This was the lineup from the win against Crystal Palace on Saturday, including the three substitutions.
Here are our individual player ratings for the match.
Martin Dubravka – 8
- Another top performance from our goalkeeper. Martin, as we so often say, made the saves that kept Newcastle in the game. The Slovakian made a superb one on one stop on Wilfried Zaha late in the first half. In the second, it was another one on one against James McArthur that Martin got in the way of. Christian Benteke also had a powerful shot that Dubravka was able to parry. The 30-year-old is so important to us and was superb in getting his fifth clean sheet of the season.
Javier Manquillo – 8
- Manquillo just seems to be getting better and better. Today it was his defensive work that stood out as he shut down the dangerous Zaha. The Spaniard also provided a good outlet on the right as he tried to make something happen going forward. Bruce named him his best player today. It may be time to sit down with the 25-year-old and discuss an extension. We cannot let him leave in January.
Fabian Schar – 6
- The 28-year-old had a decent but somewhat disappointing game. Schar helped Manquillo in keeping Wilfried Zaha under wraps. However, it was an off day for the Swiss international with too many speculative passes that missed their mark. He came through when it counted most with the lethal cross for Almiron’s goal. Though, he soon followed that with a poor challenge on Max Meyer that lead to a free kick in a dangerous area.
Fede Fernandez – 6
- Fernandez was solid at the heart of the defense. He again came through with some key clearances. It was another fine performance from the Argentine in a game which we were under threat for long periods.
Florian Lejeune – 7
- What a return for the Frenchman. He had over 70 touches and some crucial tackles. He was also our best defender on the ball, though, like Schar, was prone to occasionally wasting possession. Lejeune is just so composed and oozes class. He didn’t look like he had any rust to shake off and picked up right where he left off last April.
Paul Dummett – 6
- It’s unfair to be too critical of Paul Dummett. Defensively he was as dependable as ever. However, asking him to play wing-back does not suit his strengths. He proved to be a very effective outlet, especially early on. There was acres of space down the left for Newcastle to exploit, but Dummett rarely picked out a teammate when delivering a cross. However, Paul battled hard defensively and was a very willing runner. He tired a bit in the second half but that’s understandable as he covered a lot of ground.
Jonjo Shelvey – 6
- Jonjo started the game brightly but quickly ran out of steam. He was still committed defensively as he shielded the backline. Jonjo showed what he brings to the team by pulling the strings in the first half. However, it didn’t work so much in the second as he started to get fatigued. We missed him last week for sure and he’s a player this team can’t do without.
Isaac Hayden – 5
- It was a quiet night for Isaac but the new formation may have played a part. Almiron ran all day long, and Shelvey sat very deep, spraying the ball about. The defenders also had a lot of possession. Hayden made some promising runs early on but didn’t see much of the ball and was replaced by Sean Longstaff in the 64th minute. Isaac had our best chance early in the game when he was played through by Almiron, but the midfielder stumbled at the worst possible moment and by the time he recovered, the chance was gone.
Miguel Almiron – 8
- An excellent display from Miguel Almiron in what was a more natural position. This role seemed to suit him and will give Bruce a lot to ponder over the next few days. He was a willing runner from deep and able to find space when he drifted to the left. His ball to Hayden early on was sublime but Isaac lost his footing. He also gathered a Paul Dummett pass and launched a shot but it was straight at Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal. Then it finally happened for the Paraguayan as he got his first goal. Miguel took it so well. It was the perfect goal to get him off the mark. He had no time to think and just reacted to volley the ball home to highlight an excellent performance.
Joelinton – 4
- It’s just not working for Joelinton. He contributed to our build up early in the game with some deft passes but once Crystal Palace came into the game, Joelinton was a passenger. While he didn’t get any service whatsoever, he just seems so frustrated. Even with a strike partner, it was more of the same from the Brazilian. It’s time to sit him down and give Dwight Gayle or Yoshinori Muto a chance. Without Saint-Maximin, this formation is likely what we’ll see over the next few matches. Having Gayle or Muto alongside Carroll could be an option.
