alexf

So my friend attended the game yesterday with me, non newcastle fan and it was telling to me that he was full of praise for Jacob's performance. He was really liking the positions he was taking up. Was always placing himself into good space on that right side and obviously defended well also.

Seemed to be glossed over in the analysis I have seen, how many first teamers we were missing where as they were near enough full strength squad it seemed? Massive credit should have been given to Eddie and the team for organising another brand line back like of: Burn Schar Krafth Murphy. Can you imagine what the score might have been if we'd had our full compliment, Joelinton, Willock, Trippier, Tonali, Wilson, Miggy etc to call on or bring on as fresh legs. Things are promising moving forward if we can reduce the number of injuries next year.

Has been the lynchpin of our defense all season. The only one consistently available. Seeing him live in person again for the first time in awhile, I could really appreciate his reading of the game. Plus even though not as many, still hit some sexual long ball diagonals.

First time visiting Newcastle for awhile so got to witness this live (what a day 󠀠) But I actually thought his general player was poor at times. Seemed to lose the ball alot and struggled with any physicality. But then when we played to his strengths and he gets into that left channel cutting in. Just ice in his veins, you never doubt for a 2nd that he's gonna score.

We've proved capable of scoring goals all season and spurs have leaked goals also. Just depends how the makeshift defence cope. Very much feels like counter attack tactics need to be applied. Leave Barnes Isak and Gordon high up but instruct everyone else to sit in a little. Spur have too much pace up top and if we play anywhere near as open as we have at times this season we will get ripped open.

Be worse by the end of the season. Plus doesn't even count Tonali I'm guessing. Look at the contrast between us and West ham and we are only a point behind them.

it's actually going to be very close. Annoyingly I think unless we beat Man U, they are probably home and dry for 6th. I thought Chelsea were going to overtake everyone with their games in hand but then they pull out results like only a draw against Sheffield Utd. So who knows what points total they will get. West ham annoyingly might have enough to pip us but have some tough fixtures in there. I think the most important game for us is going to be Spurs. If we can beat a top 5 (this season) team, then get a few more of the walking wounded back, then I think confidence levels might carry us through to a top 7 finish. If we not I can see us getting a mixed bag of results.

Good turn around that. Burn looking more comfortable in cb. Hall giving us good balance, even if he was up against two quicker wider players. Gordon, Isak and Barnes give us real counter attacking threat. So it feels like we can go back to that end of 21/22 season style with a deeper backline and being difficult to break down and then use our quick players to try and counter. First half not so much but Eddie defo got them organised 2nd half and I think Willock was struggling even pre-injury so Anderson coming in may have made a difference also. Barnes looked excellent when he came on. Hope we can start with that front 3 against Spurs. Bonus, I get to see Bruno live at st.james' when I travel up next week. Was praying he didnt pick up a yellow today.

It's so painful watching Longstaff so far this season. He's just a complete passenger in and out of possession.

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Same as his cameo on Saturday, his first instinct is always to move forward with the ball. Just through his first touch and body shape. I like that in a player. There was also a nice moment first half when he was getting closed down with no passing option and he instinctively dribbled past Young with ease. Whereas he actually looked more uncomfortable when he has to play the safety sideways passes. Think he will link better with Gordon aswell as Barnes is more of a run in behind player, than coming short to receive the ball. Few moments higher up the pitch aswell where he has the confidence to hold on to the ball and get a a cross in. Feel he should definitely be given the opportunity to start the majority of the remaining games. With Burn now needed at CB, and looking alot more comfortable playing there and with Tino and Targett injured we don't have much choice regardless.

