Another game, another damaging defeat for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, as we end 2023 with what’s undoubtedly our most concerning performance of the year.
We started well and took a deserved lead through Alexander Isak, but failed to capitalise on our early dominance, shot ourselves in the foot just before the break and completely collapsed in a frankly appalling second half display full of awful decision-making, mistakes and a lack of plan B as Forest sat deep.
We’ve talked about fatigue, injuries and the busy schedule – 10 games in the last 30 days has not helped – but the team looked void of all confidence, character or belief in that final 45 minutes. It’s as if disappointment after disappointment over the past few weeks has totally taken the stuffing out of the group.
The result is damaging on so many levels and leave us in a really tough position ahead of a brutal run of January fixtures, with Liverpool, Sunderland, Man City and Aston Villa to come next month. Three of those are away games and we’re now seven behind Spurs having played a game less.
It’s easy to say after the event, but the first mistake of the day was from Eddie Howe. Dan Burn at left-back didn’t make sense for several reasons. Forest aren’t a big side, they have bags of pace in wide areas and they were their to be got at down the flanks, so it was baffling that Livramento was benched again after a rest at Luton.
There was an early chance for the visitors just two minutes in, as Gibbs-White thankfully fired just wide after robbing Miley of possession. At the other end, we capitalised on a period of pressure and high pressing as Isak converted the penalty he won with a cool finish at the Gallowgate. A special mention must also go to Miley, who played an eye of the needle pass into the Swede befote he was brought down.
They couldn’t cope with our high press yet continued to play out from the back. We could and should have made it 2-0 before the break, but ended up going in all square as former Mag Chris Wood tapped in at the end of a Forest counter. The warning signs had been there in patches – we gave the ball away far too many in our half – but this was such an awful goal to concede, which all started with Almiron’s giveaway from a brilliant position to make it 2-0.
15 seconds into the restart they should’ve gone 2-1 up, as Elanga left Burn for dead and set up Gibbs-White, who glanced a golden chance wide. A big let off, but we didn’t learn from it and continued to give Forest bags of space from simple balls in behind.
After scoring a first-half tap-in, Wood made the most of our calamitous defending not once but twice in a shambolic second half. The former Toon striker scored five in 39 games during his time on Tyneside and today he bullied Botman, burst past our back four far too easily and made Dubravka look silly on a few occasions to score a St James’ Park hat-trick.
Bruno was a joy to watch in the first half, Miley impressed again before we imploded and it was nice to see Botman and Isak back, but the Dutchman looked off the pace, Trippier continued his slump with such a poor display (on and off the ball), Miggy came up short once again in the final third and Longstaff didn’t offer enough; a theme since his return from injury.
We know these lads are a band of brothers and a great group, but costly errors, missed chances and collapsing when it gets tough has happened far too often over the past few weeks, resulting in damaging results in the league, cup and Champions League.
One to forget but a worrying display, lacking in quality, fight, organisation or ideas. 2023 has generally been a magical year for us Toon fans, but this is without doubt the toughest period of Eddie Howe’s tenure and we must react; starting at Liverpool on New Year’s Day.
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn- Miley, Bruno, Longstaff – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Karius, Hall, Murphy, Livramento, Dummett, Joelinton, Wilson, Ritchie, Krafth.
Why do our old striker’s always come back to haunt us, Woods is twice the player of Isak and Wilson put together. We are a nothing team destined for a relegation scrap next season.
Bob Frost(Quote)
Oh dear, well that was just awful and the team seem really fragile. I think the confidence point raised above is a good one
Putting the disappointment aside that he did it against nufc, im really pleased for wood who was undeservedly given terrible stick while at the toon. I’d hope it’s a reminder to those nufc fans lining up to stick it to the usual targets of burn, Almiron and longstaff to step back and see the bigger picture rather than continuous, destructive, finger pointing
Nufc are in transition and have some ways to go overhaul the squad. Last season was awesome and lots of fun and it always likely we’d see a drop this season.
The squad and the manager / coaches will know there are players not at the levels that nufc are aiming for even at the best of times and fans expecting those levels given what’s going on right now are naive at best
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
It’s been obvious for ages as we have been far too predictable on the right hand side with the one footed Almiron poses no threat and an out of sorts Trippier and Longstaff way off the pace.
We desperately need a solid holding midfielder along with a proper left back.
Confidence has plummeted our midfield engine has totally stalled and we need to go back to the basics.
