Newcastle’s defense didn’t look as robust as usual in the first half yesterday, and we let in two goals against a strong Spurs side that could (should) have been avoided.
But to their credit, the lads were much better in the second half, and we hit the woodwork twice through Diame and Rondon.
And we also had two other good chances that went to Kenedy and Perez, but both were well saved by French International goalkeeper Lloris.
Ciaran Clark – challenging Dele Alli yesterday
Ciaran Clark had a decent enough game in the center of defense, and after the game, he had this to say as reported in the Chronicle:
“The first goal was a set-piece and when we look back at that we’ll think that’s a bit sloppy from us, to be honest.”
“Just after we’d scored they went and got the second one, and that’s more concentration than anything really.”
“But it’s just one of those things, and we need to learn from that.”
“We did brilliantly second half, created a lot of chances and really had them on the back foot.”
“And other than Moussa Sissoko’s chance which Martin Dubravka saved, I can’t really remember too many other chances they had.”
“It was obviously a little bit sloppy, and it was a bit of a killer going in 2-1 down especially after we did well to get back into it.”
“But we showed good attitude and good character in the second half.”
“We created a lot of chances there and were pretty unlucky not to get another goal.”
“We had a number of chances and they had a bit of the ball but we put a good press on them.”
“We were nicking the ball off them and getting chances, so we’ll take the positives out of that, definitely.”
“It’s a disappointing result in the end, but that’s football sometimes.”
“We created chances, and it could have been a different story on a different day.”
“We’ll take the positives and hopefully put that right next week against Cardiff.”
After Spurs went 2-1 up after 18 minutes Newcastle’s defense continued to look suspect – but then we came back into the game before halftime.
And we were the better side in the second half and just unlucky not to take something out of the game.
But we looked a good side in that second half and new players since last year like Dubravka, Kenedy, Muto, Sung-yueng, and Rondon will make us (a lot?) better this season.
We didn’t spend much money this summer, but Rafa has still managed to bring in some good players.
Loading ...Comments always welcome.
77 comments so far
Just a fan
Aug 12, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Comment #1When I saw manquillo at right back he seemed ok.at left back not so good.
c-dog
Aug 12, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Comment #2In the modern game full backs provide a threat going forward. Yedlin gets forward but his end product isn’t great. Dummett, I dunno. Was hoping they’d be our back up options this year but we hadn’t got the money to sign full backs
Shot Bru
Aug 12, 2018 at 10:51 AM
Comment #3Dummet is one of our best players. I’ve always thought he’s a better left sided CB than a left back.
Nevertheless he’s a solid left back and probably one of the 1st names on Rafa’s team sheet when injury free.
He will be an important player for us this season again.
c-dog
Aug 12, 2018 at 10:53 AM
Comment #4Defensively he’s solid as a rock for sure
Optimistic Panda
Aug 12, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Comment #5Jib
Trimming the club for sale.
The club’s already ran on a shoe string.
Everyone he could get rid of he has.
Could you explain what you mean?
I can’t see anyway he could save more money without tanking, he’s never spent so I can’t understand why you’d assume it was to sell.
Optimistic Panda
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Comment #6Instead of scrimping and saving if I was going to sell Nufc I’d maximise all its revenue streams.
So any potential buyers could see what it was capable of, I’m sure that would help me sell and get a better price.
Optimistic Panda
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:01 AM
Comment #7Sorry for the last 2 posts, I’ve been watching Star Trek and Spocks logic has me jumping to conclusions.
AncientC
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Comment #8I like that Manquillo is brave into challenges and headers. Yedlin offers more offensively, but Manquillo has the potential to be a better defender, in the traditional sense.
Yedlin got caught with those back post crosses last season, too. I cannot remember which teams it was against, but I remember he got done twice on the back post in the same game, then it happened the following game. Some were blaming Ritchie last season, but that very same problem was exposed again yesterday.
It may not be a disaster that Manquillo will be getting another try. Cardiff and any other teams desperate enough would be hitting that back post and trying Yedlin on—if he were still fit.
RobLeenio
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:08 AM
Comment #9Two rusty sides yesterday, one with a little extra quality. We will improve and can give a game to anyone at SJP.
The injuries are worrying. If both Ritchie and Yedlin are out that’s our starting right flank knackered. Anyone trust Atsu and Manquillo to start long term? Nope me neither
RobLeenio
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:09 AM
Comment #10Waits on inevitable repetitive comment….
Jib
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:11 AM
Comment #11An inevitable repetitive comment
Optimistic Panda
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:13 AM
Comment #12Yet no answer to multiple questions
Toon&oot
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:15 AM
Comment #13I think for us to be ok this year depends on one single factor. That is Shelvey remaining injury free. We have no other CM that’s creative so basically if he gets a ban or bad injury we are Fckd! Cheers Fat Boy.
Shot Bru
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:22 AM
Comment #14Ancient c
For sure Yedlin got caught out, but Kenedy shoulda closed down the Spurs bloke quicker rather than watching him tee up his cross for the goal.
RobLeenio
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:34 AM
Comment #15The second goal was poor defending all round.Ritchie should have tracked Ali. Yedlin was covering Lascelles and couldn’t react. Sadly Ritchie was not quick enough.
Poor goal to concede but has to go down as a team failure
RobLeenio
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:35 AM
Comment #16Lol Jib. 😉
DubaiMicky
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Comment #17Thought the ref was useless, Dier should have been off, never saw (or didn’t bother to see) Sissoko stamping on Kenedy either.
c-dog
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:42 AM
Comment #18@roblen I’ll leave you be for now. Jib is just looking a pal after I absolutely annihilated him earlier. Nicky the ball tosser, 9 or veltman be better suited.
the ledge
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:42 AM
Comment #19that young Neves at wolves look a player
jimmygscot
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:44 AM
Comment #20Yedlin is great surging forward but defensively he is poor, can be caught out of position too often. I keep seeing posts about Dummet being a better CB than LB i can’t remember ever seeing him play as a CB.
