Gallowgate Toon

It's not even July yet, FFS.

I think if there's one thing Murphy has looked good at over the last 2 months it's going at players & being direct. He's been getting himself into good spots but his final ball has been erratic. He should've had 2 assists before yesterday mind, if Joselu could finish. Interesting interview with him https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/jacobs-joy-at-magpies-perfect-start-to-2018. He seems very aware of his mentality which I think is a good thing for him in the long run.

He has a great touch and some lovely close control once he gets going, which combines nicely with his turn of speed. He's obviously a bit mentally fragile and needs to work on his confidence. Really, it's the mental side of the game he has to work on, but he's definitely a natural footballer & athlete. I can see him following in the footsteps of Demarai Gray - a rocky start but grows into the league. Great, great cross.

And runs like a gazelle.

Starting to show why we paid 18m for him. Actually been moving like the 30-year old man he is the last couple of weeks.

He's getting better and better. Absolutely fantastic at doing the basics.

Best he's played in an age. Finally stopped dallying on the ball.

Get the fuck in. Chuffed for Murphy after a crap first half.

A non-entity at this level, at the mo.

Immediate red flag

They had 2 open play chances (1 being the goal) and 1 chance from a FK in the first half, iirc? Other good chances were a break and a long shot? Saying that, I was pretty bored throughout large parts of the match so might have been forgetting opportunities Did feel like a lot of passing and fairly little penetration (lol) with the amount of possession they had. In relation to most of their matches this season, they seemed to create less than normal?

I hope his showing the other day is a sign that he's back to fitness. Most complete footballer we have in the squad by an absolute mile, IMO.

Pressing, when one of our players got on the ball there wasn’t a man in sight from our lot so it was easy for a City player, probably the least taxing game they’ve ever had. Agreed about the outrage comment though and looking back over the match I’m angry with one man only for allowing us to become such cannon fodder and it’s all the more heart breaking seeing who we have in our dugout. Who given even half an equal playing field would be capable of actually beating this City team. Takeover please happen. As soon as someone like Mbemba had the ball, he had 3 going to him. This wasn't just a question of attackers not having players around them, it was everyone on the pitch being strangled and pressured - we couldn't build from the back, nor could we compete up front. Couple that with City's ability to own second balls from clearances and long passes... As a team, they can pretty much do anything they want, whatever the situation. Seriously impressive, tbh.

City's pressing is the best I've seen in the league, tbh, they knew our players couldn't handle that intensity. There was immediately 3 players on us as soon as we got it. When you factor in how they set up to dominate second balls, they're fucking terrifying, especially from a tactical pov. I thought we did fine and the tactics were totally valid. Save the outrage for something actually worthwhile, man.

Won some huge headers at the end. Love him.

Unstoppable force meets an immovable object. 4-0. Joselu.

Absolutely shocking that he has more goals for us than Shelvey this season. He played well and deserves another shot, IMO.

There's been some extremely lax tracking back over the last 6 games, like. It's not our biggest problem by any means but it's something we've slipped at, IMO.

Sean Dyche, the man that got relegated in his first PL stint after a promotion, came back up to get 16th, and is now pushing on? The bloke who's had years to build what he wants? I think folks would be wise to remember that Dyche has only had 1/3 of a really good Premier League season. I think he has promise, like, but people are massively jumping the gun with him.

The decisions he's being criticized on are pretty marginal, if we're being brutally honest. No alternatives we have are considerably better than others, no shape really fits the team because the plans he had were scuppered, nobody can see a genuine way out with the current playing squad. Our hope is to grind out a few points until Jan or someone wild cards some form until New Year. Guardiola said on TV the other day/week that the key to success as a manager is to have good players. We don't and, frankly, Rafa's decisions in this run are somewhat irrelevant until that isn't the case anymore. Unless he starts making wacky calls, at least. Ashley seems to be getting very little flak for our current plight when he's the main f***ing instigator of this shitshow. Instead, everyone is getting hung up on whether f***ing Mitro is our starting striker.

Do you ever just wind it in? It's proper weird, like.

He will get goals in the division as long as things are set up for him.

Diame is alright foil for Gayle. Certainly better than Perez as a partner. The summer, man We'd be so much better off with a half decent 10. Harsh on Murphy. Ritchie's been the poorer of the two.

A number 10 is absolutely critical. A striker is also massively important, but a really suitable 10 to work with Gayle would do wonders for us alone. Someone who can link play (especially on the break) without losing the ball 4 times out of 5, is athletic enough to support and can handle some defensive responsibility could transform us. We should go all out to get Batshuayi in, even if it's on loan. A 'keeper is also vital. Winger, CM and another full back would be good to have.

His worry up front will be about an outlet, which we need with the lack of quality we have and the way we need to play, that can relieve pressure and cause some damage. Gayle has pace but struggles on his own and needs a physical presence close around him - Merino might be able to fill that void as a 10, but it's always going to be whether he can provide the right support and speed. Joselu can't really do much on his own so isn't a lone forward, he also gets bullied. Mitrovic obviously isn't going to start. With 4-3-3, I'd feel comfortable in us for the defensive and middle of the pitch. Having Shelvey in there with a slightly more free role should allow us to get the ball to the forwards faster, it's just a case of whether we have enough up top for the ball to not come straight back... I'd be very worried about Gayle being isolated. Outside of that, 4-2-3-1 with Merino as a 10 and Gayle/Joselu depending on the style of game. Absolutely screwed over the by the summer shitshow. Some moderate investment would've seen us easily, easily comfortable. Shambles.