An appalling display from Newcastle United as individual errors and a total lack of drive all over the pitch saw Southampton run away 2-0 winners in a game they dominated from start to finish.
Almiron and Sean Longstaff gifted Adams and Armstrong goals in each half, however the scoreline flattered us in the end, with us forcing McCarthy into just one save all night, losing the midfield battle unanimously and failing to have any answer for their non-stop pressing and intensity.
Steve Bruce named an unchanged side from the one that put Everton to the sword on Sunday – meaning Isaac Hayden again missed out as Jeff Hendrick controversially kept his place in the heart of the three man midfield; a decision we’d all go on to bemoan.
As for formation, he again trusted the new – and somewhat successful – 5-3-1-1:
I was feeling hopeful as the game kicked off, with the Saints without star man Danny Ings, however Miguel Almiron singlehandedly ruined any hopes of a strong start just seven minutes into the game.
He dwelt on the ball for far too long on the corner of his own box and unforgivably allowed Kyle Walker-Peters to pick his pocket.
Theo Walcott picked up the loose ball and he passed the ball across the box towards Che Adams who struck a fierce first time volley past Karl Darlow, who could’ve done better with the effort.
The dismal start continued as we looked completely smothered by Southampton’s energy. We lost possession on numerous occasions as a result of slow passing and laboured attacks. The opening quarter can be perfectly summed up by Karl Darlow, as Lee Ryder reported the ‘keeper telling his teammates to ‘wake the **** up’.
The football followed the same pattern for much of the first-half, with Southampton dominant. We only created two chances in the entire half – and they came from set-pieces. Said chances fell to Jamaal Lascelles and Sean Longstaff, who both should’ve done better with their headers; failing to test the goalkeeper.
Before half-time struck Southampton should’ve made it two. A moment of quality from Djnepo – and some awful defending from Schar – saw him flick the ball into the path of Walcott who drove toward goal and curled a low effort just past the far post.
Thankfully for us, the half-time whistle soon followed. A half full of defensive errors, needless fouls and terrible attacking game to an end. Fabian Schar, Jacob Murphy and Jeff Hendrick looked particularly out of sorts – all three were completely swallowed by Southampton’s intensity.
If anything, we were lucky to be just one goal down and I had little optimism ahead of the second-half.
Southampton nearly put the game to bed just five minutes into the second-half. Janik Vestegaard misjudged a free header at the back post and the ball eventually fell to Jan Bednarek, whose effort was heroically headed off the line by Jamaal Lascelles.
Moments later, Oriol Romeu’s sensational strike from distance rattled against the crossbar. It easily could’ve nestled into the top corner of the net if not for a brilliant fingertip save by Karl Darlow!
Darlow was again our saviour in the games next notable event. Jan Bednarek rose highest at a corner but saw his powerful header saved by the outstretched gloves of our stand-in number one.
As the final act of the game approached the only positive was that Matty Longstaff was back playing football, making his first appearance of the season – putting his injury and contract issues behind him in the process.
Southampton really should’ve had a penalty as the 75th minute struck, as Jamaal Lascelles hacked Theo Walcott down just outside the six-yard line. The skipper might’ve got a little bit of the ball, but it was a rash challenge and I’m amazed he escaped a VAR check.
Relief soon turned to despair as we saw Callum Wilson holding his hamstring. He limped off, being replaced by Andy Carroll. Joelinton also replaced Jacob Murphy but their impact was minimal.
When I thought the game couldn’t get any worse, it did. Sean Longstaff did his best to impersonate Miguel Almiron’s mistake as he needlessly lost the ball, being easily dispossessed by Stuart Armstrong; who then thumped a low effort past the helpless Darlow – making it 2-0 and game over, not that we were ever in it!
Joelinton nearly clawed one back with just minutes remaining in the game. Jamal Lewis found the Brazilian on the edge of the box with a fantastic delivery, and his excellent header was met by an equally stunning save; denying us any hope of getting back into the game.
I have to admit, I was glad to hear the final whistle which put an end to a truly horrific performance. We had no answer for Southampton’s intensity – we constantly lost possession, made unforgivable mistakes and created nothing going forward.
