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.
Follow us on Twitter (@NUFCBlogcouk) and on Facebook HERE
So, I am going tp have a salad (left wing) and then a steak (right wing). They are not connected at all but the right wing made me eat the left wing. And Chicken? or peas?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You got it, Eric. Have some bacon bits sprinkled over it too.
Stuart79(Quote)
Liverpool beating City with a pen they got which was a pen but just before that Sterling got fouled, stayed on his feet and didn’t get the free kick. It was a perfect example of why players dive. They don’t get free kicks if they stay on their feet.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stewie. We can get along without it meaning much. and can be civil about it.
We have different opinions on some things. But I dont mind your opinions. The CV19 opinions are close to mine but I cannot figure that one out so I wont be as strident as you about it.
I think I am banned from Eds because they are as crazy as Crazy Donald on there !!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Grealish is a much better player when he stays on his feet. He is a bl00dy good player when he doesnt cheat.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Messi is slowing down. I watched him dive for the 1st time in my life this week. He never dived. But he did this week!!!!! he would always ride the tackles believing in his own ability. Not this week!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aston Villa looking ok. How do they manage to play decent football and we are about as entertaining as IBS?
Stuart79(Quote)
“But the left scare me with their economic policies”
You prefer policies that destroy the planet, make people homeless, unemployed and hungry. You prefer policies that take from the poor and give to the rich and creates massive inequality. You prefer policies that deny people health care and education and housing and a decent wage.
I can’t for the life of me understand why people are so keen to make other people’s lives a misery.
Brisvegas(Quote)
??
A very simplistic way of looking at it from what I am beginning to think is a very simple person…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: BrisV is not wrong when it comes to the USA. The tax system is set up to benefit the old and rich. If you work, the 1st $125,000 you earn you have to pay 17.5% for pensions and medical benefits. Not for you, but for already retired people. Then you have to pay up to 35% in taxes from the 1st dollar. In Illinois you also pay 5% in income taxes and 11% in sales tax.
But if you live off Daddy’s money the capital gains and dividend tax is 20% and there is no tax to pay for the health care and pensions of senior citizens on that income. How is that fair? If you work, you pay over 50% in tax but if you sit on your **** and live off the interest/dividends you pay 20%.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There is this myth that the USA has a low tax rate. It bl00dy well doesnt. I know what I pay and then there is health insurance on top. There is no NHS here until you are 65 and your employer pays for health insurance, which is pretty much a cost that you indirectly pay.
It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under. Huh,Huh,Huh,Huh. Dont push me coz I’m close to the edge.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The USA under Biden will be rejoining The World Health Organization and The Paris Climate Accord as some of its 1st business. It will also remove the ban on the immigration of Muslims. Some think that is a bad thing but it is in keeping with anti-discrimination.
Trump discriminated on the basis of colour, sex, religion, wealth, healthcare and just about every other thing you can think of.
#WorstPresidentin History
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh, I forgot that Trump is a racist. How could I forget that!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
bruce is playing the same style of footy he did at Villa,he got the sack for it at least the new manager is playing attacking style of footy the fans can enjoy hes not a guy with a big rep
icedog(Quote)
All you have to do is look at who Trump has hired in Govt and the Judiciary. OLD-WHITE-MEN and Jared and Amy (tokens but they may as well be 90 year old men given their politics)
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, I don’t know enough about the US tax rates so I can’t really comment. In the UK we have this thinking that we should be a low tax high quality public services country. It’s not possible.
I hate the politics of envy where people think those that do well should pay more and more and more forgetting what contribution the higher earners already make. Socialist like to level up (noble cause), but they want it by bringing wealthier down, not bringing the poorer up.
I also believe that the key to prosperity is employment and employers should get incentives to employ people. If that’s financial then so be it and if that makes the owners richer then so be it. They won’t put it under their mattress – they’ll spend it or invest.
