Newcastle started life in the Championship with a stunning and unexpected 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage tonight and the goal that beat us was another poor one with 6ft 6ins striker Matt Smith heading the ball home unchallenged after 45 minutes from a corner.
So it was another goal conceded from a set play.
Up to that point the game had been fairly even after Newcastle had started the game well but with Fulham coming into the game and with both sides claiming a penalty.
Newcastle’s claim looked after 35 minutes like a cast iron certainty as Matt Ritchie’s cross was clearly handled and it looked intentional but referee Simon Hooper waved play on.
Matt Smith heads home the winner unchallenged after 45 minutes
On 26 minutes Newcastle could have given away a penalty after Grant Hanley got in a late and clumsy challenge in the box, but the referee waved play on.
In the second half Newcastle came out with more vigor and we had some decent chances but we couldn’t put the ball away and after four minutes of added time the result we didn’t was upon us – a defeat in our very first game.
In the second half it was winger Matt Ritchie who looked the most likely to score.
To an extent it was the same old failings – poor defending and not being to put away our chances – and it seems just like last year at this time we need to bring in an experienced striker.
And it’s a big concern if we keep conceding these sloppy goals from set plays and we conceded two of them last Saturday against Vitesse.
But we knew Fulham with new manager Slavisa Jokanovic would be good because of what he did for Watford two years ago when he took over in October and had them automatically promoted in May.
The last time we started in the Championship we were also 1-0 down at half-time at West Brom but we came back to draw the game 1-1.
We should have had at least a draw tonight with the chances – but when you don;t take them and you let in sloppy goals – well – you lose.
It’s certainly not the result we wanted or expected and there will be some big publicity about Newcastle losing the first game.
But the positive is that the summer bubble has been burst and we now know it really is going to be tough in the Championship this season – in case we didn’t believe that before.
But we cannot panic – we still have 45 games to go.
🙂
After the game Rafa Benitez made this comment:
“We have to improve, this game can be a wake-up call for all of us.”
And we can see three more players arriving on Tyneside before the end of August after this poor start, whether or not we lose any more of our current players.
It’s now going to be a long eight days before our next game when we play Huddersfield Town at home – who are another improved team this season.
Teams:
Fulham: Button, Odoi, Kalas, Madl, Malone (Ream, 85), Cairney, Tunnicliffe (Parker, 68), McDonald, Ayite, Aluko, Smith (Christensen, 68). Subs not used: Joronen, Stearman, Edun, Woodrow.
Newcastle: Sels; Janmaat, Hanley, Lascelles, Dummett; Colback (Aarons, 61), Hayden (Shelvey, 77); Anita, Perez (Armstrong, 70), Ritchie; Gayle. Subs not used: Darlow, Gamez, Sterry, Mbemba. Goal: Smith 45 Bookings: Hanley 68, Dummett 75, Janmaat 90
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
230 comments so far
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:21 AM
Comment #201Springy,
I think that is unfair on Anita, Lascelles and Perez. Also overly kind to Hayden. Hayden has time on his side, so a free pass for now, but I didm’t think he impressed, maybe that was because of what was asked of him. Again, he has plenty of time.
As for Anita, Lascelles and Perez. Ritchie impressed, then maybe Janmaat. After those two, I’d struggle to differentiate between the rest. Nobody was appalling, but none were good. Lascelles cost us the goal, but was no worse than others aside from that.
SPRINGY
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:30 AM
Comment #202lilo
maybe the term worst player was wrong of me but i expected more of these players,therfore they disappointed me the most,that is why i pointed them out,as for hayden,thought he was impressive in patches maybe i should of explained my self better,..but been along night.
Toon XI
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:42 AM
Comment #203If the season ended today…we would be relegated. 😉
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:43 AM
Comment #204Springy,
I think Lascelles and Perez have been put on a pedestal that hasn’t been earned yet. I like both, but they have been built up to players that they could be, but aren’t yet.
