A tough one to watch for the 52,000 in St James’ Park, with Chelsea breezing to victory against a Newcastle United side who spent most of the game camped in their own half.
Here’s our marks out of 10 and comments on each player involved:
Karl Darlow – 4 – His distribution was very poor and he brought down Havertz for Chelsea’s third, conceding the penalty which Jorginho converted. He’s a decent keeper, but we miss Dubravka’s authority and ability to help organise the defence in front of him.
Javier Manquillo – 7 – Put in a real shift. By no means brilliant, but he got in their faces, went on a few decent runs down the line, kept Chilwell and Hudson-Odoi relatively quiet and was responsible for our one and only shot on target. The best of a bad bunch in this one.
Emil Krafth – 5 – Tried his best as he always does but he just isn’t a centre-back. Also showed his limitations on the ball, often opting to go back to Darlow – not carry the ball into space or pick a forward pass. Schar will be wondering how he’s getting in the side ahead of him…
Jamaal Lascelles – 5 – A few important blocks and clearing headers from balls into the box, however he is another that looks so uncomfortable with the ball at his feet. Lacking in confidence and not looking the leader he once did.
Ciaran Clark – 4 – He needs to be taken out of the side. Dithered on the ball a few too many times and looked off the pace again, with Havertz peeling away from him all too easily as he got in behind to win the penalty. Time to bring Fernandez back in?
Matt Ritchie – 4 – Couldn’t cope with Reece James. He didn’t get close enough for both of his goals, but struggled to get tight enough in the first half too, with the wing-back being allowed to put in several crosses. Also, we need to talk about those aimless punts up the line that rarely find a black and white shirt…
Isaac Hayden – 5 – Was walking a tightrope after being harshly booked so early on in the game, yet still went on to make more tackles than any other Newcastle player. Saying that, his limitations on the ball were evident once again, with him struggling to carry it forward or play anything other than sideward passes.
Sean Longstaff – 4 – He tried his best to keep going but looked shattered in the second half and contributed so little on the ball. This game passed him by.
Ryan Fraser – 4 – Aside from that flashed ball across the box in the first few minutes of the game, I can’t remember him making a significant contribution. Tried to get back and help Ritchie out but looked lost as a left-sided central midfielder…which is not surprise when he’s a winger.
Allan Saint-Maximin – 4 – Another bad day for our usually electric Frenchman. He barely got a kick and when he did he lost the ball more often than not. Cut a frustrated figure once again and needs to work harder off the ball.
Callum Wilson – 5 – Battled for every long ball thrown his way. Didn’t get much change out of Christensen, Silva and Rudiger and barely got a sniff of goal, but at least put himself about as he fed off little other than long balls.
SUBS:
Miguel Almiron – 5 – Nothing special but tried to pick up the pace of our play whenever he got on the ball and drew a few fouls.
Joe Willock – 4 – A few poor touches and a clear lack of confidence. Struggling to find form.
Shelvey – N/A – Barely touched the ball in the final 10 minutes.
What has Graeme Jones got going through his head?
How often have the lessons not been learnt about playing Ritchie in LB or LWB positions, are these coaches just thick.
I note Manquillo playing in his natural position has a decent game, square pegs in round holes is a recipe for disaster.
Players should be banned from talking to the press and start concentrating on the day job.
I don’t know who of the squad I would keep they are that pathetic, we don’t have a natural leader that is obvious!
Joseph(Quote)
Maybe, as Rafa played him there, Bruce played him there, and now Jones is playing him there, he’s the best we have?
Helen Clarey(Quote)
Anyone with any sense would have looked back over every game and MADE changes!!
The one clean sheet was against Burnley – but we’ve never seen that back four play again (!?)
Lewis needs to come back = push Richie forward to replace Fraser (how on earth has he even made the bench – goes missing in every game after 10 minutes!!!
Now a new Manager HAS to bring his team to replace EVERY coach – the players look like they are on holiday playing in front of their best mate = no worries
Looks like Jones has been in control ALL SEASON = it’s a shambles with out a clue!
KK(Quote)
“A tough one to watch for the 52,000 in St James’ Park,”
There were 52,209 in the ground and 3,000 of those were Chelsea fans.
I’m guessing they quite enjoyed it.
So that would be “a tough one to watch for 49,209 in St James’ Park”
Just saying – we get enough 5h!te from the Chronicle without having to read it on the blogs.
Helen Clarey(Quote)
Helen Carey:
Two to three seasons ago before Ritchie was chopped down by Choudray, he probably had that extra yard or so of pace that he doesn’t have now!
We also didn’t have Jamal Lewis who cost £15 million!
Joseph(Quote)
It didn’t work against Palace so it was never going to work against Chelsea.
Jones said we stayed competitive until 65mins – no we didn’t, there was no competition at all – what he means is we survived.
Listen Jones was told he’d take charge for the next 2 games – I suspect it will be Brighton as well to be honest and they’ll sort it in the international break. But even if it turns out to be 3 games – he’s not fixing much or dramatically changing things in such a short time.
His plan is clearly backs to the wall for 60mins then put Willock and Almiron on with 30mins to go and hope they can create and we can nick something. How can we expect the players to be motivated & enthusiastic about that???.
We have a squad of players that are limited, no question. These are top players – but then I look at Brighton, Brentford and Leeds for example and neither are they. They have a manager who are able to get the best out of the players they have.
We should have a new manager already. But if they drag this out to the international break I’ll have serious concerns about our new owners. They will have effectively written off their first 4 games in charge & we aren’t in a position to be doing that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
These aren’t top players that should say ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
🙄
Olly Hawkins(Quote)