We’ll be in the FA Cup 5th round draw for the first time since 2006, but not how we wanted to be, with us failing to beat Oxford within the 90 after a flat and toothless display at a packed out St James’ Park.
Steve Bruce named a strong starting 11 as promised, but nothing clicked all game, with Oxford being fully deserving of a replay – especially after squandering a few big openings in the second half.
The way the game started, it was immediately clear that Oxford were going to be much more competitive than the Rochdale side we beat 4-1 few weeks ago – despite both being in League One.
They immediately created a dangerous opening by flashing a ball across the box, pressed well (giving new boy Bentaleb little room for manoeuvre) and didn’t allow us to play out from the back nearly as easily as Rochdale did.
The first flash point was a lunging Jamaal Lascelles tackle that fortunately only saw him see yellow, but the first 15 minutes was a cagey, seeing Oxford give as good as they got all over the pitch.
Saint-Maximin had a few explosive moments and a shot saved after a dazzling run, Joelinton went down too easily for a potential penalty and Jamaal Lascelles missed a big chance with his head, but aside from that it was a pretty awful first 45 of football, with us looking disjointed and in second gear in all areas as things struggled to click.
We had 67% possession and the bigger chances, but were too slow and laboured on the ball and managed just one shot on target going into the break.
The 52,000 crowd started in good voice, but we had to up the tempo considerably in the second 45 – and
Joelinton had the ball in the back of the net just over 5 minutes into the restart, but he was offside, with Saint-Maximin taking too long to play the Brazilian in behind.
The Frenchman almost made up for it just moments later, skinning his man and getting a shot away inside the box, but it was straight at their goalkeeper.
It looked like we were just upping our intensity and edging closer to the breakthrough, yet sloppiness took over once again, with Oxford creating a host of half chances after Sean Longstaff was ponderous in possession.
We were playing a dangerous game and struggling to string anything together, and we were nearly punished, with Browne taking a brilliant touch to get in behind Jamaal Lascelles – only for his final finish to be straight at the onrushing Karl Darlow.
Joelinton then had the ball in the back of the net again minutes later, but it was chalked off this time because he was stood in an offside position when a Oxford clearance was deflected to him via Yedlin. He finished calmly – for the SECOND time today – however we was clearly offside again, sadly.
A few more half chances arrived, with Lascelles heading wide, Almiron firing over from close range and the Paraguayan drawing blatant yellows from Oxford midfielders as he burst in behind them on the break, but we looked like a side just struggling to know what to do with so much possession.
After all, we’re used to have little over 30% of the ball most weeks – so having over double that today left us looking a little stifled at times.
In the 87th minute, Joelinton’s big chance arrived – and one that would’ve counted had he found the net.
He latched onto a knock down from Clark but fired the ball high up into the Gallowgate End. He’d put in a half decent display today, yet ballooned over jus when we needed him to show a bit of quality in the final third – something we’ve been lacking all day.
Atsu burst into the box late on and forced a corner, but Oxford held on to force a FA Cup replay – yet could’ve easily won it late on if Holland’s 93rd minute strike wasn’t straight at Karl Darlow.
A full crowd and a day that promised to cap off a brilliant week off for the club, but a flat performance.
A disappointing day and an unacceptable display given what a win would’ve meant to the 52,000 fans inside St James’ Park!
Miles Starforth
@milesstarforth
Expect Danny Rose to be the last piece of incoming transfer business for Newcastle this transfer window. Steve Bruce happy with quality/depth of squad following additions. Club will look again at strikers in the summer. #nufc
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – typical window then innit – always a signing or 2 short ?.
But worse than that, we’ll still be left with Ashley too ?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Now it seems West Ham are going to beat Palace to Bowen. Where are we in this? No where! Odd and a shame.