Looking at the fixtures i am not sure where our first point will come from. Hope we don’t do a Palace and lose first 7 games.
one fine day
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:44 AM
Comment #21Toon and oot,
Ki could be decent back up .
Seems to have ability to spray passes around and from what I have seen works his bits off whereas shelvey still has moments when he seems to lose interest if things don’t go his way.
Let’s hope he stays fit .
Cabs would have been a good option to have brought back for me to cover the role too.if only to give us a decent threat from dead balls around the box .similar to way Beckham was used towards the end
AncientC
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:45 AM
Comment #22Yes, I have always been bothered that Ritchie cannot do the job of RW and also cover RB, too. There is no reason why Ritchie cannot cover 2 positions all on his own.
https://youtu.be/xOmItNFOiiQ?t=204 Clearly Yedlin is clearly goal side of Alli and it was his responsibility. Not sure why Ritchie is supposed to be covering the back post.
the ledge
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #23does anyone think clark will keep his place when the other two cb have settled in
AncientC
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:47 AM
Comment #24If Ritchie is at fault for Alli’s goal, then he is at fault for all the other goals last season when Yedlin got beaten on the back post. Now we just need to figure out what it actually is that Yedlin is supposed to be doing when diagonal crosses are going to the back post.
AncientC
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Comment #25Hold on, I figured it out. When a diagonal cross is going to the back post, Yedlin should be keeping his eye on Lascelles and leave Ritchie to deal with it. Got it.
c-dog
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:51 AM
Comment #26Teams are always gonna try and exploit Yedlin at the back post because of his height. Takes a great ball and header to do it. Both of which we seen yesterday.
TikiTakaAcca
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:51 AM
Comment #27Why do our fans rate Kenedy like he’s some God?
He’s so bang average it’s embarrassing watching us rave like he’s Ronaldo or something.
What did he actually do yesterday other than waste the easiest chance ever?
He can dribble a bit but that’s it. He’s bang average, end of.
Munster Mag
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:53 AM
Comment #28Yedlin does this regularly. He was improving and will do so with more games depending on fitness of course. Was it diame with the heavy first touch when we butchered the goal chance? Was in pub and light wasn’t great. The ball had v heavy spin on it. Was that kenedys pass yes?
Munster Mag
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:55 AM
Comment #29Jib cheers re kids medical advice. Back in clinic now 🙁
Toon&oot
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:56 AM
Comment #30One Fine Day
I hope your right. Every premiership team needs a game changer. I think Cabs wages would have been a problem but I see your point.
wartongeordie
Aug 12, 2018 at 11:58 AM
Comment #31Ritchie was outstanding for his first game of the season, excellent cross for the goal but I have my suspicions that it’s not really Matt Ritchie and they have actually swapped him for
GORDON RAMSEY.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Comment #32It would be interesting to hear Shearer and Ameobi talk about Mike Ashleys running of the club. it really is a shame that Shola has spun out the company spin about expecting to compete with Man City., that line itself proves that he has an agenda, he can’t possibly believe that.
Jib
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:01 PM
Comment #33Optimistic Panda
Sorry got summoned to the garden
you say
he’s never spent so I can’t understand why you’d assume it was to sell.
Not true
I’m not talking about trimming recently
When he released funds for Carr
Moncur and McClaren , he was shat on
and I think it was then that he
determined to sell up .
Remember we just got rid of Mitro and M’Bemba
from that period in the last few weeks and we still
have Saivet.
Jib
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:05 PM
Comment #34If Ashley could shift the club before Xmas
it would give the new owner and Rafa time
to reinforce just before the January window
Jib
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Comment #35At the Jan window should have said
AncientC
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:07 PM
Comment #36It is rather shocking to hear the words “credit to Mike Ashley” coming from Ameobi. TheMag have an article up comparing Ameobi’s comments with those of Alan Shearer on MOTD last night.
I am not sure why some people complain about Shearer as a pundit. He has always spoken up for the interests of Newcastle and nobody else. Sure, he sometimes states the obvious, but pundits have keep things simple for new fans to the game.
Ron Knee
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:10 PM
Comment #37Extended highlights:
https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/highlights/tottenham-h-highlights-18-19
AncientC
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Comment #38Interestingly enough, the season Mike Ashley did release funds (he had too as the club was facing relegation), the club has made an overall profit on those players.
The profits on Mitrovic and Wijnaldum more than cover the very small losses on Thauvin and Mbemba. The club made a small profit on Townsend. Shelvey’s value has surely rocketed. Saivet is pretty much a write-off, but it still leaves the club with a profit overall.
There is no reason Ashley cannot allow the club to spend more on players. Seems like spitefulness by my reasoning.
Red Robby
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:14 PM
Comment #39AncientC
Just stick to being the Labour messenger on the blog.
You clearly know nowt about footba. Yedlin was not at fault for allowing Alli a free run at the far post.
Optimistic Panda
Aug 12, 2018 at 12:14 PM
Comment #40Jib
I can’t see the club being sold during the season.
A lot would depend on the league position of the team, too much of a gamble.
I don’t buy the McLaren appointment was down to Charnley alone, Ashleys shafted himself repeatedly by appointing mates and yes men.
After he spent all the money in Jan he looked like a spoilt kid “you’ve had it all, nothing left, don’t come crying to me” If Ashley didn’t believe in McLaren he shoulda got rid not spent the bank balance!