An alarming reality check on Tyneside today, as a woeful Newcastle lost 0-3 in a diabolical display against Brighton in our opening home game of the season at St James’ Park.
Two goals from Neil Maupay and a late third from Aaron Connolly did the damage, with us unable to cope with a Seagulls side who cut through us ease and were rarely tested at the other end. Callum Wilson put a free header over in our only big chance to get back into it, but with ZERO shots on target all afternoon we got what we deserved.
Steve Bruce named an unchanged eleven from last week’s dismantling of West Ham. Miguel Almiron remained on the bench despite his two assists in as many games and Ryan Fraser still wasn’t deemed sharp enough a Premier League start.
Brighton have proved to be a bogey team for us in recent times, with us failing to score in any of our previous three meetings with the Seagulls at St James’ Park and unable to beat them in our last six meetings since promotion.
It didn’t seem as if our fortunes were going to go change as we suffered a disastrous start to the game.
Two minutes in, Tariq Lamptey burst past Allan Saint-Maximin and the Frenchman needlessly brought down the marauding right wing-back just inside the penalty area. After a VAR check, Neal Maupay smashed the penalty down the middle. 1-0 Brighton.
Our misery was compounded soon after. Leandro Trossard was slipped in by Tariq Lamptey, again down the right hand side. The Belgian drilled the ball across the box and found Maupay – who took it first time and beat Darlow for the second time. The tough offside call went the way of the visitors and we were 2-0 down in seven minutes.
Shortly after the two goals, Saint-Maximin switched wings to get away from the electrifying Lamptey, who had absolutely terrorised him with his energy, pace and intensity. 30 minutes in, the Frenchman hobbled off and was replaced by Ryan Fraser.
Brighton had been brilliant, but it was a dismal showing from a Newcastle point of view, with us all at sea defensively and outnumbered, if not half asleep, in midfield. Wilson was trying his best up top and made some great runs in behind, but Carroll was never close enough to him and didn’t look mobile (or fit) enough to get into the box or catch up with play the odd time we looked to counter.
Changes were desperately needed and Steve Bruce responded, taking an ineffective Andy Carroll off for Miguel Almiron at the break. Saying that, it was all too little too late.
Almiron and Fraser did momentarily inject some much needed energy into the side and we slowly grew into the game. Our real first chance of the afternoon was created by the Paraguayan, who found Callum Wilson with a brilliant delivery – only for our new talisman to send free header over the bar. He really should have scored.
After that missed opportunity Brighton looked the side more likely to get the next goal as Aaron Connolly struck the post just before the 70 minute mark. Shortly after, Trossard also hit the woodwork with a good effort from just outside the box, not that we made it difficult for him to get a shot on Darlow’s goal with more stand-off defending.
In the 83rd minute, Brighton then the game completely to bed, not that a comeback ever felt likely before they made it three.
Maupay created space for his strike partner Aaron Connolly who had an age to compose himself, take two touches and curl an effort past Karl Darlow with ease. A truly diabolical piece of defending from us, with Fernandez failing to close down Maupay and Lascelles giving Connolly all the time in the world to curl an effort into the far corner.
In the final moments, the impressive Yves Bissouma – who well and truly got the better of Hayden and Shelvey – struck Jamal Lewis in the face with a dangerous high boot and saw red.
The final whistle was blown soon after and I for one, was glad to hear it. Boos would’ve rang around St James’ Park had there been fans inside, as that was absolutely awful in all areas. Outplayed and outmanoeuvred from top to bottom, with Potter outsmarting Bruce and the players looking second best from the outset.
We were almost unrecognisable to the side that beat West Ham last week and had been completely dominated by Brighton from the first minute until the last. Bruce’ set up put us in an awkward position from the outset, but there was a worrying lack of effort and energy on that pitch today, with the players allowing their frustrations get the better of them from Brighton’s early goal onwards.
An absolutely terrible display in so many areas. One to forget, yet a performance that also highlights how much we’ll have to improve ahead of a busy schedule and tough run of fixtures.
What a difference a week makes.
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I can understand why Bruce went with Carroll against WH – and it was a good call.
I also understand why he played Hendrick right wing coz Fraser hadn’t played much football and wasn’t ready.
But Bruce needs to have the sense to think, just coz it was right for that opponent – 1. Doesn’t mean it’s your strongest team and 2. doesn’t mean it’s the best line up for every opponent.
