A tough afternoon at the Amex for Newcastle United, who lost it late to Danny Welbeck after Nick Woltemade’s classy equaliser.
Here are our marks out of 10 and comments on each player involved in yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton:
Starting 11
Pope (7) – Made some sharp saves from Rutter and De Cuyper but couldn’t do much about the goals.
Trippier (6.5) – Arguably the best of the back four today, with some decent attacking forays in the second half. Still a vital member of the side.
Thiaw (6.5) – Up and down performance with some really good work undone by sloppy defending for the opening goal. Some great work on the cover to stop Minteh, however, and tried to get us playing out from the back. With a bit more conviction he could’ve got himself on the end of Burn’s cross in the second half.
Botman (6) – Will be very disappointed by the manner of the opening goal. It was criminal how easy Welbeck was allowed to get through on goal. Poorest game since being reinstated into the starting eleven.
Burn (6) – Was given the tough task of marking the pacey Minteh and was beaten on occasions but overall handled him ok. Clearly only a temporary solution at left back. Also, he’s got the longest throw on the team but he’s the one we need on the end of them!
Guimaraes (6.5) – Will have been disappointed not to score early on when dragging his shot wide. Played a part in the equaliser and most of our best attacks flowed through the captain. Defensively as a unit our midfield was poor though with Bruno no exception.
Tonali (5) – Looked knackered. His most ineffectual performance in a long time as he never got to grips with the game and was mercifully hooked in the second half. When he has an off day, our whole midfield shape and structure breaks down.
Joelinton (4) – Could be time for an uncomfortable conversation about big Joe. Offered absolutely nothing in the first half, strugggling to help out Burn and looking sloppy on the ball, then didn’t reemerge for the second half. His once automatic starting position now needs to come under real scrutiny.
Elanga (4) – Bereft of confidence which was summed up in the first half when he had a clear opportunity to break and seemed to forget what to do with the ball. Patience is needed as he’s a good player but might be more useful as an impact sub in the short term.
Gordon (5.5) – The difference between Newcastle Gordon and England Gordon is vast. Another game with minimal impact is starting to become a real worry. Will keep his spot but a marked improvement is needed.
Woltemade (7) – Big Nick does it again. What a flick for the equaliser in another game where he was largely on the periphery. Should’ve done better with a header late in the first half. Important to note that concerns about him lacking pace to get into the box came to the fore in the second half when Murphy played a lovely cross into the box but Nick was 10 yards too far back.
Substitutes
Miley (6.5) – Picked up the assist for the goal and provided a lively cameo off the bench. One of his better performances of late and could start against Benfica.
Murphy (7) – Looked lively when he came on but snatched at a couple of opportunities late on. Can feel hard done by if he doesn’t start ahead of Elanga.
Ramsey (5.5) – Great to see him back from injury but he was definitely undercooked. Never got a foothold in the game but got some valuable minutes in the legs.
Barnes (5.5) – Created some good opportunities out on the left but end product has again let him down.
Osula (NR)
Anyone else think this Saudi flag shirt is unlucky? I mean I get they own us but it’s a bit shi-ite. Go back to the classics
BobbyBobBobson(Quote)
Luke the uncomfortable conversation about Jolinton, I’ve been raising this with my brother and mates I go to the match with for the last couple of seasons. Genuinely hope I get proved wrong and he comes good again, but he’s not the fantastic midfielder majority of fans think he is. We were forced to sell a better player in Anderson IMO. How many games does he get bypassed in Wolves Aresnal Brighton to name 3.
Darren Bebb(Quote)
Darren Bebb: –
Totally agee with Joelinton comments, even his clumsy enforcers role isn’t that good,
when he goes away on International duties with Bruno they both come back as if they are have been on holiday with a bit too much merriment and not enough focus on the match in hand.
Both are guilty of needing too long on the ball and being sloppy in possession.
Elanga is a major concern now, we would see how good he was and the team after playing against a poor Union team in the CL, I think we have our answer with a tardy home performance against Forest and Brighton.
We seem to have no attacking system, midfield Joelinton and Bruno not nearly enough influence on games and wingers who can’t shoot straight.
No doubt they will find the right mentality against Benfica, if I were the manager I would not give them the opportunity.
Perhaps that’s the shock tactic needed.
Joseph(Quote)