The most likely outcome now is that it'll be a winner takes 3rd place between us and Milan in the last game. To have a chance of going through we need to beat Dortmund or Paris then Milan at home. Huge ask.
If anything it gave me hope we can do them at their place. They didn't batter us, they had one good counter and one or two big chances, we had 4 big chances missed 2 and hit the bar with the others. Also thought on a different night Gordon gets the pen, yes the ball was away from him but anywhere else on the park and that's a foul, you can't obstruct a player and trip him because the balls gone, VAR didn't even look at it! The stats say we were probably the better team slightly. 2/3rds of the possession for us 150 more passes than their 320 with a better pass accuracy More corners Less fouls Dortmund's heatmap barely had them in our final 3rd and a slither in the box, ours was all over the edge of their box: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1...-League-2023-2024-Newcastle-Borussia-Dortmund All in all it was a really close game decided by one moment of quality by their CB. Nowt to fear going out there and pressure is off.
It's a different game away and in the 2nd half they parked the bus. Newcastle needed to win their home games and unfortunately I think they'll now pay the price. Newcastle were just hoofing balls into the box for 45 mins. The thing is any of the 4 teams is capable of beating the other but it would appear the current top 2 are the best.
The point I'm making is that despite him being tackled and losing the ball, other players were equally if not more culpable of not dealing with the situation. Gordon was in their half, not on the edge of our Bix for example when he lost control due to a tackle. If you think that other members of the team shouldn't have dealt with it, then you are clearly watching the wrong sport
It'll be interesting to see our tactics in the away games, much like at the San Siro we can sit in and try and counter - almost beat Milan with the last gasp Longstaff attempt. Dortmund finished their one really good counter attacking opportunity and then sat in for the second half and were happy to soak up pressure. If Wilsons header or Gordon's deflected shot were an inch or two lower we get a point there. Literal slim margins.
I agree, the midfield disappeared. Gordon lost the ball in a safe part of the pitch, I just couldn't work out where any of Longstaff, Bruon, Trippier and Joelinton were. A few of us watching it all said the same thing - we were being too frantic, trying to force the issue to recreate the PSG night. We should've calmed down in difficult conditions, put our foot on it and kept it patient. Played into their hands a bit, but then again we had 2 pen claims, hit the bar twice and Gordon/Wilson missed sitters. Not a time to panic, but just highlights the individual quality we need to get.
We can say that for any situation but ultimately if you try and take a player on and you fail that's an error that lead to a goal. Almiron was taking pelters on here for a mis controlled pass , so I pointed out Gordon and Wilson missing chances and Gordon losing the ball trying to be Ronaldinho in a dangerous area.
They will have to try and win in Germany because if they fail they're going out.. goal difference maters not in this.
Longstaff was on the 6yd line, Tripps was up the field out of position which is perhaps excusable given he was about to get the pass from Gordon. Joelinton eventually trotted into view as Pope was picking the ball out of the net and Bruno - no idea ....
Come on now! That’s how it started with Tonali. A little avi bet here, a username change bet there then all of a sudden illegal sites
There was more than half the length of the pitch to rectify that error - that's the point. It was not in a dangerous area - if that's dangerous, then every square yard on the pitch is dangerous by your reckoning Did all the fresh air last night, cause some sort of issue for you?
Players should be aware what's behind them it's the basics of the game if you try taking people and fail it's not the players behind you that are to blame. Obviously you're getting upset with the facts of the game.