Although I am intrigued by somewhere like Jersey who have one tax rate for all. Apparently they have the highest rate of collected taxes in the world. The theory goes if everyone pays the same then less people try to avoid paying tax. Interesting theory of nothing else.
Stuart79(Quote)
I read Charlie Bennett’s piece on Bruce and NUFC. It is quite funny. He says – what do NUFC fans think? That you can finish top 6, top 8? This from a player who won the league with BLACKBURN!!!!! Leicester also won it. Burnley, Burnley finished top 8. I am under no illusions about where we are and that money is the biggest factor in the game today. But, we can dream.
He also rolled out the old chestnut when talking to the NUFC fan, you know what it is, the – “What do you know, you never played the game professionally”. There is a little bit of truth to that BUT we also paid his wages by going every week and being inundated with betting ads on TV so I think we deserve a voice. Typical ex-footballer pundit. They always say the same thing and defend their pals.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: the tax system in the US is on its head. It is simply unfair and charges those least able to pay the most. But they dont call it a tax as such. They call the 17.5% I pay on the 1st dollar I earn a social security fee. They pretend it is not a tax. Then, unlike every other civilised country on earth we have to pay for health insurance ON TOP OF everything else. That is a stealth tax.
But Republicans have conned their supporters into thinking this is normal and that 20% on interest, dividends and capital gains is right whilst the rest of us pay 50% or so on our hard earned income.
What we have over here is a 2-tiered system skewed to benefit the wealthy. I would not mind if we all paid the same rate, but that is just not the case. The Boston Tea Party was about “taxation without representation”. What your regular guy gets over here is taxation without benefits. At least you get something for the taxes you pay in the UK, or Germany or France. We get F-all and pay more for it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I normally stay away from politics. It has just been 2 years of non-stop politics on TV over here and I needed to vent. I actually deliberately do not talk politics with my friends. Sorry for polluting this blog with it, it has just been so non-stop I couldnt help myself. And I am so relieved the Orange Man-Baby is gone but he will leave a legacy with his policies. They preach they cut taxes, but they didnt for your working man and woman. He cut taxes for his billionaire buddies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice/Stu – I think the 2 key things for he is the manager knows how he wants to play & has an owner backs him by bringing in the players he wants – not just what he needs.
By that I mean spending the money on Olly Watkins, and spending the money on a new keeper, loaning Barkley – whilst also keeping hold of Grealish.
They seem to be a club where everyone is pulling in the same direction.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was watching a podcast the other day with David Dunn.
There was some quite funny stories from his time playing, but the key bit for me was his time at B’ham under Bruce. He admitted himself that he didn’t live the most professional lifestyle and didn’t look after his body the way he probably should have. As a result, he would get a few injuries, which he hated not being able to play.
He said he was in one day and working on his own as he was injured & feeling a bit down. Bruce called him in and said he noticed he looked a bit down, and told him to go book a holiday & take some time off to cheer himself up – a weeks p!ss up in Tenerife.
Dunn said, Bruce was great with the players that way, but didn’t really do discipline – said he was more like a father figure than a manager.
I can well believe it, and I think that’s our biggest problem. The players love him coz he doesn’t b0ll0ck them – where I think Rafa was less liked coz he put the footy first.
Our club will always be unsettled while Ashley is there, because while we have a decent group of players now – the decent manager they need to get the best out of them would never work for Ashley.
Any decent manager wants the backing of the owner – and you want get that from an owner that wants out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have better players this year but we are still BORING TO WATCH. We are the same as last year. We eek out a draw and have the odd occasional good match but mainly we are BORING TO WATCH.
Stats do not always tell the full story but in the case of NUFC I think they might. We have been incredibly lucky, not just this season but for Bruce’s full term. Goodness knows what we will do now without Wilson.
But the stats… 20 PL teams and where do we rank?
20th shots faced
20th shots on target by opposition
20th in shots taken by NUFC
20th in shots on target by NUFC
20th in shots saved (I know I was wrong on Darlow!)
