Chelsea never got out of third gear, but we never got off the drive. Considering we had nothing to lose and everything to gain, it was a performance lacking in fight, desire or any sort of urgency to get at a beatable looking Chelsea side.
They looked edgy in the opening stages but the chances they handed us just exposed our total lack of quality and confidence in front of goal. Another striking example of why Rafa Benitez MUST be backed in the final few days of the window.
In the first half, both defences made mistakes – the difference being that Chelsea punished both of ours, while an isolated Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle rarely looked likely when they were gifted opening by an edgy looking Chelsea defence.
You are just not going to trouble a team like Chelsea when you’re toothless up top and error prone at the back. It perhaps sums it up when, despite conceding three goals, Karl Darlow was quite possibly our best performer.
Here’s what Rafa’s had to say post-match:
? POST-MATCH AUDIO: Rafa Benítez spoke to @bbcnewcastle, @talkSPORT and @5liveSport after the Magpies exited the @EmiratesFACup at the hands of @ChelseaFC. #NUFC #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/QeOqaIkHZI
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 28, 2018
We’re yet to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup under Mike Ashley’s tenure, and although today’s trip to Chelsea was never going to be easy, it would’ve been nice to see us play with much more urgency. We fielded a decent enough side, with several players who had a real point to prove, however so many just failed to deliver today.
We went through the motions. I didn’t expect a win, it’s Chelsea away, but I’d have expected us to make much more of a game of it – especially when Chelsea were well below their best yet still strolled to victory.
NUFC’s Man of the Match: The travelling Toon Army – they were the only ones who kept going from first minute to last and deserved so much more.
A huge few days ahead, off and on the pitch. A win against Burnley and the signing of a new striker by Wednesday’s deadline feels essential, but I’m getting less and less confident as time goes on.
Olly – I don’t entirely agree mate. I thought we played with urgency and were the better team in the first half. The energy and high press was good and we turned up to play.
The difference, the big difference is they had Hazard & Batshuyi and we had Ritchie and Gayle.
You go in 2-0 down after putting the graft in and it’s bound to deflate you a bit. I think that was evident when they came back out. Neither team really seemed that arsed in the 2nd half – it felt more a case of seeing out time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well i thought we were bloody toothless and I was totally bored watching that if I’m honest.
We are a ghost club under this owner, soul destroying and a complete waste of time .
kimtoon(Quote)
Well Chelsea has the ability to make most teams look pedestrian. Even their back up side wpuld be favourites against an ultimate NUFC side assembled from Ashley’s 10-year-reign.
I’m not suprised or disapointed by today. The Cup is a burden that this club cannot carry. Now WBA and Brighton have an extra game to squeeze in whilst fighting for survival, whilst our first team gets a bit more rest.
The only thing of significance for this club, this week, is getting transfers done.
No pressure Ashley.
shamrock(Quote)
agree here with every single word. It eats out all my passion on football.
funrafa(Quote)
Not surprised we lost. I am disappointed we missed chances again though. Think of the games we’ve had many chances in and ended up not winning. Bournemouth, Swansea, Huddersfield, Southampton, Everton and Leicester springs to mind. Blimey even if we only got 7 points from them it would make a massive difference. How can everyone see this apart from Jabba…
I made a prediction a couple of weeks back. I said Kenedy would be our one and only signing. Looks likely atm.
Stuart79(Quote)
In fairness, I do agree that we unsettled them early on, but we never once made the most of any mistakes they made. We may have been frustrated to go in 2-0 down at the break (I myself was wondering how Chelsea were so average yet managed 2 goals), but the goals were self inflicted. And the response in the second half just wasn’t good enough. Lack of fight/urgency wasn’t good enough given our history in the competition of late and all the Geordies who’d made the effort to go down.
Hope we were saving it for Burnley – must win.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
i think Ashley does not watch the games at all.
funrafa(Quote)
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/mike-ashley-fails-30m-bid-14208105?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
how ironic, not serious enough
kimtoon(Quote)
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| Rafa Benitez post match on transfer policy: “The fans are very clever. they know what is going on!”
