Afternoon all. Appalling performance. Passing was disgraceful. Aimless balls chucked into the box. It was the absolute opposite of the West Ham game.
We were toothless and sadly lacking. Tippy tappy rubbish and poor and nieve team selection. If you had never seen james or rodrigo play would you guess they cost that much.
Llorente was ****e today, and Rodrigo, well, I've run out of patience with him, he can **** off and take Roberts with him
It wasn't just one player! I didn't see anyone who wasn't either just passing to a Newcastle player or running straight into one and losing the ball. On the few occasions that we actually had a chance to put a ball in it either lobbed up to the keeper or flew everyone and went out of play. We were a pub team today. I watched Watford - Norwich last night and noted how poor they both were. We were worse than both of them today. Embarrassing
Pathetic performance. What was our plan out there today? High balls into the box when we got dwarf attackers. Where did Rapha and Harrison go 2nd half? Meslier is not getting away with that one sorry but that was a fooking howler. We couldn't open a defence that can't defend. Maxi ran us ragged most of that game. 2nd half he simply took the pizz out of us. one game I didn't want us to lose and we turned in a absolute stinker. every pass was wrong every decision was wrong defending or attacking. some of the crossing was Sunday League We had no keys to unlock anything I knew after the 1st half we were not scoring in that game. Newcastle didn't beat us. we beat ourselves.
Meslier - 4. Fantastic save from Shelvey first half. Two BIG mistakes, one for the goal, one just after. Uncharacteristic errors but they are just starting to creep in the last 3 games. Needs to sharpen up a bit. Ayling - 7. Great defensive work. Important interceptions and helped get the ball forward in to the final third effectively. Tasked with Saint-Maximin and he kept him quieter that we did away from home. Crossing wasn't there today though. Llorente - 5. Did OK in general play and picked some lovely passes stepping out of defence. Lost nearly every 1 v 1 he was involved in though and Wood had him on toast in the air. Booked for the needless free kick which led to the goal. Struijk - 8. Comfortable on the ball, strong in the tackle and read the game really well. Surely our best centre back at the moment. Dallas - 7. Another who worked tirelessly to get the ball to our forward players. Stepped in and pinched the ball numerous times to send us on our way. Couple of sloppy moments first half but more like the Dallas of last season. Koch - 7. Hasn't got the range of passing that Phillips has but his defensive work is on a par. Gave the ball nice and simple to our "creative" players. Klich - 6. Very good first half hour. Legs seem to leave him after that. Too many passes going astray. Rodrigo - 5. Some lovely runs in to good areas combined with a couple of quality passes first half but obviously rusty after injury as too many heavy first touches and shocking final balls let him and the team down. Harrison - 4. Great running. Full of confidence but the front 4 today really created nothing and he played his part in some poor crosses and decisions. Raphinha - 5. See Harrison. Great positioning, **** final ball and shots. The front 4 as a unit need to have a long look at themselves this season. James - 4. 25 million for pace and energy. No awareness, no goalscoring instinct, absolute horrific passing and crossing. His workrate and commitment cannot be faulted though. Subs. Roberts - 3. Back from injury, looked rusty. Came on, dithered as usual, gave it away, Newcastle get the free kick on the break and score. That was his contribution. One too many touch every time he gets it. Very poor. Gelhardt - 4. Created a buzz when he came on but he ain't Messi. Pass the ball, you can't go on your own EVERY time.
I didn’t think we played too bad until we entered the final third. It does frustrate the **** out of me seeing James as the striker. Newcastle were poor so to lose at home to them is unforgivable. This is why after West Ham I said to someone I’m not taking it for granted that we won’t get dragged in. Bielsa only wants a player if they’re better than what we already have, I don’t have a clue what Bielsa is watching if he can’t see better than Roberts and Rodrigo
Agree they missed some really good chances that 2nd half. We were the better side 1st half but 2nd half we were fooking dreadful.
I was very surprised that, after his performance, Hjelde wasn't picked at LB. That would have freed Dallas to go in the middle with Klich and Koch. Rodrigo can't tackle and today he couldn't pick a pass out either. Klich was pissed to be taken off and I don't blame him. Rodrigo should have come off for Gelhardt. It was a shambles today.
Harrison was on fire the last one and a half games but now I fear we’ll see his usual run of half a dozen poor performances. Bielsa will stick with him whilst justifying £25m on James by trying to squeeze him in somewhere. Granted it would have been harsh dropping Harrison but I just can’t work out why an out of position James and an offers zero Roberts are selected ahead of Joffy