39% possession. Not sure that is the lowest but we are in a division with West Brom and Burnley so that is like a tallest dwarf competition.
Bruce will probably say he is taking an undeserved kicking on social media. It is totally deserved given the players we have. We have better players than Southampton, especially with Ings out. Bruce is at about the level of Ugly John Carver and Steve McClaren.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Can you believe Steve McClaren was once England Manager 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – to be fair there are loads of pros that say McClaren is one of the best coaches they’ve ever worked with – he’s just not management material.
It was the same with Craig Shakespeare at Leicester – he got loads of credit for the coaching he done under Pearson & Ranieri & the players wanted him as manager. But when he switched roles he just didn’t have the skill set.
Some people can do it – like Jose under Sir Bobby or even Rodgers under Jose. They can switch from coach to management, but others should stick to what they do best.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: what does Bruce do best? He was a good player, I will give him that. Talk shyte? Have the worst winning % of any PL manager in history? Complain about the internet and social media? He is very good at that. Play Joelinton? Get his players injured? Employ 2 other Steves even though they are ****? look like bagpuss (you are probably too young for that reference Sharpy 🙂 Look like Mrs Doubtfire. Have all of the money in the world from former jobs he was sacked from and not fix that nose?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Bruce man management is probably very good. I just think his absolute as a coach for today’s game is incredibly limited. I don’t think he’s embraced up to date styles and it does show in our performances.
Stuart79(Quote)
Crappy start to the week, had to have my 17 year old cat put to sleep.
RIP Honeybear
kimtoon(Quote)
So sorry Kimtoon. I still think of my dog who died 5 years ago. I get emotional about him even this long time later.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Very sad, Kim. Our cat is 17. He’s had diabetes for 5 years and is starting to really show his age. He just sleeps, eats and comes and demands we stroke him…
Grand old age for a cat though, well done for that!
Stuart79(Quote)
Now I have got myself all worked up about my dead dog. I think it is this election. Had me on an emotional roller-coaster. I am so happy Trump was defeated, although he will claim it was fraud. I actually wanted him to die of Covid as the final act of irony. I can honestly say I have never hated anybody in my life apart from him and a c@nt I grew up with called Frankie Horner. 2 people in my life! And one I have never even met.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewie: seems like Pfizer have developed a vaccine so there may not be a need for herd immunity. Thank goodness. Come March this might be over. And it wasnt part of the Trump ridiculousness called “operation warp speed”. Pfizer developed it separately. Who the fck names a fight against the biggest threat since Hitler after a made up term from a TV show 50 years ago. Trump!!! Because he is a fool.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – took the words out my mouth mate. My thoughts exactly.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – that’s **** news. 17 is a good innings for a cat like, must have had a good life
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – I saw that too, looks pretty promising doesn’t it?!. You’re right though, you can guarantee Trump will take the credit.
Sadly I’m old enough to remember bagpuss mate. I was showing my son as a comparison to the cartoons & programs they get nowadays – he was laughing his head off ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yes, Eric it seems a vaccine is on the horizon. Still worried about the damage it’s already done though. But it gave a nice life to the share prices and the pound so hoping for similar news from the Oxford vaccine too.
Although I am a bit perturbed to read you wished someone dead, Eric… I doubt you’d be to welcoming to some wishing Biden dead or Obama.
It’s only politics and Trump has a different view of life to you. Don’t worry about it.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’ve just seen a clip of when Joe Biden was on the campaign trail a couple of months ago and as he was walking along a BBC journalist said to him “My Biden, can I have a quick word I’m from the BBC”. Biden response “The BBC? I’m Irish”! Sorry but what kind of bull **** answer is that? Is that really statesman like? I thought it was pathetic to be honest.
