It has just finished over here and they were two bad teams overall. The NUFC penalties reminded me of ManU's against us a couple of years ago.
Funny how I enjoy some penalty shoot outs more than others. Big chance to get to Wembley missed out. Hopefully Hull will get spanked in the semi's.
Little reality check for Newcastle, hammering the Championship but can't beat Hull. Big difference between the leagues.
Was thinking this before the game. This match would be one of the worst teams in our league, vs the best team in theirs. Ultimately they came up short and would highlight that when they come up they'll need some serious serious investment in some actual quality.
And they didn't play their strongest team against Blackburn, in preparation for tonight. I've always maintained, although they are currently and will continue to run away with the Championship. I don't see a good team. The match against Leeds, both teams looked very poor. That will be a wake up call and reality should be setting in now.
Not really no, Mitrovic looks good there but was poor in the prem, Gayle is no better than championship standard. They've sold all their genuine quality and spent a fortune, not exactly a genius plan. That's why it makes me laugh when their fans come on here to take the piss when we've been beaten by Arsenal or someone of that level, it's a world apart from where they are. Good to have you back btw.
We were seriously lacking in front of goal. To be fair we outplayed them comfortably in the game and had you watched it I doubt you'd see "a gulf" between the two. Away from home, in normal time, we drew 11 vs 11. We rest players every game. Hayden, Hanley, Sels, Gouffran and Diame have been in our second string 11 in recent weeks and all started tonight, Hull played more of their first team than we did. None of that changes the fact that we lacked serious quality in the final 3rd against a team we should be beating and if we go up that would need to be addressed urgently.
I agree in part. Though I actually do see a good 'team', it's the best 'team' we've had in a while but the individuals are lesser quality. What we, and every team needs, is to graft some actual quality onto the bones of a solid team - easier said than done. Think reality set in back in May There'll be highs and lows in any season, I doubt it will be plain sailing but hope we can meet again next year in the correct league!
That I agree with. It's definitely good for the north east to have both of our clubs in the Premiership and it's nice to have a genuine rivalry to get you through the season. I think that Sels, who Rafa brought in, looks awful. I feel you will need to spend a lot of money again when you come back up, but I do think Ashley will provide the cash. Must be nice!
He's a horror show. It was the one area we probably didn't need new blood as we had Krul, Elliot and Darlow - none of whom are great but all 'decent''. Sels is the worst of the 4 by some margin, he may just be settling in but given the level he has been this season it's hard to envisage him being around for long.
Sels, Clark, Lazaar, Hayden, Gouffran and Diame probably wouldn't be in what Rafa sees as his first XI - though in the case of Gouffran he should be (now there's a player who highlights the difference in quality between Premiership and Championship). Darlow, Mbemba, Yedlin, Lascelles, Dummett, Anita, Shelvey, Atsu, Ritche, Perez, Gayle or perhaps Mitrovic would be first choices - though with Rafa who can say, he tends to mix it up a lot. Maybe he thought tonight was our strongest 11, doubt it though.
