This was Newcastle’s sixth defeat in eight games in all competitions and if we keep playing like this it is going to be almost certain relegation from the Premier League – and tonight’s game was against at best – an average Everton side – who had not won in their last five league games.
Aaron Lennon opened the scoring after 22 minutes when his right footed shot beat Elliot – and it was all too easy.
And then Rolando Aarons clumsily brought down Aaron Lennon after 83 minutes and Everton went 2-0 up after Ross Barkley easily beat Elliot from the penalty spot.
And then deep Newcastle into stoppage time to make things a lot worse, we gave away another penalty for a foul on Barkley which the player himself again converted and Jamaal Lascelles was sent off.
Should we go on?
Ross Barkley after scoring first penalty to put Everton 2-0 up
That will not help matters one little bit and a lack of discipline from Newcastle in the last 10 minutes of playing time cost us two goals with two young inexperienced players giving the penalties away.
It was reminiscent of the mess we saw under John Carver last year and it would be interesting to see what Mike Ashley thought of this complete shambles – and it was a game we had over 10 days to prepare for – what were they doing on the training field?
Add to that the fact that Everton hit the woodwork three times in a six minute spell in the second half and the Magpies did not deserve to get anything pout of this game – and we didn’t.
The players we have should be getting a lot more points than 21 from our first 24 league games – the results are simply atrocious and this is the lowest points total we have ever had in the Premier League after 24 games played.
And no doubt Steve McClaren will come under some pressure now as he doesn’t seem to be capable of getting Newcastle to play consistently – this was a complete shambles of a display from NNewcastle.
We started the season poorly after spending a massive £52M in the summer and got just 3 points from the first 8 games but we haven’t done too much better in the next 16 games with just 18 points.
After 5 minutes it took a great save from Rob Elliot diving low to his left to keep the ball out but after 22 minutes Everton – after threatening went ahead through Aaron Lennon.
Th ball was played to him and he hit the ball with his right foot through Wijnaldum’s legs and into the goal past what looked to be an unsighted Rob Elliot.
It was a poor goal to concede and too easy for Everton.
Newcastle lacked any kind of threat up front apart from a couple of decent runs by new boy Townsend, but just before half time it was good play by Chancel Mbemba that prevented a second Everton goal but he seemed to hurt his foot as he slid in.
Another injury and on came Jamal Lascelles.
Half time came without Newcastle having one shot on target and not one corner and it’s not like Everton looked world-beaters.
Paul Dummett was replaced by Rolando Aarons at half time and after 55 minutes on came Aleksandar Mitrovic for Saivet as McClaren knew he had to find a goal from somewhere.
It was Rob Elliot again who saved Newcastle after 56 minutes when he turned a good Ross Barkley shot onto the cross-bar and then three minutes after a free kick from Everton was headed backwards by Jonjo Shelvey and it beat Elliot but came back off the cross bar – two lucky escapes for Newcastle.
Then the two stupid penalties which made the scoreline a lot worse and our goal difference is now a shocking -19 – the second worse only to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
We may have brought in some decent midfielders in January but out defense simply isn’t good enough for the Premier League and hasn’t been for a couple of years now.
We’ve spent a lot of money in the last two transfer windows but not always on the right players or the right positions.
There should be alarm bells going off at Newcastle after this insipid display and Mike Ashley has the right to ask what has he got for his £81M spent in the transfer market since last season.
Not much.
And Steve McClaren just doesn’t seem to be able to get the job done with the decent to good squad he has available.
That’s the reality after this disgraceful performance.
