It was another mistake by our goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the final seconds of stoppage time last night when Wolves equalized.
Last year Martin was magnificent in the Newcastle goal, but this year in a short six weeks he’s made three mistakes against Man United, Tottenham and Wolves that have lost Newcastle some valuable points
And points are precious if we are to avoid the drop this season.
Apart from that mistake last night Dubravka looked solid, but at times his lack of concentration is worrying.
I used to be a goalkeeper back in the day and concentration is so important – but those were back in medievil times.
🙂
Martin was bought in from Sparta Prague for only £4M a year ago, and at that price, he looks a bargain buy.
Martin Dubravka making a good save last night against Wolves
But he cannot let these errors creep into his game otherwise Rafa could try to bring in another goalkeeper in the summer.
Always assuming Rafa will stay with us beyond June.
21-year-old England U21 goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is improving all the time, and he could get a chance.
The next two games at home to Huddersfield and Burnley are absolutely crucial, and we cannot let in any sloppy goals in those games.
We need two wins in those game – that is vital to our survival.
We expect Rafa will keep faith in Dubravka but also try to find out what exactly has happened with his goalkeeping while in Spain.
Martin has to have the confidence to overcome these errors, and we hope he does just that – it’s vital for our season.
He was brought in to fix a goalkeeping problem we had at Newcastle a year ago, and we hope he does well through the end of this season.
We think it’s too early to replace Dubravka but let us know what your views are.
Comments welcome.
122 comments so far
beermonkey
Feb 12, 2019 at 9:53 PM
Comment #81nicky
kennedy will go back to chelsea i dont think we will buy him
almiron longstaff hayden have potential maybe murphy i dont think the rest will get much better than what they are
perez might be better with better players around him but then you could say that about any footballer
RobLeenio
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:20 PM
Comment #82@MagpieChannel_
Follow Follow @MagpieChannel_
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We thought drawing with wolves was bad, the mackems have just drew with a theme park.
😀
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:39 PM
Comment #83Kenedy is talented enough to be an asset to us as we improve, but his head isn’t right at present, probably because it’s been such a draining season for our forwards. He’s got three months to sort himself out and earn a deal. It’s not beyond him, but yeah he’s on thin ice. To me, in a good side that attacks with greater potency, he’s likely a better option than Atsu and Ritchie. I also think Perez is more highly thought of by Rafa and the club than many believe. Anyway, some will rise, others will move on, and one or two will perhaps surprise.
Lascelles sells sea shells by the sea shore
Feb 12, 2019 at 10:40 PM
Comment #84Sorensen didn’t get off the bench either, interested to see how he steps up another level
beermonkey
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:06 PM
Comment #85Nicky
I think rondon signing will be more of a priority than Kennedy
Nicky the ball tosser
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:08 PM
Comment #86Yeah, sure. Rondon is most important, and another like him.
ronaldo aarons
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:17 PM
Comment #87Longstaff had a really good game yesterday, playing as dm he picked up some great defensive positions. He has one years worth of experience minimum playing that position in the youth ranks although he is as correctly pointed out, naturally a box to box or attack minded player. Makes his performance in the middle even more impressive. His first touch was very iffy yesterday though which I’m surprised no one has pointed out at. Still, I was first calling for his inclusion to play when we were in the championship, before he went out on loan to Scotland so I’m glad to see he is justifying my faith in him and others are praising him deservedly.
Disagree though that he was the reason neves was quiet, imo Perez playing behind rondon, when we never had the ball he stopped the supply going to neves thus nullifying his impact. Again, I don’t think anyone has pointed this out but it’s how I saw it. Having atsu and Hayden in the middle to alongside longstaff was a surprising set up but nullified their midfield a fair bit, quite good to watch actually. Hayden did well in there surprisingly and couple times pulling out a little skill or turn of pace. Nice.