Anita was Anita, prior to the introduction of Shelvey, he was the most likely to play a pass that broke the lines – sticking in memory are the two cross field balls, one to Perez where he was pushed, and the other to Ritchie who controlled it fantastically. Funtional, but not a winger. He also offered Anita cover. Everything I read said he had an excellent pre season, he had to start. Can’t blame his selection, but he isn’t a winger.
Didn’t quite understand the switching of wings at half time mind. I thought Anita looked lost and far too central after we did that.
Hayden did okay. Neat, tidy, comfortable on the ball. He isn’t a ball winner in the Tiote style. He is young, and probably hasn’t started more than 10 to 15 first team games yet, so he has plenty of growing to do still, and I think he will develop into a good player. Not alongside Colback in these tactics, or Tiote or Anita. Shelvey? Maybe. I think he needs someone that offers more than functionality which is all Colback offers.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:43 AM
Comment #205Offered Janmaat cover….
beefman13
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:45 AM
Comment #206Sels
Janmatt
Dummet
Lascalles
Hanley
Haydn
Diame
Armstrong
Aarons
Gayle
Richie
This team would be a breath of fresh air after we stunk the gaff out tonight, no Colback no Anita totally ineffective and inconsistent, in fact I would get rid of the crab Colback asap.
Toon XI
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:47 AM
Comment #207Mitro’s stupidity back in May is hurting us now.
SPRINGY
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:50 AM
Comment #208lilo
what was your view on gayle?…always try to give new players time…and will give him time,but thought that was a poor debut….but keep going back to its not his fault coz not a lot off chances created….it was just disappointing….pick ourselves up,dust ourselves off and crack on again next week…hopefully better.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 6, 2016 at 1:59 AM
Comment #209Springy,
I thought he did better in aspects of the game I didn’t think he would, and poorer in others. He looked much stronger and a far better at holding up play than I had anticipated of him – although that was always in areas where there was no danger, so you could argue that the defenders were allowing it to an extent. Early on he made some nice arced runs, only to see the pass overhit and/or in the air.
It wasn’t an easy night for him, I think he will get us goals, but for the majority of this season, he won’t be a centre forward that can lead the line on his own.
Opposition will be organised and will sit in their own half once we have possession. Fulham aren’t good, but they were organised and did that well, which limited the space for both Gayle and Perez. I think Mitro – or a more physical experienced alternative – would help both. They’d occupy defenders whilst Perez and Gayle come from deeper into the gaps created.
Harsh to judge anyone on 1 game, but given our status, it will be difficult to get him in behind unless Shelvey gets on the ball quickly after an opposition attack.
ToonMauritius
Aug 6, 2016 at 2:13 AM
Comment #210RAFA Lets go for Joel Campbell, konckaert, Abel Hernandez .
JDdubai
Aug 6, 2016 at 3:14 AM
Comment #211Lascelles made a mistake, he is 22, it will happen. Unfortunetely it cost a goal today, he will learn.
Perez, i think im in the minority here but i dont see where he will succeed for us, thought this last season. Cant play as a lone Cf which is what we do, not good wide, only chance is as a 10 but touch poor today, lost ghe ball most of the time, only think he can play with a big CF in front of him. Last season he played best when we went 442 with Mitro and him up front.
Ritchei needs to stay RW, big mistake from Rafa moving it around just to get Anita in the team.
If we only play 1 up front, not sure why Gayle got the 9 shirt, Mitro must play there when he returns meaning either Gayle moves wide or in the hole? Diame surely will play there though? We lacked a focal point today once again, no point having Ritchie whipping balls in if no-one to head them.
Sels
Janmaat-Mbemba-Lascelles-?