It’s a rough call changing a winning team & if he’d made the changes and we were still 2-0 down early on then everyone jumps on that.
Having watched Brighton against Chelsea, the only reason I think Bruce went for Carroll was set plays (and the winning team thing).
Hendrick scoring and assisting as a RW should not have kept Fraser out – he should have been moved in field instead imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I mentioned it when Man Utd played Luton. Jesse Lingard or Jacob Murphy?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good win last night, nice to see Joe get a couple too.
kimtoon(Quote)
Two of #NUFC’s senior medical staff have been stood down from their roles amid an internal investigation.
First-team physio Michael Harding and soft tissue therapist Wayne Farrage have not been seen at the club for the past week. [Daily Mail]
interesting
kimtoon(Quote)
It has to be that they gave the go ahead too many times for players with niggles to play and they subsequently got injured.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Have you seen the draw. Next round it is almost exclusively PL against PL, and then we have Newport. Blackburn and 2 League 2 teams. We have the easiest path to the QFs ever.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Think about it. What’s a physio make? Probably the same in a year as Shelvey makes in a week. All you have to do is give the go ahead a couple of times to a couple of injured players who are then out for a month and you’ll have Charnley looking at his wages chart.
Then there are recovery times for players. I can think of at least a couple who didnt really get back to any form – Lejeune and Sean Longstaff. You might add Matty Longstaff in as well. Of course Gayle has a history of injuries but not so many when he was on loan at WBrom.
The anomaly is that the injuries went down under Rafa so is it really these lads’ fault or is it training methods and coaches pushing for players to return? I can see a case being filed for wrongful dismissal in the near future.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I highly doubt Murphy will start against Spurs but I think he will be in the matchday squad as a reward for his attitude, good training and performance in the cup. St Max only twisted his ankle and that should mean he will be OK. He will give Spurs more to think about, especially if we play Miggy, Wilson and Fraser.
We should not let a bad 30 mins from St Max taint our views. Some fans are so quick to criticise and it is not just the Twitter generation. I see old men on other blogs writing him off. One thing we know is that he will give the other team something to think about and if he is on it he will cause lots of problems. West Ham were so concerned about him that they devised a plan to hack him down everytime he had the ball. We should have done better from those free kicks even though a lot were at half way. He cannot be played as an auxiliary left back. On that subject…
My memory is fuzzy on this, but I think that is the role Rafa gave Murphy the few times he played him. Did he also play a game as wing back? And as I have said before, if you dont follow Rafa’s instructions you do not play. Rafa did a lot of good things at NUFC but he wasnt exactly known for unleashing a players creativity.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I even saw some revisionism saying St Max didnt show up at West Ham. Their thugs targeted him and the Ref let them. Moyes’ plan was to stop St Max and see if Shelvey and Carroll could beat them. I am surprised he could walk afterwards.
I am trying to think of equivalents in other teams. Zaha at Palace is probably closest. One outstanding player in a team of average players. And let’s be fair, that’s what we were against West Ham with it being Wilson and Hendrick’s first game and Miggy and Fraser on the bench. Moyes’ plan had a high chance of success but West Ham are ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – if I were Bruce I would go back to 3-4-2-1 against Spurs.
——————-—- Darlow ——————-
—— Lascelles-Fernandez-Clark ——
Manquillo——————————- Lewis
——— Hendrick —— Hayden ———-
Fraser ———————————- Miggy
——————— Wilson ———————-
If Lewis is still knackered then Ritchie
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, you think St Max wont be fit? Yours is close to the team I picked yesterday. I think Bruce will play all the new signings and hold Murphy or Ritchie in reserve for Fraser if he tires. This was my guess:
Darlow
Manq Lascelles Clark Lewis
Hayden Hendrick
Fraser Miggy St Max
Wilson
I like having Lewis and Clark in the team as as I have said before I am off to Oregon and they were famous for the Oregon Trail among other things. There is a Lewis and Clark museum in my 1st stop of Astoria. If I have time I think I will go to it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If you dont know, Lewis and Clark are probably the most famous American explorers and are credited with opening the American west to the white man. Probably the equivalent of Captain Cook except they didnt get killed by the natives.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Spurs playing a strong team in Macedonia;
Hart
Aurier
Sanchez
Alderweilered
Davies
Winks
NDombele
Dele
Lamela
Bergwjn
Son
Hope they all play 90 minutes.
