It could’ve went either way in the final 10 minutes, but that’s a huge win for Steve Bruce, a big moment for Joelinton and another reminder of just how important Callum Wilson is to this team!
Our £20m man broke the deadlock in the 88th minute via a cool finish and brilliant assist from Joelinton, and was then on hand to set up the big man just 90 seconds later, with the Brazilian bagging a well deserved goal to seal a much needed 0-2 win.
It wasn’t pretty at times, with a promising first half display followed by an uninspiring second 45 that saw us create very little and begin to sit deep, however it’s a big three points that stops the rot and sends us into the top half and 10 clear of the bottom three.
Bruce made FOUR changes to the team that went down without a fight against Chelsea, bringing in Shelvey, Hendrick, Almiron and Wilson and ditching five at the back in favour of a 4-4-1-1 system – a move that must now become the norm after we created more, won and kept a clean sheet!
Elsewhere, Lascelles and Saint-Maximin dropped out through injury, with Hayden also missing (Covid?) and U-23 star Elliot Anderson on the bench for the first time in a Premier League game as a result.
(4-4-1-1: Darlow – Manquillo, Fernandez, Clark, Lewis – Hendrick, S Longstaff, Shelvey, Almiron – Joelinton – Wilson)
We started well, having 60% the ball in the opening 15 and pressing higher up the pitch, with a good give, go and run in behind from Joelinton creating an early opening for Callum Wilson – only for a last ditch Palace clear their lines after a dangerous ball across the box from the Brazilian.
Aside from the odd decent stop from Karl Darlow, who parried clear powerful efforts from Schlupp and Eze, we were the better side and looking the more likely to score.
Shelvey’s ability to pick out forward passes was making a difference and Joelinton looked lively. He was pressing well, linking up nicely and looking much more confident in possession, however he did lack conviction where it mattered, hitting a tame effort too close to Guiata after catching Dann on the ball.
Going into the second half, this felt a lot like that opening day game at West Ham. We were the better side without being brilliant, but the home side were passive and there for the taking if we wanted a win.
That said, the biggest chance after the restart came for Palace, with Ayew getting in between Fernandez and Manquillo and through on goal – only to poke his effort wide.
Sadly, the much improved pressing and passing game that saw us control large parts of the first half seemed to disappear in the second, with us punting hopeful balls long to Wilson and Joelinton for the first part of the final 45.
Without creating much at all, Palace were now the ones enjoying just short of 60% possession and looking the more likely, with them getting behind our midfield on a few occasions and winning the odd dangerous free kick.
Not much to write home about, but Bruce-ball was creeping back in and we now looked the side both there for the taking and most likely to lose.
Aside from one header apiece from Joelinton and Benteke – who had his well saved by Darlow – there were few chances, meaning it was anyone’s game heading into the final 10 if one side could kick one.
Thankfully, we rode a late Palace storm, with Fernandez doing brilliantly to block a goal-bound Kouyate shot and Van Aanholt flashing wide from a dangerous position…and you know what happened next!
Joelinton burst inside, latched onto a lay off from Wilson and played a clever reverse pass to set his striker partner in behind, leaving our lethal No 13 to do the rest.
A clever finish through Guiata’s legs and brilliant late goal – but we weren’t done yet.
This time it was Wilson who turned provider, getting the ball out to Joelinton down the right hand side. He got one-on-one with his man, cut inside and saw a left-footed shot sneak in via a wicked deflection.
A slice of luck for the big man, but a goal his industrious performance fully deserved, with him refusing to let his head drop after a few too many first-half misses!
Next up, a trip to Aston Villa and several winnable games ahead of a few tough tests after Christmas:
- Aston Villa (A) – Friday 4th December
- West Brom (H) – Saturday 12th December
- Leeds (A) – Wednesday 16th December
- Fulham (H) – Saturday 19th December
- Man City (A) – Saturday 26th December
- Liverpool (H) – Wednesday 30th December
A big win for Steve Bruce and more proof that we must stick with a four-man defence!
HWTL!
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Personally I think will turn out to be nothing out of the ordinary. The fact we don’t know who the positive tests are shows it’s pretty irrelevant. Or yet again it could be the people’s republic of Jabba’s Toon are their secrecy at play.
Stuart79(Quote)
It actually is a big deal Stewart. There are at least 5 players out and they will have to self isolate. They are young and healthy so hopefully there will be no long term issues. There is no way they will be available for Villa on Friday.
I think a game in France was cancelled when there were 2 cases so there is a chance of a postponment of Villa.
