Lush Vlad

Newcastle-bedwetters-onliine.org

Played really well. Probably our best starting player along with Joelinton. Not that the bar was set very high. I can see why they are after a right back and perhaps a certain type. As it was highlighted even further when he was missing and then when he came on. Just how much of our play goes through Trippier. Still, I’d rather we look at a midfielder and attacking player, first. Then cover for left back before right back.

May have just been bigging his player up or trying to give him some confidence. Just in case he doesn’t get another midfielder in. But you have to think that Howe, Ashworth and co watched that and realised that he needs game time. And also that we are going to be struggling in the league, if he starts more than a few games in midfield.

Ha. I’m almost the other way. I think Pope would have come tearing out and got his big old frame in the way on the first at the point of contact. But then I think he would have done the same for the second and get caught in no man’s land.

Sample size of one game. Where we changed 8 players and actually dominated the game for the most part. Versus 18 league games and a good few league cup matches. Seems a bit knee jerk, to me. If we don’t sign anyone this window. Then I’d tend to agree. But I think/hope we will get a couple in.

We need to buy good players, either way. Being in Europe brings increased revenue streams and makes it easier to attract decent players. I’m not sure a defeat to Sheff Wed makes me think Europe is a bad idea. I really don’t understand how fans can think like Mike Ashley and Alan Pardew FFS.

Didn’t do that much wrong. But I suddenly felt worried whenever the ball went anywhere near our box. He just doesn’t inspire confidence and seems to flap about and look panicked a lot of the while.

Thought it was his worst performance for us. But it isn’t like anyone played particularly well. Bar Joelinton and Manquillo. Then Bruno and Trippier when they came on.

Just highlights how crap our depth is. Manquillo was alright. The rest of the players that came in just weren’t good enough. Hard as they’ve not been playing. But then you can see why they haven’t been playing based on that.

That one was unforgivable. He’s quick and when he goes direct, actually not too bad. Yet he just stopped for about 5 seconds and then wonders why he got caught on the ball for the tenth time in the half.

Not a bad half, really. Set pieces have looked dangerous with good delivery. Their only chances have really come from our fuck ups. A few of the players are growing into the game and we have had control of the half. Anderson was sloppy at the start. Lewis always plays like he’s scared, but has been ok. Murphy has been AIDS. Other than that. Most of them have been fine and considering we’ve made 8 changes. It has been solid enough. Manquillo has been mustard, I think.

He has looked lively, whilst also looking leggy and understandably a bit off it. A few times when pressing, he doesn’t seem to be opening up. Thought at the end there, Isak pre-injury would have ran away from them and got in on goal. Maybe should have scored the header. But matey did miss it last second, so probably wasn’t expecting it. Good that he is getting involved, a few chances and winning free kicks.

Had one of his tougher games this season and it’s against a League One team

Stuck up for him a good few times. Thought he offered more than Fraser a lot of the time. But he is utterly hopeless. Takes an age to do anything and has no quality in the final third. Him playing in front of Lewis, who understandably looks a bit rusty and shaky. Is our weak link.

Aye. He’s been coy about him for ages and not seen many training pics of him. Either on his own doing stuff or with the main group. Maybe he did plenty out in Saudi to get back in contention. Then just took it steady when he was back and something like this game was always the plan? No way he only came back into full training the other day, like it was made out. Howe is always very guarded when talking about team news and injuries.

At this point, I hope he is genuinely ill or has a minor injury. Which sounds a bit harsh typing it out As I’m not ready for him to leave for below his value and I still think he could be a really important player for us for the rest of the season and beyond.

Hoping this is the case, should he be on the bench later.

Would be a real shame if his time here ended with some bad blood. He’s box office and our most exciting player. Just seems through his own fitness or style and constant injuries. He has never really got a run under Howe. Been doing great without him. So he’s not come back in or been trusted to start. Think we’ll be needing him or someone with some similar attributes for the second half of the season. Plenty of teams will frustrate the fuck out of us and we still look a bit toothless attacking from open play at times.

Exactly. I swear people watch a different game or have short memories. Backs to the wall used to be games like Spurs away when Krul made about 10 decent/top class saves. Or most games under Bruce when we managed a win or a point.

Again, tend to agree on all of this. We weathered the storm against the best team in the league and reacted accordingly to try and nullify them. They really went hard the first 10 mins of each half. But there was no way they could keep that up for long spells. As for the subs. I don’t have an issue with them per se. It is the squad depth and mediocre as fuck players we are bringing on that are the issue. Almiron was fucked. Wilson is probably still being managed, due to his illness, long covid or whatever it is and the fact he gets a bad injury twice a season. I feel like the original point that Shak was making (might be wrong). Which I was then agreeing with. Was that we didn’t fully lose control of the game. Until the subs. Due to the quality of those players coming on, being so much lower than the ones they were replacing and the rest of the XI.

He also tries to be funny. With the same shit gags and all. Defo Lawro MkII.

Fucking hate those VAR calls for offside. Utter shite. Still, I’d take Gray if Everton go down.

Chelsea rent boy.

That reads like you’re agreeing with him? I thought they looked all over us for about 10 mins. Without creating many clear cut openings. Then we changed shape a bit and dropped off slightly. If anything, we grew into the half and it evened up for large spells. It was only the last 20-30 were I felt like we were really up against it. Which was when we replaced two of our best players with a traffic cone and Forest Gump.

That’s superb from Rashford. Really like him as a player.