It’s another point closer to safety, but that really wasn’t good enough – especially on a day where Bournemouth and Swansea both won at the bottom.
Firstly, there’s one thing I feel needs saying. We may have a lack of quality in our squad and I admit some of our play must leave some St James’ Park regulars tearing their hair out, but jeers when a player passes backwards to avoid losing the ball in a silly area, hounding Darlow to throw out quickly (when it sometimes looks very risky to do so!) and booing at the whistle will NEVER help our cause. I know it was a tough watch today, but a negative atmosphere only makes their jobs harder unfortunately. Rafa keeps telling us to stay behind them. He realises the significance of the SJP atmosphere. I know they need to show more to get us off our seats in the first place, but Benitez clearly realises the importance of our role and the effect we have on the players.
Back to events on the pitch and Rafa made seven changes, bringing back in Gayle, Ritchie, Atsu and Merino – who I hoped would be fresh and raring to go after all being handed rests against Man City in midweek. How wrong was I to be.
None of the above turned up and we so often resorted to long balls to Joselu. He may have won more headers than any other player in the Premier League this season, but he didn’t get much change out of the 6 and a half foot Dunk and Duffy – not that there were many buzzing around him whenever he win his duel.
Brighton were fairly organised and didn’t make it easy, but it’s another game that really does highlight our alarming lack of quality above all else. So many loose touches, sloppy passes and a real lack of quality of dynamism in the side. Atsu. Ritchie and Gayle and Ritchie were big threats away at West Ham this time last week, but they couldn’t find anywhere close to that form today despite all being rested.
We regularly reacted slowly to first and second balls and looked horribly sluggish and void of ideas or creativity. I wouldn’t say the lads looked disinterested but you wouldn’t have though that was a team with seven changes made to it!
Unideal results elsewhere mean it’s looking like a bad weekend for us. Stoke on Monday is looking huge, but a good return their and at home to Swansea on the 13th and it’s happy days again. Problem is, a performance like today just makes you wonder how we’ll muster some much needed wins – with that being the FOURTH time we’ve blanked at home in the last six home games (and most of them have been relatively kind fixtures!).
Fingers will be pointed at Rafa, but the bloke can’t polish a turd! New signings are a must next month to give us the quality and impetus we’re sorely lacking.
STATS
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Olly read your players’ markings and after such a poor display I agree with most of you markings especially the low score for Haydn who I thought was awful today. His play is summed up in the first five minutes when he received the ball in our half near the half way line. Although he was facing forward with no one in front of him he turned round and passed backwards. Atsu looked as though he wasn’t interested. I don’t think I would have given Lascelles the top mark even if it was only a six. He is as guilty as anyone when it comes to passing sideways and his forward passes are blind lumps forward. Merino for me was the only one who showed any class. Joselu was one of our better players doing a lovely back heel to Gayle and he couldn’t be faulted for effort. It has been said we have a team of Championship players on today’s performance that are not as good as that. I think Sharpy will be horrified at the lack of effort by most of the players.
Groucho(Quote)
Fair assessment mate!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Groucho – they looked scared today mate. As a group of players, they seemed more frightened of loosing the game then going out to win it.
Lascelles & Clark, who are usually so assured for us looked nervous, and whenever they were on the ball, seemed to pass it back to Darlow – who then punted it up field.
I said I wanted 5-6 points from the next 3 fixtures, and we could well still achieve that. But today was disappointing, and really quite worrying the level of fear and uncertainty the players seemed to display.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think it could be the change in keeper affecting Lascelles, Darlow isn’t the best and Elliot is a safer pair of hands for me.
Both teams were guilty of poor play to be honest, this will always happen when you are in this position, games will be cagey as hell against relegation rivals.
I said a few weeks back I wanted us to get to Jan with 20 points if possible and we are 1 point off that and it could, no should be 22 come Monday evening.
kimtoon(Quote)
Inexperienced and youth. Looks like it’s starting to take its toll. We need some experience in the side.