Cant wait for Jose’s pre-NUFC press conference. He is going to be in a bad mood after his travels 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – if he’s fit he’s not going to be 100% I don’t think mate. He took a pasting against WH, took a nasty knock at the end of the Bburn game, and obviously came off against Brighton.
I’d bring him on later in the game, after they have chased Miggy and Fraser round a bit mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Spurs ahead 2-1 but had to put Kane and Lo Celso on on 60 mins. Moura on with 25 mins to go and Son still playing. I bet this is not what he wanted.
And even though the game against Orient was called off they would have trained for it.
We are being handed a gift, can we take advantage? Jose will be fuming and when he gets angry he lashes out at EVERYBODY. Nothing is ever his fault.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Spurs ahead 3-1 now but I am finding this seriously funny because they are having to play their top players. Game ends 9pm GMT and it is a 3 hour flight to London. They’re either going to get to their beds at about 3am or fly back tomorrow. Either way, Friday training is pretty much a bust. So they’ll have Saturday to recover AND prepare. 1 day, Ha ha Jose.
I think Pardew was right about the Europa League being a problem unless you have a deep squad. Spurs have a decent squad but played their best players.
2 O’Clock kickoff on Sunday. They couldnt even get the late game. Jose’s going to explode.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Rhian Brewster didn’t play at all for Lpool last night. Feel for the kid a bit coz I’m not sure what he’s done wrong, but Klopp obviously sees him as expendable.
I’d love to see us go get him. I think if Gayle was fit & we could move him on, then maybe we could.
Hopefully Lpool would settle for a loan to buy option and we could get him that way – but I think Lpool want to cash in now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
From the accounts described in The Chronic, MASH Holdings where Ashley keeps NUFC has over 400 million in cash. I think this is where he keeps his personal Sports Direct shares from when he sold the company. But remember a couple of years ago he said he was cash poor? Well now he isnt, if he ever was. He may have other uses for the money but it tells me that he can put money into NUFC if he so wishes, whether it be to protect his asset from Coronavirus or relegation.
I dont know why he is p!ssing around with Bruce though. Surely, having given the go ahead to buy some decent players to add to some already here like Dubs, St Max and Amiron he would also want a decent manager. And with this squad I think we could attract someone better.
I would give Bruce until the international break and if we see anything like Brighton again, he would be gone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I read some comments from Everton fans in The Guardian and it seems they have turned on Pickford and want a new goalie. About time, but the pundits and journos stuck with him.
I dont know what it takes for journos to state the bleeding obvious. They seem to pick their favourites and then nothing can be said against them. They did it with Rooney when it was obvious that he had slowed at 26. They did it with Wilshere when they said WHam had made a good move to give him a 100k a week contract and said it was cheap if he could regain his form. He hadnt played well in 5 years and was always injured. It was a massive gamble.
I watched the Villa game and they rolled out the stat of Grealish being the most fouled player in the PL. BUT, the co-commentator, Jim Beglin finally said he sometimes goes down a bit easily. Finally, finally. He didnt go as far as me to say he is a cheat because I know he deliberately runs into people and falls over. Such a waste of talent.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Boll0cks. The injury situation doesnt look great. Doubt Bruce will risk St Max from the start, Lewis looks like he is out full stop and Clark is injured. Have to adjust my team. He should go with Murphy on the left but i think it will be Joelinton. Going to be positive though and put Murphy in anyway.
Darlow
Manquillo Lascelles Fernandez Ritchie
Hayden Hendrick
Fraser Miggy Murphy
Wilson
Still wouldnt be surprised to see Shelvey, but I am not sure in place of who.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is a risk playing Ritchie as left back but Manquillo has looked **** when he has been there and Dummett only started training again this week. Still wouldnt shock me to see Krafth at right back, Manquillo left back and Ritchie on the left wing.
This is another hard one to call because of injuries and Bruce’s favourites.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I’m amazed Jack Butland is still at Stoke. I’m not suggesting he’s world class, but certainly PL when you look at some of the other keepers in the league – and certainly better than Pickford – only 28 as well.
