A little bit shakey defensively, disappointed we conceded, but I understand why we took off trips and almiron, no need to risk them just to keep a clean sheet when we have the win in the bag. All this with most of the squad we had under bruce. Ratings - Pope - 7 - One poor attempt at a claim earlier in the match, but some good saves. Trippier - 8 - Beautiful assist and good all round play. Schar - 7 Botman - 6 - A lot of good defending, but quite a few poor passes from him today. Burn - 7 Longstaff - 5.5 - Some may disagree but missed a clear chance on goal and lost possession quite a few times. Looks class below the rest even on a good day. Bruno - 8 - MOTM - Won so many clever fouls, good defending, good distribution, quality goal. Willock - 8 - His best game for a while. Good runs into the box an great goal. Murphy - 6 - Decent, but nothing special. Wilson - 5 - Didn't do much but technically should have an assist for Almiron Almiron - 8 - Good goal Wood - 7 - Great finish to be fair, tried hard
Harsh on Longstaff. He actually got MOTM. Because he works so hard. Yes sometimes he lacks that little bit of quality.
Won't disagree with most of those but Longstaff definitely higher 7.5 for me As GG said - was MOTM for Sky commentators
I would mark Longstaff a bit higher. IMO hard work is often unseen but it can make it easier for everyone else to have good games. I'd give Longstaff a 7.5. I'm not saying he'll ever be a Champions League player, but today he added to team effectiveness. If Bruno has games like this, where he's effective but almost unnoticed then great! I just hope his wife isn't forcing him to do midnight feeds before games . Loved his goal. He's got so much class. I thought Botman had a rare poor game, and it was Schar and Trippier who kept the defence in reasonable order. I think we missed Joelinton's physical workrate in front of them. Bruno might have missed him too. The defence just weren't at their best, even conceding a goal - which is below our present standard (oh how our game has progressed in the last 12 months). Absolutely superb assist by Trippier, but Wilson unfortunately due to virus, didn't cement his selection for England. He might still go though. Was pleased for Chris Wood for that goal. We might need his odd goals later on and this one came at a time where we were well under the cosh. Wood's goal took the game away from Southampton, so was really useful. ASM and Shelvey helped us keep our goals cushion, so a good day all round. We got a good away win despite not being great. I'll take that.
Got back about an hour ago from the match. Botman made a couple of bad passes but was solid at the back. Longstaff was outstanding, 8/10. Wood barely a 5, well taken goal but gave it away literally every time he had the ball, just a really poor player. Murphy the weakest link in this team, though. Everything he does is so easy to read then he’s amazed he’s lost the ball. Willock also great, Bruno his usual imperious self. Can’t see Shelvey lasting, looked lost in there, this style of play is everything he’s not. Manq was rusty. Special shout to Trippier. Was magnificent. They were trying to ping a long ball at him as he has a height disadvantage but his reading of the game is so immense he’d just step up and won it anyway.
Agree with others re Longstaff. Lot of ground work done by him making it easier for the others. I’d give him a 7.6544353178.
I'll put it on here - in case anyone missed the breaking news on sky sports news (that was whispered once whilst they focused on Liverpool's magnificent magnificance). Newcastle have gone above Spurs into third top of the Premier League.
Longstaff had an absolutely beautiful pass to Almiron, worked hard and I think is that quiet sort of player who you actually miss when they're not playing. Does the boring job. 5.5 is incredibly harsh. He was MOTM ffs Tash I'm positive you're watching matches in a different reality to the rest of us, your ratings are always mad. For the record, everyone bangs on about Trippier, he lost the ball once or twice and was very lucky to have Longstaff right next to him to clear up and take a wayward pass. Longstaff and him read each other beautifully.
Been saying this for ages but I don't know what joe willock has to do to get a motm award . He's been brilliant this season and today even got the goal with it.
I think he's been playing well overall, but today I really noticed he was playing some special stuff. I think today he contributed a lot more to getting the ball back and I think both him and Longstaff have learnt a lot from playing with Bruno. A top class player raises everyones game, we do things now on the ball that I think 12 months ago was physically and mentally beyond some of these lads. Training too, they need to be in everyday, working hard and being challenged physically and mentally. Under the previous regime they were more often at home than at the ground.
Longstaff and Willock played extremely well. But Longstaff just nicked it for me. Willock is proving he is a good player now. We are seriously dangerous.
Howe might aswel go all out midweek and the Chelsea because of the break coming.... this side is capable of winning a pot
Mate, all out? Batter them, do our usual stuff and control the game from the off. Statement result if we beat Chelsea and keep on City's heels. Not a title winning season obv I mean, come on, but can we get Champions League... I'm starting to believe.
If newcastle beat Chelsea and any remaining doubt that this side can get top 6 goes out the window. Regardless of the result newcastles will be in the top 4 when the window opens ... It'll be interesting to see if the Saudis can resist turning the screw
Me too, will we decide to just say "**** it" and go all out for another big player or two or will we play it safe and keep the finances in order. Interesting times. Peak for us in the terms of money and how early we are in this process would be Europa Conference I think. The current squad with a few more additions can continue playing well in the league and actually have a shot of getting to the final of that I think. Worried Champions League might be to much for us right now.
I don't just expect us to beat Chelsea, I could see us causing them some serious ****ing damage in their goals against column. 4-1 is the new 7-1
Don't forget Izak will be back and it really will be like a new signing because we haven't seen much of him.
Was saying this on the way back from the match. Might be silly and premature but could see us hitting Chelsea 3 or 4 nil.
