If the players have given up, then we need to start looking at the manager and questioning whether he can still lead us forward.
Hard to really know what to do with this squad now or coaching team. We're just about to take 1 point from 9 and it is happening every year - a period where we throw everything away. Could be 1 from 12 after the Chelsea game away - don't fancy us to win that or get a draw.
We are absolutely unable to play a line breaking pass or play through central areas. This is what is killing us, especially in games like this.
City have no de Bruyne, Rodri and injuries across a few vital areas and we're going to be 8 points behind them by the end of the day. Words fail me.
Being in the CL is really important - so that is where our focus should be now - top 4. League is gone
FT. 1-0. Disaster in every sense of the word. Think now we can forget about the title. Not gonna happen. Just focus on securing CL football and trying to get a trophy. Arteta is on thin ice with me. This start to the season has been mediocre at best. Maybe things would have been different if we didn't get those 3 red cards, but we did and we had to make up for those lost points. We've not done it. His tactics, squad management and set up has been poor all season and now we're paying the price. No excuses to be this bad when he's entering his 5th year at the club. Newcastle have had a very comfortable afternoon. We just weren't good enough in every facet of the game. Really not sure where we go from here.
That is the big problem. This was a defining day in this era. It's not the loss, it's the nature of it.
Playing like that, there is no team we can expect to beat with any confidence. Chelsea away next in the league.
I was out yesterday and sounds like it was good that I missed it. Sounds like we were absolutely ****e all game. Really bad game to lose and especially given the nature of the performance. 7 points behind City now and LIverpool flying. We ain't winning the league this year unless there is a miracle. We need a big performance against Chelsea at the weekend to turn this around.
OK, we are missing Odegaard but Rice hasn't stepped up at all. He was great last season but seems to have lost his way this term
He is trying - or being asked - to be something he is not. Rice always has been a defensive midfielder who can do the dirty work and break up play. He is bang average at anything else and should not be playing in an 8 role. If we play him as a 6 , we have an 8/10 player worth about £50m Play him as an 8 and we have a 5/10 player not good enough for a top 4 side. The money we paid for him was ridiculous.
Obviously we are missing Odegaard - as we lack creativity at the moment. But the big concern for me is Martinelli. He is at the age where he should be stepping up in terms of numbers and should be winning us games. When you listen to players and coaching staff its clear he's one of the most talented players in the squad - but it just isn't materialising in terms of goals and assist. When you play this system with a false 9 the WF's become the biggest source of goals. He has to up his productivity - or he'll be on the chopping block come the end of the Season.
I agree it doesn't help that we're shoehorning him a position where he's not natural, but he has been absolutely shocking for most of the season so far. In fact, I'd go far as saying he's been our worst player. I can't think of anyone worse.
Martinelli's been getting a lot of heat. I get it to an extent, but I don't believe it's all his fault. Look at this. I cannot believe this was us a year and a half ago. Look at how silky and fluid we were with the ball. Don't tell me the manager's current tactics are getting the best out of our players. They haven't just turned rubbish overnight, it's a systematic problem.
