along with Dean Henderson ineligible, then United have to go to Old Trafford for a crunch game without the spine of the defence.



John Fleck was back but there was still no Jack O’Connell for United. Sander Berge was preferred ahead of John Lundstram in the starting eleven. There was no place for David McGoldrick in the match day squad after he appeared to pick up a knock at Villa in the week after coming on as sub.



Amidst lots of speculation over a takeover, Steve Bruce began with Joelinton starting up top with Saint Maximim and Almiron supplanting him. Shelvey, Hayden and Ritchie stated in midfield. Carroll, Gayle and Bentaleb were on the bench.



United began well and moved it about and worked it down the right-hand side with Baldock heavily involved winning an early free kick after combining with Berge. Norwood had a couple of free kicks and corners but these dangerous balls were cleared. United had seemed more assertive moving the ball quicker in the early stages and controlled the opening 10 minutes although they had not forced any chances at all with Sharp and McBurnie quiet. The Scottish striker did almost slip in Berge but he miscontrolled it and the ball drifted out.



Newcastle slowly started to force their way back into it with Saint-Maximin looking to get on it at every opportunity. A corner saw a mass scramble and somehow the Blades got it clear but the rest bite was not long. Soon after, Norwood gave the ball straight to an opponent and it was moved onto Ritchie who hit a powerful shot that saw Henderson spring to his left and make the first save of the game.



United tried to come out from an attack down the right fabulous work from Saint-Maximin saw him break the lines with a lovely pass and then the ball was through from Almiron for Joelinton to beat the offside trap. In on the angle, he cut in but seemed to kick the ball with his heel and it weakly trickled to Henderson at his near post when he surely had to try and go across the goalkeeper.



Egan and Joelinton were both booked for coming together after a free kick had been given to United. It may have been soft but no need for either player to get involved really.



Norwood continued his erratic performance and with Fleck quiet and Berge again looking very timid, the midfield battle was being won in terms of effective territory by the home team. United had not really done anything of note save for a few runs down the right by Baldock.



The home side were now the better side and were forcing United back. Almiron nearly got in as he outpaced Egan but the centre back got back to make the tackle. Then a shot was charged down by the same man with token appeals for handball from Shelvey who hit the shot.



United had not looked like scoring but the main threat Baldock got a cross over and Sharp volleyed well over falling back.

Robinson miskicked badly out for a corner which the Blades cleared. It had been sloppy from the visitors and whilst the home team were not much better, they edged things and looked the more dangerous with Saint Maximin the only player showing the only real attacking threat on the field.



United had a few decent moments with Basham twice running forward but making the wrong choice at the end. Another corner from Norwood was cleared after a ricochet but the front two were yet to really make any impact.



The final few minutes petered out with the concern for United the tempo of play and no sustained pressure or chances at all in the opposition half.



The second half saw Newcastle being stronger again and look more determined with Saint Maximin forcing the Blades back. However, the game turned on a refereeing decision on 50 minutes. A long punt that has been an issue for United saw Egan left one on one with Joelinton. The striker got the better of him and Egan pulled him back. He was the last man and no one was on the cover so there was concern his could have been a red alone but it did not matter as he had already picked up that first half yellow and off, he went.



United did not even have chance to regroup before another defensive howler cost them badly again. An innocuous through ball from Ritchie seemed easy for Stevens but his inability to use his right foot even in simple situations cost him as he tried to swing at it with his left and completely missed it. Saint Maximin was in on the angle and hit it low past Henderson who maybe did not cover his near post and opted to go with his feet. Undoubtedly the main error was Stevens. 1-0 and with ten men, it was an uphill task now.



However, on the hour mark, Sharp should have scored when Baldock put a cross in and Sharp headed wide. This was the best and maybe only clear chance for United in the games so far. At the other end though, Newcastle also should have scored. Stevens was skinned again and the ball came across Almiron had to score but his weak effort is saved easily from Henderson.



Lundstram came on for Berge but with 20 minutes left it was game over. Another poor pass saw the ball come off Mcburnie and Norwood did not react or run back. Baldock backpedalled and RITCHIE hit a fierce drive that went through Baldock and with Henderson’s positionally suspect, the ball arrowed into the net.



It was now damage limitation for a really poor United side who were slow, sluggish and sloppy in possession. Still they did have a chance as Sharp did well running down the line and pulling back but Stevens day was summed up as he lashed it high and wide.



Zivkovic and Freeman came on for Sharp and Fleck but the game was done really and to add insult to injury, JOELINTON got the third. Almiron got down the left and with no challenge ran all the way, squared across and nobody went with the striker who easily converted. He may have been derided but he had been more effective than any of the United frontmen forcing a red card and scoring a goal.



