Well, some things are as predictable as the sun coming up in the morning. Newcastle United will conspire with themselves to make any game, even against the team that can’t stop conceding, look difficult. Today they managed to make it look as if they were playing 1970 Brazil for periods of the first half.
The urgency that was shown against West Ham, Spurs, and Everton was gone. To be replaced by a malaise that was evident at Fulham and at Palace on Weds and looked like a lot of home games against the bottom five. We had played four of the bottom five before today at home, collecting five points. Forest left with all three, Everton and Luton also took a point each. None are as poor as Wilder’s men.
Krafth and Barnes dropped out of the starting eleven; in came Hall and Livramento to see the back four system return. There was still some criticism of the starting lineup, but in all honesty Barnes looked poor at Palace and playing Krafth here would’ve looked very weak.
The goal Newcastle had conceded was poor, and Dúbravka kept it at one. But the movement of Isak and the excellently weighted pass from Murphy got us level. Longstaff and Murphy then both saw shots blocked and shots from distance fly wide.
That was the first half.
In the second, the replacement of Schär with Krafth was clearly an injury and not a tactical tweak. I can’t imagine what was said at half time but whatever it was worked significantly better than it did during the first half at Selhurst Park. This time the boy from Brazil was fired up to deliver as we played towards the fantastic first half display of his national flag.
The goal that put us ahead was a set piece that you feel like Bruno has scored three or four times now. Ball to the back post, he’s on his own, either volley or in this case header into the far corner. It was a touch paper, and by the time we were into the final quarter of the game, it was over as a contest.
Isak scored a penalty that Gordon had won. It looked to my eye like it was just outside but I’m sat right behind it. VAR and the official thought penalty – you’ll do for me! Another opportunity for our fantastic Swede to get a treble. The sight of Barnes and Wilson warming up made me think not, but it was the industrious Anderson and Jacob Murphy who made way after number four.
With two up top it didn’t take long for Newcastle to have a fifth. Gordon had the chance to square another one for Isak. The fourth goal was awarded to Bruno in the ground, but Elliot Anderson’s non-celebration made me think own goal, and so it has proved. Callum Wilson smashed in the fifth. Isak nearly made another wonder goal for him.
The summer will see a lot of turnover at NUFC, so it was nice to see a young player be given a run out in Alex Murphy. The tall Irish defender was brought on to play left back, and bar a moment where he, and many in the ground, thought he had given away a penalty in the final minute of normal time, he put in a competent performance, with the accompanying relief of the VAR review going his way.
Arriving at the same time as him for what could be a final SJP bow was Matt ‘the original magic hat’ Ritchie. ‘He drives what he wants’ serenaded him from the corner and he made three trademark sprints when well placed. He was ignored on all three occasions by his teammates but seemed to be delighted to be out there.
Half time saw Becky Langley and her team arrive on the pitch with the championship trophy from the third tier (north) of the women’s league. A move into the second tier is a great achievement and always nice to see some silverware draped in black and white. They were joined by Darren Eales and Amanda Staveley. Wouldn’t it be great if some time soon Eddie Howe got the chance to do the same?
Not sure what to make of this game if I’m honest. The second half performance was sensational and that will be what sent so many home fans into the evening sunshine happy. Bruno was last to take his leave, having left his shirt in the East Stand. It feels strange to think that he might not be here much longer. Enjoy him whilst we still can.
However, the frailties of the first half are being seen all too often by us this season. There was nobody else to blame for that situation today but ourselves. As it was, by full time the few Sheffield United fans who had stayed saw Chris Wilder huddle his players together, then take them up to the Leazes, their place in the Premier League gone again.
For Newcastle, the battle for Europe continues!
Stephen Ord @smord84
Brilliant second half. I wish they’d show more of Wor Flags displays on telly, absolutely wonderful and how they keep coming up with them amazes me. They’re always just supportive and emotional rather than the slightly troubling ultra-type ones seen other places. I think they deserve a bit more coverage. I’ve thought the same for the last two years! One rule for Anfield, as ever.
Great results anyway.:)
Forgot to ask, dies anyone know why Aramco have not been brought in as a sponsor ? They seem like an obvious source of much needed revenue, even if the PL limit the amounts.
Aramco St James Park could start a few discussions/arguments
If Bruno were to leave then hopefully not to a sky 6 club. If that happened you would have to question the stated ambitions of the owners. Added to that why are the Saudi league helping out our rivals with their FFP by buying up their cast offs (policy change due soon i hear) and most bizzarely why are the Saudis still sponsoring Man Utd ? A club who treat us with disdain at the best of times.
Apparently Bruno’s just bought a new house up here.
Can someone help me out here please.
There is constant talk about us having to sell our players, in particular Bruno and Alex Isak.
Why would we want to do that? An ambitious club doesn’t sell its best players, it builds around them. Or are we still that same old club with that same old DNA?
Who can forget that at one time we had P. Beardsley, C. Waddle and P. Gascoigne all signed up at our club?
And who can forget how that turned out?
I am cognisant of the FSP/PSR/(insert latest acronym here)
and the need to balance the books but getting shot of the best players is neither necessary or a good idea surely.
Or do we not have a choice as many seem to believe?
I do agree but I think the idea of selling one player, say Bruno, for 100m quid would mean the arrival of at least two, maybe three international class players in his place. I’m not saying I approve. I’m not even sure if it works under the up-coming rules. As for Isak, he’s irreplaceable – there’s no way we should be selling him unless he asks to leave.
Points noted Dawson, but the fact remains that we will be selling proven top quality player(s)(Bruno, Isak, others) for unknown replacements, who, if they are international class will be equally as expensive and may well be unproven in the PL.
In other words it is a risky strategy. We know that we’ve got class. Add to it surely.
As you say up and coming rules will make it difficult but selling proven quality for the unknown still doesn’t make sense to me.
I can see both sides of the equation but I’m hoping we can hang on to both for at least another season and see where we are then. Going by recent events and interviews etc that seems likely. I hope so coz there’s a sort of iconicness about both having been the major signings post takeover.