There was a strange case in the NFL yesterday where all Denver quarterbacks were in a meeting where they could be exposed to Covid. The League banned them all and wouldnt move the game so they had to play without a quarterback. They had one of their receivers play QB and he attempted 7 passes and they got slaughtered.
I would hate to see us play Villa with the Covid players missing on top of the long term injuries. So, it is a bit of a big deal in terms of heaalth and availability.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s hilarious seeing the Arsenal fans reaction today – calling for Arteta to be sacked.
We get slaughtered as fans complaining about Bruce and the football we get – under Arteta they have won trophies & he maybe only had 1 transfer window to make his changes – yet they want rid of him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sad news about Papa Diop too. Only 42 – I know he had a long term illness but not sure what – regardless, far too young to be passing away.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Exactly mate, they are the biggest moaners going.
kimtoon(Quote)
There is plenty of competition from the Red Bindippers in the moaning stakes. They feel it is their god-given right to win every trophy going.
Sharpy: I read some of the Guardian comments from readers on the game and they were surprisingly restrained. I do know that there’s a fan channel called Arsenal TV that go off on them. At the height of the Emery out stuff the rants even made it to US TV.
That all said, they were terrible yesterday. Aubamayang has lost a bit of form and they fall to pieces 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – there’s a good clip on YouTube with Simon Jordan vs the lad that runs that AFTV.
I watched a talksport clip with Andy Goldstein & Darren Bent questioning toon fans having a go at Bruce. Goldstein suggesting we’d rather be the big team in the Championship winning every week than having what we have with Bruce in the PL – it’s so obvious that they don’t watch us every week. But fancy having that conversation with an ex Sunderland forward … I wonder what direction that conversation was ever taking?! ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
St Max was out with a calf injury. The rumours of a bust up with Bruce seem to have been made up. Twitter has a lot to answer for, people can spout any old rubbish and it gets spread.
Not sure if St Max is a number 10 and I wouldnt let him pick his own position. Some are saying his form has been a bit off but he has been targeted for a kicking by some opposition managers who rotated the players who fouled him to limit yellow cards. When we have others as a threat like Wilson and Fraser we should see St Max get more space.
I also think he should mix it up a bit and play the simple pass now and again. It’s a bit like Shelvey, he is a better player when he is not being Jonjo Hollywood and keeps the game flowing. Neither should stop what they are good at but it is easier to defend if you know St Max is going to try and take on the whole team whenever he gets the ball or that Jonjo will always be looking for the long ball, which has a very low success rate for every player in the league.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – if Fraser & ASM was fit id look at the 4-2-3-1 formation – with ASM on the left, Joelinton in the middle & Fraser on the right behind Wilson.
I just think Joelinton offers more support to Wilson than Almiron. His finishing leaves a lot to be desired, but his physical presence helps Wilson.
My main concern to that though would be the 2 midfielders – and who they would be. Hayden & Longstaff snr were once an excellent partnership so would love to see if they could get that back. But I think it’s probably the position that needs most improvement.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: everybody seems to be going over the top on Joelinton after 1 decent performance, but even that had like 4 scuffed shots. We all want the lad to succeed but I would have Miggy in there ahead of him every time. Just have to work out the formation and if Bruce has to rotate him with St Max and Fraser then I would do that. And we will have injuries, that is guaranteed. Just look at what is happening now with Corona virus. That is like picking up 4 injuries in 1 match.
As long as Wilson is fit I see our problem position as the number 10. I would give Joe some more gametime there but I wouldnt start him. Maybe push Sean Longstaff further forward who is not back to his best but seems to be improving.
I just dont get this newfound love for Joe after a couple of decent flicks and linkups but at least half of what he tried didnt come off. And he still has a tendency to miscontrol or have the ball bounce off him. The bottom line is still 3 goals in 47 PL games. If he hadnt cost so much money he would have to earn a starting place.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Leicester might have dropped Perez. He is not even on the bench today. Not sure if he is injured but I do know the Leicester fans turned on him as a waste of money. Maybe if we look at Joe as Perez plus 10 mil it wont look so bad?
There is also the theory out there that Joe didnt really cost 40 mil, that that included his wages for the length of his contract. The tabloids do this false accounting all of the time and Charnley has even defended this in fan forums. If the fee itself was not 40 mil, I wish they would tell us and the fans might cut him more slack.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I don’t have a newfound love for Joelinton – I think he’s underperformed & was raging about him immediately after the Palace game. On reflection I don’t think he was as bad as I thought through the game – but he certainly wasn’t 9/10 as Olly scored him – but that’s his opinion and I have no issue with that.
