Newcastle v Fulham

[Holden McGroin 7575]

Aye. The players aren’t as good as they think they are.

 

with a midfield of those 3 we should be able to control a game but just about every second half recently we’ve not been great.

 

 

[Ayatollah Hermione 14663]

I’m not having fear for Arsenal btw. I’m pretty confident that we’ll score and that needs them to score 4

[Dr Gloom 23606]

I can’t believe how passive we were at the start of the second half. Okay you can say Fulham upped their game but we just sat back and handed them the initiative after the break. I don’t know if that’s tactical or a mentality thing with either the players or management looking ahead to Wednesday.

 

Ref absolutely stiffed us for their second goal

not giving the foul on Gordon in the build up. And of course we got 5 minutes to find an equaliser - what did Spurs get against us, 13 in total? 
 

V disappointing result. Thought we were the better side first half, hit the post twice and we came back into it later in the second half. Draw might have been a fair result but fair play to Fulham. Too many of our players were off their best and they outworked and outplayed us for long periods in the second half. 

[Holden McGroin 7575]

Well 3, then it’ll be penalties. 

[Rayvin 5918]

1 minute ago, Dr Gloom said:

I can’t believe how passive we were at the start of the second half. Okay you can say Fulham upped their game but we just sat back and handed them the initiative after the break. I don’t know if that’s tactical or a mentality thing with either the players or management looking ahead to Wednesday.

 

Ref absolutely stiffed us for their second goal

not giving the foul on Gordon in the build up. And of course we got 5 minutes to find an equaliser - what did Spurs get against us, 13 in total? 
 

V disappointing result. Thought we were the better side first half, hit the post twice and we came back into it later in the second half. Draw might have been a fair result but fair play to Fulham. Too many of our players were off their best and they outworked and outplayed us for long periods in the second half. 

 

I think we're doing this on purpose. We've done it in a lot of games this season, even the ones where we consider that we've played well. Conserving energy by relying on our defensive organisation. Except it doesn't work when we're just all over the place. But in essence, we did it against Spurs, Man Utd, Arsenal too.

[Dr Gloom 23606]

1 minute ago, Rayvin said:

 

I think we're doing this on purpose. We've done it in a lot of games this season, even the ones where we consider that we've played well. Conserving energy by relying on our defensive organisation. Except it doesn't work when we're just all over the place. But in essence, we did it against Spurs, Man Utd, Arsenal too.

yeah but that was later in games and often with a two goal cushion. I could understand it if we had a two goal lead, but Fulham are a decent side and if it was tactical it was naive because we we invited them back in before the game was won with 45 minutes to go 

Edited February 1 by Dr Gloom

[Tom 14082]

[Holden McGroin 7575]

We were wide open in the second half. Should have just played more rigid when out of possession and then expansive when we had the ball to open them out and make them panic. Big chance missed.

[NobbySol 45]

Bitterly disappointing we're continually unable to invest too.

 

That squad is in serious need of beefing up, particularly another forward, right winger and GK. The sub full backs aren't fit for this system either.

 

Keeping Murphy on was criminal post 55 mins. Couldn't track back and didn't press with any vigour, if at all.

 

Not saying Dubravka had a bad game. We simply need someone decent with their feet but can dominate the box & shot stop, not one or the other.

 

Our subs didn't make any impact & that is not Eddie's fault. 

 

If that Tonali hit goes in first half, goal of the season competition closed. Fantastic player.

 

[Holden McGroin 7575]

Aye, Murphy looked dead on his arse. 

[Dr Gloom 23606]

Kelly for Hall was a head scratcher when we were chasing an equaliser. Didn’t overlap and when he did get in behind he took an extra touch and wasted an opportunity to put a good ball into the six yard box 

[Howmanheyman 36531]

3 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

Kelly for Hall was a head scratcher when we were chasing an equaliser. Didn’t overlap and when he did get in behind he took an extra touch and wasted an opportunity to put a good ball into the six yard box 

 

Kelly's not exactly giving off good vibes in his time here so far. 

[Isegrim 10327]

What a waste of a weekend 

[Gemmill 49843]

Why we didn't sell Kelly when we had the chance is BEYOND ME. 

[Renton 23620]

26 minutes ago, Rayvin said:

 

I think we're doing this on purpose. We've done it in a lot of games this season, even the ones where we consider that we've played well. Conserving energy by relying on our defensive organisation. Except it doesn't work when we're just all over the place. But in essence, we did it against Spurs, Man Utd, Arsenal too.

Anderson did make one point I agreed with on the radio, which was this team has to play 100% to guarantee results. Play at 100%, we can beat anyone. But if we go to 80% it just doesn't seem to work. It's been like that for at least 2 years now. Trouble is we don't seem to have the energy to give 100% 100% of the time, and going on those last two years, we never will either. 

[Gemmill 49843]

With a proper squad we could do that. Or at least play 100% for 80% of the game and then just manage the game out. But we keep starting games with an unchanged first 11, cos there's fuck all that comes after it.

 

Botman is the only change to the starting lineup we could have made today that you wouldn't have felt we'd weakened the first 11 significantly. Maybe Trippier too. 

[Gemmill 49843]

Villa getting beat. We need them and Chelsea to both lose this weekend. 

[thebrokendoll 10249]

hard to say really had the tonali effort gone how that would've changed the game.

however had we gone in 2-0 up at half time it would've been a travesty against fulham side that offered fuck all. 

we were fucking woeful, every bit as bad as against bournemouth, except fulham were shite too.

not one substitution we made had any impact, fucking nothing. we finished the game with half the team we started with and it was fucking desperation. 

was really hoping for a decent performance and win ready for wednesdsy, honestly fear the worst now.

that was shite.

[Renton 23620]

4 minutes ago, Gemmill said:

With a proper squad we could do that. Or at least play 100% for 80% of the game and then just manage the game out. But we keep starting games with an unchanged first 11, cos there's fuck all that comes after it.

 

Botman is the only change to the starting lineup we could have made today that you wouldn't have felt we'd weakened the first 11 significantly. Maybe Trippier too. 

 

I think we've got almost the best squad we could have given our constraints though. I dunno, I can't help thinking Howe lacks a plan B*. I love the high intensity high press game but it just doesn't seem feasible over a season. 

 

* Before anyone starts, I 100% support him, and will keep doing so.  

[aimaad22 4662]

1 minute ago, Renton said:

 

I think we've got almost the best squad we could have given our constraints though. I dunno, I can't help thinking Howe lacks a plan B*. I love the high intensity high press game but it just doesn't seem feasible over a season. 

 

* Before anyone starts, I 100% support him, and will keep doing so.  

 That's the thing for me though. We've tried to adjust, we haven't pressed like two seasons ago. The thing is we don't have the players for possession football. Hall and Tonali have added some quality on the ball but the rest for the most part are players that make a nuisance of themselves with their energy, press and physicality. Bruno obviously has quality on the ball too but he loses it far too much in dangerous areas for my liking and can be passive. 

 

The quality of play out from the back was shambolic again today. Botman just has to start going forward. 

[Gemmill 49843]

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. 

[thebrokendoll 10249]

4 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. 

 

forest were deducted points last season.

they're currently steets ahead of us.

odd that.

[Rayvin 5918]

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 4662]

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 49843]

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.