It’s been a while since there’s been anything negative around NUFC to talk about in a blog.
Well, buckle up, because we have some pain points following Sunday’s match. But don’t worry – it ends on a positive note.
We headed to Chelsea unbeaten in almost two and a half months. Naturally, the team and us supporters were in high spirits.
We knew Chelsea as a club was dealing with its own difficulties, but we were under no illusions that it would make it an easy game – they still won on the day Abramovich was sanctioned.
All eyes were on Eddie Howe’s team sheet. He’s been loyal to his performing players in recent months and it’s paid off handsomely. Shelvey and Willock were missing through illness, while Joelinton hadn’t recovered in time.
We, perhaps surprisingly, saw Ryan Fraser rested. To me, this showed that Howe had one eye on Everton away on Thursday. It’s certainly a more winnable game, but now that we’re pretty much clear of relegation, I’d be starting my strongest team against every side.
But we also have to consider the fact that NUFC have been playing at a much higher intensity than under previous management, so there is some merit to resting players – especially those playing at an extra high intensity. Overall, though, Howe’s hand was largely forced.
It was brilliant to see Miggy get a start – he was a livewire as ever. His shot just before half time was a cracking one, and had it not been for some great goalkeeping, he’d have put us 1-0 up. I wasn’t entirely convinced on Longstaff starting, but he also had a really solid game.
Everyone gave a great account of themselves – something we find ourselves saying often at the moment. For a selection that was largely forecd, we performed like a starting XI.
Up until the final minutes, Dan Burn was easily my man of the match. In fact, he probably still is. I was concerned to see how wide he was playing in the first half – not because I didn’t think he could, but because it appeared to leave a gaping hole in the middle of the defence. But Schar shored it up perfectly and as ever, Burn dealt with everything that came his way and then some.
There was very little between the two teams on the day. It all came down to the officiating.
The penalty incident was a shocker. How you can see Chalobah trip Murphy, while nearly ripping his shirt clean off his shoulders, inside the box and not give a penalty? It’s as stonewall as they come. Why wasn’t there a proper VAR review?
I’ve long been a supporter of VAR and I still am. When used correctly, it massively benefits the game. The issue is the inconsistent way it’s being used.
I’ve no doubt John Brooks, the VAR on the day and a Premier League referee, watched it. But how on earth do you not make the call to review it further and even get the on-field referee to watch it back?
Coote was shockingly bad, but we have to accept that on-field referees won’t catch everything. But that’s the job of the VAR, and he failed. There needs to be a serious review of how it’s being implemented in the close season.
I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face: Premier League referees shouldn’t be VAR referees. Why employ the same people making the mistakes to rectify said mistakes?
Then, the other incident. Havertz foul on Dan Burn was indefensible and unnecessary. I hadn’t realised until I saw replays that he’d even drawn blood. What was his excuse? That Dan Burn was tall.
Kai hun, you’re only five inches shorter than him.
I’d joked during the game that Burn being tall was the excuse for not sending him off; I didn’t think that would genuinely be Havertz’s excuse. As the man himself said, he would have been off the pitch had it been the other way around.
It was a very, very cruel irony that the man who should have been sent off for a foul on our player then beat said player to score the winning goal.
Burn’s reaction at the time and after the match said everything. He beat the ground and looked so apologetic coming to applaud us at the end of the game. He was one of the first players to walk away, head down and rubbing the back of it. It was genuinely devastating to witness. Even his demeanour in his post-match interview – which is brilliantly candid without being whiny or aggressive – was dour.
Considering that’s the only mistake he’s made in 540 minutes – and really, the defence as a whole should have provided more cover – that’s still some great going.
As Geordies, we’ll all know exactly how he was feeling when that goal went in. it was clear that he blamed himself, but I hope he knows it was unfortunate and that it doesn’t get him down. He’s been too good to let this knock his confidence.
But, on a positive note, it would appear Eddie Howe’s massive mags can only be beaten by bad refereeing.
If that’s what it takes to knock us down, then so be it.
Up the mags.
