Match Day Thread Newcastle United v Wolves - EFL Cup

I was being tongue in cheek haha

 

My official stance on last night's performance is 'Who gives a ****? We're in the 4th round!'

I reckon we've got about a 1 in 4 chance of getting a good/decent draw in the next round, in terms of progressing, which is pretty good for a championship club at this stage. Any away draw will be difficult no matter who we get. We have a 50/50 of getting a home draw, and there are 5 championship clubs definitely in the next round, along with 3 ties guaranteeing either a struggling Premier team or another Football League team. Let's hope we get a good draw. I reckon that far from being a distraction, a good cup run could really boost our confidence for league games. Plus, the more games we get to play this season the better. We've played 10 games so far and the squad is still learning under Rafa. The more he gets to work with them and watch them then the more chance he will have of moulding them and knowing what he needs for next year too (whatever league we are in).

 

I know that. I just think this might be one of the few things on which you are sometimes not right.

 

Chelsea and Spurs are still in it right? Wouldn't mind drawing one of those 2 at home knowing we usually turn up against them

 

It is apparently the first time a player has been substituted during the warm up.

 

Does anyone know what happens now that we have won two rounds. Is the trophy shared equally between the teams left?. I dont think we have been in this situation during my lifetime.
Have we now qualified for europe?

 

If it was Spurs then I'd prefer to play them at Three Points Lane

 

I hope its us.

 

I'd love the Mackems at St. James's Park but I don't think they'll beat QPR.

 

Interesting, must have impressed Rafa so far this year to have been - made captain, stripped of captaincy and then dropped last year, and then put back in the side and then be made, into what I guess in effect is, vice captain of the squad.

Would be interesting to see how many minuets he has actually played so far.

Think some fans need to have a bit more patience with some of our U24 players in the squad still developing and learning. Guarantee Armstrong will get given plenty of time to develop without being publicly flogged every weekend on social media.

 

It did happen once, though it is getting to be a while ago

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In my defence I was criticising him last season too.

 

We will get Liverpool away

 

And "our best striker" doesn't say much as I don't rate any of them that hightly, even wor Murph.

 

Exactly they are all dump

 

Sure, but he's not had a chance to show what he can do in the Championship yet. I think some people criticise him too harshly when he misses a chance. Every striker misses chances. Yes, he missed a few he should have put away last season, but I can give him a bit of leeway considering he is young and it was his first season in a very fast and competitive league. I wouldn't defend his dirty challenges, though; no need for any of that. He still scored a fair few last season and I've seen enough to think he can be a valuable player for us for a few seasons yet.

 

My concern is how is he not getting a game?

 

Mit has really got to work on his finishing. He's much better if he doesnt have much time to think but if he takes a second to look at the keeper he usually just ends up passing to him lost in two minds. He is a good presence up there.

 

I'll be more concerned if that's the case in a month's time. He hasn't been available for 4 of the 10 games and he's played in 3(?) of the remaining 6. It does enter your mind that Rafa doesn't fancy him that much. Personally I think Rafa likes a quick, clinical finisher up top on his own hence Gayle starting a lot but unfortunately Gayle isn't that great at that, so Mitrovic is getting left out. I assume he will start with Gayle on Saturday as both didn't feature last night.

 

Fair point, but it does feel like he's in a fight with Murphy for that hold up role and well behind Gayle/Perez. That said scoring goals is not the be all and end all; some players are just more effective bringing others in/distracting defenders. Yeah, QPR were bad, but Mitro was pivotal in what happened.

Maybe Mitrovic would kind of work with three decent players around him in a 4-2-3-1. A bit Costa-ish (he's no Costa).Maybe we're all to harsh, we are a Championship club!!