Stuart79(Quote)
Thank you for the kind words lads. She’d had Hypothyroidism for a couple of years and had been pretty poorly not eating and losing weight but they upped her meds and she was eating really well again and gaining weight too. She was her normal self this morning then we heard this thud in the hallway and she was just lying there legs splayed out crying. When i tried to stand her up she was wobbly and unable to bear weight. I rushed her to the vet but they said a clot had formed in her leg and that’s why she fell down the stairs, they said euthanasia was the best option as even if they could fix it , it would likely happen again. I was a complete mess at the vet, i still haven’t gotten over our mini passing at the same age as honey.
I know i have been lucky to have two cats live so long but it still hurts so i understand how you feel Eric.
Stu that’s a good age for your cat too.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ah, right, so you don’t understand macroeconomics. That’s fine. Few people do. Least of all your Chancellor of the Exchequer, who made a fool of himself just the other.
1. Taxes don’t fund government spending
2. The unemployment rate is a government policy decision
3. Barely 10% of money given to business makes its way back into the wider economy.
That latter point accounts for what has happened through quantative easing since the global financial crash. It’s the reason why share markets are still rising and housing is so expensive. They don’t use it to fund jobs.
And what’s wrong with people being granted basic human rights?
And, well I could go on, but people probably don’t want to know that what they get told about economics is based on fantasy and greed.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Sorry for your loss 🙁
I lost my two Golden Retrievers over lockdown and it was heartbreaking, especially when I didn’t get to say goodbye.
Time is a healer mind. Remember the good times 🙂
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Thank you Olly, gosh poor you losing both so close together. 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
Wishing someone dead is not what I normally do. But I ask any of you who feel like criticizing me that if Hitler had died in 1938 would you say that was a good or a bad thing? I feel the same way about Trump. He is a menace, a disaster, a blight on this country and the world. He fired his Defense Secretary today like he thinks he will remain in office with these specious legal challenges. The Defense Secretary’s crime? Saying he didnt want the army deployed on US streets to quell protests. That has literally never happened in the history of America. It is what they do in The Philippines or Venezuela.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Olly – bl00dy hell mate that’s awful.
Sorry to hear that mate.
Pets are weird things. I never really grew up with any (fish & hamsters), so never really got why it affected people so much, my our little dog is defo family – and I have no doubt he’s higher in the pecking order than me as well!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
When you compare Trump to Hitler you’ve lost all credibility. Blair, Bush, Clinton and Obama’s actions were responsible for killing more people than Trump has.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I knew I would wind you up with the Hitler comparison. Do you think I supported Bush and Blair? Obama was left with the legacy from the neo-cons that was almost impossible to solve. Withdraw the troops and leave numerous countries to fight civil wars and be taken over by religious crazies or keep the troops there and watch thousands of Americans die for a cause that was not his. It was Cheney’s Vietnam and I think that Bush was conned into it. Colin Powell certainly was and has admitted as much, although you have to question his judgement on that one.
Anyway. Enough politics. There was dancing on the streets of every major US city when Trump was turfed out. Mainly Young people which makes me feel a bit better after 4 years of listening to that buffoon.
Need to get back to talking about hamstring injuries and non-scoring strikers. We will have the choice of Joelinton and Carroll for Chelsea. What is that, 2 goals between them in 18 months? God help us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
KIM/OLLY sorry for your loss thing is there not just pets they feel like part of the family thats why we feel the loss even more.ive been there too.
Sharpy i remember the day you got that dog as a pup my how times flys
time seems to drag on with that clown Bruce.talk Wilson wishes he hadnt signed for us and who can blame him
icedog(Quote)
Ice – tell me about it mate. My boy was 3 when we got the pup, he’s in secondary school now ??♂️.
But great times & memories and still making them.
The missus give me an option – 2nd kid or a dog & all things considered I reckon we made the right call.