Teams:
Everton (4-2-3-1): Joel Robles; Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka (c), Ramiro Funes Mori, Bryan Oviedo; James McCarthy, Gareth Barry; Aaron Lennon, Ross Barkley, Tom Cleverley; Romelu Lukaku
Substitutes: Jindrich Stanek, Leighton Baines, Darron Gibson, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Gerard Deulofeu, Arouna Kone
Newcastle (4-4-1-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba (Jamaal Lascelles 42), Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett (Rolando Aarons 45); Moussa Sissoko, Henri Saivet (Aleksandar Mitrovic 56), Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend; Ayoze Perez
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, , Steven Taylor, Yoan Gouffran, Seydou Doumbia
110 comments so far
geordie157
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:14 PM
Comment #81Have to say I think if West Brom beat us then we’re going down.
Our only hope at the moment is that we finish above Norwich….oh and that Sunderland don’t overtake us.
One minor positive…..Saivet did look fairly decent.
Also 4 new signings and somehow Gouffran still makes the bloody bench!!
WWSBRD
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:15 PM
Comment #82AC
Am not having that like Everton are terrible this season Roberto has slowly but surely turned them into his Wigan team, who were sh*t. That was a winnable game and we did not show up
LoughboroughDelight
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:15 PM
Comment #83Yep, feeling very sad.
SuperShearer
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:15 PM
Comment #84We were awful tonight. McClaren got it totally wrong. Perez was isolated up top by himself, Wini looked headless, Townsend ran all day but never produced anything. Shelvey was marked out of the game and our defence is once again proving to be our biggest weak spot. It really is shocking how bad we are.
There are managers out there who could dig us out of this hole but I don’t see the “board” having the guts to actually sack our current manager. Especially given how much money he’s just spent.
Novocastrian66
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:15 PM
Comment #85Carlisle put up a better show than our rabble and they were woeful.
Toon Tang
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:16 PM
Comment #86Easty, 5 tough fixtures. Cant see us getting much return out of them unless Mc switches his tactic display up.
geordie157
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #87Since Shelvey’s excellent first 45mins for us….he’s done bugger all since.
Sissoko needs to be dropped
eaststandgeordie1982
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #88TT
Then it’s the Derby after them
Cool Hand Luke
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #89Toon Tang @79, its shaping up to be a classic.
banjax
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #90What is stopping Mike Ashley making the major change that should have been made in October 2015 – sacking McLaren when there was a better chance of finishing in the top ten. Another inept tactical nightmare putting Aaron’s in at left back. There is no excuse now with the money spent on good players. What Newcastle need is what they have always needed – a successful manager and McLaren is not it.
TONYMAC
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:18 PM
Comment #91TOWNSEND IS OK BUT.. HOW DO WE USE HIM.. BY DROPPING A STRIKER!!!! WE CAN’T KEEP A CLEAN SHEET, SURELY WE SHOULD SET UP TO GO FOR IT? COLO WAS VERY VERY POOR…
manxpie
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:19 PM
Comment #92hmmmm our last 2 saviours were jfk and carver!
just think about that for a minute and then ask for us to change manager again!
tang he’s in the same position so no for me he goes missing away so does sisko
and for me mitro again misses an absolute sitter he should be in double figures by now but i do feel sorry for him all that pressure on a 21 y/o in a new country and new league is ridiculous
and wat will take us down!
lochinvar
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:19 PM
Comment #93Unthinkable but would Ferguson come out of retirement ?
That’s how distorted things seem
Thanks McLaren for nothing , literally nothing
Lanzatoon42
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #94Defo, mclaren has any balls he would walk now but i guess he hasn’t
RUNAWAY777
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #95did these players get good odds off the bookies for us going down,cause it seems thats what they want
Belfast
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #96I wonder if Ed put that poll up again now how many people would change their vote? 🙂
Still the same shite defence so predictable.
Sroka
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #97That was depressing. Very little fight, very little tactics, very little class. On the up side, to stay up we need to win at the BARE minimum 6. I see 7 winnable matches.
West Brom (H), Bournemouth (H), Sunderland (H), Norwich (A), Swansea (H), Palace (H), Villa (A).
If we dont get a response and win against West Brom then i’m gonna prepare myself emotionally for relegation.
