Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
After weeks of lacklustre play on the prime of the pitch, Newcastle produced two goal-fests on Wednesday and Saturday.
Mid-week noticed United achieve an exciting level at house in opposition to a high-flying Liverpool facet. However, preserving with the frequent theme of a lot of this season, factors have been dropped at Brentford in a fixture filled with shoddy defending and essential errors on the again.
Welcome again to a different Toon Evaluation, the place I’ll run via each video games, Howe’s feedback, the most recent rumours and what’s subsequent after a busy however in the end frustration week for Howe’s Mags.
Factors Shared and Factors Misplaced
If Wednesday confirmed a willingness from Newcastle to go toe-to-toe with the large boys, Saturday confirmed the inconsistency that has plagued Howe’s facet from the second a ball was first kicked this season. Within the area of some days, the extreme show of ardour and fiery competitors was to be overshadowed by one more missed alternative in opposition to extra mediocre opposition. The show on the G-Tech was just about as dire as Newcastle can get in the intervening time.
From the off, one thing appeared totally different in United’s strategy. The hearth from the final couple years was lastly again (or so it appeared) and Newcastle seemed to take the sport to the guests from Merseyside. A thirty fifth minute wonder-strike from key man Alexander Isak punctuated what many deemed on the time to be a turning level within the Magpies’ season: a bullet from simply exterior the world from one of many world’s greatest strikers. The roof was lifted.
Curtis Jones would equalise for the guests earlier than perennial Liverpool switch goal Anthony Gordon restored the Magpies’ lead close to the hour-mark. A classic displaying from Mohammed Salah meant that the lead switched arms once more, earlier than Fabian Schär pounced on a positional error from Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher to tie the rating at 3-3 within the dying embers.
Driving excessive on the again of a superb level earned in opposition to one of many world’s prime sides, Newcastle travelled via Storm Darragh to tackle Thomas Frank’s Brentford. It was by no means going to be simple with the hosts being this season’s greatest house crew, however we shot ourselves within the foot on a day of defensive errors that gifted them the win.
Isak discovered himself on the scoresheet once more, however his attacking prowess was undone by a stunning defensive efficiency which Howe would rip into after the match. The circumstances, granted, weren’t best, however that ought to by no means be an excuse at this prime degree of soccer. What’s the purpose in working so exhausting mid-week in opposition to the highest crew in world soccer simply to throw away factors on the weekend in opposition to (no offence to Brentford) a ‘lesser’ facet?
Consistency is the important thing to turning this season round, and Newcastle should discover it quickly or it will likely be too late to problem for European soccer subsequent season.
What Howe Mentioned
On Brentford defeat: “We didn’t defend nicely sufficient, easy as that basically. The objectives we conceded, we’ll look again on and we’ll cringe.” You possibly can’t defend like that and win video games.”
On the circumstances: “There have been quite a lot of particular person errors at present due to the climate, however that’s no excuse.”
On the distinction between the primary and second half: “Within the first half we have been proper within the sport; I assumed we may rating at any second. The second half was at all times going to be a bit extra cagey.”
On Brentford’s third purpose: “The style of the purpose was very disappointing. We didn’t stamp our authority on the sport. We have been at all times chasing the sport. We’ve acquired per week to organize for our subsequent sport. There’ll be quite a lot of reflection and quite a lot of exhausting work and we have to come out firing.”
The Hearsay Mill
United are monitoring Bournemouth and Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo, in addition to Brentford’s Cameroonian striker Bryan Mbeumo, for potential January strikes. (The iPaper)
Pep Guardiola is pushing Man Metropolis to signal Bruno Guimaraes because the Champions plan to signal TWO midfielders in 2025 (The Mail)
Newcastle United proceed to trace Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who can also be appeal to curiosity from Man Utd and Chelsea (Bild)
Alexander Isak is a goal for each Arsenal and Chelsea, as each London golf equipment are concentrating on a striker alongside Barcelona (Caught Offside)
Newcastle maintain curiosity in 18-year-old Scottish midfielder Lennon Miller of Motherwell (The Mail)
Newcastle, in addition to Tottenham, are pursuing Lens’ 20-year-old Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. (The Telegraph)
On This Day
On ninth December, 1999, the Magpies have been held at house in a 0-0 draw in opposition to a star-studded AS Roma facet who, on the finish of the night time, would advance to the 4th spherical of the outdated UEFA Cup with a 1-0 combination victory.
Fabio Capello’s Romans featured the likes of defensive stalwarts Cafu and Aldair, in addition to attacker Marco Delvecchio and Mr Roma himself, Francesco Totti.
United’s facet, made up of expertise reminiscent of Nobby Solano, Gary Pace and, after all, Alan Shearer, did not upset the guests from the Italian capital, however it nonetheless proved a memorable assortment of stars on a cold Thurdsay night time on Tyneside.
We might additionally wish to want a contented birthday to present Magpies winger Harvey Barnes, who was born on today 27 years in the past. Many completely happy returns, Harvey!
Leicester subsequent
Talking of Harvey Barnes, Saturday will see Newcastle host a lowly Leicester facet who discover themselves simply 5 factors forward of the drop zone. The Foxes have been capable of earn a reputable level at house to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
Howe’s United should present that they will flip up in opposition to (no less than on paper) weaker opposition. A standard theme lately has seen depth sky-rocket in opposition to prime opposition, but dwindle in opposition to sides positioned decrease within the Premier League desk. Newcastle should return to the ruthlessness they confirmed at occasions over the previous two seasons, after which kick on and discover some consistency because the calendar flips to 2025.
Effectively completed to everybody who acquired final week’s trivia query appropriate! Andy Carroll’s transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool was price a price of £35 million in January 2011.
With the Foxes coming to city on Saturday, let’s see what number of of you may bear in mind this. What number of factors have been sufficient to make sure Leicester’s historic Premier League win in 2015/16? Keep in mind, no dishonest!
I’ll see you all subsequent week. So lengthy for now!