Stuart79(Quote)
Apparently Dion Dublin reckons Rafas lost the dressing room !
kimtoon(Quote)
Must be true?
And the Giant Balloon Heed has lost his Dressing Gown.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Looks to me like Rafa has decided that defence is the best form of attack. Keep it tight, be defensive and we always have a chance of nicking something. Could be the right way with these players and their limitations.
Stuart79(Quote)
When you are llaying fecking Brighton at home then you have to play to win. Otherwise it is points dropped for us and gained for them – our relegation rivals. Not good enough.
shamrock(Quote)
Tend to agree, Sham. Although I didn’t see the game I have been told we looked petrified. We have such a young side I don’t know how you can rectify that without bringing in experience.
Stuart79(Quote)
I could accept that Stu, if we werw playing a top 6 side. But we were playing Brighton. Our squad is bot that incapable and inexperienced. They can go away to Weat Ham and take a win, scoring 3 for example.
I am a bit sick of the excuses. Rafa needs to be morw ambitious in home games against rivals and the lkayers need to get a grip and be accountable.
shamrock(Quote)
I get that but it seems pretty clear to me that playing at home they seem to be frozen. I don’t think we can dismiss the frailties of the players minds – especially at home. We need to win a home game and release a bit of pressure. Put away performances have been much better over the last few months I think.
Stuart79(Quote)
They need to go and do something else for a living if they cant take confidence from playing in front of 52k. The crowd would be right behind them if they just did the basics right and ran themselves into the ground. Rafa should have having a crack at these sides at home. Frail minds? They are not kids. They are supposed to be elite athletes.
shamrock(Quote)
Liverpool Spurs Southampton Everton Huddersfield all have squads similar to our own average age (within 1 to 5 months).
West Ham, West Brom, Palace, Stoke, Bournemouth and Swansea have some of he oldest squads in the league, average ages of around 29 years.
Has that ‘experience’ done them any good?
It’s ambition and accountability out squad and manager need. Yes better players are required but every club around us will saybthe same about their own squads. We cant keep these things as excuses for backwards passes, lack of effort and negative tactics against fellow pondlife.
shamrock(Quote)
All sounds simple, Sham. Although I’m not sure it is that simple. Since the summer this club has had a complete and utter fog of negativity over it after a brief bit of positivity when Rafa decided to stay. I can’t inagine it’s easy to mange a club like that or indeed play for a club in this shape. Yes we need to be bearing teams like Brighton but something is amiss, Sham. If a world class manager is struggling what does that tell us?
Stuart79(Quote)
Yeah there is a negativity at the club. It is shockingly dull being a Toon fan and has been for years.
shamrock(Quote)
Stu – this young side had 7 players 25 and over to be fair mate. It’s not like we are blooding teenagers here.
Lack of quality I’ll take, but inexperience and youth not so much.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There’s not much PL experience in that side, Sharpy. When you look at Darlow, Lascelles, Ritchie, Merino, Gayle, Atsu, Murphy, Joselu or Diame – they have about 1 & 1/2 seasons combined in the PL. Had to the average quality it’s not a great mix. I’m not saying it’s the reason we’re having a hard time but I am sure it’s part of it and I am not sure it’s as simple as Rafa telling them not to attack. John Anderson hit the nail on the head for me. He said we looked to scared to attack for fear of conceding and losing the game. The players aren’t like the last group we got relegated with. These guys put a shift in and do care, they’re just not good enough. I genuinely think Rafa is trying to juggle a confidence crisis, with a lack of quality, with a ridiculous situation regards the takeover and a horrendously negative football club at the moment. I doubt it’s as simple as people make out. This team or squad is no where near as talanted as the teams Pardew had and are performing about as badly as most times under Pardew.
For reasons like the poorest training complex in the league, to having no youth academy of note, to a terrible lack of structure at the club to under funded foundations, I really do believe his club under Jabba really has become unmanageable.
Until he goes, we have to suck it up or **** it off.