LoughboroughDelight
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #98For the first time ever I will be ignoring the match on sat. I will be doing up my house in Wallsend with no radio on……if we do play well you are welcome to pop round and join me in a painting beer whilst laughing at me 🙂
I do not expect to win and I can’t keep ruining weekends on it. Fingers crossed I am wrong
SUTTY1978
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:21 PM
Comment #99The team sheet didn’t have Wijnaldum’s name on it, he was totally anonymous all game, coincidence?
Mackems are from MORDOR!
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #100McLaren:
Must perform better on Saturday
A sloppy goal gave them the lead
We had unfortunate injuries
The players have been working for each other
We need a reaction
Need supoort of 52000
Need to put this behind us
Usual shite then
Lanzatoon42
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #101Nor me either, i think it will get a lot worse, especially if mclaren sticks around
NoahJ
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #102Elliot- outstanding
Janmaat- good
Colo- poor
Mbemba- will be gutted if he’s injured
Lascelles- was our best player against watford; very poor tonight
Dummett- not his best night
Sissoko- drop him; he has no right to be a guaranteed starter
Wiji- as with sissoko
Shelvey- passing was very poor
Saivet- had his best game, but was inexplicably subbed
Perez- outmuscled
Mitro- unacceptable
Aarons- he’s not a defender; will reserve judgement until he’s given a chance in his actual position
Townsend- was everything I feared he would be from what I’ve seen of him at Spurs: fast but with no ideas or end product. will give him a chance though
Rotonda heights
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #103Band B
It’s funny if you believe in karma. Ash, Carr, Charnley, SM, wonga, the whole package really.
A bunch of disparate and under qualified individuals panicked desperately in the transfer window yet still didn’t address the right areas of concern.
If we go down it will be a hollow moral triumph over a despicable owner who entrusted part of his empire to cronies and familiars not in possession of the requisite ability, acumen and intellectual wherewithall to facilitate such an undertaking.
I too am sad but also angry.
stripes1009
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #104Can someone please explain to me, Siem de Jong came in against Liverpool and we won. He started against Spuds and we won ( I know he was took off at half-time) but he is a guy with loads of experience. I know he has a eye injury at the moment but he would walk into a lot of premiership teams at the moment……why not ours?
Lanzatoon42
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:24 PM
Comment #105Aye just like a stuck record, usual bollocks
RUNAWAY777
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:24 PM
Comment #106sm on ssn we have to forget about this,never mind that they need flogging for tonights show sack him now or everybody turn on the manager on sat he cant take that
BoyDoneGood
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:26 PM
Comment #107SM was not my ideal choice, but I was cautiously optimistic – but how can he continually screw up with a squad of this calibre? Time to do the Newcastle thing: sacking a manager mid-term. For once it will be the right and essential move. Heartbroken.
Lanzatoon42
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Comment #108Ohh he can because mclaren is deluded, he looks at our team performance different from us fans, i wish mclaren will go. ASHLEY STEP UP AND GET RID NOW before its too late!!!!
oldarse
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Comment #109premier league laughing stock
goalseeker
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Comment #110I didn’t expect any points tonight the stats were against us but I did expect the team would try.Everyone strolled around like it didn’t matter Elliott was by far our best player and after being beaten 3-0 how can you say the goalie was the best player. Not a bad shift for his first game by Townsend but fancy putting Perez up front on his own when he didn’t come up to their Central Defenders waist how could he win the ball. Sorry McClaren you have become the Wally without a brolly your tactics sorry to use a strong word were non-existent and I am waiting to hear him say we played well at times. I suppose truthfully we did just BEFORE the kickoff. I have never seen so many passes go to the opposition or even when we had the ball how many times did an Everton player just stroll up and take the ball away. Play like this and there is no hope how can anyone see us winning 6 or 7 games out of the 14 that are left. I am beginning to wonder if at my age I will see them back in the Premier before I go to the big stadium in the sky I bet they force me to watch the Toon every game as a punishment.