I wasn’t expecting much given our wretched home form and Man Utd’s long awaited return to form, but it’s a real shame to see two errors cost us in an otherwise disciplined display.
Man Utd dominated possession (65%) and we only had 3 shots on target, but some poor handling from Martin Dubravka and Isaac Hayden being dispossessed in a bad area have cost us – despite us putting in a disciplined display defensively.
We were in the game for most of us and created some decent openings, but our lack of quality in the final third combined with our tendency to shoot ourselves in the foot is really letting us down at home – with tonight’s result being our EIGHTH defeat in 11 games at St James’ Park this season.
Dummett was solid and the pick of the defenders once again for me (although Lascelles was better than he has been in his defence), Atsu caused them all sorts of problem – despite showing real limitations with his final ball – but it was a frustrating night for Salomon Rondon, who suffered from a lack of service and the fact he was often left too isolated up top. Perez was absolutely anonymous, Hayden looked very limited, Diame was good off the ball but woeful on it. Shelvey came on and showed a bit of quality with a few cutting passes, but it’s clear we’re going to need more than just Rondon when it comes to people being able to make the most of them in the final third.
Defeat tonight and some bad results elsewhere now leave us just two points above the drop zone.
Here’s how the table now looks after today’s results:
Next up we have a home FA Cup tie with Championship side Blackburn – with Rafa likely to rotate given we’ll need our first-team ‘stars’ firing on all cylinders in the games against Chelsea, Cardiff, City and Spurs to come over the next month.
- Blackburn (H) – *FA Cup
- Chelsea (A)
- Cardiff (H)
- Man City (H)
- Tottenham (A)
We’re in desperate need of a January boost, with us crying out for a new number 10, more options in midfield and a winger with better final ball, but I have no faith in any investment. Unfortunately, the man who makes the decisions and has the ability to give Benitez that much needed boost has just come back from his holidays and couldn’t give a toss about us – as long as we stay up.
Newsflash Mike, we’re now two points above the drop zone..
Something tells me we ain’t worth £300m right now.
move along now nothing to see.
Oh dear Jabba , it’s all goin pete tong.
KIMTOON(Quote)
We didn’t expect anything tonight. Let’s move on.
Does anybody care about the FA Cup? From the last thread…
We need to play Shelvey and Lejeune to get them match fit.
Murphy and Longstaff need to play because Diame needs a rest/ he picked up a knock and we have no-one else with Ki away. We are relying on Hayden so we have to rest him as well.
Upfront, I think Muto is off to this Asian Cup waste of time so it is JOSELU TIME.
Rest/drop Perez, he needs a break.
Lascelles also needs a rest. He played well last year but prior, and now, always had a mistake and rash challenge in him. Hopefully Lejuene can rekindle their partnership or a trio with Fernandez.
We need new players before Cardiff and this time I do not even care if we lose to ANOTHER lower league club in the FA Cup and would probably prefer it. Our squad is so thin we cannot even afford a cup run. Remember Wigan – Cup winners and relegated. I think something similar happened with Brum (maybe finalists?).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As for Chelsea. I think we can get something from that game as long as we do not just sit back and invite them on. They are really inconsistent and have no firepower but if you allow them 15-20 shots they will beat you. I am not saying take the game to them completely, but mark Hazard out of the game and let them see if Morata and Kante can beat us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Of course after 4 wins against 4 **** teams Solskaer is saying he wants the job permanently. This happens every time – recently Craig Shakespeare at Leicester. Of course the fans will back him as well because of his history there.
This is set up perfectly for him. This team finished 2nd last year and is the 2nd most expensively assembled team in England and top 4 most expensive in the World. They were being held back by Jose’s tactics and attitude. Plus he is getting advice from Fergie which all of the other managers eschewed because they wanted to put their own stamp on it. OGS is smart in this regard because he knows this can only help him as the Molde manager on a sabbatical.
He could even get them 4th because Arsenal do not have a defense and Chelsea do not have an attack.
Man U have even said OGS will have input into January transfers.
I think he will get the job but if they really have short term ambitions to win the league they are making a massive mistake. They cannot just throw money at it and expect to beat the likes of Pep, Klopp, Emery and Poch. But I bet you this is what they do 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry to go on about Man U but it is because I want them to suffer a continued period of relative stagnation because of the utter arrogance of their fans over the years. The best way for that to happen is for OGS to get them 4th and to beat PSG, which is possible.
After Moyes, their fans wanted Giggs FFS who had no experience at all. How did that work for Gary Neville at Valencia?
