Another huge opportunity to take all three points, another opportunity missed as Joao Pedro’s late header sent the Hornets home with a point we just couldn’t afford to gift them.
Allan Saint-Maximin gave us the lead in the second half with a brilliant strike after cutting in from the left, but we played awfully after that, failing to capitalise on the boost it should have given us and allowing Watford to come back into it.
We’ve now dropped 21 points from winning positions this season – a stat that says everything you need to know about our worrying mentality after taking the lead. We get edgy, lose all shape, all composure and seem to constantly shoot ourselves in the foot.
Elsewhere, Norwich beat Rafa Benitez’s Everton to move off the bottom of the table, meaning we are now 19th and two points from safety, with Burnley – who are now bottom – having THREE games in hand on ourselves ahead of their game with Watford next week.
Howe made three changes from last weekend’s humiliating FA Cup defeat to Cambridge, seeing Chris Wood, Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles replace Jacob Murphy, Matt Ritchie and Emil Krafth.
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Dummett – Shelvey, S Longstaff, Joelinton – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
SUBS: Darlow, Gillespie, Ritchie, Lewis, Krafth, Murphy*, Almiron*, Willock, Anderson.
We pressed well early on when Watford tried to play out from back, but lacked that same urgency when we had the ball in the final third.
We had chances in the first half, with Joelinton volleying a huge wide after clipping the bar, Wood heading over a few times and Longstaff firing way over after the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the box.
We shaded the first 45, yet we looked edgy and unorganised at the back, were easily bypassed in midfield and often left Wood too isolated up top, with us lacking any real cohesion in attack and failing to test Foster in 10 first half shots.
Longstaff looked way off the pace, Shelvey was walking a tightrope from his early yellow card and Saint-Maximin was frustrating, either losing the ball too cheaply or struggling to win his battle against Watford’s Ngakia.
On the plus side, Trippier looked the best player on the pitch and was visibly a level above the rest. Joelinton wasn’t hiding and made his presence known on and off the ball, but he should’ve come off at half time with a goal to show for it.
A huge second half awaited and it started exactly as we needed it to as Saint-Maximin pounced on a mistake, cut inside and smashed a shot past Foster to send us 1-0 up.
At this point I turned to my Dad and said ‘let’s kill this off now!’….yet we did the exact opposite. We were OK for the next 10 minutes in terms of now allowing Watford to create any openings, however the final half an hour was an absolute car crash.
Howe claimed in his post-match presser that he told the players to keep pushing in search of another. What followed was anything but, as we immediately started to look edgy, desperate and all at sea positionally all over the pitch.
King had a one on one saved by Dubravka and Sissoko looked set to equalise before blazing over a huge chance. They were our warning sings, yet we didn’t heed them.
With 87 minutes on the clock, Dummett couldn’t get there quick enough to stop Femenia’s cross and Joao Pedro somehow outjumped Lascelles to head past Dubravka.
Heads in hands all around St James’ Park, a horrible goal to concede and yet another absolute sickener.
It’s another tough to take when we were just five minutes away from come out on top in this relegation six-pointer, yet we had just one shot on target all afternoon – a shocking stat against a side who haven’t kept a clean sheet all season – and played so badly in that final half an hour that this equaliser was coming.
If we can’t beat a Watford side who arrived on the back of SEVEN straight defeats, who are we going to beat this season?
Next up, a trip to Elland Road next Saturday.
Good report Olly, but you forgot to mention that Watford beat an 8 man NUFC and that the Watford winger did not outjump Lascelles, Lascelles was in front of him and just did not leave the ground. It was an easy clearance that Lascelles failed to make. The 3 that didnt show up:
Lacselles – another shocker as we have come to expect during the last 18 months.
Shelvey – worst game by far under Howe. We know what he is like and when he has a bad game you have to take him off on 60 minutes. That’s just the way it is with Jonjo.
Longstaff – pressed in the 1st half but still is not that good. Disappeared in the second half.