Stuart79(Quote)
Dour Dave was probably the ulgliest kid ever. And it only got worse from there.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=A189F5561FDD01A2EE28CF7EF381DF96A45182EE&thid=OIP.yjrGSGHfzCQm7H2MBW2oOQEsDI&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fgistoscope.files.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F07%2Fdavid-moyes-1878429.jpg&exph=682&expw=1023&q=david+moyes+pictures&selectedindex=0&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: if we do not lose to Norwich and Brighton and West Ham draw, we stay up for certain. If we lose I think there is still only a very minor chance of relegation.
But can we just play football that is a bit more pleasing on the eye Brucie!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – we have brought in three players who, in theory should make us more pleasing on the eye but that depends on hi Bruce sends them out. We still haven’t got anybody to put the ball in the net though…
Stuart79(Quote)
Norwich and Brighton play OK football and lose 🙂
I am getting pretty sick of this boring shyte football we play though. Rafa played it as well apart from about half a dozen games at the tail end of last season.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We have played 1 good half of football in 24 games. West Ham away and then we almost messed that up as well. 24 times 90 equals 2,160 minutes of me scratching my **** wondering when we can string 3 passes together.
I didn’t dock us 45 minutes of West Ham because we played more than that in injury time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Really looks like Bruce has had a major positive impact on Jabba. Being nice to him and getting him involved has really done the trick. Persuaded him to spend **** all.
Stuart79(Quote)
To be fair Stu, I’m not sure his own kids could persuade the fat **** to spend money he didn’t want to.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see Matty Longstaff is being offered contract by Inter and AC Milan. Will be out of contract in June.
Stuart79(Quote)
Blood y West Ham, how can they afford Bowen/
Always pleading poverty and just posted £27m losses i believe, yet they are still spending and on a lad who is believed to prefer us lol, hammers fans must love that bit of info .
How are we so skint we cannot afford him?
Basket case of a club
kimtoon(Quote)
Keith Downie
@SkySports_Keith
·
41s
I’m fairly certain the midfielder Newcastle came close to signing was Lille’s Boboukary Soumaré. They had a bid of around £35m accepted, but the player chose not to come. Newcastle & Steve Bruce unwilling to confirm this morning
kimtoon(Quote)
Good as this player might be he is not a priority need. How come afterwards we could not make a reasonable bid for Bowen? We cannot even get Matty Longstaff’s contract sorted. I don’t believe what Bruce has said. Usual PR balls
Groucho(Quote)
Not a bad window in my mind. Rose is a very good player who has been dragging his feet at Spurs for years, Bebtaleb is decent and very hard working. Know nowt about Lazaro. Nice name though! We’ve missed out on Bowen but we already have players who scored loads in the championship.
georgio(Quote)
Good window really. 2 proven PL players and one with some promise. I am not sure if that Bowen fella would have been the answer for our striker woes. Gale is a cracking player at the same level as Bowen. Says a lot really.
As far as the take over goes. There is a lot of blame placed on Jabba for it presumably breaking down. I think Amanda is to blame, she is all about self promotion. Hasn’t she been the talk of the town thru all this….. again. .
Aussie(Quote)
My guess for the team. Hayden at right back again and Ritchie and Joelinton left out. Too many left wingers to fit in. No creative midfielder so I am guessing Schar.
Dubravka
Hayden Schar Lascelles Clark Rose
Bentelab Matty Longstaff
Almiron Lazaro St Max
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OR:
Lazaro plays right wing back and Hayden plays midfield instead of Matty. Yes, that’s it with Joelinton as the striker. So:
Dubravka
Lazaro Schar Lascelles Clark Rose
Hayden Bentelab
Almiron Joe St Max
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And if we have 35% possession against Norwich I am going to shoot myself.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Lazaro would be a disaster in the back four , he is knocked off the ball as easily as Joelinton.
He is similar to Almiron in that he works hard and can run all day but that’s about it. He was touted as the next Sadio Mane but I am not convinced.
I think his best position would be as a no 10 and he would be much better there than Ayoze Peres was for us.