Having the failed Cardiff coach go up against 2 of the most brilliant coaching minds of the last 20 years (Pep and Klopp) and an innovator who has worked miracles at Spurs on no money would be very funny. They would be going for the 4th place trophy every year which would be such a comedown for them.
I can’t wait.
Still better off than us though 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Good write up Olly. Atsu was my MotM.
Year after year of selling good players and buying **** is now taking its toll. If, as I expect, we get no new decent players, I think we are down again this year. We may get some players but from the Aldi lottery… ?? ☹️☹️
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Hey DT, since you are on I just bought a book you may be interested in. It is called MAGNUM Contact Sheets and is a reprint of an expensive hardcover that only costs about $30 US now. It is the group that your buddy Cartier-Bresson set up and they did photo journalism for the big pictorial magazines. There are some iconic images and it traces world events and everyday life from the 50’s through 2010. A lot of black and white.
I didn’t even know what a contact sheet was but I am sure you do. The book shows the contacts sheets that were taken before the final image and then presents that image with a short explanation. 3 or 4 paragraphs, so not a lot of boring essays!
I looked at your instagram the other week and you might like it. Its on Amazon so I am sure you can get it in Dubai. I think the original is sort of a collectors item.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Most of the players put in a good shift but the quality of Man U passing was far superior. Nevertheless Man Us weakness in the centre of defence gave us periods when we were on top. Dubs mistake for the first was unfortunate and for the second I thought the ball was there to be won by Lascelles at the start of the Man U move but for some reason he made no effort to go for the ball. Perez I thought made more passes to Man U players than to our own. How he gets in the team week after week leaves me baffled. Muto for the short time he was on looked a thousand times better – not difficult given how poor Perez was. Hayden worked hard but offers nothing going forward. Rondon slow and cannot jump. Don’t think he won a ball in the air. Atsu was the only one who worried the Man U defence but he needs to work on his crossing. Diame had a good game up to going off. Dummett is a good defender but he probably had more shots on our goal than Man U. He and Lascelles seem incapable of making a simple pass forward other than a blind lump in the air. Having said all that I enjoyed the game more than I thought I might beforehand. Although Man U have some better quality players as a team we were not outclassed and with a few changes we could be a good side. Rashford is a very good player but should concentrate on football and not cheating. He cut it out in the second half and perhaps his manager had a word with him at halftime.
Groucho(Quote)
Actually starts in 1934 with the Cartier-Bresson image of the kid on crutches in Seville taken through the bombed out wall.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Forgot to mention Kenedy’s performance. He had a chance to prove himself when he came on but did nothing to convince me we should keep him. That’s why I overlooked commenting on him.
Groucho(Quote)
Either buy him or send him back. His price must have come down a lot with his performances, but if Rafa rates him then pick him up on the cheap and free up a loan spot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hi Eric, yes having had my own darkroom for many years, I know what a contact sheet is and have hundreds of my own… that sounds a very interesting book, I’ll see if I can find it on Amazon. Thanks for the heads up… if you go to my Instagram page mate, like a few of my images if you can please… cheers!
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Magnum attracted the very best documentary photographers. Seriously good stuff.
Unlike the Toon. We play without a forward who remotely looks like scoring a goal. Most of them must have forgotten what a goal is. It was a surprisingly good game, we did quite well but we are totally toothless up front. Embarrasing.
georgio(Quote)
A very predictable result in the end. We are just so powder puff in the final third. Although when you see Man Utd bring on two subs worth about £140m it does put things in persective.
We are in serious ***** now. Other teams picking up points and are likely to be active in January. We will not be. With Huddersfield effectively gone it’s 2 from us, Cardiff, Burnley, Southampton, Fulham and Palace. I’m not even sure Palace will be involved to be honest.
Stuart79(Quote)
The PL have NOT been informed of a new owner of the toon
Icedog(Quote)
Neither have anybody else!
georgio(Quote)
Leazes Flags ????
@FlagsLeazes
Despite @NUFC informing us that we had until Saturday to collect the flags from stadium, £4500 worth of flags have been destroyed and binned.
