Another damaging defeat at St James’ Park, as Newcastle United pressed self-destruct against Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Here are our marks out of 10 and comments on each player involved in yesterday’s dismal display.
Starting 11
Pope (3) – Abysmal display, as he added yet another clanger to an ever-increasing portfolio that has cost us valuable points. Has been a good servant, but this game just highlighted how important having a good goalkeeper is. Liability.
Trippier (5) – Was fine defensively, but his quality from set pieces was non-existent. Father Time is catching up to him really quickly and the sooner we can get Tino fit the better we will be.
Thiaw (4.5) – Was far from his assured best and was very fortunate to see Beto hit the bar after some careless defending on the touch line (VAR may have saved him anyway). Will need to ensure this was a once off performance as we don’t have the depth to rotate.
Burn (5) – Struggled at times against Beto but did show some heart with a lung busting run in the second half to try and inject some energy. Won’t be happy with the way we conceded the opening goal.
Hall (6) – Was heavily involved with over 100 touches and played his part in the second goal however he switched off completely for the second goal and could’ve defended the third better.
Ramsey (7) – Vibrant first half display. Wanted the ball and was the only one moving it quickly before his deflected shot brought us back into the game. Is starting to repay the faith shown in him and looked like he was in for a big second half before bizarrely being subbed off after being sick.
Tonali (7) – Ran his socks off and covered every blade of grass as we have come to expect. Played a great incisive pass to Ramsey for the opening goal and would’ve scored one of the goals of the season if not for a world class save by Pickford.
Elanga (4) – Continues to frustrate. No shots or accurate crosses to speak of in yet another desperately disappointing outing. Desperately lacking in confidence and no surprise to see his hooked just after half time.
Joelinton (5) – Seemed up for the fight as he threw himself about in typical Joelinton fashion, although his passing was woeful at times, looking totally lost on the left wing for much of the first half. Got the assist for the second goal, but cut a very frustrated figure by full time.
Woltemade (4) – Looks absolutely lost in central midfield. Wanted too many touches on the ball in crowded areas and looks woefully weak on the ball. Was shifted to his more natural centre forward position early on but was completely anonymous. Beginning to become a real conundrum that Eddie Howe seems unable to solve.
Gordon (4.5) – Looked spritely at times without ever looking like scoring. Played as a striker, left winger and right winger before coming off. Awful giveaway led to the third and ultimately winning goal. There’s a gulf in quality between Champions League Gordon and Premier League Gordon.
Substitutes
Willock (4.5) – The drop off from Ramsey to Willock in terms of quality was stark. Pressed well but his qualities aren’t suited to playing against a low block.
Murphy (6) – Took his goal well with a crisp strike that took a deflection and was more of a threat than Elanga (Wasn’t too difficult). Ended the game as captain and could find himself in line for a start.
Barnes (5) – Wasted a golden opportunity when he blazed into the Gallowgate. He was probably the one player we wanted the opportunity to fall to but his effort lacked any sort of conviction.
Wissa (4) – When it comes to value for money signings he may end up ranking as the worst. The player we signed vs the player we got are worlds apart. Did absolutely nothing in his cameo.
Osula (NR) – Came on late and barely got a touch.
Anybody remember the “lost boys” in the story of Peter Pan ? I ask because our defence look like a bunch of “lost boys” this season. We are not what you would call a cohesive unit,they look like players who have met for the first time 10 minutes before kickoff. Apart from that Wissa Woltemade and Elanga ??? Premier League ? Your having a laugh !!!
Tommy Tantrum(Quote)
P. S. Don’t get me started on “White Flag Willock” 🤯😖🤯
Tommy Tantrum(Quote)
Thiaw has been caught out a few times on the touchline Pedro springs to mind as one that cost us and Beto should have yesterday.
The lack of defensive discipline is quite stark from the back four, if one of them wants to go a wandering at anytime we need a back five with 3 centre backs home and away.
We could then deploy Hall, Trippier or another as wingbacks because the preferred 4 3 3 option clearly doesn’t work when the opposition sit back. It’s as plain as the nose on your face and has been for most of the season.
We are beginning to make some top class or dare I say world class players look very average indeed.
Joseph(Quote)
Down to 14th as it stands atm
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
I can see NUFC losing every game in March.
Geordy(Quote)
or just wishful thinking by a sad mackem on a rivals site
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Just in March? You underestimate us. How about until the end of the season!
The Panther(Quote)
How did wissa the missa earn a 4? Kid’s a 1 every outing!
Jim(Quote)
Howe did this all happen 🙈🤯
Mike(Quote)
The whole mess is predicated on a simple fact: we don’t have a striker.
Woltemade isn’t up to it, and gets played in midfield – to be clear this is more in-position than up front – he’s a no. 10 but unfortunately he’s not close to good enough to play slightly deeper.
Wissa isn’t getting a look in – which must be indicative of something in training.
So the team then has to try to find solutions with a thread thin squad and it isn’t working.
The current solution is the removal of 3 largely holding midfielders (something I admittedly wanted to see) but it is exposing the fact that if we dial up the pressure on our defence slightly then it can’t handle it. I continue to press that it’s hard to understate the damage Tripps is doing – at times it is like playing 3 at the back but without actually setting up for that – which forces Thiaw to play both CB and RB with understandable consequences. It’s hard watching his brilliant early season get undermined by this.
Howe the toon(Quote)