Andy Carroll – 6
- It didn’t quite work out for the Carroll/Joelinton partnership today as both players were bereft of service. However, Andy continues to put his imprint on games. He did brilliantly to get to Schar’s cross for the winning goal. Carroll honed in on the ball, outleapt everyone, and headed it back to Almiron. Andy battled hard and was committed all game long, dropping deep to defend when needed. He’s also been able to see out the last two games now which is crucial due to his defending capabilities.
Subs
Sean Longstaff – 6
- Sean came on for Isaac Hayden at the 64th minute mark. He tried to make things happen in possession as he looked to push the ball forward. Nothing really of significance from the midfielder.
Dwight Gayle – n/a
- Gayle came on in the 77th minute for Joelinton but barely had a touch. Not enough time on the pitch to get a rating.
DeAndre Yedlin – n/a
- Yedlin came on for Dummett late. Not enough time on the pitch to get a rating.
Who Was The Man Of The Match In Win Against Crystal Palace?
- Javier Manquillo (39%, 747 )
- Miguel Almiron (36%, 672 )
- Martin Dubravka (15%, 277 )
- Andy Carroll (5%, 87 )
- Florian Lejeune (2%, 42 )
- Jonjo Shelvey (1%, 17 )
- Joelinton (1%, 17 )
- Paul Dummett (1%, 15 )
- Fabian Schar (1%, 11 )
- Federico Fernandez (0%, 5 )
- Isaac Hayden (0%, 2 )
Total Voters: 1,892
29 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 21, 2019 at 9:26 PM
Comment #1As a matter of interest which of our players has the most assists?
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 21, 2019 at 9:30 PM
Comment #2I know that Dummett is supposed to be one of our fastest players but he didn’t look it today, there were several times when perfectly good passes were pinged towards him but by the time he’d set off to pick them up they were into touch.
Big Bruce Stars.
Dec 21, 2019 at 9:36 PM
Comment #3A vital win today, only fair after a the countless times we’ve played well and ended up losing, all our luck is coming back in barrels lately 🙂
And now a special word for Munster, the emerald Isle road – digging oaf, felonious – who likes to continually use his “Tarquin” jibe and say i know nothing about football. Go back to the beginning of matchday threads and I said we could get a sneaky win, if our full backs are on their game. I was then supposedly a know-nowt and given the usual grief by Munster who cowardly hedged his predictions saying it would be ugly and couching words to hide “defeat”.
What a prize hole-digging plank. He comes back time and again to do his stupid digs and his pants always drop to his ankles. “Oooh I coached nine year old girls what do you know about football, Tarquin?” Probably enough to know you don’t suddenly pick it up and run with it or bounce it with your pudding hand you fraudster leprechaun ha ha. Stick to watching rugby with your grandma bono!
TomaKaThor
Dec 21, 2019 at 9:46 PM
Comment #4Joelinton was no worse than anyone but he has fallen into a category where the sheep will hate on him regardless now, kind of how they where with Almiron
TomaKaThor
Dec 21, 2019 at 9:48 PM
Comment #5Untill they turned there attention to Joelinton
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 21, 2019 at 10:20 PM
Comment #6Hayden is definitely out of position in that formation. Shelvey is not defensively sound enough to break up play in front of the back 3. Nor are we good enough to play a “quarterback”. And where would you play St Max?
Not our best formation, by a long way.
Big Bruce Stars.
Dec 21, 2019 at 10:24 PM
Comment #7Are we really going to last playing like this to the end of the season? 🙂 The relief might be that we’ve done enough to keep us out of mischief when and if it all starts unravelling. Hardly riveting stuff though sheesh..
Big Bruce Stars.
Dec 21, 2019 at 10:26 PM
Comment #8Anyway that was my brief foray until I get time to come back and see what the coconut- headed idiot from the rainy island comes back at me with. Something with “Tarquin” in it, whatever he imagines that means. Oh how we laughed. 😐
stan anderson
Dec 21, 2019 at 10:37 PM
Comment #9Well done the lads today.
We were 2nd best team on the field today but got 3 points.