I’m not sure Steve Bruce even had a plan A in that game – never mind a plan B when we struggled to deal with Southampton’s energy from the off!
We’ve got the quality in our side to be playing so much better. Southampton’s team is no better than ours man-for man, but Hasenhuttl has given them an identity and a clear game plan – something we’ve never had under Steve Bruce.
Absolutely abysmal.
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Bruce and his team would be more suited to a Sunday morn.As they are tactically bereft and way off the pace for premier league.He should do the decent thing and let the cleaner take over.Newcastle are probably the reason why Sky have chucked ppv.
Steveo(Quote)
Bruce is the one that can sort a ****-up in a shower after a defeat (!?)
The guy has been given some very good player’s after blaging the Manager’s job
This guy just isn’t a Manager – no matter how many drunks he gets to say he is!
Everyone may blame player’s for making costly errors BUT if you play the people in positions they aren’t used to, (!?)
KK(Quote)
Oh Shyte. Covid and all that!!!!
I was listening to Audioslave and then realised Chris Cornell committed suicide.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The match report can be copy and pasted from virtually every game we’ve played. I’m so bored of watching. I’m actually so pleased we can’t actually go and see it…
Meanwhile on a planet far, far away people are struggling to count ballot papers and a giant man baby has probably chained himself to his cot.
As if 2020 wasn’t weird enough…
Stuart79(Quote)
The clearest and most obvious clue as to why Bruce is just so archaic and lacking in tactical nous is that every time we win a game he always keeps the same side the game after, regardless of who we’re playing. Why? No teams matches are the same yet he has this 1980’s view that the players deserve to keep their place after a win. No, Steve, it’s your job to pick a side for each match and the likelihood is that each game will require a different set of requirements not a one side fits all approach.
The saddest thing is that Ashley will be delighted with what he’s seeing.
Stuart79(Quote)
Utterly clueless coaching .
Powder puff MF
Square pegs in round holes, which he’s done at every club
Lots of soft tissue injuries, also at his previous clubs.
Honestly look up his post match interviews/excuses from his previous clubs and they are identical .
Seems a nice enough bloke but so out of his depth, too quick to blame players rather than his game management.
We do not have bad players we really don’t, but boy do we have a poor coach. Rafa had us solid defensively and far better organised with less talent at his disposal than Bruce.
Now we have a hammy problem for Wilson, who saw that coming ? oh and Fraser has a small tear in his hammy too.
Why cant we pass and move with pace ? Running from a standing position is probably key to the soft tissue injuries, we need much more fluidity about us.
When Bruce was spending the transfer kitty he should of gone for a CMF capable of controlling the MF . Ours is static and powder puff, they were completely by passed last night.
So many individual errors and all the wingers we have yet they have to drift in to get the ball because our cmf is so inept, it’s a waste of talent . ASM is either injured or totally fed up cause he’s been a shadow last two games.
kimtoon(Quote)
Bring back Manqy and Dummett.
Groucho(Quote)
Manquillo
Groucho(Quote)
Groucho – was that autocorrect 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewie: you will eventually come around to my view that he is absolutely Fcn mental. He has only 5 words – – tremendous, beautiful, great, Jarod, terridactil.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Everyone now has ASM sussed, he’s getting less and less effective as each game goes by. It’s pissing him off and it shows. We have 4 wingers and one striker. Hendrick is so static . . . I won’t go on but that was rubbish.
georgio(Quote)
Etc. Certainly.
Groucho(Quote)
kimtoon(Quote)
I said it yesterday – when we are good, we are bang average & when we are bad, we are total dog ****.
Pundits keeps saying we are not fun to watch – I’ve heard Keane, Dyer and Redknapp say it in the build up to our recent games … yet they still dig us fans out for criticising Bruce.
We are bottom of all of the offensive stats and top of all the defensive stats in terms of shots faced etc.
Bruce said after the game that after 15 months it’s still frustrating him that after a good performance & good win, we can then have such a bad performance … isn’t that on him???.