I know people think it’s an excuse but I think Joelinton has been asked to play out of position for most of his time with us and that has a lot to do with his performance being under par & our opinion of him.
For example – I don’t think ASM plays as well as a more central second striker, and played there for a sustained period of time, I think we might start to question him.
But I don’t think it’s just about Joelinton – it’s also about getting the best out of Wilson & what’s best for him. I think Joelinton could and I stress could coz I agree it’s 1 game – but it worked & we need to try and stick to a game plan and allow something time to work or not. But I think Joelinton could be that physical presence and link up player that could get Wilson more goals. Maybe, maybe not ??♂️.
But equally, I think we have too much of a love in for Miggy. I don’t think he’s the player we all thing he is – not for us anyway. I can’t fault his workrate – he runs harder and further than anyone else on the pitch – but I think we let that blind us to the fact there is little end product. He is a player that HAS spent most games in his favoured position – and look at his return for goals and assists.
People will come back with he’s playing in a defensive team – I accept that but if you look at his stats for shots versus goals it’s really poor. If you look at his chances created rather than assists – coz he can only create – it’s not his fault if it’s missed and never becomes an assist – his chances created stats aren’t great either.
His dribbling stats are good, and that can be exciting to watch – but all too often they lead to nothing.
If you look at the stats that actually matter, you’ll probably find that Miggy and Joelinton are more similar than you think – Miggy just does the exciting stuff better.
Sharpy17(Quote)
NUFC
@ScoutNUFC
Wow. Joelinton’s stats ranked with the rest of the NUFC squad:
Joint most assists p/90
Joint 2nd most goals p/90
2nd most shots p/90
2nd most SOT p/90
3rd most successful dribbles p/90
3rd most aerials won p/90
4th most key passes p/90
7th most tackles p/90
kimtoon(Quote)
Not sure if my last post means the rest of the squad need a serious looking at or that jo is better than we think 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Almiron was excellent in America & is brilliant for Paraguay – but it’s a different standard & style of football.
I think he might excel in Spain or Portugal – but I think he’s struggled to make a mark in the PL. I think physically he’s struggled & I go back to his stats – he has scored 4 in 55 games, in comparison ASM has that in 33 games already & has better stats for shots, created chances & assists.
I don’t dislike Almiron. I love his workrate & energy – but that only gets him so far. He should be held to the same standard that we judge other players on.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: St Max and Miggy have been asked to bring the ball out of defense themselves for most of Bruce’s games. They have no support and need to beat 2 men.. I think we need to see them play with better players like Fraser and Wilson to free up space. And, of course, a good central mid who we are crying out for. Shelvey is too inconsistent, who knows about Longstaff, Hendrick is lower midtable (what do you expect from Burnley) and Hayden is a defensive mid who needs comeone creative next to him.
I havent totally given up on Joe. I am not Malcolm McDonald or Steve Wriath who think he is league 1 standard. SuperMac even says “he is not a footballer” 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here are Almirons stats:
https://www.premierleague.com/players/54312/Miguel-Almir%C3%B3n/stats
Whilst I highlight this, I do still think that Almirons workrate benefits the team – I just don’t know where to play him.
If we went with 4-3-3 I’d play him left of the 3 midfielders rather than further forward.
If we played 4-2-3-1 then I think he could cover any of those 3 behind the forward – I just wouldn’t start him. He’d be good off the bench – but I don’t think he’s done enough to get that start – and I know people will immediately say well neither has Joelinton – but I think Joelinton offers more to the team.
I think Almirons dribbling excites the fans, but can frustrate his team mates.
I must stress though, I am not against Miggy – I like him a lot. I would just be interested to see how Joelinton would work out alongside/behind Wilson for a run of games.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – I think he’s more effective than we give him credit for. The players seem to appreciate his work more than the fans – which you can see in the way they celebrate with him or ASM and Carroll tweeting after the Palace game.
He could be better, without a shadow of a doubt. But I think he’s definitely judged more harshly coz of that price tag.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stats sometimes lie. So having 2nd most shots doesnt tell you much if we average 2 shots a game! etc. Looking at the raw numbers is not meaningful in NUFCs case because we have been bottom in shots taken, shots on target, goals scored etc.
Maybe compare Joe’s stats with Mo Salah who cost less? Its about as meaningless as comparing Joe based on NUFC attacking stats under Bruce.
He really has contributed nothing to the team whether he was played out of position or not. The ball bounces off him and he miscontrols half the time. 2/3 of his shots are scuffed and he misses free headers (that’s when he can be arsed to get in the box).
It will take more than 1 half decent peformance to convince me. And it was only HALF decent because he also exhibited his usual failings in the same game.
