Only a blip? – The Toon Assessment

Weeks are by no means often boring on Tyneside, and these previous few days have been no exception.

It was tough to think about {that a} week that included a dominant 3-0 house win over Wolves would finish on a bitter notice, however that’s precisely what occurred. Howe’s males appeared drained, sluggish and devoid of concepts on Saturday afternoon, as a plucky, undermanned Bournemouth ran rings round them.

Elsewhere, there was little to no motion on the switch entrance, regardless of obtrusive holes in Newcastle’s squad turning into much more obtrusive by the day. In any case, squad depth is what separates the boys from the boys over the course of a gruelling Premier League marketing campaign.

As at all times, my title is Sam and I’m right here to interrupt down the previous few days of life on the world’s least boring soccer membership.

How might such a constructive midweek efficiency precede such a dismal collapse in effort, depth and creativity? Granted Howe’s facet have not too long ago simply gained a record-equalling 9 video games on the bounce, however such was the way wherein they had been dismantled on Saturday afternoon, that profitable streak appears longer in the past than it truly was. We will solely hope that it was a wake-up name, a warning in opposition to complacency and over-confidence.

Anyway, simply so it’s not all doom and gloom, let’s start by speaking concerning the stellar efficiency that downed visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night time. I used to be at work through the match, however was in a position to catch a glimpse of the primary half an hour or so (via a fastidiously timed break within the cafeteria). United got here out all weapons blazing, as has been the current theme, and it was not lengthy earlier than man of the second Alexander Isak capitalised on this early strain, firing house a deflected effort that wrongfooted José Sá.

Isak netted once more shortly after the restart earlier than Anthony Gordon successfully put the sport to mattress within the 74th minute. That’s to not say Wolves didn’t come near getting on the scoresheet; Howe’s facet did need to endure two efforts in opposition to the woodwork from striker Jorgen Strand Larsen and a aim from defender Santiago Bueno that was dominated out by VAR for a handball. It was one other in an extended line {of professional} efforts from Howe’s facet, routinely placing weaker sides to the sword in entrance of a ravenous St James’ Park devoted. Isak set the person membership file he’d been chasing, scoring in eight consecutive Premier League matches. This was to be the place a few streaks would finish, nonetheless.

Spirits had been due to this fact excessive forward of the early-afternoon conflict on Saturday. Bournemouth had been by no means going to be a pushover, nonetheless, and an early aim from the Cherries ensured the duty for Howe and Newcastle was by no means going to be simple. What ensued, for essentially the most half, was a massacre.

Solely six minutes had handed when Justin Kluivert scored the primary of his three objectives on the afternoon, discovering himself on their lonesome getting into the field from an Antoine Semenyo pull-back. Round twenty minutes later, Newcastle’s midfield talisman Bruno Guimaraes restored some hope with an equalising header from a nook, however this hope would show to be false.

Kluivert netted twice extra, earlier than fullback Milos Kerkez completed the rout within the 96th minute of play. When it was all mentioned and performed, Bournemouth had put 4 previous a hapless United and Newcastle’s implausible profitable streak was over at 9 video games. Let’s hope it was only a blip…

Publish-Wolves

“It was a troublesome recreation in opposition to opponent with a brand new supervisor and a brand new fashion of play. We needed to be affected person and present our high quality to finally break them down.”

On Isak breaking the membership file for objectives in consecutive matches: “It’ll get the headlines and rightly so as a result of it’s an unimaginable feat and I’m delighted for him.”

“You want your attacking gamers to shine. They’re those that make the distinction on the prime finish of the pitch. The sweetness with us on the minute is we’ve received everybody contributing.”

On Dubravka’s efficiency: “I assumed Martin had a extremely good recreation at the moment. The save he made at 2-0 was key, as a result of at that stage the sport might nonetheless go any means.”

Publish-Bournemouth

“We weren’t ourselves at the moment at any stage. Our efficiency was actually disappointing. Bodily, we had been off.”

“We tried to make numerous tactical switches to try to get a foothold within the recreation, however Bournemouth didn’t permit that they usually ran out worthy winners at the moment.”

“I don’t suppose we’ll o too laborious initially on the gamers as a result of I feel it’s extra a bodily problem than the rest.”

“It’s further gasoline for us to go away, work laborious and repair it earlier than the subsequent recreation.”

The Magpies have rejected a bid of £11 million from Fenerbache for defender Lloyd Kelly. (The Athletic)

Atlanta United of MLS hope to reunite with Miguel Almiron, and will pay Newcastle a price of £11 million for his providers. (The Athletic)

Juventus are additionally inquisitive about bringing in Lloyd Kelly, though they’ve had a mortgage with an choice to purchase supply turned down. (Fabrizio Romano)

RB Leipzig have joined Spurs within the race to signal Southampton winger and Toon goal Tyler Dibling (Sky Germany)

Youth prospect Travis Hernes has joined Danish facet Aalborg on mortgage with the intention to acquire first-team expertise, whereas younger defender Alex Murphy has joined League One membership Bolton Wanderers on a mortgage deal till the tip of the season.

On today in 2017, it was Newcastle scoring 4 objectives at house relatively than the opponent, as Rafa Benitez’s all-conquering Championship facet defeated lowly Rotherham United 4-0 at St James’ Park. I bear in mind it nicely; it was my first season of getting a season ticket at Newcastle.

Fan favorite Matt Ritchie collected a brace on the afternoon, with attackers Daryl Murphy and Ayoze Perez getting the opposite two to cap off a wonderful show at house in a season full of wonderful shows at house. Coincidently, Rafa’s facet is one among solely three Newcastle sides to have gained 9 video games in a row, making it significantly related as we have fun Howe’s current feat with the present squad.

Southampton (A)

Three factors on Saturday would do the world of fine to a United facet reeling and in disarray after final weekend. The truth that Newcastle do not need any mid-week fixtures to navigate can be a powerful plus.

Drained legs, the important thing driver in Howe’s opinion of what went fallacious in opposition to Bournemouth, will get an opportunity to recuperate and are available again stronger on the South Coast.

Properly performed to these of you who received final week’s trivia query right! I requested you the place Wolves’ new boss Vitor Pereira received his first huge break in administration. The right reply is certainly FC Porto of the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

With a visit to Southampton on the horizon, let’s make this week’s query Saints-themed. In what yr did the Saints transfer out of their iconic outdated stadium, The Dell, and into their new trendy St Mary’s house?

That’ll be all for now. I’ll see you all subsequent week once we can hopefully replicate on United getting again on monitor with a giant three factors on Saturday.

HWTL.