Oh we do Rafa, we do.
kimtoon(Quote)
If we are moving to three at the back then with Lescalles, LeJeune and Mbemba tacking the centre right slots and Clark, Dummett taking the left then in theory at least we have players who can perform there.
Premandup(Quote)
I’d imagine Kenedy would be the left wing back if we’re going to use that formation. I quite like it as it gives us a solid defence and also the option of playing two up front which is what we need as we can’t score goals…
Stuart79(Quote)
If anybody is in any doubt of why we are where we are here’s a chance conversion rate chart from Transfermarkt:
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/chancenverwertung/wettbewerb/GB1
The good teams like Man City convert roughly 20% of their chances and the **** teams like us convert about 10%. There are some anomalies but for the most part the table looks very much like the PL table. What jumps out at you is that if we had a decent striker we would be mid-table because we have created chances at a mid-table rate.
To be sure, it would be nice to play free flowing football and to have a star midfielder but if we are looking at survival we need to convert more of the chances we make. I know that is obvious but a certain accountant and Fat Man are digging in their heels.
Get to midtable in the chance conversion league and we will not inly survive but probably be mid-table.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dummett probably competes with Clark and Lejeune for the 3rd centre back. I thought clark had a difficult game on Sunday and could make way against Burnley.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean, Clark could make way if Lejeune is fit. Mbemba will be dropped regardless and wont make the bench even.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wish we had tried to buy Batshuiy or would of been better trying to loan him rather than Kenedy.
kimtoon(Quote)
His value on transfer market is £22.5M, so not beyond our reach surely
kimtoon(Quote)
Actually, Lascelles had a difficult game as well but will not be dropped. We have a hard time against quick and mobile strikers and I don’t think Burnley play that way. Palace have Zaha who causes us problems though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Zaha guaranteed to get a pen against us.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric whilst you are correct regarding the FBO, we need a striker. That we are ninth in terms of shots ofn target would indicate that if that problem is solved we should be safe. Big if
Premandup(Quote)
Not top class defenders have a torrid time at Chelsea, read all about it. Another FBO
Premandup(Quote)
We need to really make some progression with transfers today if anything is to happen. If there is not news on an agreed fee then I think we can forget it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – probably about £12.5m beyond our reach I would say.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Burnley aren’t exactly prolific either. Their top scorers this season are:
Chris Wood – 4
Ashley Barnes – 3
Robbie Brady -3
Has the look of a 1-1 or 0-0 draw. Good for them and not really that much use for us. We need a striker!!!!! If we could sign one today he might even be on the bench on Wednesday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What little faith I had in the transfer window has evaporated. Kenedy is a good addition but NO ONE ELSE?!!
georgio(Quote)
Olly – I just thought Gayle and Ritchie were woeful yesterday. I don’t know if you noticed but they tried to link up on the edge of Chelsea’s area which didn’t come off & the arms were getting thrown around & arguing with each other – the bloody ball was still there to be won back!!!. It annoyed me that Hayden was a passenger for most of the game too.
I agree to a point that the goals were self inflicted, but that was some ball through from Pedro for their first!!.
But yeah, the discipline of the back 3 resulted in certainly the first 2 goals. I don’t think Lascelles & Clark played particularly well yesterday, but I think they are better defenders than that & can adapt to that formation fairly quickly.
I agree that the players shouldn’t have downed tools, but it must be frustrating for them too. They know our forwards aren’t good enough, and they know the owner is in no hurry to fix that – and ultimately doesn’t give a **** if they are playing PL or Championship football next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – they are very good defensively mate – the top teams have struggled to break them down. They only beat us 1-0 last time out & that was Hendrick from midfield.
They don’t have prolific forwards, but depressingly, ours are probably even less so.
