A poor performance featuring a few alarming displays, but Newcastle remain unbeaten two games into the season following a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. Here’s our marks out of 10 and comments on each player:
Pope – 6.5 – A few good stops but he looked very shaky with the ball at his feet. One big save early on with his feet and punched or claimed a couple of crosses.
Livramento – 5 – Made a decent start while we were on top for the first 20 minutes, but switched off for Tavernier’s goal. Replaced by Trippier before the hour mark.
Krafth – 6 – Solid defensively but we really missed Schar’s quality and composure to pick passes and play out from the back. Let the ball bounce a few times, but did a decent job out of position.
Burn – 6 – Made one vital intervention in the second half to stop out their cut-back. Could’ve scored at the other end. Steady.
Kelly – 5 – He made a decent start but Bournemouth’s man of the match Semenyo got the better of him in the end, often putting him on the back foot and crossing down his side for their goal. Hall offered more on the ball and added some drive when he came on.
Longstaff – 5 – Looked slow and too one-paced going forward. Was also muscled off it too easily a few times. Aside from a few nice one-twos with Bruno, he didn’t offer much.
Guimaraes – 7 – Was at the centre of everything in the opening 20 minutes while we were on top, but had a mixed second half, but won most of his duels, drew fouls and was the main man trying to link the play and create as we pushed for that equaliser. Almost scored late with a curling left-footed shot.
Joelinton – 3 – His worst game since he’s developed into a midfielder under Howe. Lost the ball so often via a poor pass or loose touch, one of which lead to Bournemouth’s first goal. Way off it both on and off the ball and lucky not to see red late on for a high tackle on Neto in stoppage time. From man of the match last weekend to a stinker this Sunday!
Murphy – 5 – Another who wasn’t at it today. Superb in pre-season but offered very little here and was taken off before the hour mark as a result.
Isak – 7 – Isolated too often but still managed to wriggle free at times with his long legs and tight dribbling. Created a few chances in each half and gave Senesi a tough time when h managed to square up the Argentine CB. Needed more service but showed moments of class when we got it to him.
Gordon – 5 – Would’ve been a 4/10 had it not been for his equaliser, which has ultimately got us a point. Good to see him off the mark, but worrying to see how flat he looked. He was the heartbeat of our attack last season, yet here he was sluggish, rarely attempted to take on his man, didn’t look up for it and created next to nothing.
SUBS:
Barnes – 8 – Gave us a consistent threat down the left, not only linking the play and doing things quickly but delivering a lovely cross for Gordon’s goal. Went close with a shot that flew just wide and created other chances, too. Will surely start at Forest after a game-changing cameo.
Trippier – 7 – Showed his quality on the ball with some nice pick outs and crosses from open play and set pieces. We looked a better team when he was on the pitch.
Hall – 7 – Added some drive and urgency to our play down the left and looked sharp after a sloppy display last weekend.
Willock – 6 – Still finding his best form and match sharpness, but we did look more of a threat down the left after he came on.
Almiron – N/A – On for the final few minutes and barely got a kick.
Murphy & Longstaff showed how much we need quality additions on the RHS, both fullbacks had too much to do with Gordon and Murphy offering very little so probably looked worse than they were.
Joelinton was given no room to breathe today was well marshalled.
Hopefully Tonali may answer the Longstaff issue, I think we can kiss goodbye to any chance of Madueke after todays performance and Mitchell needs to move his backside.
Joseph(Quote)
I mostly agree. I would have Livramento lower. He just didn’t seem interested today. Which is unusual for him. I would put Isak up to 8. He was class when we got the ball to him and was one of the few positives before the substitutions.
I thought Willock deserves at least a 7. He got stuck in, full of energy, started to get the ball in the box when he came on.
Glenn Gregory(Quote)
I hope nufc do kiss goodbye to madueke. the club needs players that’ll kick the team onto the next level. Madueke is the meltiest of melts and a bang average footballer that will keep nufc exactly where they are right now for a lot of money and baggage. Surely there are better options than him out there for a much needed upgrade.
Jonesy(Quote)
Joseph your quick to call Longstaff and Murphy but come up with an excuse for Jolinton who was arguably our worst player be consistent with your criticism if Longstaff had have played like Jolinton today the melt down with some of our fans would have been off the scale
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Darren Bebb:-
Not defending Joelinton’s performance at all today, in fact he should have walked!
But we were woeful on the RHS
Joseph(Quote)
Joseph never said we weren’t bad on the RHS but jolinton gets to much of a pass at times for me this ain’t the first time he’s been caught in possession when playing in the midfield 3 also said many times about front 3 of Barnes Isak Gordon bit of a difference when them 3 were in tandem
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Don’t you love it when people use the word “arguably”?
It tells you that they want to say something but can’t quite commit to it fully.
BykerBill(Quote)
So many wasted passes and the whole team seemed to have a touch of the Brunos, where they had the ball and had it taken from them, with Bruno having what can only be described as Bruno squared. He was horrific. While he is good, he really does think he is much better than he is.
It stuns me that as soon as the opposition look to play us at our own game with the high press we don’t have an answer when we should be saying bu66er this and push even harder.
If you are going to have a player like Isak up front you have to provide him with at least a semblance of service from the back. That has been Trippier and Schar so not starting with Trippier when Schar is off sharpening his forehead means we had zero route to the front.
We demonstrated an almost National League like ability to play out from the back.
Bottom line – we’re a one trick pony. High press with teams backing off, great.
Anything else and we’re screwed.
BykerBill(Quote)
The team looked out of ideas and not 100%… playing spurs next week will be an indicator wether they can compete top 6 this season .. the football has lost is fluidity and confidence .. hope it’s just a patch of form ? schar , tonalli and Botman return might brighten it up
Mike(Quote)
Byker Bill:-
Imo and from what you have said we are also still looking for a quality holding midfield Tiote type player.
Joseph(Quote)
100%, apart from Joelinton, who was atrocious….., Hall and Trippier are our best proven full backs…end of..
Brian(Quote)