Another disappointing NUFC match has split the supporter base again.
After the Bournemouth game, I penned a piece on staying united as supporters. And while we largely did after Wembley (which I’m just pretending didn’t happen), that hasn’t been the case with our league form.
I found the two extreme opposing ends of the spectrum exhausting after that game. I voiced frustrations that certain players hadn’t been good enough and that the overall team performance was poor and got hammered for daring to share thoughts that weren’t positive.
Now we find ourselves at the other end of the scale with a small but vocal minority saying Eddie Howe has messed up because we’re in sixth and that we need to sell half the squad. Really?
Nuanced debate is critical as we move through this period of change. Did anyone expect us to challenge for or achieve the Champions League before a ball had been kicked this season? Unlikely. So why is not getting it a failure? Simply put, it’s not.
In August, I anticipated that we’d end this season having achieved some form of European football. I still think this will happen. But it not being Champions League – which is still a possibility – is not a sign that we’ve failed.
Our form has been dicey since the league restarted in December – our collective fear that the World Cup would slap down the momentum we’d built up in the prior three months has largely come true.
Our inability to score goals is a serious concern. For his own sake and for the team, Wilson shouldn’t start against Wolves. But the way some have reacted to his poor (and likely illness-induced) form is bonkers. You’d think he’d never scored a goal here. The suggestion that we need to sell him is ludicrous to me. What we need is another top striker to challenge his spot – and potentially have the ability to play alongside him.
Even when he’s not scoring goals, he’s still contributing in some ways. He didn’t have his best day in front of goal on Saturday and does look sluggish, but he’s never a passenger. He’s an absolute menace for defenders and keepers alike and doesn’t deserve a lot of the criticism he’s getting at the moment.
A simple short-term fix here is to start Isak against Wolves. While he hasn’t scored in recent cameos, he looks lively and more likely to; I’d argue he’s been unlucky to not score in either of our last two games. Giving Wilson an opportunity to rest will be important, as will giving Isak a chance to shine.
Dan Burn had a torrid time down the left on Saturday, and Foden was able to cut in too easily at times. Then suddenly, one of the most reliable defenders in the league all season should never start again according to some, despite the additional fact that he put in two monumental blocks that surely would have resulted in goals on the day.
His errors didn’t directly lead to goals, and he absolutely prevented a couple, but the verdict on his overall performance was far too harsh. As a side note, give me him snapping Haaland any day.
Eddie Howe’s team selections are quite possibly our biggest source of contention right now. His continued faith in Wilson is understandably frustrating for many, and many of us feel that starting Targett at left-back and pushing Burn back into the middle would have been a sensible choice on Saturday (although full credit to Lascelles, who had a solid game).
The team that took us to a cup final and kept us in a Champions League position for months is starting to go a little stale. Perhaps teams are figuring us out. With a paper-thin squad, fatigue could be playing a part. Goalscoring is a clear and pressing problem. But I would strongly argue that we haven’t been outplayed in these past few games; ultimately, we need to be a bit more clinical.
Gordon once again looked lively on Saturday and I expect him to start again this Sunday, ideally with Isak ahead of him. While Almiron has looked more limited than pre-World Cup, our inability to score can’t be pegged on him, and he may end up with more freedom again should we bring Isak in.
It’s reasonable to say we’re not doing as well as we’d expect right now without saying Howe has failed because we’ve dropped to sixth. It’s rational to be concerned about where goals are going to come from while recognising that some missed chances have been down to poor luck. It’s OK to be disappointed that we’re out of the Champions League spots while recognising that we’ve still come a really long way in just a year and a half.
When it comes to Newcastle United, nothing is black and white except the shirts we wear and the colours we bleed.
Natasha:-
When good players are not performing to the levels they are capable of it is up to the manager to change things irrespective of who the players are.
Dan Burn doesn’t get the protection he needs when St Max plays so it’s down to the manager to adjust the system.
When Wilson and Almiron have gone stale it is up to the manager to change things, it’s not as if he hasn’t got replacements.
They players may need a rest, granted we haven’t got a squad bursting with quality yet to do that, the way Man City can but we do have options, in some games we could have gone to a back five it’s not a cardinal sin to do so at times and it gives opponents something else to think about.
That’s down to the manager being brave enough to do it.
Joseph(Quote)
Joseph – and just coz you won an FA Cup on Championship manager doesn’t make you a real one.
Howe has had most of these players performing at their optimal levels since he’s came in. Pretty much every player has improved since he came in – BUT, that doesn’t all of a sudden make them top 4 players.
Equally, just coz Howe got us to a cup final doesn’t make him a top manager.
Any manager is a good one when things are all going well – top managers are the ones that cope with the difficult times with calmness & a loyalty to the players that are giving blood sweat & tears (in the cup final) for him, the shirt & fans.
Perspective – if we won the cup or get top 4 that wouldn’t have mean we’d made it – and if we don’t it doesn’t mean failure.
It’s progression. Progression from a team that really was close to being relegated last season – let’s not forget that our form from around Jan last year to the end of the season was that of league title contenders – that’s the difference Howe & his team made.
Yes we signed players – but Trippier was out injured pretty quickly & Bruno was held back – and Wood made little impact.
We have come a long way, but there is a long way still needed to go & it will take time.
Perspective & patience … and a bit of loyalty. The boys are still playing well – they just aren’t converting their chances.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Joseph you don’t work on the training pitch you aren’t in the sports science physio or medical teams so basically you haven’t got a clue about the condition of players like the rest of us so stop second guessing and trust the people that’s got us this far we all know the squad wasn’t strong enough which makes what Howe has done all the more remarkable
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Darren – like the rest of us?? What do you know that we don’t?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Joseph i don’t never said I did none of us know what goes on behind the scenes if Issak is 100% fit and I’m not saying he is I would start him but if Howe doesn’t think he is fair enough no over reaction from me
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Darren Bebb:-
All I have said is managers should be prepared to change things where necessary!
Sharply 17:-
Your first sentence with FA Cup and championship manager doesn’t even make sense!
It doesn’t matter how much a manager has improved the players (that’s their job) but when some start underperforming a good manager acts, tweaks or changes things.
Joseph(Quote)
My like the rest of us comment has been misunderstood point I was making as fans we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes Joseph would you risk Changing something that’s worked a lot more than it hasn’t best defensive record and all them clean sheets no matter what the formation is if your not scoring goals can’t keep expecting your defence to hold out
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Darren Bebb:-
We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, but we do know from the evidence in front of us that the forwards are underperforming and they have been since the World Cup.
This underperformance has lasted for at least six or seven matches.
I am not talking about Man City, Utd or even Liverpool but some really average to poor teams like C.Palace, Bournemouth,Southampton, West Ham,Leeds who are all in the lower reaches of the division, and not forgetting the lucky win we had against Fulham.
The defence is still good but the evidence shows that Dan Burn needs more support when St Max plays and the top teams have recognised this since the West Ham game.
Joseph(Quote)