If Howe was being honest he would say that we played with a midfield of 1 in the 2nd half – Joelinton – and that Shelvey and Longstaff offered nothing, either in attack or defense.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Dummett tried to take the Watford winger out when he crossed for their goal. If he had been match fit he probably would have got a red and we would have won 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I was a bit worried about how slow Wood seems to be. I hadnt paid full attention to him when he was at Burnley. I dont think he had a bad game, but he has zero pace so we have to make sure we understand that.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
It’s truly frustrating watching us at the moment because you can see the positive impact Howe has had on our team – but their is a lack of quality in positions that is just letting us down.
I thought Dummett was excellent today when you consider that was his first one back.
Trippier is just a different level. So assured & real quality in that team.
I thought he linked up well with Frazer today who also had a good game.
Joelinton was solid in midfield again, but was on his own.
ASM scored a cracker, but other than that had an off day. He’ll be better so I’m not going in on him at all.
Wood tried hard, but we spent the week telling everyone our game plan – balls into the box – so it was so easy for a Watford to cancel his threat out today.
But the rest – where to start???!?!?!!!
Dubravka – did ok, but needs replacing imo.
Schar – non existent. Very poor & needs replacing.
Shelvey – stupid early yellow card. Knocked the ball around ok but not good enough imo.
Longstaff – started like a headless chicken just running round a lot. Got into the game a bit midway then went missing again after we scored and they piled forward. Does little to really effect games & has little physical presence in our midfield.
But best til last – Lascelles, our captain. He had such a poor game today. I’m not going to pile into him because ultimately, it’s not his fault.
Howe has improved our play but we know our squad is poor. It’s a result of Ashley’s under investment & we are desperately in need of improvements.
I see Ollys latest article whereby Lille are saying Botman is not for sale. We are messing around with failed bids and ultimately aren’t getting in the players we need.
We need at least 2 midfielders, 2 CBs and another forward before the window closes – before our next game ideally.
STOP MESSING ABOUT & GET THE PLAYERS IN BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m not convinced by Howe so far. The Cambridge game was a shocker. I get that he was hoping to start some momentum but I was surprised he played a full strength side when we need our best players fresh for the relegation fight – and instead of getting a big win to start that momentum, he oversaw a shambles of a game against poor opposition, at home with a full strength side. Terrible. That’s two games against direct relegation rivals we have mucked up recently. Not looking good.
Squad not good enough and we are not moving fast enough with signings, but Howe should not be immune from criticism either.
Shamrock(Quote)
And Lascelles needs to sod off to another club. Along with Shelvey.
Shamrock(Quote)
I thought Shelvey was really bad today. Ballooned a lot of passes. But that is what you get with Shelvey FFS. He has really bad days (and some good days) and that is when you sub him on 60 mins.
I have never been able to figure him out, so the best plan is to get someone better.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
So disappointing to concede the equalizer with just a few minutes to go yet again, that’s 11 goals given away in the last 15 minutes this season. Simply not good enough, especially at home against Watford who cannot keep clean sheets.
In the end we got what we deserved, we stopped pressing after we went ahead and just invited them on to us, I knew a goal was coming you could see it a mile off. A draw was probably a fair result truth be told.
We are truly s hite this season but we are capable of so much better as shown when we played Manure.
kimtoon(Quote)
We will not beat Leeds, not a hope in hell.
kimtoon(Quote)
We just cannot hold a lead and 1 goal is just not enough. There are no words to describe just how poor our central defence is. They are Mackem level. Just shocking. ???
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Norwich first goal was an OG, didn’t realize until MOTD, jammy sods.
kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa sacked according to Liverpool echo
kimtoon(Quote)
Was hoping Rafa would still be there when we play them… gutted if he’s sacked
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I have said a million times on here that Rafa was worshipped for doing a mediocre job at NUFC. Sharpy was the only one who really said the same thing.