Freeman came on for McBurnie and United looked a disorganised mess as the game came to an end although more good work from Basham nearly fashioned a chance. The game ended with Newcastle on the attack once more in a thoroughly comprehensive win for the home side.



United – There will be a lot of different takes on this. Loads of fans will go over the top and slam the side. Some will criticise those saying it is one game and look at the bigger picture. In reality, both are right. We have had a fantastic season and surpassed expectations. These players don’t deserve to be thrown under the bus. We have not seen that hardly ever from them at all in 2 or 3 seasons. However, equally there is nothing wrong with criticising that performance. It was an appalling showing. Individually and collectively. There is also nothing wrong with saying that is a rarity (although I will caution, we were not great in the week either) and having some faith in Wilder and the team. This side have not done that very often and players who have been excellent have not performed like that at all. What is worrying is that so many have been off it these first two games. We have looked sloppy at the back, not kept it in midfield, not attacked with purpose and rarely looked like having a meaningful attack let alone attempt on goal. All those who said we would be bang at it and fitter/hungrier than the rest now look a bit daft. We have looked the most unfit and least prepared side (Norwich could contend) on the game so far. We have looked so far off the side we saw before the break and from a team that had all the momentum, we look a bit of a disorganised mess with no clear plan. Basic errors have not helped but we do look woefully unfit and those errors often come in when you have heavy legs or are not physically right. Newcastle and Villa are two really poor teams and have got through us quite easily really. That is a worry and also defensively they have coped with us quite easily.



A lot will criticise individuals and I will below as I mark players but it is the collective team ethos that has got us where we wanted to be. Today we had 3 departments and there was no team work or cohesion at all. No-one helped each other, we did not have players close to each other and we gave up all too easily. There was nobody rallying the team and we looked devoid of spirit. We know that is not the case of course as this team has all those qualities in abundance but today (and to some extent in the week) we look like a team lacking belief. It’s odd as they are not the sort of group who normally believe their own hype but a few players really need to realise what an opportunity they have. They have worked so hard to get here, so it would be a huge shame to chuck it all away in 2 or 3 weeks. We will see how they respond in the week but we face a pivotal week now. If we lose to Man Utd and Arsenal then the season is not over but it becomes a tough task to salvage anything and you worry it all might peter out. Typically, Wilder’s teams have responded so we will see what happens but we have quite a few players missing and no one outside of Bash has come back with any sort of form at all. It’s so quick the games, that they have to find something from somewhere or a fantastic season can suddenly just disappear. I really don’t want us to that team that did so well and then after the lockdown completely fell away and finished bottom half but if the performances carry on in the same vein as the first two that will happen. I fully trust Wilder to get a reaction over the final games and somehow galvanise the team.

Just about sums it up DB, worst display under CW ever I think, Bash excepted. Rudderless ship for the last 15 mins or so. After the sending off I think CW decided to keep his powder dry. If Billy had buried that header at 1-0 maybe just maybe it might not have unfolded as it did. Anyway let's press on, in Wilder we trust.

 

[Bergen Blade]

For me:


Wilder: 3/10: One thing. When your defence is shaky and you've just lost a key player, do you not think

----------------------------------------------Henderson--------------------------------------------

Baldock---------------Basham--------------Robinson--------------Stevens-------------Freeman K

----------------------------------------------Norwood-------------------------------------------------

---------------------Lundstram--------------------------------------Freeman L-----------------------

-----------------------------------------------Zivkovich------------------------------------------------

Is a better tactic and play for the point? Newcastle's only real outlet was Saint Maximin, and he was giving Stevens a had time, so with fresh legs and parking the bus, the gaps exposed by Richie and Saint Maximin aren't there. That is one point out of six where really, we should have had at least four. Going 4-3-2 was asking for trouble and we have seen him shake dice like this before - Middlesbrough at the beginning of last season when he got it very wrong and went 4-4-2. I am also questioning the amount spent on transfers and the earned value from his signings, Either he is incredibly naive (I doubt it) or someone has had his, and the club's pants down.

I fear a fucking drubbing by Man United next week.

pommpey

I think Wilder would agree in hindsight. He may have thought of what happened vs Brentford at home last season, another occasion where we had to cope with ten men for a long time. They started battering us and we couldn't get out of our own half. Seeing we needed someone to hold the ball up and take some pressure off the defence Wilder put on Sharp for Baldock, again giving us two strikers. That worked and in the end we added a second goal.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

I think the players have not, in the main, come back unfit, however, they appear to be lacking match sharpness.

It is ok spending the bulk of the last 3 months on a Wattbike and running but (obvious point) there is a big difference between general fitness and match fitness.

That said, it is the same for all teams and Newcastle looked fitter....not sure if the stats state otherwise but that was my perception.

That element will quickly return but for me it is either Norwood or Berge (unless we go 4 5 1), and we cannot continue with the current pairing up front. Lack of service granted, but no pace or ability to hold the ball up means we have no outlet.

