Never mind the last 20 minutes, we should have ‘gone for it’ from the start by playing our best attacking players instead of trying to shore up the dodgy defence. Surely we should be optimistic about outscoring Newcastle, of all teams, instead of playing for a draw?
I'll leave IBB to come up with a suitable simile for you, Certs. I'm sure she's got one somewhere in her back-catalogue of ancient British sitcoms!
I have no idea why anyone believes anything a football club or manager says. Chances are it's just to placate the fans or put a positive spin on things. Professional football is about winning and money, so why on earth do people expect a full, honest insight into individual players physical and mental state, tactics, possible signings or departures etc. etc. from the club or its staff?
No. But the fact that was he says in terms of who is or isn’t available rings true pretty much every time, I’m inclined to err on the side of the story that suggests the players weren’t used for tactical reasons and not due to injury/fitness.
Why was "damage limitation"any policy in a one-off cup final once we were 3-0 down? We could've gone "all defensive" & only lost 4-0 or 5-0 I suppose. Once we'd messed up sufficiently to concede the 3rd (poor free kick followed by bottle-out of a challenge on the clearance), it was really only a matter of how many no matter what tactics were adopted.
Exactly what has been suggested on here for weeks in terms of formation. We have the players to play that way, so that’s another reason why Saturday was so baffling in that respect. Playing with more natural wingers allows the full-backs to stay closer to the CB’s as they won’t be relied upon to provide the width as they currently have been. 4-2-3-1 (when attacking) which becomes a 4-3-2-1 (when defending) looks the natural formation for the players we have. For some reason, Gracia is avoiding it like the plague.
I would suggest fitness issues, or something along those lines, but... ahem... you know... (not sure if that was clear with my tongue in my cheek!)
Man who blames a football coach for making him spends hundreds of pounds at an away game calls another man soft brained and simple. If you expected a win at Newcastle you’re not as smart as you think you are.
I’d expect more of the same from Javi, particularly over the next 2 games. He may feel that playing opening attacking football, when you’re on a bad run is a mistake. His justification may be that it may be awful to watch, but we need to dig out a few results. I think the problem is that our best players are in the attacking third, therefore we need to play to our strengths. We can’t afford to go into our shell, but I have a feeling we will.
Write to the club and tell them about your dedication. Perhaps they’ll give you a special badge or maybe even let you on the pitch at half time to run 13 times around a stick before trying to score in an open goal. At least it’ll provide some entertainment.
Whilst it is not that disappointing to get a point away from home, I can't help but think we would have beaten Newcastle if we played our best attacking players and attacked them. On a positive I though Chalobah looked good when he came on.
If he gets anything from the next two games he will have done well! we are not well known for taking points off the top 6!
Have you seen our record at St James Park since being in the PL? A win there could reasonably be expected. It should be even more expected that we should have attempted to get that win and not settle for a point. Our recent record there is more than decent enough - although that doesn’t quite suit your narrative sadly.
Where did I say we should ‘always’ win there? Your original suggestion to @Relegation Certs was that any fan would be stupid to expect victory at Newcastle. Our recent record there says it would be fair to expect that. Our recent positive results there don’t support your argument. Maybe other things you say support it better but not this one.
Nope. Based on our performances this season, a draw would be the best to expect. You are assuming recent performances against Newcastle.
I’m confused. How am I ‘assuming’ recent performances against Newcastle? Since we have returned to the PL, before Saturday, we’ve been to SJP 4 times - winning 3 and losing 1. So a 75% victory rate. Couple that with a positive victory rate when we have played them at home as well - I’d say that amounts to a fair expectation that we win far note often than not against them. I’m assuming nothing. The above are facts.
Why would our positive results since 2015 against any team mean that we should win the next time we meet. Especially when you consider our results for this season and at the end of last season.
I’m not saying that, and I think you know that. You’ve openly stated someone would be stupid to have that expectation. I’ve laid out very obvious reasons why it wouldn’t be stupid. Yes there are reasons why it shouldn’t be ‘expected’ as you point out. But only you suggested someone wasn’t smart for not seeing your opinion.
Ok, that’s they way you see it, I don’t. I can live with that. I don’t feel any need to expand a 16 word sentence into a multi page analysis. I’m pretty sure that RC is a big boy and can defend himself if he feels he needs to. If you went to the game and are upset because you think I’m calling you stupid, then I am sorry.
I think he's saying recent form of the last 15 games or so trumps how we got on there 2+ years ago ? We won last season at home against Arsenal so are we favourites for the coming match ?