If you looked at Eds or The Mag you would have thought he had won the league with us. Even 2 or 3 years later after he failed in China.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am going to repeat what I said on here yesterday – that blogs and youtube channels say all we ask as NUFC fans is that our players try hard. Absolute B0llocks. When Jonjo has a mare like today he will be slaughtered even though I think he tried his best.
Lascelles is not good enough nor is Sean Longstaff. Even when they put their best of their best in they are not good enough and the fans know it.
I said yesterday that Ayoze Perez was probably one of the hardest workers in our teams and the fans booed him. He put his fingers in his ears.
TOTAL MYTH THAT IF A PLAYER PUTS IN THE GRAFT WITHOUT HAVING ANY SKILL HE WILL BE LOVED BY NUFC FANS.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think we want them to work hard AND try to win games. That’s the issue, bunch of talentless bottlers and we seem to have one manager after the other that does not send them out to go for the kill. Always sit back after scoring and invite pressure. Pathetic. Don’t see how we stay up. Will set us back years.
Shamrock(Quote)
Not too happy with these links to Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. Oh dear! ??
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sham – I think the lack of quality is still the biggest problem with our squad. But Howe messed up yesterday as well. It was obvious Watford would come after us when we scored & Claudio made his changes – we didn’t.
The only sub Howe made was Miggy for Max, but that didn’t give Watford anything to think about at all.
I think he should have put Lewis on as a left wing back, moved Dummett LCB in the 3 coz Lascelles was getting punished. Move Joe into a central position alongside Wood with 2 big target men & the width of Trippier & Lewis.
I know Joe isn’t a forward anymore, but it’s about giving them something else to think about.
I just think substitutions should be used to effect the game, not just rest a tired player – the Miggy switch was obvious & didn’t cause Watford any difference in threat.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gilly – after what I watched yesterday I’d hoy Bruce back in there!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Joking aside, me neither mate. We need pace and energy in our back line, not more 30 year old CBs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah it’s a poor squad Sharpy. Still think Howe has done pretty badly though, the Cambridge game was shocker on his part for so many reasons and he has failed to beat two poor quality relegation rivals at home recently. I’m just a tad pis**d off at the whole show at the moment. Sick of it.
Shamrock(Quote)
The Mag Blog do a feature after each game where they have 3 good things that happened in the game and 3 bad. I’ll copy their premise and give it a go:
Good:
1. We had a decent 1st half and but for a bit of bad luck the former donkey could have had 2 goals.
2. Shelvey didnt concede a penalty. That was close!
3. Dummett looks fit and is a proper defender.
Bad:
1. Lascelles
2. They havent figured out where Chris Wood likes the ball yet.
3. WTF are we doing just letting the other team dictate play after we score and hanging on for dear life?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
So much wrong with this team. The whole central part of the team is rubbish. Shelvey and Longstaff never control games. Lascelles and Schar are just poor. Wood is no better than last season’s Joelinton.
Howe – you must have noticed by now how many goals we concede from our left side.
The front 6 had no idea how or where to play after we scored. Dismal from Howe.
All in all we need at least four top class signings.
georgio(Quote)
Sham – just to clarify my point mate I heard a few people say we should see games out – including Shearer last night. But who scores?. If it’s not been Wilson or Max, who scores that 2nd or 3rd for us?.
We have little to nothing of real quality on the bench to mix things up offensively. So he has to mix it up a bit with what he’s doing.
Going to 3 CBs doesn’t mean we are shutting up shop – Chelsea & Wolves play with 3 CBs from kick off and are doing just fine.
I just wanted to be clear that suggesting putting a defender on isn’t me saying shut up shop – more mixing it up to slow them down even for 5/10 mins while they figure out what our new approach is.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – that was one of those fixtures where was no win really.
We had a few fixtures cancelled before that one. Maybe he thought it was a good ‘match fitness’ game for the players before an important game against Watford?!.
If he played the young players and got beat he’d have been accused of not taking the cup seriously as well.