Stuart79(Quote)
I must say, after listening to Rafa he doesn’t come across as a manager who asked them to not attack Brighton. So God knows what’s going on.
Stuart79(Quote)
A better forward would of buried the two chances Gayle had yesterday, he has to do better in those positions. We ask what’s the difference from playing West Ham away and doing so well to playing Brighton at home ? For me the answers in the question, the players look more relaxed away from SJP, we have seen it many times before with previous decent players in the past, good away but cack at home. It’s bizarre that some can’t take confidence from 50 odd thousand cheering them on, instead they seem to freeze under the pressure . Thought the atmosphere sounded totally flat yesterday, worst all season .
As for Brighton, look at their previous fixtures, they get a lot of 1.1 ,0.0 results and the only team to thrash them have been Pool 5.1, Manure only beat them 1.0 and Man city 2.0 likewise Arsenal.
They are defensively pretty sound and they do have guys who can score given the chance.
Thought we’d get a draw and so we did.
Now Stoke I expect us to beat even with Allen and Shaquri in the team.
This owner needs to ****** off now, this take over **** is having a very negative effect imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Agreed they did look scared.
Groucho(Quote)
Sharpy, do you reckon Lascelles has less faith in Darlow than Elliot ?
For me Elliott is the better keeper but in fairness to Karl , I thought he pulled off some good saves yesterday in what was a very nervy encounter.
kimtoon(Quote)
Poorest performance in years. It wasn’t just us though. The two defences were good but there wasn’t a decent player between the defences. Don’t know where it’s coming from but confidence seems at an all time low. Ritchie is a prime example.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio, were you at the game mate ?
Read a post from a guy on another site who said that Ritchie and Yedlin were having a go at each other ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Talked to a few mates at the game,Richie just didn’t seem to want to know not half the player he was(has he been got at?) their worry was they seemed to be playing with fear,I worry for the team now
Icedog(Quote)
Kim – nah, I think Lascelles is the type of player & captain who is loyal to whoever is in there. He came to us with Darlow from Forest, so probably has a stronger relationship with him than most.
I think the keeper plays a big part, but I don’t see Lascelles worrying too much whether it’s Elliott or Darlow – I don’t think there’s that much between them to be honest.
What struck me on Saturday though is there’s Tim Krul on Brighton’s bench – who would swap him for Elliott, Darlow or Sels?
Sharpy17(Quote)
IMO the whole game of football changed its all about money crazy fees crazy wages this tv money has had a very bad effect on the game it has made it worse not better Ime really starting to lose interest in the game it seems fans are supporting the money team as is the pundits,maybe it’s time for me to just sit back and watch footy on the telly and treat it as a soap
Icedog(Quote)
Aye mate, watched my home city team yesterday, cracking match apart from Wolves late winner.
think the time may of come for that much talked about super euro league to be formed, let the top 4 teams from PL ****** off there to play against other mega rich clubs I say. Would be lovely to see a truly competitive PL again.
kimtoon(Quote)
See where you are coming from Kim but top teams come and go over the years.
Groucho(Quote)
Matt Ritchie is playing as well as he can. Jonjo Shelvey is, Hayden isn’t, Merino has fell away, Gayle has his time at the start of the season, Mitrovic has came out and spoke about Rafa lying about his injuries.
Has it gone as far as Rafa loosing the dressing room? – I’m not sure about that, but it definitely seems that they is unrest amongst players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Rafa is a tactically brilliant manager – up there with Jose in my opinion.
But I do wonder if he’s over complicating things for the players sometimes.
I heard him say after the City when he was explaining the game plan – that when he was in Italy he could change things 4 times in a game.
I heard Darlow say after the Chelsea game that at half time Rafa was giving them a game plan to stop Chelsea scoring – keep it to 2-1 down until the last 10mins and then we’ll look to go for it.
Look I know we have to defend, and I know that we lack quality up front. But theres a number of us on here that see Rafa seems to set up to contain the opposition first, then look to win a game later in the match – worrying more what the opposition can do that what we can.