This is what #NUFC think to the efforts of our team and fans.
bloody hell man, club really are the pits 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Who would want Hayden? Seems a very strange situation as you would think he could afford to send a limo and fly his family up for a few days every week.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DT post your Instagram address again and I will have another look. I didn’t write it down.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Jabba has just taken 10 mil out of club as a payment on the loan he had given us in the ccc season,what swine he is,make sure Rafa gets nowt why don’t you
Icedog(Quote)
DT: BTW the bad marks on Amazon refer to the binding on the original hardcover which cost $200 and not this new paperback which is fine for the price and the paper quality is good also.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It seems unfathomable that Ashley will not at least spend a reasonable amount in order to give us a better chance of staying up. He knows the financial consequences of relegation because he has seen it twice. But more than that, he knows that if we buy good players that we will recoup that investment if we end up relegated anyway. He saw it with Wijnaldum, Sissoko and Townsend and in the prior relegation with Bassong etc.
If we spend money this window it doesn’t just simply disappear. We have a player asset that we can sell if relegated. You would think that he would want to avoid relegation at all costs because of the vast reduction in revenue.
Obviously, he has set us up for possible relegation by cutting the payroll to the 3rd lowest in the PL. But if we stay up then that makes us even more attractive to a buyer because they are starting with almost a blank slate but with some valuable players like Lejeune. If he won’t sell he could gradually pay himself back whilst still spending on the team because of the crazy TV money we would receive for staying up, even for just another year.
It makes absolutely no sense and that is before we even talk about losing Rafa and the PR disaster that would be. He owns a majority share in Bishops’ PR company so spin that you fat ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I did a back of a napkin calculation and reckon that by the time the final TV payments are made this year we will have over 100 million sitting in the bank or due from previous transfers. Why not use some of that to ensure we stay up?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The numbers are that we made 160 million last year and are set for the same this year. Payroll is the biggest expense and was probably about 70 mil last year and less than 60 this year (extrapolated from the last accounts and also that accounting group that listed all PL clubs’ payroll). I know there are other expenses but it is obvious that there has been substantial profit made here. Add in a zero net transfer spend in the PL and money due from previous player sales and there must be significant money in the bank and more coming in.
It just doesn’t make any sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Was really looking forward to this Man City/Liverpool game and then saw Phil “the idiot brother” Neville is co-commentator.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just search for my name (Roy Frankland) or dragonroy and you’ll find me Eric ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
My prediction:
Rangers have just loaned Defoe and are in for Steven Davis from Saints – 2 very good players for them (Defoe will score for fun up there). This will result in Rangers now winning the league up there this season. As a consequence, Brendan Rodgers will be out of Celtic and will be installed as Rafas replacement when he leaves at the end of the season having not been back again this Jan.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Rafa on radio5 more or less said he won’t be signing anyone in Jan and hopes to finish above the bottom 3
Icedog(Quote)
What are we really going to get in the loan market? We are boxed out of the PL because we have our quota. Abroad, we can maybe get a loan to buy from the likes of Bordeaux who need money and are willing to take a chance. Then there are the big club reserves like PSG and AC Milan where Rafa could use his contacts. So, I am not expecting to be blown away by loan deals.
And what did we get last year anyway…
Lucky with Dubravka. He had only really played 6 months for Sparta Prague when we got him and was back-up Slovakia goalie, so he was pretty much an unknown quantity.
Kenedy was a risk. Hardly any playing time with Chelsea and not knowing if he was a wing back or winger. Worked out well for a short while but we still do not know what we have got and Rafa seems to be questioning his commitment.
Slimani. Last day desperation move who was injured when we got him and had 1 decent game.
If the Fat Man thinks we can rely on the loan market he has another think coming.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So that leaves us with purchases in January which is a notoriously difficult time to buy with overpricing and everyone chasing the same players and all having the same need – a goalscorer and/or a number 10. Again we have to get lucky because as Ice says Ashley will not spend.
I am sure we could get Almiron if we would stump up the cash. He is worth the gamble at 20 million. Apart from him, who? Players whose contracts are running down who we could conceivably pick up on the cheap. Everybody plays that game now and it is very hit and miss anyway, For every Sissoko there seem to be 3 Marveauxs.
As Ice is saying. It looks like we are stuck with what we have. Bishop will say Lejuene, Ki and Muto are like new signings.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DT: I looked at your photos again and there are some great ones in there. I see you published a book as well.
I am a total amateur just starting out and didn’t even have a camera until 2 years ago for a trip to Spain. Everybody has always said my holiday photos were different to anybody else’s so I might get into it more.
I have bought quite a few books for inspiration as much as instruction and might get out a bit in Chicago. There are meetups where professional photographers will lead a group around the city covering varying different subjects. Free, so what do I have to lose when I am just starting out.
