Alan Shearer got carried away after the fantastic 1-0 home win over Manchester United on Sunday – just like the rest of us.
But he has now written about Newcastle’s Achilles heel this season – our lack of goals.
We have brought in Islam Slimani and he could make the difference but we have nobody like Dwight Gayle this season – Dwight couldn’t stop scoring for us last season with 23 goals in the Championship.
But this season he’s finding it much more difficult to score goals in the Premier League.
Dwight has only 3 league goals in 25 appearances for the Magpies, but he’s still only one goal behind top scorers – Joselu and Perez.
Benitez has been trying to work more on scoring from set plays and we scored one like that on Sunday from a free kick from Shelvey.
But we didn’t get one corner in the whole game.
This is what Alan has said about Newcastle:
“It has been obvious all season that Newcastle need more firepower and, although it worked against Manchester United, scoring one goal will not get them a win every week.”
“The reason they managed to hold on this time was down to their spirit and resilience, which are both positives.”
“But they are going to need more goals to go with that too.”
“This was a brilliant win, but it remains incredibly tight at the bottom of the table and there is a lot more work to do.”
We should have Islam Slimani available for the next game at Bournemouth on February 24th, and we’ll have to see what kind of difference the big Algerian can make.
We hope Slimani can score some goals but he could also knock balls down for the likes of Gayle, Kenedy Ritchie, and Perez to convert.
Kenedy looks like he can score goals and we also have Jacob Murphy who has looked good when he’s played for us this year – he can also score some goals.
Comments welcome.
67 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Comment #1Definitely an element of truth about Man U players going missing.
After the Smalling dive both Jones and Young were frantically waving for Lukaku to come back to defend the free kick . Lukaku eventually sauntered back and stood beside the “D” as Shelvey floated the free kick in – the line of players adjusted towards the goal as the kick came in – not Lukaku – he remained static next to the “D” – did even bother to do anything – ball over his head – and Lejeune gets the header and the rest is history.
RobLeenio
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:05 AM
Comment #2Repost from a previous thread – missed the bus
magscar – I’m not even sure that Rafa rates Darlow and Elliott as shot stoppers. Darlow seems to have weak wrists – recent evidence being the own goal vs Burnley and the penalty vs Palace. He got a good hand to each but was unable to deflect the ball sufficiently. Harsh, maybe, but games are won and lost on fine margins in the Prem, and I think Dubravka is a better shot stopper than either Darlow and Elliott.
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:09 AM
Comment #3NUFC since Dummett returned to the team: W 3, D 4 L 2 (both v Man City).
Conceded 8 goals in 9 games.
In the previous 9: W 1, D 1, L 7
Conceded 20 goals in 9 games
Mister Tuff
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:11 AM
Comment #4Dubravka’s decision making was spot on yesterday – got every call right. I especially liked him coming out from his line to collect high balls. No hesitation at all.
Ron Knee
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:11 AM
Comment #5PL table for second half of season:
https://twitter.com/Hope541/status/963347737201823744
ShirebrookToon
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:18 AM
Comment #6Manx
Credit where credits due. Dummett has become an unsung hero in our recents performances. The lads a grafter and has tightened up our defence since his return.
The stats don’t lie
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:18 AM
Comment #7Oh bus moved again – repost
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:15 AM
Comment #2
Robleenio
Wouldn’t disagree but just looking at best that Darlow and Ellioitt have to offer ( not crosses, coming off line or distribution) and not saying they are amongst the best. Dubruvka certainly at least as good as them in that department on evidence of 1 match is better but then again I can recall Darlow making several good saves in recent matches.
Early days and only 1 match but his presence and overall game on his debut in big match was noticeable and very welcome.
After him and Kenedy now for Slimani to make a similar big impact when he debuts
hibbit
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:21 AM
Comment #8fun enough it’s the Burnley game that really makes me mad
we should have won that one no question
we gave them that point they were awful !!
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Comment #9Several posters were questioning the priority in chasing a keeper when we were crying out for a Striker and /or No 10 but I think Sunday demonstrated that Rafa was right to also chase Dubrovka.
Yes as Jail and I were saying earlier a striker would have gained us points in some games but sloppy defending and keeping possibly cost us as many when we let wins slip into draws or draws into defeats.
Jim Ileys Arms
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:23 AM
Comment #10Good stats on Dummett.
Older readers will remember Frank Clark, who got regularly slagged as no good at left back for his 400+ games, was given a free transfer, and went on to lift the European Cup with Notts Forest.
Looking elegant on the ball is less important than being a good defender, and Dummett is.
