Newcastle United scorned the opportunity to break the club record and reach ten straight wins, as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Blackburn Rovers.
First thing’s first, Blackburn were the better side. They deserved their win. However, their direct style of play may well become their own downfall this season.
That is not the issue here though, Newcastle were disjointed from the very beginning. The team struggled to find any rhythm from the very off.
Maybe it didn’t help that there always seemed to be a break in play, be it fouls, set-pieces or injuries. Or maybe it was because Rafa Benitez made a change too many in his team selection.
Rafa though, should not face criticism for his rotation. The side that he fielded was more than good enough to get something from the game, they just did not play well enough.
Matt Ritchie and Christian Atsu are two of Newcastle’s most talented players, but they didn’t show it. Both were poor from the beginning to the very end. While Ayoze Perez failed to offer anything at all.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was left isolated but ran himself into the ground and Jonjo Shelvey’s influence was negated due to Blackburn’s deep defensive line.
Moving on, after the game there were some, albeit not many, boos. After nine straight wins, this raises the question: is there anything Newcastle can do to satisfy some fans?
All sides lose games, all sides drop points, perhaps some areas of the fan base may do well to remember that no Newcastle side has ever won ten in a row.
That being said, all supporters pay their money to attend games and therefore are entitled to voice their disgruntlement when they see fit.
With Hull away coming on Tuesday night, the fans may have to wait until Friday night for a positive result. However, it would be typical of Newcastle to go and produce their performance of the season and knock a Premier League side out of the EFL Cup, in their own backyard.
Newcastle United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Never saw the game but was surprised at a shock result.
Unfortunately I can see a further two defeats coming up this week, and the toon back on shaky ground confidence wise.
Munich Mag(Quote)
After 18 games we’ve only had one draw. It really is win or bust football. Bring on Hull. I actually had a bad feeling before the Blackburn game, but didn’t want to say anything. BTW Blackburn have now won their last 5 games at SJP. We’ve stuffed Hull the last two times we’ve played there.
DJG(Quote)
Too many changes upset the apple cart but Rafa had little choice really with a cup game looming. Ah well can’t win them all.
kimtoon(Quote)
DJG good point, Blackburn were always one of our bogey teams at SJP.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Although Darlow kept goal very well on Saturday why did he continue to pump long high balls up field when we won very few headers? Admittedly we were frustrated by a referee who allowed Blackburn defenders to blatantly hold or push our players. Saturday’s ref would surely have been a good candidate to feature in a Spec Savers advert.
Groucho(Quote)
Refs in this division are rank awful, have said it since day one mate. FA seriously need to take a look at them, it’s not just our game either, every game you see some really baffling decisions .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim. You are spot on. I don’t expect refs to see everything that happens or to get all their decisions right but when fouls are committed in front of their noses and 52000 can see it why can’t the refs. As I have already said, on Saturday he gave Blackburn a corner where all could see no Newcastle player touched the ball. This led to another two corners and Blackburn’ s goal. Blackburn perhaps deserved to win but it doesn’t excuse the refs blatant incompetence. Do the FA monitor their performance?
Groucho(Quote)
Kim thats been my gripe since the season started bloody third rate refs that would get a sunday game to ref imo,FA should do something with so much money in the game now
icedog(Quote)
funny eh the spurs manager saying Siko is not the player he thought he was and has done nothing for the club and must work hard,oh am i pleased hes gone
icedog(Quote)
Moussa Sissoko has struggled to nail down a first-team place since signing. Mauricio Pochettino has suggested Moussa Sissoko has not lived up to expectations and insists he will not play Tottenham’s record signing simply because he cost £30m.
Sissoko, who joined from Newcastle in a last-ditch Deadline Day deal, has struggled to establish himself in Pochettino’s first team and was left out of the match-day squad for the Premier League defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
The France international openly disagreed with Pochettino that Spurs do not have the strength in depth to cope with both the Champions League and Premier League, after their Group E defeat to Monaco last week.