SO THERE 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry, I meant we SHOULD look at raw numbers in Joe’s case rather than comparing him with the inept attackers under Bruce’s “system”, and I use that term loosely. Compared to Andy Carroll Joelinton is a star coz Carroll hasnt scored in 2 years.
Stats are easy to manipulate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here’s some more stats for Joe:
3 goals in 47 games and 2 of those were scuffs.
No headers on target.
2,087 rebounds off his shins/knees to the opposition.
Least amount of time spent in the opponents box for a No. 9 in history of NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Grealish is a really good player, but he is such a cheat. Tried to get Rice sent off for a nothing challenge.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We have to be very careful of Grealish’s signature move of running into a players leg on purpose and falling over. WE CANNOT PLAY SCHAR.
I have been saying this for over a year and finally some of the journos and commentators are seeing what he does now. “most fouled player in the PL” was their cry last year. Because he looks for it!!!! FFS
I even saw a journo today say that Southgate’s tactic at the Euros should be to have Grealish fall over and then Ward-Prowse take 3 free kicks a game. Might work, as Grealish is a very good player without the cheating and the Euro Refs wouldnt recognize his signature move. He has perfected it to a fine art now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Arsenal away in the FA cup… that’s us out of it then… ?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
kimtoon(Quote)
Arsenal have the knack of winning cups in a way we can only dream of, yet their moaning fans are never happy.
kimtoon(Quote)
Aye there’s easier ties to be had like – but he’s had a more than favourable run in the Carabao Cup to be fair.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Training ground shut down. More positive Corona Virus tests. Villa match now in doubt. Is it a big deal now Stuart?
If I was Villa, I would refuse to play the game.
Still dont understand why they are not releasing names. Just secrecy for secrecy’s sake.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If I was Bruce or Ashley I wouldnt just go to the PL to ask for postponement of the Villa game I would go to the Govt. The PL rules for this are totally stupid and risking Villa players is even more stupid. ALL NUFC PLAYERS are now in isolation. I just cant see how this game can be played.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The PL rules for Covid were brought in for last season where they were desperate to complete the fixtures in a set time so they would get the TV money. The rules were that if you had 14 fit 1st team players the game would go ahead.
The situation is totally different now as there is plenty of time to reschedule. If the whole 1st team is self isolating then there should be no doubt this game should be cancelled. Typical that we should be the test case for Covid in the PL.
If the PL refuse to reschedule I dont think it will be them singling out NUFC, but it will be gross negligence.
This virus is pretty infectious. There was a birthday party in California with 20 people that went on for hours with people ignoring protocols and 19 were infected. You really have to nip this in the bud, so playing our game on Friday would be madness.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I think to be fair to the club, there’s not much more they could do to manage this. They tested yesterday which was not scheduled & have made sure that all are self isolating today when they would ordinarily be training.
It’s mad that a club would be penalised for postponing a match – what level of support does that give or safeguard all players, staff & their families.
I think they are testing again on Wednesday before the Friday game – if there are no more cases then they are probably fine to go ahead and play. But if there are more cases then the club should be supported in postponing and rescheduling the game.
But I guarantee a factor in the decision is that it’s a scheduled televised game & a lot of money will have went into it from Sky who will press the PL into making it go ahead – or will have some kind of compensation due if the game is cancelled.
Sharpy17(Quote)
NUFC.Com are saying the game is unlikely to be postponed. They are usually spot on with their assessments. However, what WILL happen and what SHOULD happen are 2 different things. Let me rant a bit more.
The whole logic to have PL games played and why there are different rules for them to the general population is that they were in their own isolated “bubble” and there was strict testing. Well, the testing bit has worked because there are at least 5 infections at NUFC. But, doesnt that mean that there is a high risk in the NUFC “bubble” and anybody they come into contact with? 4 players in a 25 man squad is quite a high number. And NUFC has the whole squad self isolating as of this minute.
How many in a “bubble” does it take for that to be a risk? It is also NUFC, which has about as much transparancy as the KGB. Who knows what the latest results show? They didnt tell us that there were Covid cases BEFORE the Palace game. The only thing that surprises me is that they have told us there are at least 5 so far.
This number of infections in any other “bubble” would call for quarantine, no matter how many negative tests there are. And the tests are not 100%.
My thoughts are that I still want football to go ahead and the best way for that to happen is to stop a spreader event like at NUFC at its beginning, at its source. The rest of us have to deal with restrictions.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I understand your points. The one about TV is most likely the overriding factor.
