Gallowgate Toon

As long as he's by Lascelles for a while, he'll be good here.

Whatever PEDs he's on, I want 'em. Another all-action performance.

I usually don't jump on one performance from a player but he did the basics of 'keeping really well. The distribution and quick saves were an added bonus.

This just isn't true, like. I can think of quite a few occasions we've been ahead in games and missed chances to extend the lead.

It's the absolute surety that '"being more attacking" = more points' that I don't get. We've seen that when we've opened up, it hasn't ended well, and our strikers have had lots of chances they've spurned. The stats show we actually create a decent amount. It's pure cliche and a bit of a baffling focus point, considering the issues around the club.

Underwhelmed, man So desperate to be edgy.

We tried to open up in the Autumn and got repeatedly bummed - it was literally our worst run.

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.