Is that getting to the players too?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
And by the way, I look at Man Utd under Jose and think exactly the same. He seems to be over complicating things for them too – and a group of truly talented players are struggling with it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think it is the “must win” thought which gave the players pressure. With MC, nobody expected us to win, but this one was a “must win”. That gave them pressure. But anyway I don’t blame our players. They tried their best from what I’ve seen. We need to improve the quality of the squad. But after a few transfer windows, I don’t have much hope on that.
funrafa(Quote)
I think a fair few will know if this take over happens they are out the door and that could be cause for concern in so far as attitude is applied in games. Rafa has said he wants more in, this could also be bugging a few. All the same that’s the nature of football, windows see new faces and you would think it would spur on a player to prove his worth.
Are the players confused? some seem to think so, can they not follow what he asks of them or are they simply not good/intelligent enough to carry it out.
I think it’s a mixture of youth, inexperience and plain old fear doing for them at the moment, in previous games there has been real effort and togetherness. If that carries on and new faces arrive we should get through, just
Over to you Ashley
kimtoon(Quote)
Sunday suppliment people are saying Mourinho’s excuses don’t wash. He has not modernised with the game and is still setting his sides up like he was 10 years ago. Hmm…..
shamrock(Quote)
Kim – I didn’t see the Yedlin/Ritchie spat at all but I wouldn’t be surprised. So many players were below par yesterday it’s hard to figure out why. Merino was poor, so too Ritchie. Atsu rarely got involved and Hayden was dreadful and looked afraid of the ball.
I can’t stand much more of Joselu ambling about either.
georgio(Quote)
Please don’t compare Mouriho to Rafa. Mouriho spent 300M. Did Rafa spend 30M?
funrafa(Quote)
Funrafa – dont compare their place in the table but you can look at their performance against relative competition.
I do not like the way we play. It is too negative. Benitez has rebuilt the team and spent every penny earnt in the sales of Gini/Sissoko etc. Close to £100m he has spent. And we play **** anti football.
Just saying it how it is. Yes he is hamstrung but for a world class manager, I dont think he is managing our playing style or assets particularly effectively.
I’m not calling for his head but yes I am saying he could be performing better against the likes of Brighton at home and in his transfer dealings.
shamrock(Quote)
Rafa – I’m comparing his approach to the game, not his transfer budget.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – yeah mate, that’s about where I’m with it all as well to be honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham, should we look at net spending instead of gross when we want to see how much the team has been strengthened?
I just think he is doing the things he has no choice, same as the transfers, he is only getting the players he can get, not those he wants.
He may leave the club and goes to another which will give him more support. Then you will see how much he can do. Right now he does not have that much choice. Surviving is the only thing.
funrafa(Quote)
No I dont think so. He has had £100m to spend the team. A lot of that has been squandered on duds.
Spurs have a net spend similar to ours in recent years.
shamrock(Quote)
Then unfortunately Rafa is not your type of manager. I hope you can get one in the future.
funrafa(Quote)
So Palace get a point against City and got yet another penalty too, albeit saved.
I said two weeks back, Palace don’t half get a lot of pens.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – Palace played similar to us against City, but to be fair, their work rate in closing City down and giving them no time in the ball was a lot better. They basically played their game as we did in the last 20mins.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy I thought Palace had a go all through the match. They carved out a few chances but defended in clearly defined banks of 442 withbthe whole team shifting back and fkrth with the ball. It was a very good, positive performance. Zaha and that Man Utd defender who is on loan were both really good.
shamrock(Quote)
Actually I should alter that. First half was even. 2nd half was all City, apart from last 20 – whuch was even again. A good game to watch.