I’m not jumping to Howes defence completely coz I think he’s got some things wrong since coming in. But with the Cambridge game, we went for it – the stats show we created the chances & scored a couple of decent finishes but for marginal offsides. Their keeper played well – but we lacked the quality and clinical finishing to see them off.
It was always going to be a case of the long the game went with us not taking the lead, the more confidence Cambridge would get & think ‘we can nick this’.
Before the game there was a lot of optimism – Trippier in & lots of transfer talk – get the players in and we can do this!!.
The Cambridge defeat brought everything crashing down around that – certainly for me anyway – and that late goal yesterday just left me thinking it’s a relegation hole we just aren’t getting out of.
Howe has had the games to get the points – but the quality, particularly in defence isn’t good enough.
Our owners dragged their heels on sacking Bruce, on hiring an out of work Howe, still haven’t appointed a DoF or that support structure within the club – and are dragging their heels on signing the players Howe needs!!.
We can spend NOW. Come the summer the PL are bound to restrict that with plenty of encouragement from the top 6 clubs …. That’s IF we are still in the PL anyway?!?!!.
Everything says we NEED to spend NOW and yet we are still messing around with failed transfer bids – agreeing personal terms with players their clubs don’t want to sell in this window – wasting time negotiating for players we have no chance of bringing in this window.
Sorry for the rant ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Georgio – it’s a bit harsh to judge Wood on 1 game when he maybe had 1 day to train with the team.
We basically told Watford our game plan as well. Banging on all week about putting 30 crosses into the box against Cambridge but no one in the box to get on the end of them.
Think we need to give the lad a chance. It’s been a media mad week for him and no real training with the Newcastle lads anyway.
I’m not saying he’s going to be our saviour, just to give him a chance.
The problem with our side is there is no other threat than Wilson or Max – the opposition set up to nullify them and who else scores?!. Wood is going to have that now too – but probably had it at Burnley too, so should be able to handle it – but will need more than a few days.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Longstaff and Shelvey never work well together, both miles off the pace.
See Peter Kenyon is linked with CE role at the club now.
Apparently we have agreed terms with LB Gosen but not agreed fee with club yet, good player but injured at present and has been since September, good as he is he can’t help us now .
Where is the CB and DMF we so badly need ?
Decent dmf would help protect our fragile CB’S until we can replace.
Still fuming over that collapse with 3 mins to go, bottled it big time, Eddie looked like he’d been hit with a hammer at the end.
Really like the guy but he needs to get a tune out of them sharpish or wouldn’t be surprised to see him given the boot.
Also a lot of our players still look physically and mentally drained by 70 mins, maybe it’s the fear doing it, I don’t know or is it because of long covid with some?
I know a few young people who had covid who a year later still cannot get their breath easily after a walk or climbing the stairs in their homes. A few still have no sense of taste or smell still either.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy, Wood had little to no service yesterday , he could do with someone to provide knock downs.
kimtoon(Quote)
If we are struggling to get players to sign or clubs to sell to us then we need to start loaning asap, pay whatever it takes, we’re not skint are we .
kimtoon(Quote)
I think it’s a disgrace the North London derby is off today. They had a team to put out against Liverpool the other day – where have they gone??. If they are so short on players, why have they sent out Maitland Niles to Roma and another lad to Boro.
They are also claiming players off the AFCON – but that’s not what the rule was for!!.
Liverpool done it as well.
A show of loyalty to clubs that wanted to ****** off for a super league.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watching 51 year-old Fat Boy Moss Ref Liverpool/Brentford. He moves about as fast as a Tortoise with a porcupine stuffed up its @rse and its back legs chained together. If they dressed him in yellow he would be “sponge bob, square pants”! You see, that’s because he is about as wide as he is tall.
When are they going to require that these Refs retire?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Actually, we might not be bad at the back for Leeds if Eddie can make the required changes. That would be:
Manquillo back in at left back. Dummett in place of Lascelles as CB and Trippier still at right back. All we would need is a replacement for Schar this week.