 

[Addison]

For me:

I think we've been found out. One of the the main routes over the past two matches is the long ball which has John Egan on his heels. Robinson and Basham aren't savvy enough to sweep behind Egan like Jack does and that is when we have encountered the most problems. We also, once again, have patchy issues regarding depth of ability throughout the squad. Robinson is 'okay' and maybe he will grow into the role. But elsewhere it is evident United have come back well below even their own expectations. How people on here expect fans to simply grin and bear is it beyond me. Two games in now and, really, no shots which has made the opposition keeper pull off saves, yet Deano has saved about six shots on target where he was doing more than swallow up the ball. That in itself should tell anyone where we are and what we have to do.

From the match though

Henderson - 7: I give him more than others will. He is a good keeper. First goal he could never have predicted Stevens fuck up hence he was out of position for Saint Maximan to latch onto the gift. Second goal I think given Baldock was effectively 2 on 1, Richie's shot came from behind Baldock and Henderson was flat footed, possibly expecting Richie to slide one left and him to then go out to intercept. Third goal was not his fault. We will miss this bloke when he goes, and after that it is Verrips and Moore, neither have the athletic agility and reflexes to do what he does and keep the ball out of the net.

Baldock - 6: He isn't getting up the wing enough, but then again, he has Berger's six o'clock to watch also, when he fails to track back or loses possession

Stevens - 4: A poor game, unusually for him, but this on top of an unspectacular Villa outing too. The fuck up was hopefully a one off

Egan - 3: Poor. Caught on his heels and shouldn't start mixing it and getting booked. When he was yellowed, I thought, "Y'know, that is Joelinton's best move all game. Watch him get Egan redded now."

Robinson - 5.5: Pretty standard. Still trying to fill Jack's very much bigger than his boots.

Basham - 8: Fucking star. Turns up at the right moment, dribbles through midfield and gets his head in.

Berge - 4: Again, a bit like BLM, I think people are being a bit too polite and forgiving. What's that? Oh, 'he's 22'. Last season I saw David Brooks (20) leave a Middlesbrough player sliding on his arse and then chipped a cross to Evans who buried it into the bottom corner. I also saw him the previous season make Sheffield Wednesday shit their pants at home, nutmegging players and contributing to one of the greatest days in Sheffield United's history. There's really no excuse. Berger is way, way underneath both his signing fee but his reputation and and his starting position in central midfield for a English Premier League outfit. JonJo Shelvey didn't have a particularly great game today but he was fucking streets ahead of this feller. Berger doesn't even have deceptive bursts of pace (you've heard me me mistakenly compare him with Currie ... who did and could deftly shift through the gearbox when he felt like it) nor does he have the ability to retain possession of make a telling pass. He has had quite some time with Wilder and the team to sort out strategy and playing tactics, where his teammates will make their runs and which voices he can hear (now very clearly) around him to distribute and receive from. He looks an imposter in red and white, like someone we have signed by mistake. Wilder needs to fucking sort this out, because we have spunked shitload on him and we don't want a modern day Brayford on out hands. There isn't the time and bandwidth for him to grow into this team, and any of this 'he's being played out of position' is fucking laughable. He's a pro footballer, in the Premier League. Even if he was playing in goal, I'd expect him to be doing better than this. Big game next, and if he is in, he is up against Matic, Pogba, Lo Cielso, Fred McTominay and Frenandez in any number of combinations. Given today's output, they'll fucking run his blood clear.

Fleck - 4: Two things here. He is either still injured, or he's switched off because of 'other matters'. I'l just leave that one here.

Norwood - 4: Crap. Norwood has two games where he pings passes across the pitch to Baldock and Stevens and then five matches where he's either trying to break Basham's shins with a pass (like today) or his short game is fucking wank with wank aspects. And d'you know, since we got all bone hard about bringing this supposed gifted individual to BDTBL, he's hit the net only a few times (once, this season, from a penalty) where by I was expecting a bloke with sweet feet to bend them in from distance. All he is notorious for is those long range passes. He's becoming a one trick pony.

Sharp - 5: Again, If I said to Billy Sharp, "Go and stand on the opposition's penalty spot and I will find you this match with at least three passes or crosses. Stay there and don't move" he's bag at least one, if not two of those. When he's out muscling and chasing yeah, he's wearing the armband and doing what we want from The Captain - but I expect Lundstram, Fleck Berger and Norwood to be fucking well doing that spadework and then feeding the front two. You can't fucking score goals, when you are out on the wing winning the ball. Ask Alan Shearer, Ian Rush and Jimmy Greaves. Should have buried the header, but that was his only absolute clear chance in both matches.