Has Cabbage heed got the luck going his way ?maybe.
Manqy was best player by far but Miggy stole the show with his goal.
We are a shit team carrying a load of luck.
It,s almost like the time we finished 5th under P45due
We had lots of good fortune that season as well.
toon22
Dec 21, 2019 at 10:42 PM
Comment #10Remember when some posters told us once Rafa left the team would be free to play attacking expansive football ?
We won today but sheesh that was HORRIBLE
Yes we played defensive under Rafa but at least we had a plan, you could see the players were well coached
This will unravel horribly
Just in time for people to put their hands in their pockets and pay for a season ticket they are currently giving away
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 21, 2019 at 10:56 PM
Comment #11Our best might just be 442.
……………Dubravka.
Mank…Fede….Lejeune..Willems.
………..Hayden…Shelvey.
…St Max…………………….Almiron.
………..Carroll….Joelinton.
martoon
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:00 PM
Comment #12I actually thought the football was a lot more enjoyable to watch especially in the first half. We hardly played a long ball down the middle but pinged some good diagonals and put together a few good moves especially in the first 30 minutes. Palace certainly had the better of the second half but overall we were quite evenly matched and to say we were second best is ridiculous.
stan anderson
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:00 PM
Comment #13And the diehards will do that as well,support the team not the regime WTF.
9
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:06 PM
Comment #14The day must be coming soon when we actually start with 11 positive players. Joelinton can’t possibly continue as a passenger after all these games, surely? After all these games…..? Surely….?
toon22
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:08 PM
Comment #159
Jabba got 40 million saying otherwise
toon22
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:11 PM
Comment #16martoon
We looked a shambles
Palace had most of their first choice missing
We were playing at home
We got 3 points is the only positive thing about the game
Bladey
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:14 PM
Comment #17Game of zero quality zero atmosphere two teams who could be in a relegation fight if not will be in one next year and all the following years just 2 of the other 14 teams who are irrelevant in the league
Only the top six count ASH IN CARVER AND WISE IN
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:33 PM
Comment #18lovely moment when the young fan hugs Almirion after the goal.
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Comment #19for most of this calendar year we’ve played the same way and been consistently lucky 🙂
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:36 PM
Comment #20rarely in that time beaten by more than 1 goal.
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:37 PM
Comment #21unbeaten at home since the first day of the season (which also we could easily have not lost).
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:38 PM
Comment #22just to balance out some of the negative posts 🙂
carltoon
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:39 PM
Comment #23We had a very good team the year we finished 5th.
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:41 PM
Comment #24“Hardly riveting stuff though”
does nerve shredding and nail biting count as riveting?
carltoon
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:43 PM
Comment #25Wasn’t at the match but listened to it, sounded like we played ok first half. Anyway 3 points and a great goal from Almiron.
martoon
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:45 PM
Comment #26toon22 Palace had a couple of defenders plus Townsend missing but then so did we in Clark, Willems and ASM and of course Lacelles. We’re not Man City but as I say we played a bit better football, If you can’t get pleasure from a win for a few hours then why bother? Some of you suck the joy out of everything!
jane
Dec 21, 2019 at 11:46 PM
Comment #27there is less than 48 hours between the 5.30pm KO at Old Trafford on Thursday and 3pm KO against Everton on Saturday. will that have a bearing on the team selections for these matches?
Munster Mag
Dec 22, 2019 at 12:25 AM
Comment #28Martoon, spot on. Les Miserables want misery and defeat and every win in begrudged if at all possible. Toon22 I didn’t see the full 90, just MOTD but the joy of watching Miggy score and hug that kid, man that gives any Toon fan a lift. My young fella was bowled over by the noise when Miggy struck. In its own way that was Toon gold.
dougie
Dec 22, 2019 at 12:39 AM
Comment #29The whole thing makes me sick,just imagine if we had an owner that had ambition we could become a contender for glory again.Its like the walking dead this club,no ambition and no hope.Nobody getting signed in January because as far as the parasites concerned it’s job done.Zombie club,no ambition@sheep with no shame