This 14 player rule is about as stupid as it gets. It says that if you have 14 uninfected players the game goes ahead. Apply a bit of logic, and in a 25 man squad that could mean 11 were infected with Corona Virus and the PL says the game should go ahead. How mad is that?
The tests are not 100% accurate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This bubble theory is great if no-one is infected, but as soon as someone is infected then the liklehood for this to spread becomes that much higher because they are not following the general protocols the rest of us do. And they only test once a week so the virus has a whole 7 days to spread before being detected.
The whole thing is totally haphazard anyway. A player scores and the rest pile on as if there is nothing to worry about. And yet they sit 6 feet apart in the stands, some with masks and some without. If a player is injured, the Dr and Physio are wearing masks when they come on to treat them. The players are still spitting on the pitch. The 4th official wears a mask and the Ref doesnt. The Managers are not shaking hands but are not wearing masks!
I want football to continue but what they are doing with regard to preventing the spread of this virus makes no sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean, you assume that all of the officials and medical staff get tested, right? And yet, some wear masks and the Ref doesn’t. And the Managers were doing fist bumps or elbow bumps before and after the games instead of shaking hands. You would assume they got tested as well, right. And then you see Klopp hugging every player as they leave the field or Mourinho rubbing someones head in an affectionate way. The protocols make no sense but I am still happy that football is being played.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Again, I watched a lot of games this weekend because everything is shut down in Chicago.
Mike Dean reffed a game on Saturday without a mask and then was the 4th official on Sunday WITH A MASK. Lampard and Mourinho didnt have masks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You assume these footballers are all young and super-fit so they will just shrug off the virus. But then there are things that go undiagnosed. Just look at Cheik Tiote. Dropped dead in his 30s.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TOLD YOU!!!!!!!
People just love to bury their head in the sand! And NUFC are the least transparent club in the PL so I knew there was another shoe to drop.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Per Olly’s last article.
It looks like my earlier rant was justified.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The PL 14 fit player rule is BS anyway. That means 11 on the field and 3 subs when the other team has 7 subs. How is that fair? Plus, one of the bench players will be a goalie so that means 2 outfield subs.
Makes no sense. But it is the Premier League after all and when do they make any sense. From the blocking of Stavely’s bid to the clandestine coddling of a top 6 power grab!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The latest is that Luke Edwards is reporting that up to 10 players have corona virus. Luke is a bit of a d!ck but he does seem to have the ear of Bruce, so I believe him.
Next, The Chronic say NUFC are in “dialogue” with the PL but have not asked for a formal postponement YET. As usual The Chronic get the wrong end of the stick and say the PL rules say we would need 14 players out for a postponement. That is not true. The PL rules are that if there are 14 fit players we could play the game.
It is a stupid rule anyway that was only put in place to secure the TV money in last years curtailed season. Remember that? We were playing games thick and fast to get it finished in time so we could start on time in this season. If that “rule” was kept for this season then the PL is even dumber than I thought.
We have plenty of time to rearrange the Villa fixture.
If they do not postpone this then the PL and both clubs are morons.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Let’s say that you were asked to go to a Christmas office party with 25 of your coleagues and were told 3 days before that 10 of them were tested positive for CV-19 and were isolating. Would you go?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Finally the PL did the right thing!!!!!
Postponed the Villa match.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know I have been ranting about this for 2 days or more but it just seemed like everybody in the media and PL was ignoring the obvious.
A paper like the Chronic should be ahead of this type of thing. I can see it from 4500 miles away in Chicago and they act like everything is normal and just do yet another fcn interview with John Hall.
At least the PL came to their senses. Infecting Villa players as well could possibly have shut down the whole of the PL FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stewie: do you still not think it is a big deal 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
needs calling off
kimtoon(Quote)
good to see common sense prevail .
kimtoon(Quote)
See!!!!!!!!!!!!
I told you the club would not tell us who is infected citing “PRIVACY”!!!!!!
WTF is that about? Arteta said he had it. Moyes said he had it. Zaha said he had it.
It is another example to NUFC just doing the wrong thing. We dont necessarily need to know who has it, but why the secrecy? I said earlier that NUFC are about as transparent as the KGB and they have just admitted such in their statement that Olly posted. It is just so typical.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I dont think Joelinton’s transfer fee was 40 million either. That is Charnley’s false maths of adding total wages over the contract to what was paid as a transfer fee. He has mentioned this pretend accounting a few times before as a way of saying the Fatman was spending money on the club.
I really dont know why they bother and dont just tell the truth.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OK. NUFC have declined to name those with Covid on the grounds of “medical confidentiality”.