Moutinho though, he was a pain and hard to pin down. Experience for you that. How he escaped a booking that match though wws beyond me.
ronaldo aarons
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:19 PM
Comment #88I think Sorensen has only come of the bench once if I recall. May have been worth keeping here if that situation remains. Same with Roberts, hardly given an opportunity off the bench either.
ronaldo aarons
Feb 12, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Comment #89As for the debate on the dubravka ‘foul’, the fa rule book says a free kick to be given if a player:
– impedes an opponent with contact
Therefore, boly hands and arms around the neck, head and face of keeper is a foul.
Outfield players go down on the slightest touch and win penalties and keepers are supposed to be the most protected players by referees.
The only way his arms weren’t affecting dubravka is if dubravka jumped into them as boly jumped first. Not the case with this. It’s a foul every day of the week and twice on sunday and I’d say the same thing if it were the other way round.
ronaldo aarons
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:15 AM
Comment #90Interesting
Martin Hardy
@mhardysport
·
9h
Martin Dubravka, 2018/19, in numbers:
CLEAN SHEETS:
7 (5th highest in Premier League)
GOALS CONCEDED:
34 (9th best)
SAVES:
77 (6th best)
PUNCHES:
10 (8th best)
HIGH CLAIMS:
25 (2nd best)
SWEEPER CLEARANCES:
12 (6th best)
ronaldo aarons
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Comment #91Mad house tonight.
#BlogParty
ronaldo aarons
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:38 AM
Comment #92Might change my name Ronaldo in Norway next time I’m on the blog. Probably get lots of activity on the blog 😀
carltoon
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:50 AM
Comment #93Ronaldo read them stats on Dubravka and some people wanting to change goalies. Great keeper. Think he could have punched it. it definitely looked a foul. Well onwards and upwards
carltoon
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:53 AM
Comment #94Has anyone seen the miss by Sunderland new signing Will Griggs. Certainly not on fire.
carltoon
Feb 13, 2019 at 12:55 AM
Comment #95See Murphy scored tonight. Hope he gets his confidence back. Still think he will come good.
Lindisfarne
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:28 AM
Comment #96https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/galleries/toon-in-training-day-one-in-spain-18-19
Lads on the p#ss
Lindisfarne
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:29 AM
Comment #97Apparently Mash Holdings have released their accounts for 2016-17!
RobLeenio
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:37 AM
Comment #98Lindi queue much speculation and NY Mag politely correcting us
🙂
RobLeenio
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:38 AM
Comment #99Cue lol brain fart….
NY Mag
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:46 AM
Comment #100Lindi / Rob,
I just had quick look at them – seems the strawberry place land was indeed sold for £9M
martoon
Feb 13, 2019 at 7:59 AM
Comment #101Last night I watched the Wolves goal a few times and came to the conclusion that although those pictures of the hands on Dub’s shoulder and across his face look bad they’re actually AFTER he has already missed the ball i.e. on the way down. So if he caught the ball and then dropped it you could argue the foul caused it but as he missed the ball in the first place they don’t really have an effect. However you could argue he wouldn’t have missed the ball if he wasn’t being impeded but then you could argue the attacker is entitled to go for the ball – I’m still undecided!!
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:15 AM
Comment #102martoon,
Unfortunately all the speculation won’t change the result
🙁
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:17 AM
Comment #103NY Mag,
No doubt he’s got a share of the final development profit when it finally gets finished.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:31 AM
Comment #104mackems definitely not going up as champions, definitely not assured of automatic places either.
NY Mag
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:37 AM
Comment #105Jail,
That would be his normal MO….
Jib
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:38 AM
Comment #106Jail if you followed the posts you would
know it looks like his son-in-law gets
a big chunk of the action.
I said months ago that Strawberry Pl
was probably a wedding present.
posada
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:39 AM
Comment #107When Pickford made that mistake and Liverpool scored in stoppage time.
He felt obliged to catch it rather than tip it over.
Think our keeper felt obliged to catch also. To take responsibility.