To be fair the last time he played regularly, that sort of thing would probably have been waved off. Fucking annoying though. Ball was nowhere near getting to Young and they were never scoring without a gift like that 😔

I mean Schar was holding his hamstring multiple times towards the end of the game. Looked like Willock was also nursing some kind of injury when there were shots of the bench. But we'll see. If you can walk then you will play tonight 😀

The athleticism of Rodri and Kovacic against Longstaff and Bruno last night was such a problem. We couldn't get near Kovacic, he was just able to stroll past our midfields attempts at tackles at will. Sort of game we can see how far off we are especially without Joelinton smashing into people. It's definitely an area I hope we focus on in the summer. I think Tonali should help if he's up to speed now ofcourse. but you can see teams are starting to target that weakness. It's why they had Doku coming in off the left and making those surging runs through the middle as we have no one that can live with pace.

Max Southgate would play from that attacking collection is 3 so not sure why he needs 9 options and then bare bones midfield options.

Thought he was very good today. Was shocked to see it was him overlapping for that first goal. Avoided a yellow again? How long does he have to keep going or do they never get wiped again.

Love him. Great surge forward into space and then the directness and confidence to take it on himself. Almost more noticeable though was his acceleration and tenacity to win back those loose balls. Something we really lack I feel with Burn and Trippier due to their age and speed.

I think the club would obviously be more concerned about the insider knowledge he will be taking to one of our rivals rather than any sadness about losing his expertise. Be that contract info regarding any of our top players they might want to poach. Future transfer prospects, youth and first team, and also just generally anything financial/FFP related that we would really rather our league competitors aren't privy to.

Expecting same team most likely as Eddie doesn't seem keen on changing formation or personal, even though we are haemorrhaging goals at the back. But I'd try something like..... --------------------------Dubs------------------------------- -----------Schar------Lascelles------Botman---------------- ---Trippier----------------------------------------Livramento --------------------Bruno--------Miley----------------------- Murphy-----------------------------------------------Almiron --------------------------Gordon---------------------------- Or if need an extra in the middle.. --------------------------Dubs------------------------------- -----------Schar------Lascelles------Botman---------------- ---Trippier----------------------------------------Livramento --------------------Bruno--------Miley----------------------- --------------------------Almiron----------------------------- ---------------Murphy---------------Gordon----------------- Keep compact and restrict Saka and Martinelli as much as possible and try and counter with speed through the front 3 like against villa. Barnes probably best from bench for this one maybe? With hopefully Isak and Willock available from the bench.

Probably more to do with the fact Doku has outrageous acceleration and is almost unplayable at times, so their tactics seems to be, get Doku isolated 1v1. Grealish never had that sort of ability outside of being really good at keeping possession and winning free-kicks. So when he plays they make him recycle the ball over and over untill it opens up space elsewhere.

Crikey imagine an alternate universe where Shearer did actually sign for Man Utd instead and perhaps never plays for us and doesn't become our leading scorer and is actually vilified for winning countless trophies with them.

First goal was horrible with the slip obviously but the second really highlighted just how easy to score against we are currently. 1 pass from the CB, straight through our midfield, leaving essentially a 3v3. Then Botman steps out leaving a gap behind and Burn also drops deep on his own. Once this happens though, Burn simply has to engage in some way. He needs to move towards the attacked and send him wide or push him inside and allow others to support. But he does neither as he is scared to get into a race and leaves the door open for a shot on goal. Finally Dubravka has to do better, the shot is not in the corner and slips under him. Just poor all round but showcases the same deficiencies as most of the goals we are leaking lately. Exposed defenders with no midfield protection, total lack of mobility from Dan Burn, and usually Dubravka glued to his line and not inspiring any confidence in his back line to step up as he won't sweep.

Yeah in the balance of fairness...Sven has been really poor since returning from injury. Understandable maybe given he's so young still and had a bad injury. But he's looked just as slow as Burn and can't really remember anything from his performances that make him look like the high ceiling potential player we signed. I guess their absence has shown to those that might have doubted it, just how important the likes of Joelinton and Willock were to protecting the back 4 last season.

Been thinking for awhile that Chelsea are going to finish above us.

Why can't Tino play the same role as Burn and let Trippier push on when he wants to? I'd much rather have Tino as last man back with his recovery pace then any of our other defenders.