But .. he’s picked up points so far, so he’s safe as houses. The 2 worst performing teams so far this season – us & Man Utd and the managers are probably 2 of the safest in the league ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, it’s frustrating because we were looking good towards the end of Rafas reign, solid at the back and finally starting to click up front with Ronny and migs. It feels like it’s been dismantled and i’m not impressed with Hendricks or Lewis that much tbh. Our once decent defense has turned to mush .
kimtoon(Quote)
I watched Saints against Everton – the game before ours, and other than Ings being in the team, Saints played exactly to same way against Everton as they did us.
So when Bruce & his staff are scouting opponents, they had the blueprint of exactly what Saints were bringing last night.
I’m not suggesting that Bruce has to change everything for each opponent & I’m all for playing your own game – but they must have known Saint would play the high press, high energy and give our defenders no time on the ball.
For Lewis & Almiron to be caught on the ball the way they were for their goals should not have happened. To be fair to those 2, that wasn’t the only time in the game it happened – it was time & again, and Bruce said it himself in the post match interview – as if he was reviewing someone else’s game.
If we’d scouted the game properly we should have been playing 2 touch football on the training pitch all week – not playing slow immobile football and getting caught in our own final third.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – I’m not sure about Miggy, but certainly Ronny & Perez were linking up well – but both obviously left & Bruce inherited nowt up front. That’s why I was prepared to be more patient with him last season. But he has good players in that squad now – zero back up to Wilson though – the subs backed that up last night – Carroll & Joelinton ??♂️.
Hendrick has been really disappointing. He does even play with the enthusiasm of someone who has just joined a new club. He was decent against WH out right, but offers very little in midfield.
I feel sorry for Lewis a bit. He’s a young lad who’s just come into the team so it would naturally take a bit of bedding in. But he’s been switched from a back 4 to a back 5 and unsettled formations. Usually you get to go in and be told – this is your role & this is what we expect of you – after 2 or 3 games the lad would get it. But almost every other game it’s different. Plus, when he’s in a back 4 he gets little help from ASM in front of him.
I agree his performances have been below par, but I rate the lad & think he’ll come good.
Bruce has to make a decision, because I still think his best balance is the 3 CBs – but it’s not a formation that suits Lascelles imo. Schar & Fernandez are better footballers – Lascelles is a no nonsense header & tackling defender.
It may be that he needs to look at which players are going in, because I think he’s ‘best 11’ don’t fit a formation – and he’s trying square pegs in round holes. Another example of that is ASM as a number 10 – doesn’t really work for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Alan Pardew was a pundit on Sky last night.
Come the end of the game I thought something I never ever thought I’d even consider … I’d take Pardew back tomorrow ????♂️ … god I need a cold shower just writing that ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Wash your mouth out 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I’m really sorry ????
But in all seriousness, I probably have to go back to him (can’t say his name now) for the last time I truly enjoyed watching us.
He wouldn’t never be my first choice if it came to replacing Bruce by the way – or 2nd or 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th for that matter. It was purely the fact he was on and an ex toon boss that the thought even entered my mind.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, he literally gave me a nightmare did Pards.
I have recounted it before, in my dream he was digging up my garden and i was whacking the s hite out of him and screaming at him for ruining my display .
God knows what a dream analyst would make of that. 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – don’t worry it was defo a dream. Pards wouldn’t get his hands dirty, he’d have sent Carver to do it ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ding Dong the witch is dead!!!! This is my best day since Thatcher died. Trump is out. Finally.
Another month in the courts, but he is out anyway.
I have no idea who voted for a 5-word president.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Leeds getting smashed off Palace!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – I was watching a program over here last night who was saying that if Trump looses then he could quit before the January date, meaning Pence would get a few weeks as President … and as President could pardon Trump of all his wrong doings means he could not be prosecuted.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I like to watch the championship to do a bit of scouting for players I think could move up to the PL.
I suggested Maupay when he was at Brentford and went to Brighton, Bowen from Hull & Watkins from Brentford.
At the mo Stoke have a young lad Tyrese Campbell who’s only 20 – but if he keeps going with way he is just now I reckon he could do it.
But the 2 stand out forwards – Adam Armstrong & Ivan Toney.
Both were with the club and let go by Rafa.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mansfield Town have beaten the Mackems in the FA cup… ???