A clean catch would have ended the game.
Punch it. What happens if it comes back in and they score. What happens if they get a corner and score.
Answer. We all or some say why did’nt you catch it !
posada
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:41 AM
Comment #108The Strawberry Car Park debate goes on.
I’m not sure that land is of any importance to the club at all.
If so why ?
martoon
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:43 AM
Comment #109Jail @102 – Yeah I know but it gives us something else to argue about 😀
Bambams
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:45 AM
Comment #110Morning you lot.
I see the Strawberry land was sold and listed (NY MAG) in his accounts.
Simple question; What the hell is Ash plan ?
I cant work it out, does he simply think season after season we will manage to scrape 4th from bottom and survive.
Had the chance to sell, we heard he was prepared for staggered payments, gave extensions to deadlines – nothing since mid January has come out from our club.
How can you be so incompetent at a football club.
Optimistic Panda
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:49 AM
Comment #1119 million pounds for a useless peace of tarmac, wow.
RobLeenio
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:50 AM
Comment #112posada, it may not be important but we cannot know until a new survey has been completed which takes account of modern building methods and materials to see if we could extend the ground. If this survey was completed and it came back that this was not possible, I would support a sale if the club were to benefit financially.
As it is, the above question is not satisfied and the only people to benefit are Mike Ashley and his development partners.
Legally, the land belongs to Ashley. Ethically, it was and should still be a very valuable asset belonging to the club.
Optimistic Panda
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:50 AM
Comment #113Jib
Months ago, well done you.
It’s been mentioned on the blog for over a year
Jib
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:50 AM
Comment #114It is in black and white in the accounts that
the club is up for sale and has been since
October 2017
martoon
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:55 AM
Comment #115Jib @106 – Most of us would be lucky to get a Strawberry Gateau but MA’s son-in-law gets a Strawberry Place
Jib
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:59 AM
Comment #116Panda
I said this:-
Jib
Nov 23, 2018 at 9:52 AM
Comment #10
Jail
It was his to sell
It was a patch of tarmac
that couldn’t be part of a
stadium extension.
A couple of us reckoned it
was a wedding present for
his son – in – law who is
into property development.
http://www.marrico.co.uk/img/project_strawberry_fields.jpg
I’ve checked
you’ve said diddly squat
😀
Mag52
Feb 13, 2019 at 8:59 AM
Comment #117Dubravka’s mistakes are nothing compared to those made by Yedlin throughout the game on Monday. He is going through a bad patch and is starting to become a bit of a liability.
IMO he needs a few games on the bench to refocus.
posada
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:05 AM
Comment #118Rob
Yeah the land belongs to the club. Unfortunately the club belongs to him.
I’ve actually stood on that ground and tried to take in what it could be used for.
It’s too far from the playing surface to be the base of a stand. I would say anyway.
Most folks say we can’t do anything with the East Stand due to the listed buildings at Leazes Terrace I think it is.
Think you will find that there is just about enough space subject to planning permission to fit in an extra 8-10 thousand seats if it was redeveloped.
That would mean a capacity of 60K. More than enough and on a par with all apart from Old Trafford. Some of the seating at OT is not great. Three inches of leg room.
Jib
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:08 AM
Comment #119Yedlin was up against one of the most
potent left sided 4’s in the PL
Boly
Castro
Moutinho
Diogo Jota
please cut him some slack.
Mag52
Feb 13, 2019 at 9:12 AM
Comment #120Posada.
I’m sure you’re right.
Dubravka wanted to catch it. Probably fall to the ground clutching it. Take a bit of time getting up and launching it upfield – game over.
He’s a good catcher of the ball. He’s not a puncher or a flapper thankfully, but he wasn’t helped by the presence of a pair of Bony arms around his neck.
In a day and age when a goalie only has to get a meaningful stare from an opposition player to get a free kick, Dubs was hard done by. Bring on VAR.