Match Day Thread Toon vs Burnley

We’ve alarmingly switched off

 

What is it with just carrying on playing when we're leading. It's like referees don't want to blow the final whistle.

BBC had that as 97 minutes, for no obvious reason.

 

Beautiful

 

Dubravka has been MOTM for me tonight I think. Absolutely bossed his box and taken a lot of pressure off our back line. Not scared to clatter his own players to get in amongst it and his handling has been impeccable!

 

So many candidates, but Schar for a very good performance and reminding me of Robert

 

There were a few.

Dubs, Schar, Longstaff, Hayden, Perez and Rondon all played very well i reckon. Can't argue with any of them getting it, solid performance. I'd be tempted to give it to Rondon as he just did everything asked of him and is a quality difference for us, I always feel we're in the game with him on the pitch.

 

Indeed, lascelles and lejeune looked awesome as well. I was particularly impressed with lascelles after crouch came on as well.

 

The more that back three play together, the better they get. They're all so very, very good and together are just fantastic. If Lejeune had pace, he'd still be at Man City. Schar cost £2m....sometimes it's not what you spend, but how you spend it. Any of the three are £20m+ CB's, but as a trio they're priceless.

Midfield two works so very well, Longstaff outstanding, and now Perez is in the right place he's looking good. Not near Almiron's level, but he's doing well enough. Rondon superb. The challenge we have is there's absolutely nothing on the bench. As soon as Joselu came on, just like vs. Hudds, we don't look like we're going to score.

 

We seem to be playing some unreal football right now.

In Rafa I trust.

 

He wasn't beyond reproach earlier this season, but I wouldn't want to see anyone else in charge of this club.

 

Dreadful performance

 

This all day long.
Those glasses, tucked up comfortably in his suit... ahhhh.....

I hope he sees what is happening and signs on again.

 

The best bit is we have the benefit of increased resilience from playing 3 cbs, without losing creativity and attacking threat thanks to Schar and Lejeune being so handy with the passing and shooting.

 

Big sales coming

We wil sell longstaff and Almiron this summer at this rate

 

Burnley were a bit ****. HOOF. HOOF. HOOF.

Now what? I know, Crouch.

HOOOOOF. HOOOOOOF.

And so on.

 

As regards the bench there is some ability there in theory:

Shelvey, Ki, Mutu, Diame, Kenedy, Atsu, Fernandez, etc. They aren't trash and I haven't given up on Murphy, and haven't seen anything of Barreca!

 

It's an identity and it's the first one we've had since we entertained in the 90's, no disrespect to SBR intended.

We are very hard to break down, but counter attack well. The thing we've "fixed" is our ability to have the ball and still look decent - that cross-field switch thing we keep doing is great.

 

Ironically Murphy could actually do well as an option for Perez in that RWF role. He works hard, is fast, he just lacks when he has too much responsibility - much like Perez. Similarly Kenedy is a decent understudy for Almiron. Neither were in the squad, of course.

Shelvey still not fit, and Diame's only really a swap for Hayden, Fernandez for Lascelles. However, that's nit-picking - when they're all fit it's a decent bench.

However, you have suggested Atsu isn't trash, which renders the rest of the things you say, ever, as null and void. Atsu is only out-trashed by Joselu. But he's utter trash. With a capital "G".

 

We look good but a couple of injuries up top abd were shiye again

 

Yep, put Joselu and Atsu in where Rondon and Almiron play and BINGO, it's Newcastle United Nil.