(AND 2 NEW MIDFIELDERS, or Willock to pull his finger out).
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think Schar is getting off easy from NUFC fans. He hasnt made the mistakes that Lascelles has made but he has still been cr@p.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Wee have no pace and do not get players up in numbers. Other teams seem to be able to get four or more players into our box in no time at all. I get fed up of seeing our players pass it along the back. Of course there are times when it is necessary but we do it all the time. Even Shelvey passes backwards a lot. Frequently we get up to the opposition’s box and end up passing back to our goalkeeper. If an outfield player cannot pass better than the goalkeeper they shouldn’t be on the pitch. Watford but for poor finishing could have had three or more goals yesterday. Shelvey is two slow for the modern pacey game. Also there is a tendency by players to seek out Shelvey to pass to rather than picking out a good forward pass themselves. This slows the game down. No wonder we are so ponderous. And what is our academy for? Do we have to keep on playing the same failed players. Other teams seem to be able to bring on their youth. I agree that no way should we look to Jones or Smailing who were never brilliant when younger. Sorry for the rant. So disappointed after yesterday.
Groucho(Quote)
****** predictive text.
Groucho(Quote)
Just watched WHU v Leeds and whilst it was a scrappy game, Leeds fought hard.
Couldn’t help but think what the pace of Dan James, Jack Harrison & their Brazilian boys will do to our defence like ??♂️??♂️??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wonder if the Blue Bindippers will go to the right house to give him his P45? When he was hired their “fans” went to a neighbour of Rafa’s to hold up protest bedsheets.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
So Rafa is sacked then… Rooney, Lampard and Martinez the front runners… I don’t want to see Rafa back at our club!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
good point from Howe about psychology of losing mentality that is preventing the players from closing out wins.
He seems to imply the players mindset was to default to protect the lead in the 2nd half. That conclusion’s not too big a leap as at least the last two managers had that as their core approach. Problem is the players don’t believe they can do it which again isn’t surprising as fans, pundits and media have said all season they don’t believe in the players
Howe has to change the players mindset as changing players is taking too long
Sports psychologists often refer to team identity and mindset This clubs identity is failure and mindset is react to situation not control it.
that the team are talent deficient for the PL is true but to not close out the game yesterday against a team on a run of 7 defeats was shocking. They simply didn’t have the mental grit to take control and TCB to get out of bottom three
Lots of work to do and new players essential. Phillips and Rodon now linked as loan until end of season. If we’re interested, Get it done this week.
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Botman just scored for Lille – we ain’t getting him this window like
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m a big fan of Phillips at Lpool, I’d so I’d be pleased to get him in if we can. I’ve seen less of Rodon for Spurs but have seen him a few times for Wales and he has always looked decent.
We desperately need those improvements at CB and 2 midfielders ideally- and a CF as only Wood for another 7 or 8 weeks really
Sharpy17(Quote)
We are getting linked with Martial again but he wants to go to Seville – but that could still work out for us as they sell us Carlos to raise the cash for Martial. I’d be happy with that like.
If we could buy Lingard or loan van der beek then even better.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Everton could yet be drawn into the relegation battle. Are they really considering Wayne Rooney for Manager? He is not as stupid as he looks, but really! Rafa’s win % was 26%. There’s a farmer up the road tending his cabbages that has a higher win % than that, 29% or thereabouts. Why isnt Bruce being considered for the job and why are his pundit pals not putting his name forward? Gabby? Surely Bruce should be on the shortlist? The Dannys (Mills and Murphy)?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I had a look at The Mag and some are still wondering if Rafa could do a job as either Manager or DoF at NUFC. I just do not understand this undying love for Rafa. He was OK at NUFC given the resources but has been a disaster in China and at Everton.
