If we need to be worried about fixture congestion then that doesn't exactly scream out that we've got a squad that will survive in the Premier League if we go up!!
That team selection is spitting in the face of the supporters. It will cause the majority to start thinking again about their faith in Benitez. I'm damn sure it does with me. ..................and get rid of Mitrovic
FKs sake. Been out all afternoon and just seen this. I hate it the way we never bother with the FA cup. I love it and just wish we would at least try to have a go. I'd like noting more than a trip to a cup final
Too true. My brother went down. Putting in as many players who are miles away from the first team equals a defeat waiting to happen. Rafa must take the blame for this. Ashley won't give a monkeys and it looks like senior management are in full charge, and being obeyed. Thank God that Wolves have taken the media all chomping down to Anfield.
tbf it's still not even close when our first team got outplayed by Stevenage under Pardew. It's not just us either, I don't see why teams are so dumb they put out the reserve teams - it's cost us, Liverpool, Brighton and nearly Spurs (they just won with the last kick). Only for the likes of Man City is the reserve team dependable, for us, the reserve team is the equivalent of a non-league team, and Oxford's first team would have been far better. They can hail this as an upset or giant killing all they like, but find you look at the teams that were put out, Oxford would have been clear favourites.
Disrespectful team to put out, a kick in the knackers for the 1800 fans, most of who will be stuck on a bus for 10 hours today. 3,4 even 5 changes maybe, but 9? That's bollocks.
We talk about "not bothering with the cup" and fixture congestion, but how the fck are we playing more games than our opponents, or Wolves, or Lincoln, or Huddersfield, and so on, all of whom managed to get past the fcking fourth round. I mean, THREE goals conceded to Oxford ffs - as has rightly been said, Pardew would have been hounded for the sack for this one. The squad is fcking awful, that's all you can say. Dan Barlaser sounded like our best player, Hayden seemed OK, but the ones for me who need properly shanking are Perez and Mitrovic. Lazaar is the penalty taker, he takes the pen. Mitrovic barely touched the ball after his FIFTH miss, he's a complete turd. I've had my utter fill of Perez, I don't know what he thinks he is but he's worse than Lee Trundle with half the tricks. Maybe it's me, but it fcking sucks being a Newcastle fan. Every week joyless football followed by half-baked results and terrible cup performances. I was excited by Rafa and probably shouldn't knee jerk it, but by God this was a real kick in the twig n berries.
I am disappointed by this and just a tad embarrassed too. If we are in a competition then we should bust a gut to win it, otherwise what's the point. It does not matter to me if this was an inferior third string type team. Defeat is defeat and it's no good for morale or confidence. A good old blood and guts cup run in my opinion would aid our league form, not hinder it. Days like these are the precursor to doubt creeping in. I simply love Rafa and all he has done for our club so far, but, today he got it very wrong indeed.
Surely we have a dedicated penalty taker who is appointed before the game. If that person was not Mitrovic, then Rafa ought to have his bollocks on a plate. I just knew he wasn't going to convert the damn thing, not after so many crappy misses during the game. Had we levelled the score we may still have lost, but l don't like to think that part of today's woeful performance also included a lack of discipline.
Was Lazaar. What does that tell you about Mitrovic, every time he's played - and I mean when he's been the only striker - it's been someone else's duty to take penalties. He lost the 9 to Gayle because of a finishing competition. Even Murphy has proven what scoring goals is about. Get rid I say, he can be someone else's headache, let's not Shola this clown. Perez as well. If someone's willing to pay double figures for either, ship them out. We're in for a really rough ride next year. Which is the crux of the issue for me - at what point do we get to take the cup seriously? Next year it'll be about staying in the PL, that's the priority, so we'll be lucky to see round four. Year after? I'm guess it's either "stay up" or "get promoted", right?! So why don't we just write a letter to the FA and say "look, time's have changed and we just don't feel participating in the cup is fair on the fans, so we give our third round place to a wildcard from round two. Chances are a round two club is going further than Newcastle, so might as well".
just lump the ball in ..we cannot even defend high balls ..been saying it all season.. rafa is blind if he cannot see that ...
Didn't see any of it but knew we would lose once I saw that midfield. Also heard Mitro was ****e again. Says it all that Murphy is being rested instead. Get rid.
I thought it should have been Lazaar as penalty taker. Mitro was plain wrong to take the pen in that case, its so ill disciplined and smacks of desperation on his part. Lazaar should not have let that happen nor should the Captain, someone should have intervened. That kind of indiscipline undermines team morale and disrespects the manager. No one knows if it would have made a difference to the outcome, l just really dislike it when someone puts their own glory hunting before the team. Agree about Perez too, Rafa sees something in this kid, but what it is l am not too sure anymore.
I don't how he's not spotting it, it's scary the amount of goals we are conceding from corners. Never see a man on the far post either.
If there's a silver lining here (struggling) I think know it should prove to the board we need reinforcements. That might be last we see of Mitrovic- don't think Rafa has ever rated him - definitely not after today. He can **** off for me as well...
If we need more players, then I'd say get shot of someone who will bring in a high transfer fee, especially if it's someone like Mitrovic or Mbemba who aren't playing or aren't offering much. We need big reinforcements next season anyway and PL standard players won't come to us while we're in the Championship.
