Gini Wijnaldum is going through a tough patch at the moment, as any player does during a season.
We were not surprised when Gini started the game on Saturday, because he is probably our best player this season and top goalscorer with 9 goals – you don’t usually drop your top player when they are going through a bad spell.
But Steve McClaren replaced Wijnaldum at half time at Chelsea with Jack Colback coming in as he went into damage limitation mode and had given up on getting any points out of the game.
Gini Wijnaldum in happier times
Damage limitation mode is a negative thing to talk about never mind implement – it’s never even discussed or talked about in sports in America – the phrase is unknown here.
Not to try to win is unacceptable whatever the scoreline.
Gini Wijnaldum had been ineffective – like a lot of other Newcastle players – in that first half when we lost the game in the first 17 minutes by conceding three sloppy goals.
We didn’t get much out of the cup final on Saturday and lost 5-1.
Gini was asked to comment on his substitution and whether Steve McClaren had said anything of consequence in the dressing room at half time:
“Did the manager say something in the dressing room? Yes he said something, but I will keep it between me and him.”
“As for whether the substitution was tactical, I don’t know. This is something you must ask the manager. I think it’s his job to answer this question and not mine.”
“I don’t know what went wrong,” “I think we didn’t start well and they scored three in I don’t know how many minutes.” “Then it didn’t seem possible to win.”
“To concede three inside 17 minutes makes it worse for us and harder to win the game.” “That’s what happened and that’s why we made it easier for them. It’s hard.”
Steve McClaren has to work hard when the lads leave for La Manga in Spain on Wednesday for some warm weather training.
It’s a chance to get the team organized which is one job of the head coach.
We certainly didn’t look organized on Saturday in any way – in fact we looked a complete shambles as we had done in the previous away game at Everton.
We are hoping for better things at Stoke on March 2nd – a win would be good.
And we should expect Stoke to go all out just like Chelsea did in the first 20 minutes or so of that game.
Newcastle cannot collapse in that game.
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
WWSBRD
Feb 15, 2016 at 8:49 AM
Comment #1Oh dear those quotes dont sound good do they, McClaren cant afford to lose the dressing room
juan
Feb 15, 2016 at 8:55 AM
Comment #21 reason his form has dropped MCCLAREN he doesn’t want to play for him…. Every fan of Newcastle can see the problem apart from charnley and his pals
GeordieGadie
Feb 15, 2016 at 8:56 AM
Comment #3he wasn’t typically banging in goals was he?
magscar
Feb 15, 2016 at 8:56 AM
Comment #4WWRSBD
History lesson again I know but I believe there was criticism of him being to close to some players in England dressing room and not others. Had some gifted players in that generation but failed to inspire or maximise the talent available.
SuperShearer
Feb 15, 2016 at 8:59 AM
Comment #5The tone of those quotes, while remaining a pro, hint at problems. The subtext is “the gaffer is making strange decisions that I can’t explain”. When that starts happening more often than not it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the dressing room catch up. Should McC go? And if so is there anyone who you’d take to keep us up and then build on?
WWSBRD
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:02 AM
Comment #6magscar
Not sure of the relevance of his time with England to his time with us now
magscar
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:03 AM
Comment #7Stoke away is sometime away and usually I would by now be in a more positive frame of mind following a defeat but I remain unconvinced that McClaren is able to fashion an effective away side.
Stoke remain a physical side but with some pace and talent added and unless McClaren drops some and changes style we are likely in for a repeat of last 2 away outings. We did well against them at home and should have won but away will be chalk and cheese – why?
magscar
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:08 AM
Comment #8WWRSBD
Partly having fun with previous postings but was trying to make a serious point that even with top players ie England squad he couldn’t carry that dressing room with him. He may be having issues now and doesn’t seem strong enough to make some very unwelcome changes with the resultant fall out and dummy spitting in a difficult run in.
WWSBRD
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Comment #9magscar
Ahh I get ya now. U could be right its very worrying even Pardew didnt lose the dressing room and he was poor but by all accounts Gini is the leading voice at NUFC at the moment and him coming out with quotes like this concerning
Not saying he shouldnt of been dropped but he should be aware of why he is
magscar
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Comment #10Oh and if his time with England isn’t relevant perhaps the moniker Wally isn’t – yet some (not you) can’t seem to shake that off 🙂
Mister Tuff
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Comment #11Wally Blusterman is useless.
After a defeat – we must work harder – we must have a reaction,
+ wheel out player to apologise.
Next defeat – we must work harder – we must have a reaction, + wheel out player to apologise.
And so on, and so on blah blah blah.
WWSBRD
Feb 15, 2016 at 9:15 AM
Comment #12Yeah the wally this is going to stick with him for life isnt it, imagine never again being able to use an umbrella
posada
Feb 15, 2016 at 12:14 PM
Comment #13The Tufted Wonder is an idiot.
Hate the way he has stupid names for his players.
Stevie G when with England.
Checky for Toite.
Childish. If you don’t act the part you’ll never be the part.
Moonraker15
Feb 15, 2016 at 10:02 PM
Comment #14WW
The relevance with England is that he couldn’t get wins with a high quality squad, nor could he at Derby cos they didn’t score enough goals. Some managers can do it and others can’t; it’s about motivation and I think we are only winning the odd game at home cos of the crowd being up for it and the players are motivated. Footballers can see through weak managers; playing Aarons and Taylor at Chelsea was soft because they played well against WBrom. A good manager plays the best team sounds simple but he didn’t do it. He is too friendly with the players for my liking needs to pull back bring too matey calling them by nicknames is unprofessional and they’re too cozy.
Fogs they are driving me insane! When you look at the work rate of Leicester it makes me ashamed as there’s only 2 or 3 who get in our team on ability but on effort all of them do!
Sack McClaren now!