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:23 AM
Comment #11Manx
You do right to highlight Dummett. He has exceeded expectations for me, not in his defensive qualities, which I’ve always liked, but in the context of his coming back from another lengthy injury and getting up to speed so quickly. Fast becoming Mr Dependable – we look much more solid down that side.
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:27 AM
Comment #12hibbit
yep Burnley was annoying but there was also Huddersfield Brighton Bournemouth Southhampton and Everton defensively as well a lack of scoring in those and others others like Burnley away where we came up short. Few games where we have been totally out of it.
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Comment #13Aye proper happy for him to finally get some praise i dont think its a coincidence that his forward play has massively improved since he actually has recognised wingers in front of him now either
Hes had gouffran and even wiji infront of him most of his time in the prem
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #14Sing tbh i have been banging that drum for a while like lol as the dogs abuse he regularly got was way over the top
Very few wingers have ever got much change out of him but for some reason people loved santon who couldn’t defend or cross a ball
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Comment #15Looking at that form table its a proper 50/50 which Bournemouth will turn up next game then
Hopefully its the hudders 1 and not the chelsea 1
RobLeenio
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:36 AM
Comment #16Jim Ileys Arms – another more recent example is Danny Simpson. Not well respected here, went to Leicester and won the champo. Right back, not left, but still…. Dummett is my favourite left back since Bernard. Maybe less flair, but he’s solid as….
Ron Knee
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:36 AM
Comment #17manxpie
And which Newcastle will turn up too!
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #18Aye Ron that is always a question we ask ourselves
At least with this team we know they’ll give there all unlike the sisko and wiji days
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #19Jim
I remember Clark and Gibb were not exactly crowd favourites but whilst the fans didn’t rate them I recall players saying how much they appreciated them both and felt they were underrated.
My favourite recollection of Clark ( which I think I have mentioned before) was whilst in Leazes in late 60’s erly 70’s and Clark was defending left side in front of us and jostling a winger rather than tackling – until he burst into penalty area when he sliced him down. Fan just in front of us on a crutch held it up in air and called out to Clark ( which he clearly heard) ” here Clarky you need this more than me”. Cue guffaws from fans around him and daggers from Clark.
He definitely had his best times at Forest but was in a more stable consistent side than us under Harvey when we were very hit and miss – no better a demonstration of that than losing that infamous replay at Hereford but then going to Old Trafford and winning 2-0 a few days later ( not repeated I think until Cabaye’s winner a few years ago!!)
hibbit
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #20manxpie
good points but its also important how we turn up the team that play man u or the one that played burnley i know which one i would preferred
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:48 AM
Comment #21Loved bernard just a proper no nonsense defender but with amazing ability
https://youtu.be/aIJtWoQu4Zo
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:51 AM
Comment #22As well as the impact of 2 of the recent loan signings there were 2 things I felt improved us and that was Shelvey/Diame partnership ( not so long ago In was beginning to think Merino /Hayden was our better combo in CM) and Lejuene with a return to some form alongside a dependable captain.Should also mention Dummet’s impact whilst perhaps not our longer term LB ( if we get money) but is the best we have now and rarely lets us down.
Key to survival is repeating that confident performance level from now until the end of the season. Slimani is also clearly important as for too long we have struggled to hold on on to a 1 goal lead or when we go behind realise that best we could hope for was a draw.
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Comment #23Yeah hibbit hopefully slimani will improve the team/finishing that showed up vs Burnley
SPRINGY
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:24 AM
Comment #24Manxpie
Great video of bernard, thought he was a crackin player and tbh forgot he scored as many as the video showed,shame he picked up a bad back problem he could never shake….unless it was that Robert clearance that knacked his back…it did knock him on his arse, poor sod! Lol
OneAlanShearer
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:27 AM
Comment #25It’s almost like rafa told Diame ‘fake it until you make it’. So try the things that Yaya Toure would do like breaking up play, tackling fairly but aggressively, passing forward, getting forward. It’s like the lad never felt he could do those things so didn’t try. Then when he did try he found he could do it. An amazing transformation and a credit to the coaching team/manager.
You can see that all over the pitch. If Gayle found that belief he could potentially improve that much too.
I’m hoping we see Slimani start and wreck bournemouths back line. We have been without that kind of threat since Demba and cisse (when he was good).