I take what I think is interesting anyway so this can only add to whatever I do. Having lived in Chicago for 28 years I know it is a great city for Architectural, Urban and Street Photography. Hedrick Blessing, the foremost and most innovative architectural photographers, are here and there is even an architectural photography museum with a massive archive and the same at The Art Institute.
There will be no shortage of subject matter. Just have to get out there and LOOK.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This might turn into a photo blog again because I see the next 3 weeks as nothing but depressing 🙂 Maybe sneak a point at Chelsea but then knowing us will draw against Cardiff to end up bottom 3 after Spurs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The next kick in the balls might be losing to the Mackems in Checkatrade. I know it is meaningless and they can play their first team, but still that won’t stop them parping on about it, especially if it is 2 nil 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DT: I have learnt from the old photos that everything doesn’t have to be super-crisp to be good. Composition is key. I still like the National Geographic or Audobon type, of course. What I am not liking is the over-processed style there seems to be which makes a lot of stuff seem the same. Thankfully, you are miles away from that. I did notice that you have a signature style going through SOME of your work where it will be monochrome with one splash of colour – usually red.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also DT: one of your photos reminded me of a photo in that Magnum book. It is by Rene Burri of The Ministry of Health in Rio.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would encourage everyone on here to look at Dubia Toon’s Instagram page. I didn’t realise we had such a talented artist on here. Even if you go just to look at his excellent pictures of the North East it will be worth it. But there is so much more, you won’t be disappointed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
STUART: India 608 for 6 so far. You don’t declare, you bat on. I thought the series in England was a lot closer than the result and now the Aussies have to pay 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s a foregone conclusion. India have the best pace attack in the World now so an innings defeat 🙂 🙂 🙂 BTW , I am not of Indian decent, I just want them to thrash the Aussies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wow Eric! Thank you for the amazing praise! ??????
Appreciate it mate, really!
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Which one of my images? Thanks again mate! ??????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Have we signed anyone yet ?
Been bought ?
Ah well, as you were.
kimtoon(Quote)
Leazes Flags @FlagsLeazes · 2h2 hours ago
More
Continue to be told.
The life and soul of the club has been sucked out.
Children can’t get an autograph and left in tears.
Adults kicked out of the stadium for talking to both current and ex players.
Stewards obtaining signed memorabilia when kids can’t.
what a state it all is.
kimtoon(Quote)
NUFC 360 @NUFC360 · 1h1 hour ago
More
There is plenty of interest from Premier League clubs after Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden has spoken of his desire to exit St James’ Park, with both Fulham and Crystal Palace potential suitors. [Bristol Live] #NUFC
kimtoon(Quote)
The one with the 4 groups of couples in Paris I think. Taken from the side and above with stairs and shadows.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here DT. It is this plus a couple of others taken in the same place. There are a series of them and it just so happened they were in that Magnum book I bought and then I saw that one you took that reminded me of them.
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/burri-ministry-of-health-by-architect-oscar-niemeyer-rio-de-janeiro-brazil-1960-p14307
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anatomy of a Chronicle “Story” – actually 3″
* Chronic repeat unfounded Mirror rumour that NUFC are after Balotelli
* Chronic put up poll asking readers if they would want Balotelli
* Chronic say they have checked it out “AS ALWAYS” and say there is nothing to it.
And they say they don’t do clickbait. If that was true, wouldn’t they do the checking before putting out this BS?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh no, dear reader we are innocent. We don’t do clickbait. We are merely offering a service and passing on what other journalists say…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A couple of months ago Mark Douglas put out a like 5 thousand word defense of The Chronic editorial and journalistic policy explaining how they don’t do clickbait. It was tripe then and it is tripe now. Fcking hypocrite.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We know that Olly, Ed, The Mag etc all do clickbait. It is how they drive their traffic. The difference is that they don’t write holier than thou editorials saying they don’t do it.
They all do it. Otherwise you wouldn’t see stories like “Newcastle sign midfielder to mega 4 year deal”. They don’t put the name in the title and once you’ve clicked it turns out to be someone like Dan Barlaser signing an extension.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s a necessary evil for me unfortunately. If I didn’t hit targets with article views then I wouldn’t be able to do something I love on a full time basis.
One thing I will never do, however, is something like “Newcastle star signs new deal” when it’s actually an average youngster as you say. Even if we were linked with someone like Felliani from Man Utd, I wouldn’t write ‘NUFC linked with January move for Man Utd STAR’ as that would be totally misleading.
I’m sure I’ve got a few wrong over the last year or so, but I prefer to take the angle of dangling the carrot (e.g writing a headline that draws people in), but not purposefully misleading readers into a trap whereby they are totally let down when it comes to the article.
