Genuinely thought we’d have seen Targett start today. Trippier looked knackered from the start hence generally poor play. Bringing on Tino would have benefited both the team and Trippier. I was surprised that we took off Almiron though - I would have either taken off Wilson, to save his legs, or for a central midfielder again to save their legs considering at the moment we only have 4 available and we play 3 every game. Watched it back and thought an awful lot of criticism against Pope is very harsh.
He explained why he didn't want to risk subs because he felt it would be difficult to come into the pace of the game and he wanted to be careful. He's just aware changes are to an extent a gamble and he isn't Tonali. Willock made a big difference along with Neto being injured.
So no point them being there then. Like I said yesterday, he obviously doesn’t trust them. Yet he trusted Targett to come on against Dortmund but not against Wolves. It was clear that Trippier was having an unusual off game after 25 minutes. Tino could have easily come on or even Krafth. What he says in a presser and what he thinks are most likely different things. He’s trusted in the past to bring on Anderson and Miley but obviously the £40m right back who has played in 33 premier league games is not worthwhile? Bolloxio!
Truly baffling that Livermento and Taggart didn’t come on. Howe is stubborn I think. But the biggest mistake was Pope.
I don't get the lack of game time for the likes of Livramento, Hall and Targett. With our fixture list, Howe really is going to need incorporate them more, whether he likes it or not. And they can each play more advanced roles as well if required (as wide midfield, or even wingers) to offer different formation options and allow different players a rest. If we just keep playing the likes of Tripps, Burn, Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton etc. for 90 minutes every single game then they will burn out and probably end up injured too.
Unfortunately I don't agree because at some point trippier and Burn could be injured and then we have cover. Subs are not mandatory. Newcastle are doing well Yesterday was a good away point. Newcastle fans have fixated their aims at champions league level because last season has fooled them into thinking they are actually the 4th best squad in the league, so when they don't beat teams of similar quality they complain. Enjoy the success.
I think, on balance, that’s a pretty good point away from home three days after a Champions League game when injuries and suspensions are starting to bite.
That is what is happening though. The players were burnt out. And the injuries are happening in front of our eyes. He won’t change though. He has his favourites.
A helter-skelter game, could have gone either way, and might have been different had Var intervened differently.
Like Sa did for your first? Don’t think can blame pope for trying to punch it clear. In those conditions was much safer. Even then, punch still went outside the box, wasn’t s horrendous one. The defender who decided to go sliding in rather than stay on his feet and got done by Hwang was as much to blame.
Think last year you had one of the most settled sides over the course of the season? Wonder if just trying to do the same thing this year but hasn’t realised the toll that playing midweek CL has on the team? Also take into account that you only have 1/2 days training before each game so those new signings maybe aren’t getting as much tactical training as Howe is used to giving new signings when only has 1 game a week? See often when teams who get into Europe that aren’t used to it struggle and do think the inexperience of managers can play a part in how to manage those extra games with less training etc