We are playing relegation football standard at the moment and with the next few matches approaching we could soon be fighting for our lives if it wasn’t for some awful teams below us (who we can’t beat).
The sad Mackems must be licking their lips.
Time for Eddie and the coaches to get stuck into this squad, who are capable of much better than they are showing us at present.
Joseph(Quote)
Looking at our fixtures in January – if we find ourselves above 10th spot & still in the FA Cup come February then we’ll be doing well.
I look at those fixtures and see no more than 4 points. I think we will be miles off top 4 by then & be faced with nothing to play for.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have gone from being the hunters to the hunted. Teams are now going to lift against us to try and knock off the new big kid on the block. I think there is a bit of a struggle to get a grip on this new transitional situation. We are a big scalp to be had. Our players are expecting to win without putting in the extra work.
Let me also say this. Can someone else please take a f#cking set piece other than Trippier. I’ve watched a couple of season of him wasting corner after corner. It’s getting like the back post ball to Williamson under the Pardew regime.
Trippier was/is a very important signing a few seasons back but he has been beyond criticism for the most part. I won’t use the word over rated but he is very close to that in my opinion.
EH has to to throw a few grenades into the playing group. Some are a little too comfortable.
Aussie(Quote)
For me Dubravka isn’t good enough – De Gea is a better goal keeper.
It’s mad that the club haven’t got him in til the end of the season yet already – with the option to extend beyond if he does well. We know our keeper options are poor.
We also know City don’t want Phillips – so we should also already have that loan lined up for him to arrive the 1st Jan – with an option to buy should he work out.
There’s 2 problems fixed straight away – only RWF to try and address in January then.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aussie – good to see you mate, hope you are well & all is good your end of the world 👍🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY hope your not forgetting Phillips has a playing record like Wilson before his city move
he was a right sick note do we need another body in the treatment room,i dont think so,one or two games for Leeds three in the room,no thank you
icedog(Quote)
I would take Burn back out for Tino.
The other change I would make which may is a bit out of the box but I would play Krafth RB and push Trippier forward to drop Almirón out the team – at least until we can get a RWF in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – he’d be a bit of a risk no doubt mate. But shelling out £55m on a midfielder turned out to be a bit of a risk 🤷🏼♂️.
Even if uninjured, his lack of gaming time would bring his fitness into question.
But money is still going to be tight I reckon & he’s maybe the best option available in Jan – unless they can find different 🤷🏼♂️.
It would be an initial loan til the end of the season so hopefully the risk wouldn’t be too great.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m all good thanks Sharpy. Hope you and your family are all good mate. All the best 👍
Aussie(Quote)
All good too thanks mate. The boy is nearly 15 now so Xmas has became what time to we drag his backside out his pit 😂.
Sharpy17(Quote)
🤣 I’m hearing ya mate.
Aussie(Quote)
Down to 9th now 😡. Brighton beat Spurs 4-2. And West Ham beating Arsenal 2-0. Wait for another meltdown. 😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – I think it gets worse before it gets better as well mate. The fixtures in Jan aren’t favourable at all – anything more than 4-6 points & it’s a good month.
In form we could do a lot better than that obviously, and IF we can break the cycle of bad results & poor performances, that could get the confidence back – but the way we are playing at the mo I just don’t see it sadly.
I’ve been critical of some of the players – I stand by what I’ve said about the goal return from our wide players & midfielders isn’t good enough, and I stand by what I say about Miggy – we need better in that position.
I’ve also been critical of Howe in recent games & certainly against Forest I think he should have acted sooner with Burn getting turned inside out.
But you can still support the team & be critical. I’m a huge Howe fan & absolutely think he is the manager to grow the club – he is growing with the team. He is gaining experience too & will make mistakes & learn from them. That will make us a better club & him a better manager – but he should never be safe from criticism in the same way as the players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree mate. It will be very interesting to see which team turns up at Liverpool…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
According to some reports we could see the likes of Anderson, Willock, Barnes and Murphy back throughout January – that being the case I think we could see us waiting to the back end of the window to do our business.
My worry is Barnes. They could have opted to operate on his injury & accept that he would be out for a certain amount of time – or hope the injury would heal naturally & he’d be back a little quicker.
They went with the latter & there have been set backs. I’m hoping he’s back on track now & there are no further complications.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Balls to paying £7m for half a season for Phillips as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wouldn’t pay £7mil for Phillips either. Probably not match fit and there are better options I’m sure.
Gilly Toon(Quote)