Appointing Rafa as DoF has doom written all over it. You split the fanbase, half of whom would see Rafa as a replacement for Howe in waiting. When we get a DoF it should be ABR (Anyone But Rafa).
And with Rafa gone it looks like we are probably stuck with Longstaff until the summer. I wouldnt even have him in the squad when we get a new midfielder, which we must get this week. Him and Shelvey cannot play in the same team, they are just too slow. I hope Eddie sees this now. It is up to him to fix Willock as well. There is a player in there, we saw it last season
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Everybody, papers, blogs, Youtube are saying Lascelles was beaten in the air for the Watford goal. No he wasnt! He was in front of their player and failed at the simple task of jumping 6 inches off the ground and clearing the ball. The ball should never have reached the Watford player so he was not beaten in the air. It was a glaring error to add to all of the other mistakes he has made this season. He needs to be dropped whether we get a new CB in or not. And we have the opportunity to drop him with Dummett back and Manquillo not suspended. Eddie needs to find his balls and play:
Trippier Schar Dummett Manquillo
That is not a bad ball playing back four and would be much better if we actually sign a CB this week.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
So, the 1892 Pledge has ended with 87% of NUST members saying it should. All monies will now be distributed to charities. I suggest (tongue firmly in cheek) Amnesty International.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Lots of talk about Diego Carlos wanting to come to us coz we’ll pay a kings ransom – but the Harry Kane saga of the summer should have taught us that it’s all well and good turning a players head, but if you don’t meet the clubs valuation he won’t be going anywhere!!.
Atalanta don’t seem too bothered that we’ve apparently agreed terms with Gosen either – probably coz they don’t have a return to fitness for him yet. But they don’t seem in a rush to sell either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: we will double Carlos’s wages and then double them again in the summer if he plays well and we stay up.
If we stay up we will get a real statement signing and then Carlos’s agent will want close to parity in wages.
The Saudis will want a name to put on the back of their shirts. My guess for an English player would be Sterling. Italian – Chiesa. I would take either in a heartbeat.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I’d imagine Kane would be paid more at City – but they didn’t meet Spurs valuation. We aren’t with our targets either – and I understand clubs not wanting to sell their better players half way through the season. We have to make offer them the money that forces their hand. I think we’ve offered less than £30m for Carlos so far. For a club as desperate as we are – that’s not head turning money really.
If we get Carlos & Gosen sorted, I’d want us to go loan either Phillips or Rodon at CB, then also loan a midfielder – I’d like Loftus-Cheek.
Go get Ramsey sorted, and get the young French lad signed up – if not him then Nketiah.
But that’s 6 further signing I’m talking about there & we’ve got 2 done so far – and 1 only because of his buy out clause – there was no negotiation required.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy , according to Caulkin we ARE meeting valuations but the clubs then up their asking price and it’s more than one doing it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – according to reports we haven’t even discussed a fee with Atalanta for Gosen yet – so I don’t get sorting personal terms.
I know the deals tend to not get done til the end of the Jan window, but it’s all so frustrating now like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well Saturday really was rather abysmal. We really are desperate for a couple of quality centre backs. Just seeing how good Trippier is brings it home how much of a difference good defenders will make to us. He looks a different galaxy to what we have. We also need a centre midfielder who can get the ball and run forward while creating something. Plus another striker. But defence and creativity is a must or we are goners.
Stuart79(Quote)
On another note, I see Arsenal are about to send Mari out on loan to Italy as well – that will be their 3rd player shipped out on loan already in January – yet the PL are allowing them to postpone games through lack of players. Doesn’t seem right to me that?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree, it’s not right.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stats sometimes lie and sometime tell a story. If Miggy does not score against Leeds it will be a full year since his last goal. That is simply not good enough whether we think of him as a number 10 or a winger, and whether he has been used as an auxilary midfielder/defender by Bruce.
When he played in the US he was a number 10. That is his position and where he should be played – if at all. Fraser and Murphy are better wingers.