Hanley-Shelvey
Ritchie-Diame-Aarons
Gayle
county down magpie
Aug 6, 2016 at 4:28 AM
Comment #212I personally would have started today in much the same way we finished last season. Lascelles and Mbemba centre half pairing, Anita on the right and Tiote in the middle. That is a solid base which is what we need in this league. But let’s be honest here, we’ve had HOPEFULLY, an off day that we can recover from. Gayle is not suited to being a target man, Mitro will sort that. Ritchie played well and that’s about all the good I can say other than Arma’s wee cameo where I’m he done well. Tonight was the litmus test for us and we will see a change for the next match. Keep the faith lads, for those that don’t remember, it’s a long hard slog down here where we are the big scalp everyone is out for.
beautifulmind
Aug 6, 2016 at 6:31 AM
Comment #213It was always going to take 5 or so games to get the performance levels up.
I’d go for
Sels
Janmat mbemba lasceles Dummet
Sissoko tiote diame Ritchie
Perez gayle
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 6, 2016 at 6:42 AM
Comment #214We cannot play/compete in the championship playing 5 or six short arses/players with no muscle on the pitch
Yesterday we had Colback, Anita, Perez, Gayle, Ritchie starting
Aarons, Armstrong, coming on
We are easily going to be bossed out-muscled
Jib
Aug 6, 2016 at 6:49 AM
Comment #215Fifa has a lot to answer for.
Too many on here when things don’t go right simply say get this player get that player.
Unfortunately Rafa doesn’t have that luxury he has to work with what he’s got.
The main problem was service to the front runners – the passing until Shelvey came on was poor and predictable.
We lost away from home by one goal to a preventable set-piece – disappointing but not the end of theworld – if Big Al had been playing he would hav challenged Matt Smith for the ball as a matter of course.
The referees in the Championship pride themselves on not catering to the prima donnas like their PL colleagues do , which makes for a lot more robust challenges.
With a pinch of luck we could have got a point which would have been a great start.
Ron Knee
Aug 6, 2016 at 6:53 AM
Comment #216I’m sure Benitez will make changes following last night’s fiasco. He knows the team is lightweight and is working on signing more players.
Let’s hope Mbemba and Diamé are available next week.
hibbitt
Aug 6, 2016 at 6:53 AM
Comment #217i dont see goals in Perez and Gayle
its not going to be as easy a some think yesterday was a wake up call
Jib
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:07 AM
Comment #218Ron
I think fiasco is really being overly dramatic.
We looked ring rusty and in need of a couple more players operating at Ritchies level.
Wake up call for all concerned.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:14 AM
Comment #219Ron
‘Lightweight’ bloody understatement.
looked like a bunch of 10 year olds kids playing against team of 18 year olds. Might not be as technically good footballers but bigger stronger easily knock players off the ball, win every aerial dual, outpaced our players, stronger in the tackle.
RAFA has got to make a lot of changes and bring in stronger more physical players as we are easily going to get out fought.
Got to change tactics when Mitro not there – hoofing long balls to PEREZ, Armstrong, Gayle – total waste of time.
GOT TO GET NEW BIG MUSCULAR CENTRE FORWARD IN BEFORE NEXT WEEKEND as playing like we did the ball is going to come straight back
Jib
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:17 AM
Comment #220Goalie
Gamez
Lascelles
Hanley
Dummett
M’Bemba (in front of the back 4)
Shelvey
Hayden
Ritchie
Aarons
Gayle
Jib
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:34 AM
Comment #221http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-championship
FinnBarr
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Comment #222Still have a long season to go…. One note the commentators brought up during the broadcast in the States was interesting. It was maybe around the 60 minute mark and they reported that for total number of touches, Gayle had one more that Sels at that time. Kinda troubling.
Bobbybee
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Comment #223Can’t get my head around some of the comments from last night. 😉 We were awful, but relegated after one game? It didn’t work. Whatever Rafa had in mind, the players let him down. Long balls to small strikers? I can’t imagine that was in his orders.