I watched Manure v S’oton yesterday. It was awful.
shamrock(Quote)
Heard a storey I cannot see being right,Shelvey to W/Ham Carroll coming the other way
Icedog(Quote)
Be better than what we have Ice, as long as we can have a decent midfielder to replace him as well, somebody who can pass a ball
Simon(Quote)
jesus every fecking window we are linked to carroll .
kimtoon(Quote)
Need to watch Zaha when we play palace again, he goes down if you breath on him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sham – that’s what I mean mate. I thought we had a go at them in the final 20 or so – Palace did it pretty much the whole game – but still defended well. I guess it help when you have players like Zaha, Townsend & Benteke like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – my immediate thought when I saw that was, aye I’d go with that like. I don’t know if that coz I think it’s a good deal, or that I’m just sick to the back teeth of Shelvey not performing consistently to the standards we know he can.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bit shocked puncheon played today, hasn’t he been charged with assault and having a weapon ??
kimtoon(Quote)
exactly, look at what rafa has to work with, world of difference , Gayle can’t even dive as well as Zaha either. What did Benteke cost £32m ?, Rafa should be so lucky
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – did you watch the City match?. If so, which did you prefer watching – the first 20mins where it was literally defence v attack, or the final 20 where we went after City and made a game of it?.
I understand the logic behind Rafas tactic, I just don’t think they have to be SO servere.
When we played played Chelsea, Man Utd & Leicester we got at them from the off – and took the lead in all 3 games – then sat back in to defend a lead – and looked massively vulnerable.
Against City we started by sitting in and looked massively vulnerable – City could have had 3-4 with better finishing from Aguero. Then we came out and had a real go – and looked dangerous or certainly capable of getting something.
The point is, we go defensive and concede – it’s a flawed plan imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We can defend playing the high press and chancing the opposition down – make them make mistakes then break with pace. I watched us do it against those 3 teams (Utd, Chelsea and Leicester) and then seemed to change our game plan having gone ahead.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just watched the gunners game – another nonsense pen given to allow WB to nick a point ?
Saw Walcott on the Arsenal bench though. Another game goes by where he’s not had a sniff – and behind the likes of Welbeck getting on. I wonder if he’d be available for loan to try and make that England squad?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Chancing – no chasing
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mike Dean 👿
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy , no I didn’t see the City match mate, just read about it on a couple of sites. A fair few saying Zaha dived though, did he ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I didn’t see the pen to be honest, I went out with the boy & dog while the weather was alright.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Any way, balls to all this football stuff.
Here’s wishing you all the best of luck & health for 2018.
Regardless of how NUFC are doing on or off the pitch – this in my opinion is still the best NUFC blog out there – and that’s down to those posting on it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
agree mate and happy new year to you and all the peeps who post on here and to Olly and Simon too, keep the threads coming lads.
kimtoon(Quote)
All the best to everyone??
KIM maybe he will be sold before we play them or at least unsettle him,and yes he did dive
Icedog(Quote)
Happy New Year all.
shamrock(Quote)
Oh do come on, Sham! The guy has spent -£11m since he’s been here! In a era where Bournemouth are spending £20m on a centre half, paying Defoe £120k a week and every club have broken their transfer record apart from us he’s got no chance!
Stuart79(Quote)
Hear, hear, Sharpy.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart, mate. 75 million for Van **** who went on strike FFS.
He wasn’t striking for more pay or better working conditions. He was throwing his fcking toys out of the pram.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It was quite funny today. My girlfriend who is American was watching the post game interviews of ****/West Brom. She doesn’t know much about saccerrrr but with the sound down said – “who is that, he looks a bit smug to me”.
It was Arrogant Alan. I might be in lurrve 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t feel right either mate. But i think it could be true. If it is true that only means we are doing things for short-term. Things are so bad that we are sacrificing long-term for short-term survival.
funrafa(Quote)
Happy New Year everyone! Best Wishes!
funrafa(Quote)
😀
shamrock(Quote)
Happy new year to all!
Saw a report today on sky sports of Alfie Mawson getting a £40 million price tag from Swansea … ???????? what the F?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
WHO 😆
kimtoon(Quote)