Personally, I’d probably go with Perez as the front man with Murphy & Atsu either side.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We won’t beat Burnley lads, they gave Manure a very hard game so we have nee chance. We can’t score and they are **** hard to break down, will be amazed if we get anything from the game tbh.
kimtoon(Quote)
We need a Malcolm McDonald. Didn’t he score a hattrick on his debut? I think that other “Legend” Mick Quinn may also have scored a hattrick on his debut?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Palace and Manure very tough games too, if heads haven’t dropped by the Bournemouth game we might get something from that I suppose, and then it’s Liverpool.
kimtoon(Quote)
A supermac would never entertain us now sadly
kimtoon(Quote)
I am not on twitter but I do see the quotes on Eds and in the papers. Now think for a minute, Joey Barton and Piers Morgan have millions of twitter followers. It got me thinking of how many Gazza would have had in his glorious pomp. I think he would have broken the internet.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Trying to take my mind off how inevitable yesterday’s performance and result were as well as the transfer window 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Part of the reason I am not on twitter BTW is that Joey Barton and Piers Morgan have millions of twitter followers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We have been given a deadline of 6pm to meet Jorgenson valuation otherwise we can forget it they say. Fair enough – they need time to get. Replacement. Let’s scratch him off the list.
Anyone remember the briefing to Sky about the club being willing to break our transfer record for a striker. Is that why we bid £14m for Jorgenson and are now looking at loans…
The fact they think we’re so stupid is hilarious!
Stuart79(Quote)
So NUFC refuse to meet Jorgensons valuation so they’ve turned you sturridge on loan. How much will that cost? How many games until he’s injured?
Stuart79(Quote)
exactly, and it won’t happen anyway. If we are gonna loan why not try iheanacho from the foxes ?
kimtoon(Quote)
I thought they said it wasn’t going to “go down to the wire” to get somebody “over the line” because Ashley had “sanctioned funding”?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Don’t they realise our season might rest on the next 4 games:
Burnley (h)
Palace (a)
Man U (h)
Bournemouth (a).
10 games to go after that, so:
1 point – fcked
2 points – fcked but with some hope
4 points – hope
6 points -probable survival
7-12 points – never going to happen
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Massive questions over Sturridge, especially his fitness. What he would bring though is:
Selfishness – all our strikers seem to want to play it off to a teammate and not take responsibility. Sturridge will shoot on sight. A good and a bad thing.
Desire – last chance for World Cup at 28.
He is a stopgap which is what Fatty wanted all along.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If we did get sturridge he couldn’t play v Pool either .
kimtoon(Quote)
“Unreliable North East Journalist” Lee Ryder sends message to NUFC fans – trust Mike Ashley, he is your friend.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyone watching Oak Island. just saw a guy wearing a toon cap on the crew
Icedog(Quote)
Aye good point mate
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – I love that programme. Aye I saw him come in this week.
I reckon they have more chance of finding the treasure than we do of signing a bloody striker though mate!! ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
2 very different forwards in Jorgensen & Sturridge like & both come with their own risks.
No doubting Sturridge is a goal scorer & his finishing ability is up there with the best in the PL – when he is fit – and there’s his risk.
I think he will still see a way into the England set up with Rashford not guaranteed game time at Man Utd.
The trouble is, that could be his main focus & not our survival.
Jorgensen – I don’t know enough about him as a forward to say whether he could cut it in the PL.
The risk – well £20m for no real guarantees he’ll get the goals is a risk in itself. But, if he’s the player Rafa has picked, then I guess we should be going with it.
But thus far, we have only made an enquiry about Sturridge & don’t even know if he’d want to come. We know exactly the situation with Jorgensen – so either way, we need to get our fingers out. I’ll still believe it when I see the player holding the shirt though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We will get one for sure relax
Icedog(Quote)
Well Klopp said in his press conference that he doesn’t see how sending Sturridge out on loan benefits Lpool – so that one doesn’t sound too promising.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t see Ianacho leaving Leicester either with them just loaning Ulloa to Brighton.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stand by your beds. WBA have beaten NUFC to the loan signing of Daniel Sturridge… I’m now actually ROFL ?
