had one on the prem board this morning .. I wouldn't care, but both decisions are as clear as you will ever get.. lol..
Gayle is hopeless tbh .. always been the same ... a poor finisher needs 10 chances to score from 6 yards. ritchie we do need for reasons, but is pretty gash . he was effective crossing to rondon on the left... seems to struggle on the right.. we do need him.
On what grounds can anyone disagree? Ritchie had his uses, mainly in the Championship, and has in the past rallied the troops, as it were. But his good games are very few and far between, even less so these days. When was the last time he had an assist let alone a goal? Missed his last two spot-kicks. Terrible deliveries, not really a winger, definitely not a wing back, not fast, sloppy in possession, no threat, pointless. Gayle's not even worth debating. He's missed SEVEN sitters. Not chances - sitters. A poor players two years ago, he's got worse and worse. Never got double figures in the PL. Always injured. Pathetic that Charnley et al have never managed to replace. There's nothing to like or value. Rafa's choice of attackers is ****ing shocking, awful record.
Except, if my memory serves me right, Gayle was bought to ensure we got out of the Championship. Which he did playa big part in...before getting injured.
At which point he should've been sold. Maybe unfair to blame Rafa. Certainly looks like another Charnley **** up.
Great win and a nice performance too. Even 11 v 11 we were playing some decent stuff for the first time in a while. The football was very watchable, and it was nice to see us show a bit of confidence to receive and pass the ball under pressure. Some nice little bits of movement and we should have won very comfortably. Gayle is obviously taking a lot of stick which is understandable as he should have had a first half hat trick. Personally though I think he is the best option in the squad. His movement was excellent throughout, and the bend of the run to dip in between the two centre backs for the missed headed chance was classic centre forward play. That is something we've missed all season because Joelinton is not a striker. Gayle does tend to need a few chances to score, but that had nothing to do with Saturday. Bottom line is he had a shocker in front of goal, and missed chances he'd normally put away, whether they were his first or 100th chance. The encouraging thing is the team play much better with him in. Almiron and Saint-Maximin instantly look better. Gayle stretches team and moves us up the pitch meaning SM and Almiron are doing their thing in better areas. He is getting in the right area and he just needs a goal and bit of confidence. The goals are the same size as in the championship, he is getting loads of chances and he had no trouble with us or WBA banging them in. Hopefully the fans can be proper fans and get behind him instead of going off the deep end about a guy who barely played this season, but quite clearly is positive for this team. The groans on Saturday could not be helped, as a fan its hard not to when the chances are so gilt edged. However in days gone by Newcastle fans were always excellent at lifting a player. It seems less of a thing now, its more popular to get on their backs. We look more likely to score with Gayle in the team.
I was impressed with Gayle. He got in the right positions and just encountered a goalie who was on top form. Any other day he would have bagged a goal or two. Joelinton has been pretty decent when not playing up front too. I have to say, while the jury is still out, the performance on Saturday was a marked improvement on what we have witnessed this season.
I get what you mean but I do think he should be given a proper chance before we write him off. I don't think there are any strikers out there that would score a bagful of goals in our current team to be honest,
He's the closest thing we have to a goalscorer and as Pouch says he's far far better off the ball than Joelinton is. He moves very well, does the gritty worker strikers get no credit for and he allows Alm and Max to play some actual football. Same start 11 next time for sure.