Having said that . he will still need a good centre forward up front with him.
sidekick(Quote)
How can 3 loans (short term fix ) be a good window. The one thing we really need we didn’t get a striker who can score. Why try a second time for Giroud when he obviously didn’t want to know .
If a player turns us down, just leave it, same with this Bobo Somare, don’t go back in the summer and waste time ona guy who isn’t interested.
kimtoon(Quote)
We average probably 35% possession per game and the focus should be a striker?? Not in my book. We have done well on the counter but it is ***** football. We need to start bossing games. Aint going to do that with Giroud or that young Bowen fella.
Aussie(Quote)
I’m really not sure why on Earth we were prepared to blow our entire budget on a midfielder. We have a problem in the whole club. We don’t have a striker who can score goals. Why buy yet another midfielder for £40m?
Stuart79(Quote)
My guess is they knew exactly the player wouldn’t come.
Stuart79(Quote)
Aussie what’s the point in creating chances when there is no one capable up front to bury it.
Bowen can play anywhere across the front he’s already done it and at £18-£20m it’s a risk worth taking unlike Joelinton at £40m .
kimtoon(Quote)
very likely
kimtoon(Quote)
With Bruce also confirming Lee told him there’s nothing in the saudi talk, does that mean one of the other two so called interested parties will put in a firm offer then 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t think for one moment that Ashley would keep Charnley or Bruce in the picture as to what was happening on the possible takeover.
Groucho(Quote)
BJ looks like he is ill in the pictures of “Brexit Day”. Same with Farage. Competing for Upper Class Twit of the Year.
I bet Jim White is irked that Boris took away his big day.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They seriously don’t look very well. BJ looks fat and old and Farage looks jaundiced (and old).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Keith Downie
@SkySports_Keith
·
43s
Ki Sung-Yeung has come to an agreement with Newcastle to have his contract terminated, and is able find a new club as a free agent from tomorrow
kimtoon(Quote)
Chris Waugh
@ChrisDHWaugh
·
43m
The plot thickens with Jarrod Bowen…
@RSooty73
, who’s well-connected in Yorkshire, reports in
@TheAthleticUK
blog that Bowen would prefer to join #NUFC over #WHUFC. But #NUFC haven’t made an approach & aren’t expected to. More here:
kimtoon(Quote)
Makes the announced failed attempt to land the near record signing of a midfielder look even more dubious. I suspect and hope that the reason we are not spending and only taking loan players is because of an imminent sale of the club. Fingers and everything else crossed.
Groucho(Quote)
Atsu makes a deadline decision to stay and fight for his place … roughly translated … no other club is willing to meet his wages NUFC are paying ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m pleased with Bentalab and Rose. I think they are good additions and expect Bentalab to be made permanent in with summer with Ki leaving.
I don’t know enough about Lazaro to know if he’s a good addition – time will tell.
But yet another transfer window goes by where we have not addressed our squad needs.
To have scored so few goals so far this season, and not have brought in a CF is simply a disgrace.
I know it’s what we should be used to as Newcastle fans under an Ashley ownership – and I’m not surprised – but I can’t help being disappointed… again ?☹️
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bowen getting £80k a week then
That explains why we didn’t want him
kimtoon(Quote)
Brucie’s DELIGHTED-O-METER only registered a 1 in his Friday press conference.
His UNFORUNATELY-O-METER registered a 3 though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You probably don’t know what I am talking about.
Steve Bruce says DELIGHTED and UNFORTUNATELY a hell of a lot. They are his crutch words. You would think a novelist would have more in his vocabulary than this!
But they were pretty **** books he wrote. I only read excerpts. But they were an awful mess of pulp fiction, crime nonsense and parts of Brucie’s life story.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So no striker then… bit gutted at not getting Bowen after the lad clearly wanted to come. Not many really want to come to the Toon. … all gone quiet on the takeover too … surprise surprise… ???
Dubai Toon(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/02/01/norwich-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-predicted-line-ups/
Morning folks! – Norwich preview ^^^
Olly Hawkins(Quote)