Martin Dubravka has spoken about the Brighton match, and like Fabian Schar, he recognizes that it was a poor performance. While Fabian went the blunt and direct route, Martin described the display in more measured terms.
One area Dubravka touched upon was allowing Brighton to have so much of the possession. Newcastle only had 28% of the possession and were far too content to sit back and soak up pressure.
The Chronicle have published these comments by our goalkeeper:
“It’s difficult to just say something because, obviously, a clean sheet is a bonus for us but we wanted the win. We have to be honest, both teams could have won the game. You have seen the chances on both sides. A draw is fair from that point of view.
“We know we didn’t play well in the first half, let’s be honest. But we played better in the second and we have to build up our confidence. We need to try to play football, but it was obviously difficult to do that against Brighton.
“I don’t know what the possession was but they kept the ball and were having 20 passes in their own box. They weren’t that dangerous but running without the ball is always difficult.”
Steve Bruce is trying to make the changes necessary to get this Newcastle team running on all cylinders. He ended up going to a back four against Brighton in an attempt to get something going. It worked to an extent, but it still was not enough. We suspect it may be back to the tactics drawing board again this week.
He needs to figure something out as the players looked lost on Saturday at St James Park. While we understand he has had limited options, that will soon not be an excuse with so many players returning over the next month.
The losses of both Sean Longstaff and Matt Ritchie have also been significant to this team. Both players cover a lot of ground and are relentless in their harassment of the opposition. Hopefully, there will be some positive news on their return for the Leicester City match this weekend.
139 comments so far
Online Guy
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:22 PM
Comment #1Jail
The Who reference was a clue to one of their Albums .. In turn that would have revealed something to lateral thinking.
A tenuous link I know ..it would lead to someone who remains anon and show my source as genuine.
Still a hot topic so can’t betray a confidence Jail ..even now .
Straight up mate.
Online Guy
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:24 PM
Comment #2Howdy Genjikia . Hope yer well mate . Keep going it going.
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:27 PM
Comment #3In addition to the previous post. lt is also tough to play differently home and away. I think we should keep a tight compressed shape, and just play a little higher up the pitch. Get Joelinton to drop off just a little more than he has been and then press as one single compact unit that the opposition will struggle to pass through. Essentially win the ball a little higher up the pitch, and we also definitely need Carroll, St Max, Longstaff and Ritchie fit and figuring.
Nufc-83
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:28 PM
Comment #4Nicky I must say it’s strange to see posts on this blog that show a decent level of football knowledge. Bravo well done sir!
Online Guy
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:39 PM
Comment #5Howdy Genjikia . Hope yer well mate . Keep it going
Tablet jumping about here !
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:57 PM
Comment #6Wasn’t expecting a late night bus service!
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 23, 2019 at 11:58 PM
Comment #7OK
I’m not a football coach, but if I want my players to play the same way that most other teams like Brighton and any other team who we play against seem able to do, what do I do on the training ground.
I’m baffled as to why we can’t seem to do it, few of the teams around us have superstars so how can they do it with players no better than ours (on paper anyway).
We’ve hardly dominated any team with possession football in the last 5+ years so what is the missing ingredient, I would guess repetitive passing drills and training should be key but is it?
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:01 AM
Comment #8Nufc-83
Nicky is the football guru of the blog, write his name with awe.
Just like John Wayne did in the biblical epic. 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:04 AM
Comment #9Just want to say that whilst I was in Hastings on Friday night I stood outside the SD shop and shouted Ashley out several times until the missus told me to shut up, not a lot I admit but think of the butterfly wings in the forest!
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:10 AM
Comment #10OLG
You do realise that you’ve set yourself up for a whole load of grief, don’t you!
Online Guy
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:13 AM
Comment #11Aye Bill !
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:13 AM
Comment #12I don’t think we’ve had the attack in recent years Bill. The outlets up top to give pause to oppositions. We did ok once we added Almiron to Rondon and Perez, and we’ve found it harder this term because Carroll and St Max haven’t really figured.
If we had a core group of forwards like Rondon, Joelinton, Perez, Almiron, St Max, Atsu and Muto for example, and ideally along with a proper experienced central mid who can boss the middle of the park game I think we’d be able to play that more expansive game we all want to see.
I think we are just that little bit short of quality, to actually go after sides, unless we graft to get a foothold in games and have our best players attacking outlets on the pitch and firing once we’ve done so.
Online Guy
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:24 AM
Comment #13Bill, I just wrote to you and lost it so here it is again ..wish I’d copied it .
I aint read the blog for 3 days ..was the gate 43k ? Looked like 35 k to me
That’s not a boycott it’s disgruntled supporters with no hope staying away .
Ashley reaping what he sows .
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Comment #14Nicky
I do think that drills on the training ground are they key to possession football. The great Liverpool teams in the Shankley era could pull any player from the reserves into the team and they’d know exactly what they had to do.
I believe that’s how Dyche and Howe set their players up and why they comfortably stay in the EPL, nothing too fancy but with the chance of sneaking into the top six all of the time.
To do this however they need a settled manager who has the backing of the players, Rafa was getting there but unfortunately someone else wasn’t.
Bruce would need a minimum of three years to get anywhere near the same understanding, not sure if he has the nous to do it.