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Biden might not be the best president but a turd on a stick is better than Trump and at least it will mean that his spawn and spawn-in-law will not run for office any time soon.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Congrats Joe Biden
kimtoon(Quote)
I will explain he US senate to you in the next couple of weeks Stewie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is the best day for America… EVER.
Kicking out the Orange man-Baby is the best day for the country … EVER
He is a CROOK,
A FRAUD.
HE ONLY HAS 5 WORDS – BEAUTIFUL, GREAT, TREMENDOUS, KALEIGH McEANananY-annanay
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Steve Mcmananaman-mcmananamanamamanamnan-amanaman-amananaman.
Even more high pitched and throalal than CHarra-hochel-charra=Stevie-G-spit.
Geermins?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes, Stan (Boardman)… Yer Dad said Geermins and you made a whole career out of it!!!!
You did have a 2nd really **** “joke”. Fockers.
Can I get your job?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You see! I get really annoyed with people with language difficulties.
Stan Boardman only has 2 words Geermans and Fockers.
Trump has only 5.
Bruce only has 1 – delightful. Was it a delightful loss Steve?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, I am delighted we lost today. It was a delightful loss that we played in our delightful 9-0-1 system again in a delightful way, so delightfully.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes, I am delightfully, delighted that we lost and that Jermaine (talks a better game than he played) Jenas will delightfully make excuses for me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And may I just say that I am delighted: Delightfully so.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m not sure he’s been found guilty of any wrongdoings has he? The man is a clown but let’s be honest he’s had so much ***** thrown at him from dodgy FBI accusations to having golden showers with Russian prostitutes yet none have provided evidence to suggest he did anything untoward.
Stuart79(Quote)
He will be a better president than Trump on the face of it and I doubt he could be any worse but I’m sorry to say he’s a dodery owd ******. My prediction is that over the next couple of years he will get physically worse and his speeches will be more muddled. Hope not but I see his VP as the next POTUS and that will be before the end of his term.
Stuart79(Quote)
There’s something happening here. What it is aint exactly clear. Young people dancing in the streets, telling Trump he has to retreat.
It is all young people out celebrating for a 77 year old President. But, they are out. And so young! It makes me feel there might be a future for this country after so much division in the years of Donald Trump and the C@NT Lindsay Graham.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Reagan had dementia in his second term.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewie:
You havent seen what I have seen from living here. Trump is a fraud, a cheat and a fool.
He employs frauds, cheats and fools. They go to prison unless he pardons them. He will go to prison unless Pence pardons him.
He employs Rudy Guiliani FFS. Watch the Borat movie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Biden won by 4 million votes.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And the Senate Stuart. That could flip because there is a run off in Georgia for 2 seats after they just voted for Biden. I will explain later. Not today. This is a day to celebrate and just be happy.
This means something because of the division Trump has meant/caused. He is a total tw@t and the sooner he is gone, the better.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think I would probably have a Biden with dementia than the Trump spawn. Have you ever listened to Don Jr? Or his girlfriend who is also part of the Trumpy team? Giuliani? The worst mayor in history.
Taking a tragedy for his own gain!!!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewie.’
Do you know the history of Joe Biden?
His wife and daughter were killed in a car crash when he was 29.
His son was killed in a war 8 years ago.
The man has bottle.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Biden ran as a 29 year old. You are not even allowed to BE in the Senate until you are 30 years old. He ran when he was 29 knowing he would be 30 IF, IF, IF elected.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wasnt an Eton boy eirther..
Hello Boris.
Hello Cameron.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Watched Kamala Harris call Biden. She said:
“we did it joe”
In a happy and joyous way.
Not the Trumpian way of moaning and being angry.
JOYOUS.
Welcome back America. Welcome back.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I have two genuine questions;
1) Why is the US a country where people don’t feel like they can let people know they would vote Trump? Polls were so far wrong and probably because of trump voters being scared to admit it.
2) Why do so many Americans have it so bad that they wanted to vote for him? How bad must their lives be? That’s a sad indictment of previous presidents is it not?
Genuine questions them.
Stuart79(Quote)
I think you’re missing something, Eric. Donald Trump, however unpalatable, childish, petty, corrupt, a cheat or a fraud he is he still got more votes than any other candidate in history apart from Biden. More people voted for Trump than Kennedy, Clinton, or Obama. Is that cause to celebrate? Biden has one hell of a job on his hands. I hope he’s up to it but I genuinely don’t think he is at his age.