Total B)ll0cks. Moyes, Arteta, Zaha have all been quarantined and said they have/had this disease which can strike anybody. Typical NUFC/KGB.
Why?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The game after the cancelled Villa game is at home on December 12. I highly doubt this will go ahead as the new cases are just coming to light in the last couple of days and there will probably be more soon.
Dec 1 to Dec 12 is only 11 days. I just dont see this happening, but not many people seem to be bothered about how bad this is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It would help if we knew who had it and how integral they are to the first choice 11 Eric.
kimtoon(Quote)
We are left to connect the dots because NUFC are currently keeping names secret for no reason that I can fathom. Luke Edwards, who has Bruce’s ear, says there are 10 players infected and I think that was even before the latest tests.
I think it is likely that any players that did not have long term injuries and didnt travel to Palace have a better than 50% chance that they have CV-19. That would include St Max and possibly Andy Carroll and probably Hayden.
I dont buy this medical privacy argument as I have said, because every other team have not used it.
It will all come out in the wash when training resumes and we see who is not there. I think Bruce is telling porkies about some of these minor injuries. To what end, I have no idea.
It is just so typical of NUFC, Charnley and Ashley and now they have Bruce in on the act.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would also be fuming if I was Palace and it turns out that there were not tests done on matchday or as close to it that results could be known. Bruce knew there was infection in the NUFC bubble before the match because he said so. We, NUFC, were putting Palace players and even the officials and medical staff at risk if it turns out that the tests were even just a few days old.
We can see now that this virus spreads like wildfire in the contained area of a training ground and NUFCs is supposedly more cramped than most.
It is yet one more example of the ineptitude at all levels at NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The whole thing is a farce and not just at NUFC. I dont see how you can justify playing international friendlies, especially if they are played in places where the general population are not allowed to travel.
I also saw that the testing went from twice a week to once a week. How is that possible when there was a new lockdown and now there is this tiered system. I think Newcastle and Birmingham are tier 3.
And Palace know the risks of this because their best player, Zaha, was out with corona virus. I would have been insisting that NUFC provide the results of the most recent tests, including dates, BEFORE we played that Friday night game.
This makes me so angry, because of the inconsistencies, the hypocracy and the ineptitude.
I mean, cases are surging. Restrictions are tighter and they cut back on the testing schedules. What a bunch of fckwits (is that an American term, I dont know?).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean, the Govt are saying people should stay within their family bubble for Xmas. The PL use the excuse of testing and club bubbles as ways of mitigating the risks of CV-19. And then the whole thing is burst by players from all different teams meeting for international games in different countries where we cannot travel to. How do you justify that, especially when it is friendlies and the pretty meaningless Nations League.
I would even question why the Champions League games are still being played as the whole of Europe sees a surge and new restrictions. Isn’t this also bursting the so-called bubble?
There are just so many inconsistencies and it seems the PL, FIFA and the Govt have learned nothing in these past 10 months.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Real Madrid played Shahktar Donesk yesterday. Would you rely on the testing in Ukraine? I know I wouldnt.
And a lot of these footballers have young kids. I know Andy Carroll and Joelinton do. Supposedly they are lower risk, but that doesnt mean no risk
I would refuse to play in the Ukraine. Madrid got beat anyway 🙂 Should have just forfeited the game.
The US recorded the most ever corona virus deaths of 2,473 yesterday. And these football associations and clubs seem to be taking a lax and blase attitude to all of this.
I want to watch football but pan-Eurpean tournaments for clubs and national teams seem to me to be a bridge too far. At the very least, the players should be tested and results known the day before the day of travel.
Rant over…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
players/managers have to home at the end of the their partners will not have stayed home thats for sure thats how easy it spreads as they would go shoppng seeing friends ect,bet jabba kept the spending on testing ect down to the very least he could get away with
icedog(Quote)
Isn’t this sort of thing doing what we hate pundits doing?
The reason pundits get things so wrong about Newcastle is that they only see things from a distance and don’t delve too deeply. We as Newcastle fans are intimately aware of depth of detail so we understand and feel things about our club that outsiders have no way of accessing. So they get it wrong and say stupid things about Newcastle fans.
How many of us are as intimately connected to Arsenal as Arsenal fans are, or for that matter Real Madrid, as Eric Sykes mentions occasionally. We see Arsenal from a distance. We don’t know the depths. We aren’t intimate with the detail. So these sorts of comments would come across to an Arsenal fan as stupid Geordies knowing nowt.
Perhaps a perspective to take when commenting on other clubs’ fans.
