Newcastle v Fulham

[Rayvin 5719]

Agree with all of this. I don't think this iteration of the team is the one that finally brings us consistent league dominance. The one after it probably does. But this group are absolutely capable of winning a cup competition...

[aimaad22 4486]

What stings a bit this time is you'd think the players would be restless to make up for the Bournemouth thrashing last time around at home. 

 

Full weeks rest. Just about a fully fit starting Eleven. CL places up for grabs and Cup semifinal coming up. Should have been buzzing yet what we get is a turgid half arsed show. Just so disappointing. 

 

I've been guilty of it as much as anyone but times like this you think if we haven't been overestimating this team and they've just been consistently punching above their weight. 

[Gemmill 48371]

It's not half arsed or a lack of effort like, I'm not having that. Fulham are a decent side and they've caused plenty teams problems this season, and they just did that to us. 

[Dr Gloom 23054]

18 minutes ago, Gemmill said:

Ah aye, it's nobody's fault. It's just the reality of a PSR constrained club that had been criminally neglected for years. All of the teams we're competing with are ahead of us in terms of the squad. Some of them miles ahead. 

Some of the teams that have been allowed to invest for years are behind us (spurs/Man U). you could argue we have better squads on paper than some of those we’re battling for too 5 with (Bournemouth/Forest/Fulham)

[Dr Gloom 23054]

Most of our losses have come against sides that we “should” beat on paper. We usually turn up against the “big sides” and I expect us to win on Wednesday for that reason. 
 

Bit of a concern though. If you want to be a regular champions league team, you need to turn up against the “smaller” teams too 

Edited 15 hours ago by Dr Gloom

[Dr Gloom 23054]

8 minutes ago, Gemmill said:

It's not half arsed or a lack of effort like, I'm not having that. Fulham are a decent side and they've caused plenty teams problems this season, and they just did that to us. 

I’m not sure what it’s down to - tactics or mentality - but we weren’t right in that second half. 
 

That’s taking nothing away from Fulham btw. They’re only five points behind us. A very good premier league team, with a good manager, who thoroughly deserved to take six points off us this season. 

[aimaad22 4486]

12 minutes ago, Gemmill said:

It's not half arsed or a lack of effort like, I'm not having that. Fulham are a decent side and they've caused plenty teams problems this season, and they just did that to us. 

 

Okay, say that we just didn't turn up. Use whatever words you like but Fulham were there to win that and we weren't and that's been a recurring theme against mid table sides at home last couple of years. 

[Gemmill 48371]

8 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

Most of our losses have come against sides that we “should” beat on paper. We usually turn up against the “big sides” and I expect us to win on Wednesday for that reason. 
 

Bit of a concern though. If you want the be a regular champions league team, you need to turn up against the “smaller” teams too 

 

You could say that for a lot of teams this season. I think the reality is that PSR not only stops a potential challenger from challenging, it allows lesser teams to catch them up, at least on a first 11 basis. The only thing keeping us ahead of them is our incredible run of successes on what little recruitment we've been able to do.

 

The league has been dead competitive this season, with lots of the "lesser" teams not looking that much less anymore. 

[Gemmill 48371]

27 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

Some of the teams that have been allowed to invest for years are behind us (spurs/Man U). you could argue we have better squads on paper than some of those we’re battling for too 5 with (Bournemouth/Forest/Fulham)

 

Spurs and Man United are both being mismanaged horribly. With a decent coach Spurs would be in the top 5. Who knows with Man United, but there are already signs Amorim can get them playing. 

[Dr Gloom 23054]

22 minutes ago, Gemmill said:

 

You could say that for a lot of teams this season. I think the reality is that PSR not only stops a potential challenger from challenging, it allows lesser teams to catch them up, at least on a first 11 basis. The only thing keeping us ahead of them is our incredible run of successes on what little recruitment we've been able to do.

 

The league has been dead competitive this season, with lots of the "lesser" teams not looking that much less anymore. 

I would agree that it’s been the most interesting league for a while (other than Liverpool seemingly running away with the title). 
 

It’s not the first time we’ve failed to show up against one of the historically smaller clubs though. We consistently bust a gut against the legacy teams. I don’t know if it’s a mentality or form thing but it doesn’t feel like a coincidence. The big players just seem to get more up for those games. I thought we’d got past this after the winning run but the warning signs started creeping back in against wolves.

 

Bournemouth and Fulham are both good sides and it’s no shame losing to either team btw, I want to be clear on that. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we raise our game against arsenal. We’ve been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde side for a while now 

Edited 15 hours ago by Dr Gloom

[Gemmill 48371]

What I'm saying is, I don't think we're as far ahead of the "lesser" clubs as we'd like to think. We're getting by off the back of Howe's coaching. 

 

We need a couple of big windows to establish a gap. 

[Dr Gloom 23054]

Just now, Gemmill said:

What I'm saying is, I don't think we're as far ahead of the "lesser" clubs as we'd like to think. We're getting by off the back of Howe's coaching. 

 

We need a couple of big windows to establish a gap. 

I agree, the gap is smaller. However, on paper our squad looks better than Bournemouth, Fulham, Everton, Blackpool, Brentford etc but we consistently drop points against these sort of teams. Our squad isn’t as good on paper as the traditional “big” six teams and yet we haven’t lost to any of them yet this season. Weird innit 

[aimaad22 4486]

Whatever the hell has happened to Willock btw? He was such a key part of our game. Ball carries, presser, the engine. None of it is anywhere to be seen. Injuries finally done him? 

[wykikitoon 22013]

19 minutes ago, aimaad22 said:

Whatever the hell has happened to Willock btw? He was such a key part of our game. Ball carries, presser, the engine. None of it is anywhere to be seen. Injuries finally done him? 

Injuries, lack of game time, lack of confidence and a shit dress sense. 

[tinofbeans 91]

4 hours ago, Dr Gloom said:

Most of our losses have come against sides that we “should” beat on paper. We usually turn up against the “big sides” and I expect us to win on Wednesday for that reason. 
 

Bit of a concern though. If you want to be a regular champions league team, you need to turn up against the “smaller” teams too 

Easy answer, lack of squad depth and variety. Truthfully there are a lot of fatigued players from the 1st team squad. Think that Fulham caused us quite a few problems that we didn’t match up to. 
 

we go again midweek.