Newcastle United 0 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur - 13/08/17 (post-match from p28)

[thomas]

C) All of the above

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

[Alberto2005]

He's obviously pissed off with Shelvey, but I can't help but think the underlying frustration comes from the lack of signings.

 

At the end of the day if we had the squad in place missing Shelvey for 3 games is no big deal, Rafa knows the quality isn't good enough and more importantly knows the chances of us getting the players in before the end of the window is almost nil.

[Andy84]

I think it's more to do with the match, undoubtedly the transfers comes into it though.  Similar to the QPR game at the end of the January window, he was really p*ssed off after that.  Don't think he would have been as annoyed if we had not conceded a last minute OG though. 

[Ashley17]

Thought Merino was very handy when he came on, spraying the ball about. By that point Spurs had dropped off and I'm not sure he'll get anywhere like as much time in normal circumstances. Probably also helped we'd switched to 3-5-1 by that point.

 

Atsu looked to have picked up where he left off at the end of last season. He's a much better player now than he was when we first loaned him, hopefully he continues to improve. By contrast I thought Perez was awful in the number 10 role first half but was surprisingly combative when he dropped in for Shelvey. Not convinced by him at this level at all.

[Guest Bordertoon]

Atsu looked to have picked up where he left off at the end of last season. He's a much better player now than he was when we first loaned him, hopefully he continues to improve.

 

Agree, I've been impressed by his pre-season form, and am really pleased for him and for us that he backed this up today. After years of being Chelsea loan fodder/tumbleweed, it seems like he might have received a massive injection of confidence from us signing him on a proper contract. It must also have felt nice for him to be able to fully unpack his suitcases for the first time since 2011 - he'd been out on loan since then if I'm not mistaken!

[Foluwashola]

Jonjo, Jonjo, Jonjo. You silly twat.

[Foluwashola]

That new singing section btw, did they even sing? Useless.

[54]

Given that Gayle was never likely to be fit enough to complete the full 90 minutes, if the first half injuries and (especially) Shelvey's lunacy hadn't derailed the game plan, it would've been interesting to see how Rafa would have approached the final third (or quarter) of the match.

 

For instance, would he have used Mitro up front as a direct replacement for Gayle, while introducing Merino for Hayden? Or might he have brought on Murphy, while shifting Richie in to the number 10 role, and pushing Ayoze up top? Or would he have opted for another set of subs to the two I've suggested?

 

Whichever way Rafa went, given Spurs presumed title aspirations, had the score been level and it was still 11 vs 11, then I think Spurs would have tried to force the match and that would have given us far more and far better opportunities to get something on the counter. Basically then, I think we would have been in with a real shot at a earning a valuable point, and a decent shot at earning an invaluable 3 points.

 

We'll never know, of course, but I'm definitely choosing to stick with a glass half full interpretation of today's match.

100% this

[Guest neesy111]

That new singing section btw, did they even sing? Useless.

 

[Guest]

Not sure I'm getting the Walker-Peters hype. He looked decent in our half but I thought Atsu had him all game. I think Rafa recognised this as well because in the last 10-15 minutes he had Ritchie playing behind Atsu on that left side and we created a few chances by exploiting him.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

That new singing section btw, did they even sing? Useless.

 

Were you there singing your heart out?

[Foluwashola]

That new singing section btw, did they even sing? Useless.

 

Were you there singing your heart out?

 

Yes. In the corner.

[Jimburst]

Not sure I'm getting the Walker-Peters hype. He looked decent in our half but I thought Atsu had him all game. I think Rafa recognised this as well because in the last 10-15 minutes he had Ritchie playing behind Atsu on that left side and we created a few chances by exploiting him.

 

Aye Atsu had him 'on toast' about 6 times in the second half. Didn't see how he was that spectacular.

[nemtizz]

Not sure I'm getting the Walker-Peters hype. He looked decent in our half but I thought Atsu had him all game. I think Rafa recognised this as well because in the last 10-15 minutes he had Ritchie playing behind Atsu on that left side and we created a few chances by exploiting him.

 

Random youngster nobody has seen play has a lot of the ball = must be good. He did nothing worthy of note.

[joeyt]

Yeah I was going to mention that I thought he looked like their weak link. Not sure how he got MotM

[Darth Crooks]

Not sure I'm getting the Walker-Peters hype. He looked decent in our half but I thought Atsu had him all game. I think Rafa recognised this as well because in the last 10-15 minutes he had Ritchie playing behind Atsu on that left side and we created a few chances by exploiting him.

 

Any excuse to bot Spurs. Tottenham BotSpurs if you will.

[Darth Crooks]

Given that Gayle was never likely to be fit enough to complete the full 90 minutes, if the first half injuries and (especially) Shelvey's lunacy hadn't derailed the game plan, it would've been interesting to see how Rafa would have approached the final third (or quarter) of the match.

 

For instance, would he have used Mitro up front as a direct replacement for Gayle, while introducing Merino for Hayden? Or might he have brought on Murphy, while shifting Richie in to the number 10 role, and pushing Ayoze up top? Or would he have opted for another set of subs to the two I've suggested?

 

Whichever way Rafa went, given Spurs presumed title aspirations, had the score been level and it was still 11 vs 11, then I think Spurs would have tried to force the match and that would have given us far more and far better opportunities to get something on the counter. Basically then, I think we would have been in with a real shot at a earning a valuable point, and a decent shot at earning an invaluable 3 points.

 

We'll never know, of course, but I'm definitely choosing to stick with a glass half full interpretation of today's match.

100% this

 

On board with this. Any 'negativity' I have stems from the Shelvey incident and Ashley circus fraying an already very weakened hand in terms of harmony and the club and transfers.

[ujpest doza]

That new singing section btw, did they even sing? Useless.

I think the location is a factor. I can hear the corner where I sit in Milburn Level 7 but couldn't hear anything from the Gallowgate upper.

I think the Corner is more visible to the rest of the ground and encourages more to join in. The back of the Gallowgate is a bit isolated.

[LFEE]

That new singing section btw, did they even sing? Useless.

I think the location is a factor. I can hear the corner where I sit in Milburn Level 7 but couldn't hear anything from the Gallowgate upper.

I think the Corner is more visible to the rest of the ground and encourages more to join in. The back of the Gallowgate is a bit isolated.

 

I said that on here as soon as it was announced. Early days but I think I'll be proven right they should've went with the Strawberry Corner.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

I sit in the middle of the Gallowgate and could hear the singing section throughout, although it was much more muted in the second half.

 

There were issues with the singing section and corner singing different songs at the same time, or the inability to sing the same song together, rather than one side being 5 seconds behind

 

Wasn't a bad effort though and will probably only get better.

[huss9]

I sit in the middle of the Gallowgate and could hear the singing section throughout, although it was much more muted in the second half.

 

There were issues with the singing section and corner singing different songs at the same time, or the inability to sing the same song together, rather than one side being 5 seconds behind

 

Wasn't a bad effort though and will probably only get better.

[Mikky]

Think yesterday was further proof of how badly we need a number 10;

[mozy]

Agree with Rafa in that the Kane tackle was far worse than Shelvey treading on Alli's toe. Of course it's stupid from Shelvey but that is just never a red card. A frustrating game in that everything went wrong for us with the injuries and I don't think we've necessarily learned much about the team / new signings.

[Darth Crooks]

Agree with Rafa in that the Kane tackle was far worse than Shelvey treading on Alli's toe. Of course it's stupid from Shelvey but that is just never a red card. A frustrating game in that everything went wrong for us with the injuries and I don't think we've necessarily learned much about the team / new signings.

 

It's a red forever. Black and white tinted specs on aside.