Stuart79(Quote)
His life story has been tragic, no doubt about it. The guy has come through an awful lot. But I still feel he’s got a lot of votes because he’s not Trump, not because of his policies or because he’s Joe Biden. We all need a strong US but whether he can provide that? I don’t know.
I would have voted for Biden for what it’s worth. But as I said, probably because he wasn’t Trump.
Stuart79(Quote)
In his victory speech Biden said “230 million thousand Americans who lost their loves ones to this terrible virus”! Imagine if that was Trump.
Not a great start…
Stuart79(Quote)
The poulation nimber has grwon since Kennedy etc. it is 320 million now.
It is like saying SJP has more people in than in the 70s.
38k then 52k now so obviously there will be more people voting now if all you do is count the people who vote in SJP.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Trump only knows 5 words – “tremendous, beautiful, great, Jarod, terrific.” He cannot put a sentence together so he could never say what you just said Biden said.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Their slogan is – MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN – AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! AGAIN?
They have been in power for 4 years.
WTF are they talking about!!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
3 more states did legalize marijuana so maybe Trumpy is on that. Or the crack?
I dont do either so I am not sure what the effect is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You would have to be an idiot to vote for Trump. And I know you are not an idiot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
****. I am sure we will have Trump TV over here soon. Hosted by Fcker Tarlson and Sean Hannity and Lou TW@T Dobbs.
Discussing QAnon and telling us Rudy Giuliani is not a dirty old man.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewey: I enjoyed meeting you in Chicago. So I know you are not an idiot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nobody got votes because he wasnt Boris or Turd-on-stick Farage.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So….
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Going to Key west and Miami to get away from this ****.
Will be 25 degrees.
Covid?
Seafood.
Shrimp. Crab. Crab cakes. Snapper.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do you know they take the claw off of a crab and you can eat it and then it grows back?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think I might go to Ernest Hemmingway’s house.
Not totally sure yet.
Maybe? I think so.? Might buy the sweater. The Old Man and the Sea. I will be 58 on Dec 8.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, what do you think about the state of the US? Where over 70m people still voted for Trump? Is that a stable country in the making?
Stuart79(Quote)
Kamela Harris is a bit left wing isn’t she? If Biden sees out his term then she will stand for election in 2024. I doubt whether she would win. She’s far too radical left for the US as Trumps voters have proved and the fact Bernie Sanders couldn’t cut through. Thank God…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stewie man. Trump’s voters are too right wing for the US. Crazy, crazy, gun gun. AK47s gun. Go to the state house with their guns, and even more guns. Wear military uniforms gun. gun.
Arrange an 8 person militia to kidnap an elected official in Michigan and have a kangaroo court to execute her, gun, gun. The Governor FFS.
Blow up a building in Oklahoma City. right wing fckn nutters. Timothy McVeigh. And you talk about Bernie? He is a baby in comparison.
But you are scared about the left?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Michigan is 60 mile away from where I live and the RIGHT WING nutters set up a crazy scheme to kidnap the governor and kill her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Set off by Trumpy BTW.
But Bernie is the problem.? 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewie. You dont live here.
Trump set the militia off.
He said to riot in Michigan and kill the governor (in as many words). He set the right wing crazies off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BTW I dont agree with the looting. That’s nuts as well.
They are stealing 20 packs of soda and putting it in their car with a camera watching them. How stupid is that!!!!!
You can go to jail for 3 years for 20 cans of pop!!!!!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That does kind of make the point I’ve been making that you’ve ignored. Trump got over 70m votes from his supporters. Let’s assume only half are as you described. That doesn’t sound like a particularly stable country to me…
But the left scare me with their economic policies which lead to more of the Trump supporters you describe.
The left and their crazy liberal policies quite often create the anti immigration and more right wing culture.
Stuart79(Quote)
NO.
The right wing bigots create the right win policies.
Like Trump.
Lile Hitler.
Like Farage.
Like Moussolini.
Like Fraco.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The left wing create the right wing? REALLY?
That is pure madness Stewie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)