Sharpy17(Quote)
😆 😆 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
I see Greg Clarke is in the **** because he used some ill advised words during his appearance in from of the MP’s. he really should know by now that you can’t say certain things because of the ridiculous victim culture we have in this country where offence is taken on a regular basis. So he called black players “coloured”. What can we call them these days? I saw someone get castigated recently for saying “people of colour” and a day later heard Trevor Philips use exactly the same term. His second hanging offence it seems was saying South Asian and Caribbean people have different career interests. Absolutely shocking – get the scaffold ready! Finally he said being gay was a choice. That’s just ignorance really and doesn’t mean he’s homophobic or should be sacked. Although it doesn’t do the sports reputation much good does he really deserve to be hauled over the coals for it?
Freedom of speech really has disappeared. Massive difference between freedom of speech and people saying things to incite hatred or generally saying things to be rude and offensive.
This will drag on and probably he will have to resign. What a sad world…
Stuart79(Quote)
This lady is clever and this is thought provoking
https://www.zoeharcombe.com/2020/11/sage-conflicts-of-interest/
Stuart79(Quote)
With Fraser and Wilson out we are basically back to last years team. Hendrick has proved he is worse than Hayden so we may as well play Isaac. Against Chelsea, are we better off bringing our best defenders back – Dummett and Manquillo? Do we also give Lewis a rest/take him out of the firing line? We will probably get hammered either way.
For once I feel a bit sorry for Bruce. He will get flak whatever team he picks.
Is the gap between us and the so called top 6 so big that we just give up. Maybe it is if we are missing our only legitimate striker? Is our only hope another Darlow masterclass? I can see this one getting ugly because Chelsea have so much attacking talent and they shored up their defense, so even if we hit them on the break we are unlikely to score more than 1.
Actually, I know how we will set up. It will be 9-0-1 it is just a question of if we set up that way should we play our best defensive players and rest the wingbacks. We will camp 9 on the 18 yard and 30 yard line, wont we. It is only a question of whether it is a 4-5 or a 5-4 and is it Joe, Miggy or St Max who is the 1 for the “outlet” ball that never quite comes off because they will be marked by at least 2 Chelsea players.
Depressing really.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: you are on thin ice with Greg Clarke. He seems to have offended many people in a relatively short speech. As you said, he should know better but it does say something about his outdated views and language. It is not just about a victim culture. There are some words that are not acceptable because they were historically used in a derogatory or racist way or as an insult. He should know better and might be losing it. He should resign for that reason, because he is not up to the job. That’s not PC talk that is based upon his competence to do the job.
If one of your employees proved they were not up to the job anymore or were a dinosaur you would let them go.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
see jaabba got beat “again”four nil at home,not doing very well out there,can see him getting the push
icedog(Quote)
It is not really about being PC with some words now. You should know which word may cause offense for whatever reason and just drop them from your vocabulary for the simple reason that you will have an easier life if you do it and who among us wants to offend people on a daily basis except Donald Trump.
I dont know what it is like in Britain but some people over here consider the word “Oriental” to be racist. I have no idea why. You can say “Asian” and actually Oriental describes a narrower are so may even be more correct. For some reason some take offense at this word so I dont use it.
It is funny that there is an Oriental Theatre here in Chicago and also The Oriental Institute which is an Art Museum but it is considered a derogatory word when used in other contexts. Dont ask me (there’s also The Orient Express)! Just easier not to use it when referring to people and the same with some of the words Stuart mentioned.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Another stat attack. I stole these numbers from an article in The Mag but it shows how bad we really are whatever lies Bruce and his pundit pals tell us. These are for the entire PL:
Most saves – Darlow
Most blocks – Fernandez
Least time spent in opponent’s box – NUFC 22%
Most time spent in own box – NUFC 30%
Most shots faced per game – NUFC 16
Least shots per game – NUFC 8
We are bloody awful to watch and these stats as well as some others I put up yesterday explain why.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If we are not going to sack Bruce we should at least get a new 1st team coach. I think Bruce has been dragging the other 2 Steves with him from club to club for years now. Time for a change. We have a goalkeeper coach. It is Steve Harper. Why not a free kicks and corners coach because we are **** at them. That’s probably due to one of the Steves. So time for a change. Liverpool even have a throw-in coach. Time to get with the program and get rid of your coaches before we have to do the inevitable if they stay and get rid of you.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know when Murphy scored that free kick the other week? He said he had been watching video in his hotel and noticed how the wall and keeper set up. That’s why he placed it low and in the corner. Great that Murphy took the initiative but isnt that what the coaches are supposed to be doing. Looking for strategic advantage and weaknesses in the other team as well as seeing how we can play to our own strengths. STEVES OUT. All 3 of them.