Stuart79(Quote)
WBA agreed to pay loan fee up front,toon wanted to stagger it,result we miss out
Icedog(Quote)
How do you stagger £1.5m FFS!! It’s 4 months… 😯 🙂 😀
Stuart79(Quote)
Staggeringly inept. Sturridge would have been perfect. Even if we paid all of his wages it only came to £2m!
georgio(Quote)
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
omfg, we really are the pits
kimtoon(Quote)
Pardewed
kimtoon(Quote)
All in all this is bad news for us. Sturridge scoring goals to keep WBA up and probably us down. Hang your head in shame Charnley.
georgio(Quote)
Just saw the news on Sturridge. Gutted but not really surprised… realistically I just don’t see us getting any other players in … not impressed with the links to the Czech pair.
Numb now. ☹️☹️
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Apparently Sturridge is Brummie born and has chosen them for family reasons.
shamrock(Quote)
He’s got to come up with storey you cannot show a club up its just not done,it was the money,WBA agreed to pay everything we were not
Icedog(Quote)
Meh. All we have is newspaper talk. We know nothing except Ashley is a cheapskate and Sturridge IS a Brummie.
shamrock(Quote)
For 4 months… Is he really that insecure?
Stuart79(Quote)
Transfers are not just up to Rafa or Penfold it has to go through jabba man at SJP he says yes or no I’ve just forgot his name he sees to jabba financial problems
Icedog(Quote)
If you are going on a short term loan to a PL Club, both in a similar position in the league, 1 dragging their heels over finances, the other not, one in the far corner of the UK, the other on your family’s doorstep, who are you going to chose?
shamrock(Quote)
This family stuff is ****,Rafa spoke to the player who said he would come so what’s left MONEY,toon not paying what was needed
Icedog(Quote)
Yeah bit of both I imagine Ice.
Rafa has spoken to lots of players that have not arrived since he signed on.
shamrock(Quote)
I think we can all agree that it is farcical that we are still without a striker when Rafa made it clear he wanted signings wrapped up by 10 days ago at the latest.
Are the fans actually going to make a stand if we sign nobody and go down?
shamrock(Quote)
I believe you ice. It sounds very Ashley.
funrafa(Quote)
So the club are shocked he choose WBA over us. Why? Do they not know what they’ve created? They also think Jorgenson wasn’t worth the risk. Let’s see about yhat in May. ??
Stuart79(Quote)
the lawyer you mean? Bayens?
funrafa(Quote)
It’s almost like nobody knew or told them it would end like this by not knowing the budget until 3 weeks in.
Stuart79(Quote)
Bollocks is it family, he was off to inter Milan on loan until it fell through. It’s money pure and simple as ice says.
He’s a bloody sicknote anyway, how far has Toon fallen to get in a stew over missing out on him.
Feyenoord has called time on us too. Fucking embarrassment this club now.
They should be all out to buy or loan Ihniacho (spelling ) from the foxes
Negligent feckers couldn’t organise a **** up in a brewery and as for Ashley he couldn’t lie straight he’s that crooked.
kimtoon(Quote)
Justin Barnes is holding the purse strings at mikes behest .
kimtoon(Quote)
Biggest problem the knob beads have now is that everyone knows they’re desperate. What will that do to the prices? They won’t pay it. We’ve had our lot.
Couldn’t give a **** whether we stay up or not.
Stuart79(Quote)
We are a laughing stock … a joke of a club and the **** of everyone’s jokes…
There are no words for how low I feel right now. How the hell did Ashley become a billionaire and be such a moron?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Barnes mate,he’s pulled the purse strings,imo Rafa will walk at season end,I get some canny info from mate in club he cannot believe what happening one day something is happening the next it’s changed,he’s thinking somebody want Rafa to leave
Icedog(Quote)
“he’s thinking somebody want Rafa to leave”
It surely looks like that way.
funrafa(Quote)