On any level, strikers are only as good as the service they get, whereas last night they got very little. Small, pacy strikers, like Gayle and Arma, need the ball played along the floor with their faces towards the goal, not balls played into them with their backs to goal – that’s for your bigger blokes. We played far too many long balls. Rafa will put that right. We’ll see a completely different performance on Saturday and probably a different line up. Anybody writing us off after one poor game needs to take up a different past time. When was our last win at Fulham? Years ago. Some grounds just have the hold over you.
Before sending Arma out on loan, he needs a chance to prove himself. He showed more fight in 20 mins than most of the team in 90. Cameos are not the way to judge young players.
The midfield was poor last night and failed to create many chances. Diame will bolster that and should start on Saturday.
Summary was simply that we were poor all over the pitch. First game. Anybody who doesn’t think Rafa can fix that might as well call it a day and join Runnaway777. What an apt moniker! 😉
Mister Tuff
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:48 AM
Comment #224Jib – you are such a clot :-
“Jib // Aug 6, 2016 at 6:49 AM
Fifa has a lot to answer for.
Too many on here when things don’t go right simply say get this player get that player.
Unfortunately Rafa doesn’t have that luxury he has to work with what he’s got…….”
” Has to work with what he’s got” —-eh eh.
Not true he has just bought 8 players – his choices —————–duh.
Mister Tuff
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:55 AM
Comment #225Our diminutive forwards need a big bloke to play off. They do not look as if they could score in a house of ill repute.
Last night there was no penetration (jib – penetration is not a reference to love making but a term we use in football to describe getting through another teams defences).
Mister Tuff
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Comment #226Please let’s not mask our result by saying Fulham played well. They were very poor – we were worse.
Jib
Aug 6, 2016 at 7:59 AM
Comment #227Jokanovic got lucky – he set up his team to not lose against the fearsome NUFC – got an unexpected set piece goal and a blind ref.
JDdubai
Aug 6, 2016 at 8:00 AM
Comment #228Think Rafa made a few mistakes yesterday with his selection to be honest.
Ritchie should stay RW, cutting in with Janmaat overlapping.
Anita is a CM or FB, nothing more.
Colback AND Hayden isnt necessary, Hayden can do the holding, we need Shelvey or Diame or someone who can impact the final third next to him.
Aarons needs to get his chance to start, give him 3 or 4 games as a starter and see what he can do – if he can last that many games….
Mbemba with Lascelles from now on also.
Think Perez will struggle, cant play as a lone CF, cant play wide so really the 10 position is his only option but yesterday his touch was poor as well as his decision making. Needs to really step up or he will lose his place to Diame. Still not convinced he has what it takes to succeed, maybe with a big CF next to him he can handle it but not behind another small CF.
Next game Id go with:
Sels
Janmaat-Mbemba-Lascelles-?
Hayden-Shelvey
Ritchie-Diame-Aarons
Gayle
Really missing Mitro to be the focus and also to have someone on the end of Ritchie’s crosses – no point having a good crosser with no-one there to head it. Also questions where Gayle will play, now the no9 so youd think he would be a starter but may have to move wide left?
The overrated Frenchman
Aug 6, 2016 at 8:11 AM
Comment #229I wouldn’t be pointing the finger at the players, saying that they “let Rafa down”, they just played to their level, pretty much. I thought the team selection was predictable, given what we had seen pre-season, but I still thought it looked lacklustre. And so it proved to be. For me the loudest wake-up call should be in Rafa’s ears.
Vask
Aug 6, 2016 at 8:11 AM
Comment #230To be honest, as a first game of the season our performance wasn’t owa bad. The blatant hand ball in the first half was the crucial point. It’s easy to assume that in the face of such an unfair and one sided decision that the psychological momentum shifted.
Of course it is easy to deal in what ifs but we get that shout and put the ball away we would have been given the confidence that the hype would be justified. We continued playing for the full 96mins and had two other poignant decisions against us.
Let’s just hope that the bar for quality of refereeing hasn’t just been set.
Let St james’ wall of sonic perfection blow Huddersfield out of the water.