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:33 AM
Comment #15OLG
Yeah, I watched the 30 minute highlights on Sky and couldn’t believe the gaps in the seating, as the Mag article said, Ashlie is the best instigator of the boycott, doesn’t really need any help from the boycotters, that aint a slur on them before I get shot down! 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:39 AM
Comment #16Carltoon
Don’t know if you’re around but i really loved your put down of a certain blogger the other night. 🙂
NY Mag
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:45 AM
Comment #17Bill,
You’re back, how was the weekend away?
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:51 AM
Comment #18Bill, Bruce’ll be drilling shape and passing and movement on the training pitch, or at least you’d very much hope so. I agree drills and repetition help players understand and internalize how coaches want their sides to play to a point where it becomes second nature. I think Bruce hasn’t yet figured out exactly how he wants us to play though given the players he has had available, evidenced by that first half v Brighton which really was a dogs breakfast, plus we’ve been without some important players, particularly up top. Almiron has been a bit disappointing, Joelinton decent but is clearly not the finished article, St Max and Carroll injured. The squad isn’t quite there, Bruce hasn’t quite got a handle on things, we’ve had injuries to important players, lost a couple of good ones in Rondon and Perez, and had a disrupted pre season. There are a number of factors holding us back I think.
toon22
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:52 AM
Comment #19Imho once the renewal comes up next spring for season tickets there will be another big drop in the crowd
Everyone’s sick of the rubbish on offer at the toon right now
toon22
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:54 AM
Comment #20Nickey
We have the 2nd worst manager in prem history
And a team assembled with nowt more than their possible resale value important
It’s all down to Jabba
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 24, 2019 at 12:58 AM
Comment #21Yeah, for sure the buck starts and stops at the the top. That stands out like dog’s balls in Ashley’s case. Now more than ever.
NY Mag
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:03 AM
Comment #22Toon22,
I think you’re probably spot on re: the crowd reduction next year
Assassins Inc
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:08 AM
Comment #23Bruce needs to fix the team, no shit.
Playing at home with one attacker and five defenders is no way to get the team playing.
What’s next 6-4-0, god Bruce man, grow some fcuking balls, at least the fans may give you some credit in actually trying for a win.
Just a fan
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:20 AM
Comment #24If you think there was only 35 thousand at the match you haven’t been for a long long time.
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:25 AM
Comment #25Bill glad to see you back, you lead an exciting life, yes I did have a few goes a different posters, so I’m not sure which one your talking about. It’s not like me is it.
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:26 AM
Comment #26I think we played like this in the beginning.
………………….X.
…………..X……………X.
…..X……….X………X……..X.
………….X……..X……..X
When it should have been more like this.
………………….X.
…………..X……………X.
…..X……….X………X……..X.
………….X……..X……..X.
Moving to a back four halfway through the half was a bit odd really, a bit like the Willems debacle v Arsenal. The whole first half was poor, and I think that was essentially down a poor tactical effort by the coach and his staff. He’s been putting faith in Shelvey, hoping we’ll knock it around better, and not gotten a return for it for example, but obviously there’s more going on than that.
NY Mag
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:27 AM
Comment #27Just a fan,
From the pictures around the ground that I saw, I had guesstimated that it was 70-75% full.
BTW, In my case, you’re right – I haven’t been for a long time
NY Mag
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:31 AM
Comment #28Nicky,
You’ll have to explain to a dinosaur like me…they both look the same 😀
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:32 AM
Comment #29Nicky I agree with all your posts. The passing is a great concern to me. Bill is right, no matter what team comes to play us, we make them look like Barcelona. Bruce said Brighton must have been practicing their passing all week. Well what the hell are we practicing honestly we couldn’t string 2 passes together. First half nightmare.
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:36 AM
Comment #30Nicky only Ten players. Or I’m looking at them the wrong way round and you’ve omitted the goalie.
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:38 AM
Comment #31NYmag they are both the same. Nicky 4 3 2. 1
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:39 AM
Comment #32Too much space between the lines in the first one NY. Bad defensive shape.Ttoo easy for the opposition to pass through you and drag you around the pitch. That’s why you’d always see Rafa pressing his open palms together as if playing the accordion on the sideline. He wanted the side to compress, be a tighter defensive unit.
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:41 AM
Comment #33NICKY EXPLAIN!! I’ve never laughed so much. Is the second formation just playing closer together????
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:41 AM
Comment #34I didn’t include Dubravka, although he is important if we play the higher line. Sweeper/keeper.
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:43 AM
Comment #35Ha ha ha I guessed right. I wish you had said that I thought you’d gone mad. Which is understandable supporting this team.y
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:45 AM
Comment #36Ha ha ha. Yes the goalie helps . Eh your fantastic.
NY Mag
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:45 AM
Comment #37Ah….maybe im not as stupid as I thought then 😀
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:45 AM
Comment #38Carltoon
I won’t say which particular poster you shot down in flames but it was short succinct and to the point, otherwise i’ll be accused of bullying.
But you strike me as someone who doesn’t suffer fools and we could do with a few more on the blog like that.
NY Mag
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:49 AM
Comment #39Ah, got ya…..I was looking primarily at the x’s And then the .’s
Never thought about the spaces – it’s always the details that matter 🙂
carltoon
Sep 24, 2019 at 1:51 AM
Comment #40Bill I really try and keep out of the heated discussions. Sometimes I can’t help myself. NYmag usually tells me to take deep breaths. Ha ha. I have just had the best laugh at Nicky s diagrams, simple when he explained.