Brisvegas(Quote)
BrisV: I had watched the Arsenal game and they were **** but every team has the occassional off day. But I watched the youtube Arsenal Fan TV clip on Sharpy’s recommendation. They had the channel host asking a fan for his player ratings. It was pretty funny. Nobody got over a 5 and quite a few he gave zeros. I know they have higher expectations than us but even the harshest NUFC critics dont really give out zeros. Olly gave Joelinton a 9, so we know his standards arent that high 🙂 Sorry Olly.
On Madrid. I am no expert, my point has always been that sections of the fans were booing Ronaldo. I was in disbelief. How are they doing since he left? They booed Bale’s every touch as well. You know, that Bale. The one that scored that amazing overhead kick in the CL final 🙂 If he did that for NUFC there would be a statue of him outside SJP.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My point about Madrid was that if you go to the game in person you see what their fans are really like. I was astonished. I have been to many NUFC games and fans will take a dislike to certain players and boo them or at the very least sigh. It happened to Perez. But could you imagine NUFC fans booing Shearer? I think it would cause a fight in the stands as the lads next to him would throw him out.
How about Barca fans booing Messi. Or Napoli fans booing Maradona? As I said, I was in disbelief.
They might sack Zidane as well. He only won them 3 CLs 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Icedog might be right about Ashley wanting to save money on Covid tests. I flew to the West Coast about 6 weeks ago so I looked into the testing. That was when there was downward trend as well. There are 2 tests. The more rigorous one was taking days and up to a week to get results from. Maybe we used that for our players? The other from Abbott Labs had quick results but was only 70% accurate but a lot cheaper. I decided to fly anyway, because where I was going had much lower infections. The thing I was scared about was the airports but I followed protocols and am OK.
As a slight aside I have a friend who is a short haul flight attendant who flies up to 3 trips a day. I asked him how often they test him. He said NEVER. They take his temperature and if it is normal he flies. I was a bit shocked by that. Maybe NUFC were as lax as this airline?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bris – me having an opinion on another club on a footy forum is vastly different to a pundit getting paid to impact their opinion on a nation mate.
I work with a couple of Arsenal fans & whilst I hear their gripe, I simply don’t agree with it – but, as fans of that club they are entitled to have them.
Ultimately though, the same fans that complained and wanted Wenger out because him regularly finishing in the top 4 wasn’t good enough now reference that as the benchmark of the failings of the managers that have replaced him.
They weren’t happy with Emery or the board acted & brought in Arteta and backed him with around £200m spent on new players. The lad has won an FA Cup & Charity shield since taking over.
But Arsenal have deep routed problems after some back recruitment in the past.
They expect him to fix things immediately and that’s completely unrealistic. They turn on PEA coz he’s struggling to find the back of the net – despite him showing loyalty and signing a new deal – which he would have done well out of – but could have done just as well moving on too id imagine.
Me and the gooner I work with chew the fat about footy often & whilst he is only 1 person – his views seem to reflect many Arsenal fans (though not all I’m sure).
But, he admits that in comparison to what’s done on and going on at Newcastle, they have nowt to complain about really – I view I don’t imagine is shared though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well i have had an offer on a bungalow accepted, just gotta sell mine now 🙄 Christmas not the best time to sell really. Mine went live last night and 5 asking to view already, quite shocked tbh .
kimtoon(Quote)
Charlie Bennett on here is saying The Athletic are writing that the West Brom game might be in jeopardy. I said this yesterday because it is just common sense based upon the current infections (10 players according to Luke Edwards) and the fact that the results of tests on Monday are yet to be revealed.
The Athletic seem to have quickly become the most trusted source for NUFC news. Little Chrissy Waugh has been freed from the shackles of The Chronic’s “belt out a 5 things we learned piece, son” and is proving to be a decent writer.
It looks like we will have at best half a team in training and probably some medical staff out. Just on the timeline of when the tests came back and the new tests it puts the West Brom game in big doubt. I said yesterday that if they did the tests monday that there was only 11 days to that game and players/staff would quarantine for 10 days. So, very limited preparation and would the PL really want to take the risk? We are one team and they risk shutting down the whole league if they allow us back too soon.
And it seems like people (journos mainly) are acting like a positive test is no big deal – quarantine and then you’re fine. That is not necessarily the case. Most of the players were probably asymtomatic but what happens if they develop symptoms? Arteta did. I think there was a Chelsea player did as well.
Then there are the staff. They are not all spring chickens. What about them? Bruce is 59 and overweight for example. If anybody has been exposed to this it is him!!!
