It’s been a relatively uneventful first half with both sides being defensively sound. Newcastle lined up in their familiar 5-4-1 with Joelinton wide left and Atsu on the right. Isaac Hayden adopted the Shelvey role getting forward more while Sean Longstaff played deeper.
There have been few shots from either team with the goalies having to do very little. Though Martin Dubravka was forced into an early save from a Dwight McNeil effort that he had to push wide for a corner.
Andy Carroll has been a handful for the Burnley defenders, winning numerous balls in the air. He’s put in a great shift leading the line.
This game is missing that bit of quality that can open up the defenses. Newcastle’s set-piece deliveries have been very poor, rarely beating the first man.
We have had a couple of half-chances with Andy Carroll being involved in both. He had a golden opportunity to get on the end of a cross early but pushed it wide.
In a brilliant piece of play, the big man gathered a Jetro Willems long ball and played it off to a surging Christian Atsu. However, Atsu chose not to strike the ball with his weaker right foot.
We would like to see more out of Joelinton and Christian Atsu, who are not creating enough chances.
Steve Bruce will be pleased with the effort in the first half. It’s a scrappy affair but a very even one with both teams sharing around 50% of possession.
This is one that can go either way, so the lads will have to come out and keep grafting in the second half.
145 comments so far
TomaKaThor
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:55 PM
Comment #1Need more from Longstaff and Atsu..well actually the whole lot
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:56 PM
Comment #2Longstaffe needs to shave that moustache off if it will give him more energy. Manquillo had another decent half.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:58 PM
Comment #3When Willems and Manquillo get the ball wide our front 3 need to be in the box or making runs too much static play Longstaff or Hayden have to make the run from deep as well
Be so annoying if we don’t beat Burnley they are so poor we have options on the bench to win it
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:58 PM
Comment #4Hope AC can last the 90 mins . So much more effective leading the line than Joelinton but we are missing the electric pace of ASM and Almiron.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:58 PM
Comment #5Match going as expected.
Get Muto on for Joelinton early 2nd half.
Would love to know how Muto would have done if given half the time and patience people seem prepared to give Joelinton. Bet he’d had have more goals.
Wait, he does, despite less match time even though he’s been here 12 months longer. 600 PL mins and 1 goal, all broken up, coming on as sub, 1 start here or there – even remember him having to come off because of a Hayden red card in one of his rare starts.
Joelinton on about 1500 mins and 1 goal, nearly all starts.
lesh
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Comment #6Munster
If you’re trying to emulate Jib’s smartarse ways, you’re doing well.
In German, nouns have an upper case first letter. As in die Mitte (Mitte’s feminine hence die Mitte)
😉
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Comment #7Muto’s other goal coming in the league cup.
Rotonda heights
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Comment #8Well that’s 48 mins I’ll never get back, absolutely dire from both teams. Do either of these ”Brit” managers do any passing drills at all. Not exactly in Brendan Rodgers class are they are. Us and Burnley fans have to watch this anti football every week!!!
Atsu I know you haven’t got a right foot but deary me….!
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Comment #9Agree LCBP but just watching that cheat Barnes snatch one. They say he hasn’t scored against us yet.
cyprus
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:01 PM
Comment #10Cursed
This isn’t the two worst teams! Joined 8th vs joined 12th. It’s a mid-table scrap. Who’s gonna win?
No idea.
Think there’s goals in this game.
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:01 PM
Comment #11Thanks for the stream JIB but I am beginning to wonder why I’ve bothered. Coverage has been good though with only a couple of lost pictures.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:02 PM
Comment #12Rotunda
If he didn’t want to hit it with his right he should have got a toe poke away with his left just had no confidence to try that kind of thing which is a failure of all our players up front they have zero confidence at the crucial moment
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:03 PM
Comment #13Cyprus – The Dingles have two players up top with goals in em. We’ve got two with one goal between them. I think we are relying on the defenders again mate.
Pottsclock
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:04 PM
Comment #14Do you think Dyche is telling them at half time to hoof it more and swing their elbows more and to commit more small niggling fouls. Yes, we’ve not been good but Burnley’s style is awful.
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:05 PM
Comment #15‘2 worst teams in the league’- 6th in the form table over the last 2 games….
‘The low amonut of cornwrs we get per game is alarming’ – absolutely smack bang on the Premier league average so far this season.
Pretty awful game, but let’s not get overly melodramatic.
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:05 PM
Comment #16Last 10 games *
TomaKaThor
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:06 PM
Comment #17we should actually try to play abit because Burnley truly are an awful one dimensional team
Sports Direct FC
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:07 PM
Comment #18Agree with bringing Muto on, or Gayle. We have no one running in behind the defense and they are doubling up on Andy.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Comment #19Great play from Manquillo.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Comment #20Poor from Dummett. A lot of poor crosses from him today.
sing in the corner
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:09 PM
Comment #21Credit to Manquillo,playing well today and lately
TomaKaThor
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:11 PM
Comment #22So many awful crosses
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Comment #23Got options here. Could take Joleinton and Atsu off, put Yedlin on the RW and Gayle or Muto on in a 4-4-2.
Could simply take Joelinton off for Muto and Yedlin for Atsu in the existing set-up. Two much more energetic players.
TomaKaThor
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:13 PM
Comment #24Makes you realise how useless atsu is after getting used to Saint Max
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:13 PM
Comment #25Lost all streams 2nd half .Are they doing me a favour?
Sports Direct FC
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:13 PM
Comment #26Come on Bruce sub out Joelinton
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Comment #27https://www.eplsite.uk/stream16.html
Watching it here mate
West Lancs Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Comment #28Yedlin may be a good call but put Atsu on left. Carroll whilst he’s on needs service
Sports Direct FC
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Comment #29Really? no foul?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Comment #30Right we need to make some subs we beat Burnley with ease last season and to be honest we should be doing the same here they are so poor its unreal!
Get a bit of control in midfield and some pace up front Muto on for Atsu
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Comment #31West lancs,
Hesgoal link put up earlier is still working mate
TomaKaThor
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #32Longstaff isn’t doing much to get his spot back
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #33How was that not a foul? Wood’s a dirty c***
davetoon
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #34Series of poor mistakes
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:16 PM
Comment #35Oh and now the c*** scores off the corner.
FFS,
TomaKaThor
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:17 PM
Comment #36How is that not a foul ref..baffling
AncientC
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:17 PM
Comment #37It has taken a goal to get the side playing in previous games. Better that came sooner than later.
cyprus
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:17 PM
Comment #38Not a corner, a foul.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Comment #39Dubravka rooted. Should be taking that all day, right over his head. Misjudged it.
We need to wake up. Got a feeling we won’t.
Sports Direct FC
Dec 14, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Comment #40Bring Muto or Gayle on and go 4-4-2