Newcastle (a) post match thread

[kinkyblue]

That performance was not a surprise to me, I was at the Huddersfield game and thought we were poor apart from two bits of brilliant play that bagged two goals.
Our passing has been off for a few games now, we seem to slow the game down and I can’t put my finger in why this is happening, maybe the full backs aren’t overlapping anywhere near as much?

 

[Gordyola]

well we'll see. I still say that goal gets given anywhere else. the card was just laughable. better placed people than you or me say the same.

I agreed 100% Bill we have seen the same situation before and the ref would ignore it and award a goal

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Thought I was watching a over sixties walking football match.

The best summing-up of last nights performance I've seen.

Everything we did was slow and laboured.

 

[Craig]

well we'll see. I still say that goal gets given anywhere else. the card was just laughable. better placed people than you or me say the same.

It wouldn't have been given tho would it? Everyone was pissed off but the replay clearly showed the ref tell Kev to wait for the whistle. You can argue about the yellow but certainly not over it being disallowed. All this conspiracy bollocks is getting ridiculous. The 4 league games we've lost we've been shite in 3 and played brilliantly first half at Chelsea but didn't take our chances. Only got ourselves to blame. We had all this about cup draws being fixed against us not long ago. That one's gone quiet since we've started getting some of the easiest draws possible

 

[waspish]

win our next 3 we will be within 1 win if going top.

 

[Ken92]

That performance was not a surprise to me, I was at the Huddersfield game and thought we were poor apart from two bits of brilliant play that bagged two goals.
Our passing has been off for a few games now, we seem to slow the game down and I can’t put my finger in why this is happening, maybe the full backs aren’t overlapping anywhere near as much?

walker is not overlapping at all and when he tries he fails hard,either his touch lets hom down,his passes and crosses are all pretty bad imo,he makes stupid mistakes on defensive side.i dont know what is wrong with him but something is really off

 

[LeeJay]

Sadly it’s just too many games for the players and mental fatigue comes into play. Can’t believe we have played 4 times since Liverpool last played a game. That’s a pretty mad stat

i agree with this, that fatigue plays a huge part - not just in performance, but for morale and in mental attitudes too.

Yes, oc KDB and Mendy are coming in from injury - as is Sergio, and they do need an extra bit of care - but these guys do have the very best in medical care and post-injury care / physio etc.... they may not play for 90 minutes, but yes, being tired / exhausted / drained - mentally, physically and emotionally are always going to be the biggest hurdles when City are fighting four fronts.

But we do also forget that City players are at the very peak of fitness, bar a few players like Mendy and KDB whose fitness dictates their play-time.

Rotation certainly plays a key to the teams state of fitness and state of mind, and with rotation 4 games isn't necessarily 4 games for every player.

Play one rest one is a good regime, but they remain in training and the schedule is tough - forget Liverpool, City's biggest enemy is the schedule, for sure.

But, we are also dealing with athletes who are at or very near their peak fitness - but certainly it doesn't help that the field isn't level in that our opponents are not facing the same play-regime that City are.

Lots of factors, bad judgements, bad tackles, missing passes, not being as fast on the ball or the pace or being in the right place etc - there were times, even, against Burton away and against Rotherham at the Etihad when players weren't always in the right place when the ball came in, it may have just been one step out, sometimes even less, and i'm not going to crucify a player for that - but even so, and even then, where City had blistering wins, fatigue was playing a part in some area's of play too.

Edit to add: City are a great team, they have shown us some fantastic football - the last three years or so at least they have been absolutely world class, i enjoy watching football and the last couple of years City have played some of the best football i have ever seen.

If Liverpool win the PL this season, fuck it, they will never ever be able to replicate the football City have played this year, or last year - and they can't take the memories of that play away, or diminish it on the strength of three bad results. And they will never be able to take back being beaten at the Etihad by a team that outclassed them in every respect :)

But, the scousers ain't won it yet :)

 

[aguerooooo]

Totally disagree the Sane one was bad but Gundo over Mahrez was an even worse decision We needed someone to take a man on not more square passes.