Everybody acting like – “you test positive, you quarantine, you get back to work” is missing the point of how dangerous this can be. The ICU beds here in the States are full up with Covid patients and they are not only old people. This actually is a big deal. It is now the 3rd leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer in the US. It is supposedly 3 times more contagious than the flu. Brushing this off as something that they will all automatically recover from and get straight back to the training ground and the next match is not the right attitude.
I know Stewie and Donald Trump will disagree, but this is a serious issue.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just want to reinforce how important this is to the PL. If they let us back too soon, and we infect another team, that puts the whole season at risk for the other 19 teams. I know they are idiots, but they would have to be raving loonatics to play the West Brom game.
I dont care how many negative tests there might be. They are not infallible. I would refuse to play against us until we are back in full training and every player is asymptomatic with at least 2 negative tests and none of their families are positive.
Best for NUFC, best for the league. We have plenty of time to make up the Villa and WBrom games.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry to hog the blog. The whole of Chicago is pretty much shut down and it is 29 degrees outside. Minus 2 Celcius. Plus, I am a bit angry at a lot of the reporting on this Covid-19 at NUFC because they are not asking the right questions, if they ask any questions at all. What is annoying me most is the way this is being treated as like a flea bite and we will get back to normal in a few days.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do you know that the Covid-19 incubation period is up to 14 days but I think it is like 5 days on average. That means you could test negative and still have it. So the latest batch of tests even if they are negative could provide a false reading.
So, the advice if you test positive for Covid is 10 days quarantine. Where they came up with that number I have no idea. But, obviously since the NUFC outbreak is a super-spreader event you would have to test the players again on say Friday or Saturday because of the incubation period. Then test them again sometime next week because the incubation period is “up to 14 days”. There is just no way we can be sure our players are safe for West Brom, and that is even without counting those 10 or so who have already tested positive.
Who decides 10 days isolation is enough? I am obviously not a Dr but given that the tests are not 100% acurate you would need at least 2 negative tests, spread days apart to even consider the players isolating to play again. And you cannot rule out the players testing negative up to now having it.
I know I am rambling, but I really believe people are not taking this seriously enough because so many in the NUFC bubble have it and it is being downplayed. This is what all of the scientists and Drs have warned against. Super-spreader events. We have our very own at NUFC – it is called NUFC training and NUFC changing rooms. Best not to pass it on to the rest of the league.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It should be the Drs and scientists who tell us when it is safe for NUFC to return to action, not the PL suits. I know the Drs and Scientists have made some bad calls and they argue amongst themselves but they have to have a better idea than Richard Masters!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Good to see we have at least one vaccine ready to roll out. Still expect it will be summer when we are back to normal but with a possibility that some of the restrictions will be lifted little at a time. Too late for many but let’s look on the bright side.
Very happy to see that the speed of this vaccine getting approved is due to us not being in the EU… How ironic that the EU regulator use to be in London but moved after Brexit and there’s talk of them not getting their act together until January. How many lives has Brexit already saved… ?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – the big one is the Oxford vaccine, which is currently with the regulators now. If that one gets the sign off I think it could be quicker than the summer – coz it’ll be ours. We have 100 million sorted already & it’s an easier one to store.
But even if it’s not signed off, I reckon you’re right with summer – sounds a long time away but what’s another 6 months ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
I may have missed something or misunderstood something from this lockdown but it doesn’t seem to have reduced the daily death figures at all – another 650 today. It hasn’t fell much from that over the last 4 weeks either from what I’ve seen.
Plus the vast majority of the Country went straight into top tier – so the 4 week lockdown doesn’t seem to have achieved much at all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – the deaths always lag by a few weeks. What is clear is that the number of cases are reducing quite quickly. I just hope this vaccine allows us to come out of this thing quicker
Stuart79(Quote)
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1851537/kelvin-mackenzie-scargill-hypocrite-socialist/
This is one reason why I’m
Not a fan of unions. And they’re full of leaders on the make like this…
Stuart79(Quote)
Craig Hope just said what I have theorized earlier. There was a case 2 weeks ago of a staffer and some were complaining that the testing wasnt frequent enough. It had been twice a week but they reduced it to once a week. This is allowed, but was it advisable? A player came back from international duty with Covid. They have been trying to contain this for MORE THAN 2 weeks. I dont think we have heard the full story or the last of it.
Hope said that NUFC say they have followed all protocols. Who knows, but he mentions “punishments” if they havent. God knows how that will go but I bet points deductions might be an option. I hope not.
The article just popped up in The Mail and is worth a read. Craig Hope is a decent reporter even though he works for The Mail.
I think this has a lot further to go.
Eric Sykes(Quote)