Sorry to say it, but I am close to giving up on Miggy. I can add him to the list of other players I have given up on:
Clark
Darlow
Lascelles
Ritchie
Longstaff x 2
Woodman
That’s quite a long list and there are others that are only marginal, such as Gayle and Schar. No wonder we are in the mess we are.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Imagine what Talksport would say if that was us? Simon Jordan and Danny Murphy would want us demoted to The Northern League and Eddie Howe hanged from the gallows at the Gollowgate end. Or, at the very least, put in shocks and pelted with cabbages by Steve Bruce and having to hear a Match Report by Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Heed on endless repeat.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Ice – you were right about Umtiti mate, broke his foot training with Barca.
Sharpy17(Quote)
its a wonder he didnt break both hes so weak
icedog(Quote)
I fear we may not get many in this month, as every other club seems to want to fleece us and keep upping the price. This is what happens when our desperation is clear and we have money. We will either overpay hugely or fail in our recruitment I think! ????♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
It’s not just the fees. Players just don’t want to come.
georgio(Quote)
Yes indeed. A lot of hurdles to overcome. We don’t help ourselves with results either.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well Carlos appears to be the exception to that rule – I’m surprised he’s came out so publicly with a transfer request. But maybe he’s had enough of Sevilla moving the goal posts.
Our initial offers don’t seem to be the problem, it’s the clubs wanting add ons in anticipation of us moving up the league – as in, we want another £5m if you get European footy in the next few years.
I can understand the club pushing back on that with the number of players we want to sign. We sign 10 players with £5m add ons for Europe & we’ll end up losing money being successful ?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Glad we look like signing a centre back. Is he a Lascelles replacement because he looks a big lad?
On another recent signing I have seen already some saying on social media that he will be a bust because in their humble opinion he had a bad game on Saturday. He had 1 training session with the team FFS and we have not played with this type of striker for quite a while. We asked Joelinton to do it and he failed, but even then he was isolated so never really stood a chance. Other than that we played on the last man’s shoulder with Wilson or Gayle and also tried a false 9 or even 2 false 10s whatever that was. But, according to some Wood is useless after 1 game.
He has almost the same number of PL games and goals as Marcus Rashford.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Another 25 million pound player some are writing off is Willock. Are they mad? The lad had covid and also an injured toe that he had to have painkilling injections on. If you had to rank our midfielders in terms of whether they should play Willock would have to be 1st simply on his price tag. He has to be given a chance.
Joelinton would probably be next but I am not about to announce him as the next Patrick Viera after 4 or 5 games. He had 90 games before that when he was shyte.
We saw on Saturday the return of the inconsistent Shelvey. He has done OK under Howe but we have seen him for 5 years and we know he blows hot and cold. His lack of pace also means you need a runner for him. In this current squad, that would be Willock.
Then there is slow-poke number 2. His stats dont look that bad, but Longstaff gives the ball away in dangerous areas with 5 yard passes. It may look OK on paper with say an 85% completion rate but that doesnt really matter if every game you are putting your team mates in trouble with sloppy passes.
In summary, if we are really the best fans in the world you cannot be writing players off after half a season or 1 game. Especially, when Willock had such a say in keeping us up last year.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
What I would really like is for Blogs or the new bunch of NUFC fan talking heads on Youtube to give me their assessment of players we have been linked with. This would involve actually seeing them play and not just Youtube highlights. Instead, what we get is quotes from journalists’ twitter feeds. Whatever you think of Luke Edwards and Keith Downie etc. they do seem to have contacts at NUFC. I would just like a bit more first hand insight from NUFC fan internet content providers.
It shouldnt be that hard for Diego Carlos. Did Sevilla play in the Europa League?
We used to get La Liga in the US but they stopped it about 3 years ago. The problem was that they only showed the other teams when they played the likes of Real Madrid, Athletico and Barca when they were good. You couldnt really assess them when they had about 25% possession.