McBurnie - 4: Only just. Again, he's got nowt to go on and although he's big, lanky and awkward, he isn't Peter Crouch who had the ability to stay on his deft feet, turn defenders inside out and had a remarkable ability to hit the ball goalwards at speed. McBurnie is fading fast, and it largely isn't his fault.

Wilder: 3/10: One thing. When your defence is shaky and you've just lost a key player, do you not think

----------------------------------------------Henderson--------------------------------------------

Baldock---------------Basham--------------Robinson--------------Stevens-------------Freeman K

----------------------------------------------Norwood-------------------------------------------------

---------------------Lundstram--------------------------------------Freeman L-----------------------

-----------------------------------------------Zivkovich------------------------------------------------

Is a better tactic and play for the point? Newcastle's only real outlet was Saint Maximin, and he was giving Stevens a had time, so with fresh legs and parking the bus, the gaps exposed by Richie and Saint Maximin aren't there. That is one point out of six where really, we should have had at least four. Going 4-3-2 was asking for trouble and we have seen him shake dice like this before - Middlesbrough at the beginning of last season when he got it very wrong and went 4-4-2. I am also questioning the amount spent on transfers and the earned value from his signings, Either he is incredibly naive (I doubt it) or someone has had his, and the club's pants down.

I fear a fucking drubbing by Man United next week.

pommpey

That for me is where it all fell apart yesterday. No way was Bash and Robinson going to cope with Newcastle's pace up front. We are a team that never deal with going down to 10 men well. It was 0-0 at the point Egan went off. They were better than us but doing very little. The change of shape affected the players badly and in hindsight we should have shut up shop for 10 minutes to get the changes bedded in with three still at the back and the two wing backs pushed 10 yards further up the pitch.

 

[PaulHalfway]

I thought 2 or 3-0 was about right. We had more of the ball but did nothing with it...fashioned two chances all game and the keeper did not have a save to make. They had 2 or 3 efforts first half and missed the a few others outside the 3 goals. It was a comfortable win. Yes the sending off helped but let's not pretend that they were not better before that.

If Newcastle were defensive what were we? They looked far more of a goal threat.

They are the home side do you would expect them to have more of the ball possession

 

[Deadbat]

They are the home side do you would expect them to have more of the ball possession

Not necessarily. Newcastle style is to not to have lots of the ball but have a solid defence and use pace/runners up top. Possession is useless if you do nothing with it. They created far more chances than us and looked more dangerous. They were quite direct but why change what was working at the lane and yesterday. They have seen we struggle with the ball over the top and twice big moments have come in both games due to Egan getting caught out. One ball sometimes can be as effective as ten. I love our style but we have not created many chances at all the first few gajes and with no pace we cannot get behind teams.

 

[CentralQuay]

They are the home side do you would expect them to have more of the ball possession

Why would they want the ball when they found it so easy to just watch their opposition go nowhere with their possession?

 

[10-0 win]

Egan was lucky not to get a straight red and 3 games out, direct red according to ref watch

 

[Rudders]

Slashers out in force on this thread!

 

[Gimli]

Why would they want the ball when they found it so easy to just watch their opposition go nowhere with their possession?

Or in Norwood’s case they could just let him have the ball and wait for him to inevitably pass it back to them in a dangerous position

 

[Harry's Game]

Egan was lucky not to get a straight red and 3 games out, direct red according to ref watch

Why would he get a three game ban? It wasn’t violent conduct. A straight red for denying a goal scoring opportunity is a one game ban.

Know the rules.

 

[tincan]

Granted its a poor restart and so many of the boys off the pace, but 3/10's do nothing to help. It perhaps shows just how much they miss the fans. The GCB song gets the pride pumping and maybe its absence is a factor in the lacklustre displays.
Also, as the boys are still still stuck under lockdown, without the usual teammate interactions to pick themselves up and we can't throw a Christmas party ala Basset, the only way we can boost them is through forums such as this, to remind them of the great ballers they are. They are still top premier league players, Enda, Oli's and Egan need to be reminded of it and treat the sub par performances history- their hardwork and quality will shine through.

 

[CentralQuay]

Granted its a poor restart and so many of the boys off the pace, but 3/10's do nothing to help. It perhaps shows just how much they miss the fans. The GCB song gets the pride pumping and maybe its absence is a factor in the lacklustre displays.
Also, as the boys are still still stuck under lockdown, without the usual teammate interactions to pick themselves up and we can't throw a Christmas party ala Basset, the only way we can boost them is through forums such as this, to remind them of the great ballers they are. They are still top premier league players, Enda, Oli's and Egan need to be reminded of it and treat the sub par performances history- their hardwork and quality will shine through.

A very well organised side, put together by a very good manager who is excellent at identifying his players strengths and limitations.......

But there are no 'top premier league players' in that side.
With the exception of Henderson, Berge and Fleck, no side in this league pays any money for those in the starting 11, imo.