G
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:27 AM
Comment #26My favourite full back pairing in recent years was probably Beresford and Venison, however, neither was brilliant at actually defending, competent, just not brilliant, but they were very good at initiating counter attacks from the back. It’s a shame football like that doesn’t work any more in the modern game, as it was wonderful to watch.
manxpie
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:29 AM
Comment #27Aye springy lol of all the players in the world ya dont wanna get in the way of, its a robert left leg leathering if that was the old pimpled “cannon balls” we used to use at school i think bernard would be no more
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:41 AM
Comment #28OneAlanShearer
Not really. Diame has played like this in the past in Spain and for Wigan, West Ham and occasionally Hull, though he predominantly played further forward there having made the slow transition from DM in his younger days through his career. Rafa has got him back playing where he started and Lascelles gave him the lug bashing he needed.
I think he’s now accepted his days at number 10 where you maybe can be a bit more lax are over and is now in the right frame of mind for a battle.
Mag :P
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:43 AM
Comment #29Team vs Bournemouth
_____________Dubravka
Yedlin_Lascelles_Lejuene _Dummett_
_________Shelvey_Diame
Ritchie______Merino_______Kenedy
____________Slimani
If Ritchie didn’t get his goal I would have put Murphy in his place.
Tsunki
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #30I don’t think Gravesen did Ollie any good mind that time when he bore down on him like a gas board generator coming loose off the back of a truck. They scored of that as well yet another travesty of reffing.
I don’t want to rain on the Dummett parade he’s been top notch at the back and tbf I’ve always thought he’s a good RB sticking to his remit but please don’t spoil it by trying to say he’s good coming forward or puts decent crosses in. Nah. 🙂
Tsunki
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Comment #31And as for stats don’t start THAT again! 🙂
What do the stats say a out the changing personnel at the back and the three keepers we’ve used in the same period? I would be very careful about using stats to prove a point like that. Some people can use stats to prove unicorns exist 😀
Rotonda heights
Feb 13, 2018 at 11:51 AM
Comment #32Magscar
Yes a lot of people were downplaying the need for a new keeper. However, I think it was absolutey vital to get in someone with is comfortable with the ball at his feet. The sweeper / keeper role is becoming far more prominent these days and Eliot and Darlow just don’t have that. Not saying Dubravka is another Edilson but he certainly looked far more comfortable in distribution.
Jim Ileys Arms
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Comment #33My favourite left back of all time was Alan Kennedy. So quick. A lot of teams played high offside in those days and a favourite tactic was for AK to just hoof it over them and chase it down before crossing from the left, or shooting.
He went on to win a couple of European Cups. Seems we have had some good left backs over the years.
🙂
SPRINGY
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:03 PM
Comment #34Manxpie
Aye the older heavier footballs would of took his heed off….and broke roberts foot in the process!lol
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:04 PM
Comment #35Rotunda
Agree and on admittedly one performance he looked the part that Rafa has been looking for. Where Hart fitted in his thinking I am not sure as I don’t see him as a “modern” keeper ( nor did Guardiola!).
Tsunki
Agree on Dummett – (deliberately didn’t get into his forward play which is patchy at best) he is limited but he plays to Raf’s instructions and Kenedy helps. He can see us through.
magic hat
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:04 PM
Comment #36The team posted above is probably our best on the right day. The only question marks for me would be yedlin as he isn’t the strongest defensively despite having the pace to keep up with any winger in the league. He looks weak defending the back post on a corner. But is getting better on the ball, maybe dubbravka can claim more crosses and that won’t be a issue, i’d Have thought mbemba would be the stronger defensively. But can’t see it changing. Similarly trying merino at 10 would be good but I can’t see Perez losing his place. So it’ll be a off the bench or rotation option along with Hayden for the mojos in midfield.
G
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:07 PM
Comment #37I used to love watching Steve Watson at RB too. 110%er if there ever was one. Really nice bloke too. Chatted to him at a few charity events, and even nearly got him to play a match as a ringer in Cyprus during my Army days too. Of course he took one look at the state of our pitch and decided it wasn’t worth the risk of injury. Pitch was like concrete and about as flat as a bit of waste ground.
magic hat
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:08 PM
Comment #38I’ve always seen dummet as a decent dependable player. He’s no world beater but he’s the only player from wor academy still at the club that’d get in our first team. Only other academy players that might are carol and Forster
magscar
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:14 PM
Comment #39Jim
Liked the original Kennedy as well. Him and Nattrass were good FB’s ( as was Davey Craig before him).
Liverpool did very well out of us around around that era – not only Kennedy but McDermot ( got at and swayed by Phil Thomson apparentlyat 74 Cup Final) and of course the great Peter Beardsley.
In return we got over the years (albeit indirectly) Rush and Barnes
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 13, 2018 at 12:26 PM
Comment #40Dummet is the left back version of Steve Harper. Dependable. Doesn’t win you games but doesn’t lose you games either. I think his contribution with headers is underappreciated too, especially for corners etc. He looks lost once he’s on the ball though.