But the Tottenham boss says other players deserved to play ahead of Sissoko at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino said: “If you sign a player and you expect something, and you do not find what you expect, and if another deserves to be involved, like Georges-Kevin N’Koudou or Vincent Janssen, then why [do we play another]? Because we paid money we need to put the player to play?
“Football is not about money. You show on the training ground that you are better than another team-mate and you deserve to be involved. Of course he needs to work hard and show in the future that he deserves to be involved in the team.
“I need to take a decision and I believe the players that start on the bench deserved to be involved in the game. It is not another thing to focus on. (What he said) is not frustrating for me. It is about football.”
Shamrock(Quote)
This is why it kicked off. After they lost to Monaco, these things were said;
Mauricio Pochettino had already said in the press conference that the struggle of maintaining a challenge in both the Premier and Champions League was too much for the resources at his disposal. Sissoko, though, stopped long enough to dissent from that view.
“I cannot agree,” he said. “Personally I think we have a good squad and a strong team to do even better in the Champions League. That is why we are all so disappointed.
“We have a good enough squad to have finished in the top two, but our performances were not good. We are so disappointed because we are out of the competition already.
“Everybody is entitled to say what they think but for me our squad is more than good enough to have done better. But we didn’t do well enough and now we must take the criticism, even if we think it is wrong.”
He also said this regarding his slow start at Spurs;
“It’s true that there has been a lot of mishaps; my late signing, my lack of preparation for the season, my blow to the head against Middlesbrough, and this suspension,” Sissoko said ahead of France’s match against Sweden on Friday.
“When I arrived, I felt that my team-mates were aware of the amount of my transfer. I was not just any player, but I ignore all of this.
“I was not at the top when I signed, but that’s normal. They all worked well this summer while I had a mini-preparation.
Sissoko was suspended for accidentally elbowing Harry Arter in the face.
“The suspension fell at the wrong time. In addition, it was something involuntary. Even the opposition player said. I had to work harder than others in training and some double sessions to keep up.
“All that now is behind me. I have come out, grown up. All the lights are green.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sissoko was never worth 10 million let alone 30. A fool and there money are easily parted. Thank-you Spur’s 😀
Stem(Quote)
If the Spur’s manager asked any Newcastle fan, Is Sissoko worth 30 million there answer would of been No. Arsene Wenger was to intelligent to ever sign him. The big winner’s our Newcastle and Everton.
Stem(Quote)
Was speaking to a Spurs fan who said Levy lost all the credibility he built up with that Sissoko deal. Even Spurs fans could see what a complete cluster-f**** it was.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
I’ve got to say, I’m just not convinced by Darlow.
Shamrock(Quote)
Andy I never expected a 30 million pound bid on transfer dead line day. It was a good deal for us. Everton must be mad also. Transfer dead line day is hyped up for panic buying. A sensible manager does the deal’s he needs and doesn’t get dragged into it or Lee Charnley in our case last season. Just because player’s have good euro’s or world cup’s doesn’t mean you should pay over the odd’s.
Stem(Quote)
Sissoko, also had a good game when we spanked Spurs on the last day of the season. But still, the likes of El Hadj Diouf and many others have taught us that buying players based on their performances at international tournaments is mental.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Why’s that Shamrock ? Darlow I mean.
Stem(Quote)
Andy I liked Sissoko in his first game against Villa. 2-1 win away from home, not a comfortable win, nervy second half. He scored a good goal against Chelsea and Spur’s but apart from that his been mediocre, poor, awful. 10 million for him was reasonable for me. I still think sometimes the cheap signings turn out to be the best ones. Ba, Perez, Sibereski.
Stem(Quote)
Darlow is a really good ‘keeper and we would not be at the top of the league without him.
He had a very poor defence in front of him against Blackburn but it is quite sad if you want to blame him for that loss.
I am not at all convinced by Sels and I would rather have Woodman on the bench until elliott is match fit ,and even then I would continue with Darlow as first choice.
sidekick(Quote)
Got a reply from the Sir Bobby foundation today, who can’t allow us to place a banner on our site for them – not sure how Ed gets away with it mind!