I get criticism from quite a few on Facebook, but some of the stuff I see the likes of ‘nothing but Newcastle’ writing as headlines when I look through news now is shameless.
I take your point with the Chronicle though. They are meant to be the source of info (I just share what I read and pick up from sources like them and other papers / Sky etc.), yet they do all the clickbait around a rumour before checking it out as you say.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Finally saw the highlights of the Man U game and I am not sure what people are on about blaming Shelvey for not tracking back for the second goal. There were 5 NUFC defenders on 2 and Shelvey was there waiting for the outlet ball. It is not his fault if 4 of the defenders were ballwatching.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Olly: you do original articles like your previews and opposition views. We all understand that you are not a full time journalist. Or SEVEN which is what I think The Chronic have on sport, but 99% NUFC. Before you lot took over there was about an article a week on here so it got a bit stale. I am still not sure how Ed gets so many comments as it is all bickering and nonsense about frogs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks Eric, yes I know the image you mean… to be likened to images that hang in the Tate is praise indeed and a level I can only aspire to mate, but thanks anyway! ????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
How many Chronicle reporters does it take to change a lightbulb? At least 7 because I don’t know what else they are doing with their time and I am sure I am missing one (Stuart somebody):
Lee Ryder
Craig Johns
Sean McCormick
Chris Waugh
Andrew Musgrove
Mark Douglas
John Gibson
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Lee Ryder: “journalist”, raconteur and lighting technician.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Can anybody actually believe the Chronic have at least 7 full time staff following NUFC and we get what we get from them. They send like 3 or 4 to each game and end up writing the 5 things we learned drivel.
Still waiting for an actual valid lead for the transfer window – loan or purchase.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Otherwise, what’s the point? Unless it is a denial that they write clickbait. When they obviously write clickbait, sourced from tabloids and passed on.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Transcript of the latest Chronic B&W Podcast:
Chris “the intern” Waugh: gannin’ ti the match the morra like Wor Lee?
Lee: Aye, it’s me joerb like. Have to do aall them playa ratin’s. It’s hard work giving Dubravka another 7 and Yedlin another 5 like.
Chis: Ah knaa, I have a hard time with me 5 things we learned as well but at least I have an intern now. An intern to an intern, as it were. When I get writer’s block my intern, Craig Johns, helps out with the other 4.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Chris: so what you sayin’ in your preview?
Lee: I am not sure as I have to stick to my self-imposed 30 word limit on all “articles” I write. It’s at SJP, on grass and Shearer played for both clurbs.
Chris: Sounds good. Why don’t we have John hall write something about the good old days when he saved the club and that Mike Ashley wasn’t such a turd and he believed every word he said.
Lee: that would go past my 30 word limit.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mark “no clickbait here” Douglas: alreet lads, how about something original this week? A story about Rafa being after the top scorer at Leeds? Just make it up, we’ve got nothing else.
Sean McCormick: how do these lightbulbs go in again. Is it righty tighty?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gibbo: listen to me young lad. It is always righty, tighty. Joe Harvey told me that when I was a young intern “journalist” at The Chronic writing in exactly the same style as I do today with the same haircut anaal. Passed everything I know to young Ryder.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sean McCormick: do you need a hand with that lightbulb Craig Johns? Lee’s off to the pub to write the last 15 words of his 30 word missive so we have the place to ourselves. Do you like velvet?
Gibbo: I am still here remember lads and we will have none of that.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, that’s my idea of The Chronicle offices anyway 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, i would say that’s pretty spot on mate.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stoke who are 14th in the Championship have just spent £20m on two players. That will be more than we spend…
Stuart79(Quote)
these so called group of 4 trying to buy the club struggling to raise the price jabba wants then what the hell can they do to buy players if they bought it, does not look very promising to me if they cannot take club forward imo
icedog(Quote)
Great news today as the Chronicle Ace reporter Lee Ryder has an exclusive that NUFC are about to sign 2 players from Brasilian super-Agent Tinky-Winki:
Dipsynho – a right sided midfielder who likes staring at the sun.
Laa Laa – left back as backup to Paul Dummett.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And in other news: Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller married Angelina Jolie.
That actually happened Eric!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
B/mouth spend 19 mil on L/pool striker that failed a medical at Palace on Wed
Icedog(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2019/01/04/blackburn-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-predicted-line-ups/
Blackburn preview! 🙂
Olly Hawkins(Quote)