Same with the German league now. We get that but it is Bayern and Dortmund every week usually giving the other team a hiding.
I just think it would be useful for Blogs and Youtubers to watch a few games and give an opinion, rather than just retweeting what the print journos say.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Aubamayang supposedly back in England and back on our radar. I thought this was a no brainer until he got Covid “partying” in Dubai. I am about 50/50 now based on him giving the 2 finger salute (figuratively) to Arteta, but in some ways I dont blame him. You can see Arteta is tightly wound and PEA has no future there. You just hope that he is not another Alexis and that our Drs do a thorough examination because he supposedly had heart lesions. No idea what they are and I cant even be bothered to google it 🙂
His goal record is phenomenal wherever he has been and age isnt an issue if we are loaning him with an option to buy. If it is our option! I am pretty sure Arteta wants him gone by any means possible and we are one of very few clubs who could afford his wages. Other options might have been a now Managerless Everton or a pre-Coutinho Villa. I doubt they will be in for him now.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
What other options does Aubamayang have? Arsenal are certainly not going to loan him to their top 4 rivals. That rules out Spurs, Leicester, West Ham and Wolves who may have been able to afford him. He’s not going to PSG either with Messi, Neymar and MBappe there.
That pretty much leaves us or sitting in the stands. Arteta would not even have him in the squad and I am not sure he would even allow him in The Emirates.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
And one more thing, if we loan Aubamayang it damages Arsenal’s rivals. With our other additions we suddenly become capable of getting results against Man U, Leicester, Spurs, West Ham etc.
It is a win/win for Arsenal because I think PEA has played his last game for Arteta.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Why is everybody so **** scared of Leeds? They had a pretty bad run until they beat West Ham. There was even talk of sacking Bielsa at one point. Kalvin Phillips is out and Bamford doubtful and they have a load of other injuries. Their bench was filled with kids, even against West Ham. Some NUFC fans are acting like we have to play a full strength Man City rather than an injury wracked Leeds.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
So MEN reporting we’re in talks to sign Lindgard on loan. He’d be a good loan signing. Then if we got Carlos, and another centre half and a striker we’d have a much better chance.
Stuart79(Quote)
On this possible Lingard loan, Man U are only 5 points behind West Ham with 2 games in hand. West Ham are 4th, so why would they loan them a player when they are competing for European spots?
Its a similar argument to why Burnley will not sell us Tarkowski or Norwich sell us Cantwell.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Comic strip of Rafa leaving Everton. I like the last panel with Bruce in a Hawaiin shirt.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2022/jan/18/david-squires-rafa-benitez-sacking-everton-merseyside-blues
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Carlos is prone to mistakes mind, his partner in back line keeps him right a lot of the time they are a good partnership i see why they dont want to lose him
icedog(Quote)
Ice – isn’t the other lad who Chelsea are after?.
I’m sure City were originally looking at Carlos before they got Diaz. He’s a good defender, but you’re right Ice, he needs someone decent alongside him, especially as he doesn’t know the league.
Nat Phillips would be my preference, but we’ll see.
I really hope Lingard comes in. I’ve made no secret I’m a big fan of him as a footballer. Think he’d do a great job.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Lingard might give Miggy a boot up the backside as I think he has gone backwards under Bruce/Jones/The Steves. I mentioned earlier that if he doesnt score at Leeds that will be a full year since his last goal. I dont think it has all been his fault as he is really a number 10 and hardly gets to play there. Our previous lot had him on the left, the right, in midfield, bringing the ball out with no support so no wonder he is confused. Still he has a tendency to run down blind alleys and not have an end product, but the way we set up with the famous 8-0-2 formation he had no support.
At this point Lingard is much more of a goal threat and that is what we need. I think he has been totally p!ssed around by Man U. Probably by at least their last 3 Managers including this one. I think he had some mental issues as well which is strange because he comes across as so confident.
Lingard has had 88 mins of PL football this season. That is a criminal waste.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)