Roker Mackem
Striker
The seasons barely started man. Settle down.
NUFC - November/December
- Thread starter Upthere
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The seasons barely started man. Settle down.
The Fish
Winger
We won, I'm happy, but if you watched the game you'd know that it was a very fortunate win. Again relying on Dubravka, and the profligacy of the opposition. Turn in more performances like that and we'll sharp tumble down the league. Bruce needs to make changes to the first team before our good luck runs out.
Roker Mackem
Striker
It's bizarre you crowing about another Newcastle win.
fwiw, we were turboshit in the first half and had Southampton been better up top they could and should have been a couple of goals to the good. Carroll's introduction changed things, but we're massively massively lucky to come away from that game with a win.
Carrying a lot of luck lately like. Twats.
The Fish
Winger
We are, Sheffield, now Southampton. Robbed 'em both.
It'd be funnier if I didn't have the sense of impending doom.
3 games from halfway tbf like
Zinedine Kilbane
Midfield
I did watch it. Again set up to defend and counter and it worked. Might not be pretty but it’s proving effective
The Fish
Winger
It's clearly not sustainable though.
Didn't start watching until the second half, was at a kids party, but what I did see of it, it just seemed more of the same. We seem to be playing exactly the same as under Benitez to me. Defending resolutely, conceding possession just the same.
Last season in December we won 1-0 away at Huddersfield with 27% possession. That's the team that finished bottom of the league with 16 points.
The game after that we had no shots on target against Fulham.
1-1 away to Everton last December with 24% possession.
Things aren't that much different to the previous two seasons.
Granted second half of last season we started opening up a bit and having more of the ball.
What concerns me most is the lack of goals from the forwards. It's unsustainable imo and now that ASM has got injured we've lost a massive counter attacking threat.
The Fish
Winger
The midfield under Benitez was more assured. We played defensively, sure, but what I'm seeing under Bruce is panciked and last-ditch. We found our forward men much more when it was Rondon and Perez, these days we're lumping balls blindly a lot of the time.
They're similar in that we pack the defence and aim to strike on the counter, but this looks like it's doomed to come unstuck at any minute, where I didn't have thos concerns the last two seasons.
rentaghost
Striker
Again relying on Dubravka? He’s been shit this season til the last couple of games. He’s cost you plenty of points and was due a decent game.
Know what you're saying there, it felt like we were more in control of the opposition, but I think without Lascelles and Ritchie we have a bit less organisation on the pitch as well.
It's no worse to watch though that's for sure.
As said above, goals from the forwards are required as we will end up copping a beating like the Leicester game, and if it falls apart, it looks bad.
So far though i think Bruce has done well to come in, have a look at things, try something new, realise it didn't work and play in a way to get the most out of the squad. Other managers may have been more stubborn and tried to change it.
The Fish
Winger
Relied on him against Man City, Sheffield and again today. Saying 'again' isn't controversial.
That's fair, missing Lejeune, Schar, Lascelles and Ritchie has impacted our overall ability to control a game. I think playing Shelvey (despite his decent form and goal scoring run) means our midfield is deeper than it is with Longstaff. Were Lejeune and Schar fit we'd not rely on Shelvey's passing as much as they're entirely capable of finding players with longer passes. They're more comfortable on the ball than Clark, Dummett and Fernandez as well.
I genuinely believe our forward players are suffering because of how deep we are, they're miles apart from each other and are miles from the opposition box.
Of course Bruce deserves credit, we're 10th! That said, I maintain that this way of playing is unsustainable and when our luck runs out, or we come up against teams who aren't quite as profligate, we'll come unstuck. It'll be interesting to see how he plays with a fully fit Schar, Lejeune, Longstaff available. We keep playing so deep and we're in for a world of hurt.
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I can't see Newcastle finishing where that currently are. That said if Bruce has them anywhere from 10th to 15th at the end of the season most would say he's done a very good job. Although Benitez finished 10th and 13th and apparently according to most on here was utter dogshit.
Bears Beets
Striker
Correct
I'd be surprised if any normal half decent mag gave us a second's thought at this current juncture. If the positions were reversed, I know I wouldn't, rivals or not.
We are an irrelevance to them at the moment. Can't the mods just ban any threads regarding them as it's embarrassing.
We are an irrelevance to them at the moment. Can't the mods just ban any threads regarding them as it's embarrassing.
Elephant
Winger
@SkySports_Keith: Newcastle United are urging stay-away fans (and new supporters) to return to St James’ Park by offering existing season book holders an additional half-season ticket for FREE, starting on visit of Everton, Dec 28. I’m told there’s 10,000 up for grabs. More on @SkySportsNews #NUFC
Falconhoof
Winger
But but what about the fifty two thoosand screaming jawdees who's packing the ground out week after week?
mackem35
Winger
Ashley In!!
Striker
Be interesting to see how they spin this as being tight by Ashley.
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