It’s strange how his and Harts career just seemed to nose dive at the same time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Pope looks good and Henderson had a lot of praise heaped on him so it seems there are alternatives to Pickford. I couldnt care less about Everton but I have been saying for a couple of years that he will cost England a big game. It is really strange how managers are so loyal to their keepers and it takes a massive error to change this. Are you old enough to remember Shilton and Seaman? Both great keepers but kept beyond their sell-by date.
I will have to see more of Henderson before I would say he is the next big thing. In the games I watched he tried to save a couple with his feet when maybe his hands would have been better. He is from Man U so probably picked it up from De Gea.
People have also sussed De Gea as well. He is susceptible to long range shots and saves with his feet a lot so you have to hit it higher if you are close. He will pull off the occasional worldy which makes you think he still has it. He hasnt, his confidence is shot on the long range shots that he has to save with his hands.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BTW: I have been a bit critical of certain players like Rooney, Wilshere and Pickford, mainly because their Pals in the media backed them to the hilt when it was a plain as the nose on Phil Thomson’s face that they were struggling.
So I will make a positive prediction. Timo Werner will be one of the stars of the PL and will finish top 3 for the golden boot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Olly: this Blog is also social media. I think we have all been a bit critical of Joelinton at times. How could we not be? His performances have probably rated at best a 6 and towards the the end of last season it was getting down to a 4 or below. The lad lost all of his confidence.
There was also a bit of encouragement. I would vary from week to week, mainly depending on my mood, not his performance. I often said there COULD be a player there. Still not sure. He has to show me.
I dont think there was ever any abuse on here though. Not saying that you said there was Olly.
Totally agree that the twitter warriors should shut their gobs/laptops. After the run of form he has had he was fully justified in putting up a very good goal on Twitter. Anything to get his confidence up.
It is so weird that you see so many NUFC fans say they will always back a player as long as he gives 100%. They lie. There is always a scapegoat and has been as long as I have been a NUFC fan (45 years). Now you just dont hear it down the pub or in the stands you get it on twitter and blogs and it gets a wider audience that way.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Critical is one thing, but abuse is a step too far. I think that’s the big issue – especially after his first brace for the club.
So bizarre that some get a kick out of putting him down.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Re the abuse towards Joe, I think it’s really sad. What ever we think of him as a player, there is never an excuse for that imo.
He posted his goals and was obviously really happy he scored, then he gets that c rap back. Feel for the lad .
kimtoon(Quote)
I posted on the night that he’d found his level – with a laugh emoji. It was meant as a joke coz I have regularly put up a defence for Joelinton. Anyone who is having a genuine pop at the lad after that game and 2 goals is a lost cause.
I think we could see a much different player this season – I’m not suggesting going to become WC or anything like that, but a far more effective player.
I don’t know of many CFs who won’t have struggled in his situation last season. Young lad with all the expectations placed on your inexperienced shoulders. So many times the ball played up to him and not another Newcastle player within 20-30 yards of him. Don’t get me wrong, there was a few times in front of goal where his finishing should be better, his touch wasn’t great and he could have done better – but talk about being thrown in at the deep end. Young Brazilian lad moving from Germany, trying to settle at a club who’s fans are foaming about the manager – and so many who would have rather had Rondon. So unless he came in smashing goals in from all over the place, he didn’t stand a chance.
He’s not making our strongest 11 imo. But he’s a good player to have in the squad, and with a bit of time, and a bit of confidence building, and who knows.
Gayle & Carroll are in latter stages of their careers & Joelinton is still in the earlier stages of his.
If we do right by him this season, there is still a player to be had there I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brighton are turning Man Utd inside out here like. I said before our game that Potter have them playing some good football and they are showing it again against Man U.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Lucky Manure with the late pen, they didn’t really deserve the win imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – they didn’t, but it was the right decision for the pen & I thought VAR was used how it should be in that game.
Brighton only have themselves to blame really coz they had SO many chances today.
If Man U end up spending £100m on Sancho it’s the same as Arsenal getting Pepe imo. The money needs to be spent elsewhere in that team – and Man U will be lucky to get anywhere near the top 4 if they don’t improve that defence imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have to see what happens with Joe.
Seriously,
Spurs thought Son was **** in his first season and **** were criticizing Bergkamp.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/09/26/tottenham-a-predicted-line-ups-pre-match-thoughts-team-news/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)