It is like Ugly John Carver revisited. Where we spent 2 years hoofing every free kick to Mike Williamson on the corner of the penalty box. It never worked but we never changed it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Clarke resigned. Hopefully Masters will say things that are just as stupid and will be next to go. Masters is a bit of a spin doctor though, words come out of his mouth but he never really says anything. Same with his written communications which look like they had the whole legal profession look at them before being released.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, almost everyone I know says are we having a “chinky’s” when referring to having a Chinese takeaway yet that’s classed as racist. Yet calling someone from Scotland a jock isn’t or Brits being called poms by Aussies also isn’t. I don’t mind any of them to be honest. Very little offends me.
I kind of agree on Clark. He’s probably not suited to the job if he can’t keep to standard non controversial words during conversations – especially in a select committee. Funnily enough I found his comments about being gay the oddest. That actually just shows a basic misunderstanding of science but is probably more out of ignorance and age than bigotry. But it doesn’t help gay people come out in football hearing or seeing that. So probably best he did resign.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: Clarke is actually only 63 but looks 75. He’s pretty close to my generation – I am 57 – but I dont act like an old dodderer like he does. He should have known better.
There are a lot of terms that people call racist and it is usually because they were used in a derogatory way in the past. You cannot call people coloured over here but you can say people of colour. It is a very subtle difference but is about past discrimination. Same with using the words Jewish people rather than Jew.
You are right though, it is sometimes hard to keep track BUT it is best to err on the side of caution when talking race and what people get upset by.
I thought the bit that Clarke said about Asians in IT was a bit out there. Where did that even come from. It all was a bit stream of consciousness with no filter and he was right to resign. I think he might have early onset dementia. I have seen it quite few times, my ex-boss had it at 63 and a friend died of Alzheimers at 68.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am getting more and more worried about Chelsea. It just feels that we are due a tonking given that we have been so lucky in some other games. And there have been so many other lopsided results like Villa/Liverpool it just seems like Bruce’s luck has to run out, especially without Fraser and Wilson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
One last point on Clarke. It is good that he resigned. These football officials seem to get their own little fiefdoms and cling on for dear life getting extraordinary amounts of money. Graham Turner held on until his 70s. Scudamore wanted each club in the PL to contribute 250k as a leaving gift. That’s 5 million quid. I am just glad that Masters and that other fat cat are getting a bit of scrutiny now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would appoint Trevor Philips as FA chairman. He’s someone who is very intelligent, speaks an awful lot of sense and isn’t bothered about calling out racism of any kind. I am against positive discrimination of any kind but Phillips would be a good chairman and he also happens to be black which will take a lot of heat out of the current situation.
Stuart79(Quote)
Although it pisses me off somewhat that the media are literally zoning in on Clarke’s “coloured” comment and completely ignoring his views on gay people. Why is that? Is discrimination only important in race? Gay people literally can’t even be themselves in football. Black people can. How many black players are there? How many gay players are there who are out? Clarke’s comments say a lot about football and gay people yet it doesn’t get the knee or mass media attention.
Stuart79(Quote)
Yeah the gay bit was really odd, and does show a lack of basic understanding of how the human body/mind works.
