Hello, don't know if we're still doing these sorts of posts, but can't see a thread about it. The situation seems quite obvious with Newcastle United. We look like a championship quality side with 2 outstanding players, particularly 1 who will only be with us next season, if we stay up, because his injury record isn't very good, and we'll ask an insane price. We soooooo need this takeover to happen in the summer. Bruce needs to get out, we'll go no further with him. I said before the same that Burnley struggle to score at home, likely due to their predictable style of play. They rely heavily off set pieces and crosses, and we looked very vulnerable due to having two wing backs instead of real fullbacks. NUFC need investment and 5-6 new signings. As much as some of you may love the likes of Almiron or whoever else, it's clear that without ASM and Wilson we simply lack the quality to win games without them. We should be risking ASM and Wilson and getting points on the board as fast as possible, because we really don't need to be at Fulham on the last day of the season needing to get a result. Ratings - Dubravka - 8 - Some slopped goal kicks and mistakes in general, but mostly kept us in the game. I think it's a shame Alain St Maxim is so ****ing amazing, because I would love to give Dubravka MOTM, but you have to give it to ASM because of him single handedly slaughtering Burnley and winning us the game. Murphy - 7.5 - Looked vulnerable defensively but he's not a RB. He worked hard and I am starting to really like this kid. He looked like a flop for a while, but has started to show some real quality recently. Great peace, decent balls in and a great goal. Hopefully we'll have him as at least a good squad player next season. Fernandez - 6 - Decent Clarke - 7 - Some insane last ditch defending at times, relatively solid, an improvement over lascelles. Dummett - 6 Decent Ritchie - 6 - Worked hard Almiron - 5.5 - Good work rate and some decent skill and runs on the ball, but final ball quality just not there. He's not great at this level. He can only play really in one position but his final ball isn't good enough for him to be relied upon. If he was really that good, then our stats without ASM/Wilson would be better IMO. He looked shy and anonymous for a while later in the game. Longstaff - 5 - Many silly fouls and the worst game I've been some him in a while. Worked hard, but that's all you can really say. Looked very average. Shelvey - 5 - Decent work rate and distribution, nothing to write home about. Gayle - 5 - He gets in great positions but seems to lack the finishing quality unfortunately. He needs to have a few chances before scoring one. He's a championship level player and if we get take over next year, we could sell him for £20m to any aspiring Championship winners. Joelinton - 4.5 - Nothing to write home about. Bang average player. Some decent defending. Wilson - n/a - Didn't see him do anything of substance. Probably still not quite fit. ASM - 9 - MOTM - ****ing hell. I said before the game if he plays he'd be the best player on the pitch and we'd need him to nick a result. I wasn't wrong. Score one, creating one, could have had 2 more assists easy. Absolute beast. Pity he gets injured so often. Bruce - 4 - Silly Idea playing two makeshift fullbacks against a side who are built to whip balls in all game. We were getting obliterated down the wings and should have had proper fullbacks on. The win had nothing to do with tactics (formation) and was all down to individual brilliance from our goalkeeper, defensive last ditch work, and Alain Sex god.
The return of the Tash and the much loved review threads. Longstaff played really well imho a solid 8/10. Dubs was the daddy with 9/10. Joelinton and Gayle were dog ****. Both 4/10. soecial enticing for Fernandez. 8/10 for me.
I dunno, all I remember from Lonstaff was him fouling players. He worked hard, maybe 4.5 is a bit harsh, but I remember his scuffed shots and fouls, he didn't seem to do much else.
to be fair Brice was. i wouldn’t trust Joelinton to lace Longstaffs boots. When Joe plays we start with 10 men. When he goes off, back to 11. He really is that dog ****. mid I had a choice, I’d take Guivarch over Joe.
How the **** did we pay £40m for him? We might as well have begged Shola to come out of retirement instead and offered him £40mil.
I think they were all **** today and that tells me the system didn't suit, so I'm not going to single anyone out. On reflection Burnley are a hard team to play against, so perhaps it wasn't as bad as appeared. Bruce got it right I suppose because his plan worked, so I'm going to give him full marks.
Unfortunately it's done and you'll see it unfortunately. You can always do another if you like though unfortunately
I find Murphy a tough one to judge. He has a habit of making easy things look hard - control, simple passes and positioning. But then he is positive, willing to run with the ball, and gets in good balls and scores the odd cracker.
I think he's earned his place.. He was dreadful 1st half today, but it's what he does at the other end that's his strength.. 1sr half we didnt get fwd enough and he was getting roasted
What's working about this formation - attacking players out wide, three players centrally. AKA 4-2-3-1. Bruce is fumbling through this season staunchly refusing to play the one formation that would have cantered to safety this season, given the players at his disposal.