I have not witnessed Mahrez take on a man and beat him since he arrived

 

[EddieR]

It wouldn't have been given tho would it? Everyone was pissed off but the replay clearly showed the ref tell Kev to wait for the whistle. You can argue about the yellow but certainly not over it being disallowed. All this conspiracy bollocks is getting ridiculous. The 4 league games we've lost we've been shite in 3 and played brilliantly first half at Chelsea but didn't take our chances. Only got ourselves to blame. We had all this about cup draws being fixed against us not long ago. That one's gone quiet since we've started getting some of the easiest draws possible

Well said, Blue. We need a measure of level-headedness here. Ref was poor, but without an agenda, just poor. Our success or otherwise is entirely in our own hands. Well, until we get back to Champs league action, anyway...

 

[BlueMojito]

Ok so it was really horrible to watch, looked slow and lacking passion. Today I feel more disappointed than angry, bit like when your kids let you down due to lack of effort when you know they can do so much better. I will back them all the way when they look like they give a shit and don't look entitled. Bad day. Need remotivating and don't deserve to win the title playing like that. Got up for the Liverpool game and lost to much poorer teams. It's not about talent, seems its about mentality and desire.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

I’d be genuinely amazed if they don’t win by at least 3 goals tonight. They are dominating this league, aided by the officials or not, it’s still domination. 0 points dropped against teams outside the top 6. Does anyone honestly see that changing tonight?

I don't know what to think any longer pal. All I know, is when a club like us is relying on the left and right backs at our disposal, then something isn't right.

 

[carlosthejackal]

I would imagine that last night signals the end of the quick free kick in the game or does it just apply to us ?

 

[LeeJay]

If Pep had any sense he should be saying to the media the title is gone, just to take some pressure off the club.

But then Kompany will say 'we can still do it.'

:D

 

[dannyboy29]

Next week, Tennis. Hit it in the lines more than the other bloke and you win.

Not if he hits it past you more times than you hit it past him you won't

 

[MeatnSpudsMCFC]

It was always big ask to retain the title considering our form this season. Defensively, we’re going need to find additional cover for the full backs in the summer.


In addition, I hope our social media team would not act so obnoxious in future but I won’t hold out on that. Everything the clubs digital and social media team do is utterly repellent. Wouldn’t be surprised to find out they’ve handed the responsibilities to some Americans.

 

[BlueAnorak]

City have now lost 3 league games this season after taking the lead. We seem to go into energy conservation mode and if the opposition score due to our poor defending we can't seemingly snap out of it.

 

[BlueAnorak]

I would imagine that last night signals the end of the quick free kick in the game or does it just apply to us ?

Just to us though to be fair to the ref he did clearly tell Kevin not to take it till the wall was sorted out.
The booking was out if order though.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Our defending last night was shocking. Especially on the left hand side. I've never seen Laporte have such a bad game. Perhaps he's been rested too much of late?

 

[CityFan94]

Fatigue for me.

Competing in 4 competitions sounds great, but all of these games are having a major effect physically but moreso mentally. We’ve already played 38 games and playing 4 games since Liverpool last played is a crazy stat. I don’t think we’ve had the same intensity this season in a lot of games. In the 3 games against Palace, Leicester & Newcastle, we were 1 up and completely eased off.

Fernandinho and David Silva have been unbelievable for us, but both are 33 years old, should they really be expected to be put in top class performances on a weekly basis at this stage of their careeers? I think it may be a season too far for that type of demand on 33 year old centre midfielders. I just don’t feel we have the same energy in the team that we did last season.

Not addressing the defensive midfielder and left back depth issues in the summer is beginning to prove costly.

 

[waspish]

Ball was in the air and Sane for should competed for the ball just to him of he just stood there watching him head it! None of our players last night had that luxary newcastle was on us in a blink of an eye.