Phillips is also a good shout Stu.
kimtoon(Quote)
We could have told the Leicester fans what they were getting with Perez. He is not a bad player but for a team chasing Europe he is a squad player and not a starter. Without the 30 million price tag I dont think they would be moaning so much. He does bring energy and for NUFC he always played well in spurts and then would go off the boil. If they thought they were getting Sergio Aguero then they should have watched some of our games. Still better than Joelinton though 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
i should have said Rafa got beat again four nil at home,could be he will shown the door he has done badly over there
icedog(Quote)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8940421/The-daily-5-Covid-19-test-result-15-minutes-key-opening-venues.html
This is a good idea. Well it is until a couple of tests give false negatives and everyone then slates the government
Stuart79(Quote)
I really didnt like Grealish last year because of his cheating. That didnt mean I didnt think he was a good player, he is! With better players around him he doesnt need to do his signature run into the other players leg to buy a foul. However, he has that in his locker as they say over here. This could be helpful when England play the better teams like France or Belgium next summer. Winning (by cheating) free kicks on the edge of the box with Alexander Arnold or James Ward Prowse in the team. In fact it could be a deliberate strategy like Pep’s fouling when City lose the ball so they can regroup is. I doubt Southgate has even noted that he does this though 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: the US covid rate has tripled in a month. Trump is ignoring it and still encouraging his supporters NOT to wear a mask. He does this in his gatherings by setting a bad example but he also says it outloud from time to time. There is no plan here and he leaves it to the States but will not provide Federal money for them to combat this plague. He is the worst president ever.
You may say that European countries are also doing badly in this latest surge, but at least the Governments are trying to get a handle on it. Trump is at best looking away and in my opinion actively encouraging his supporters to go against medical and scientific advice.
What is it going to take? One of his staffers to die? They keep getting infected and it is a matter of %s.
Chicago looks set for maybe another full lockdown. I am not sure if it could have been avoided but have some sort of fcking plan you Orange arsehole and provide the funds to get us through this mess!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
AND…AND…
Nobody even mentions that this period where a President has been voted out still has 2 and a half months in office waiting for the inauguration. It is a a relic from the time of the Pony Express when we live in a time of the Internet and 24 hr news. It is just insane and nobody questions it.
It gives a would-be dictator like Trump the ability to fck with the world.
You may think this is a small issue but the US spends more on its military than the next 10 countries combined. Leaving a vindictive, mentally unstable Orange Man-Baby in charge of the nuclear codes for 2 months after he has lost is a problem.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Imagine if Boris calls an election tomorrow and Keir Whatshisname gets elected on Christmas Day. Would the UK people be happy to wait until March 1st for a new Government?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Democrats have won 7 of the last 8 votes in % terms but have only had 5 of the last 8 Presidents. That’s how you end up with Trump and that is how you end up with Trump fcking with the world as he is now. But nobody questions it. Nobody questions the Electoral College that basically disenfanchises the voters of 44 States and nobody questions the insanity of keeping someone in power for 2 and 1/2 months who lost the election.
I suppose nobody expected Donald Trump or Murdoch’s State Media Arm supporting his crazy views.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Biden has now won Arizona. It is where a lot of Americans go to retire. They tend to get more conservative as they grow older but have repudiated Trumpism. In the immortal words of Joe Strummer – you grow up and you calm down… you start wearing blue and brown, working for the clampdown! But Trump couldnt even carry America’s pensioners as at least some of them said STOP THE INSANITY, and voted against his clampdown.
Stuart might not agree with me but there are so many parallels between Trump and Hitler. His former campaign manager Steve Bannon said today that the countries leading expert on Covid should be beheaded and his severed head put on a pike outside the Whitehouse.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Stuart: if you think that a dictator cannot usurp power, even on a very powerful Nation. Let me name a few…
Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Gadafi, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Napoleon, Thatcher…
Sadam Hussein, Papa Doc, Baby Doc, Netanyahu.
Franco.
Need I go on?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
1,000 COVID deaths in US yesterday Stewie!!!!!
Even if they are double counting for cancer and heart disease and old age that is a lot.
Trump is ignoring this. He is a clown but has 2 more months to get in his clown car and bring the morons with AK47s with him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)