Needless to say, I’m going to drop £20 in on behalf of the blog and will reproduce some of their news stories when I get chance…
“Hey there,
I am the owner of nufcblog.co.uk – a popular Newcastle United blog and I was wondering where we could get a banner to place on our site to advertise the Sir Bobby foundation.
Kind Regards,
Andy,”
REPLY
“Hello Andrew,
Thanks for your email and interest in the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
We don’t have banners available to advertise on blogs etc I’m afraid.
We do appreciate the offer though and best of luck with your blog.
Best wishes,”
MY REPLY
“Thanks for the reply – can we not just use the banner on your site in the top right corner?
Kind Regards,
Andy,”
THEIR REPLY
“Sorry Andy, no.
It’s something we’ve been asked about before (different blog, obviously) and have had to say no as a policy. The reason being, it suggests an official link between the blog and the charity. As a fund within the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Charity there are some general policies we have to adhere to.
We really do appreciate your offer though and if you’d like to carry our news stories on your blog, that would be helpful. Is that something you’d like to do? If so, I can add you to our distribution list.
Best wishes,”
Andy Magpie(Quote)
I believe Darlow is our best keeper and have never been convinced by Elliot. Fans being fans eh?
georgio(Quote)
£20 donated from NUFC Blog
The link if anyone else wants it
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thesirbobbyrobsonfoundation
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Well done Andy and nice try re the Banner. I can kinda see where they’re coming from, being a charity with NHS links it’s totally understandable. Thanks for the link too.
kimtoon(Quote)
I see Colback has been fined £25,000 for betting on a fixture not involving Newcastle. Silly boy!!
Groucho(Quote)
Must be nice to have £25,000 spare for placing a bet 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
oops I thought he bet £25,000 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
So toon have signed a young player from Spain 17 yr old a one for the future but expected to go straight into the rev
Icedog(Quote)
Reserves
Icedog(Quote)
Re; Darlow…. I don’t think he is particularly very good, just the best available between him, Selz and a kid. His distribution is not great, his reactions are not the best and I don’t think he’s very dominant. Elliott is definitely a better keeper pretty injury, but there will be a question mark over him when he returns… Will he still be as quick, flexible or strong? Same for Krul. Darlow does not look like a keeper with PL potential for me.
Shamrock(Quote)
Looks like Huddersfield bubble has bust lately,getting beat at home by Wigan
Icedog(Quote)
I got some duff information on Callum Roberts’ injury . Obviously wasn’t anything serious cos he played and scored the second goal for the under 23s tonight.
sidekick(Quote)
cabaye has been fairly Pardewed he now has a defensive roll when he first came he scored or had assists 33 goals in 79 games,he now has only 7 in 44 games at Palace
Icedog(Quote)
I am sure that calls are being made to Allardyce from Palace. If he is receptive then I think Pardew goes this week. The press are saying that he has the game at home to Southampton. I recall his teams at NUFC would often get a pasting from Southampton whoever they happened to be managed by.
My theory on Pards, is that the players get sick of his gobshitery. They buy in to start with but eventually tune him out. Their professional pride and instinct for self preservation then eventually kicks in and they may win a few games, but always unconvincingly because Pards is still picking the team and deciding the tactics.
Their record signing was a massive gamble. He scores in streaks and when he doesn’t score he brings little to the team. That was dangerous for Pardew.
The Palace fans are now well and truly sick of him. I read a report in the Guardian on the Swans game and there were about 200 comments all about how Pardew had lost the plot. Now he has turned on the players, sound familiar?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sidekick. Glad to hear Roberts does not have a long term injury. Don’t worry about the duff info. It’s difficult to get official info on the reserves.
Groucho(Quote)
Hi guys, there is a new thread up here :https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/11/29/big-game-preview-hull-city-away/ cheers!
Jake Swinburn(Quote)