Newcastle were in the game and holding up, but another defensive error brought on a Leicester City flurry to close the first half. Florian Lejeune just should not have been asked to play four times in less than two weeks. He was, and he just didn’t have it for a second straight game.
Martin Dubravka kept us in the game with some outstanding saves, but he could do nothing on the three goals, the last two of which were long-range blasts from James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury.
It looked like another collapse was on hand after Lejeune’s second error led to Maddison’s goal. The Foxes looked hungry for a third, but Newcastle were fortunate to keep it just 2-0 at the half.
Martin Dubravka– under pressure early and often
However, the damage was done both mentally and physically. Late in the half, both Jetro Willems and Javier Manquillo had to be taken off injured. Jonjo Shelvey couldn’t come out to start the second so Bruce was forced to use all of his substitutions.
Then Fabian Schar went down with a hamstring injury, and we were forced to play with ten men for the second time against Leicester. There also could be a problem with DeAndre Yedlin, who may have suffered a broken hand.
We were pleased that the players fought until the very end, but we are now in a precarious position in the league heading to Wolves in two weeks.
First we have the FA Cup on Saturday which will likely see Bruce field a weakened team. But that’s something that Newcastle fans will be very accustomed to though this time it may not be by choice.
Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Ciaran Clark, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Paul Dummett can’t return soon enough. We hope some are back by Wolves which is going to be another very tough match to get something from.
Who Was Newcastle's Best Player In 3-0 Defeat To Leicester City?
- Martin Dubravka (66%, 1,073 )
- Miguel Almiron (10%, 169 )
- Federico Fernandez (4%, 72 )
- Yoshinori Muto (4%, 58 )
- Jonjo Shelvey (3%, 51 )
- Joelinton (3%, 43 )
- Florian Lejeune (2%, 37 )
- Javier Manquillo (2%, 27 )
- Isaac Hayden (1%, 23 )
- Sean Longstaff (1%, 21 )
- Emil Krafth (1%, 19 )
- Fabian Schar (1%, 16 )
- DeAndre Yedlin (1%, 11 )
- Jetro Willems (0%, 6 )
Total Voters: 1,626
101 comments so far
jane
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:30 PM
Comment #41you’re right cyprus it is important that we still have a little cushion. all is not lost yet!
c-dog
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:32 PM
Comment #42Joelinton running at players from deep. Haha
Only a witless worm would imagine that fat slug running at anyone. Might as well have Mike Ashley himself running at defenders
Anglo Saxon
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:32 PM
Comment #43Jib 2 Positives.
jane
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:32 PM
Comment #44our best results have come with St Maximin and Almiron on the wings and Joelinton up front.
Lindisfarne
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:33 PM
Comment #45Bruce says “We didn’t have the luxury of making 10 changes” and the overburdening nature of the schedule.
To me, he is basically admitting that he can not manage his squad adequately.
Nufc-83
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:34 PM
Comment #46He’s produced 2 of our best chances in recent games by running at players??
Small World
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:35 PM
Comment #47Suggestions for immediate action by the club
a) Don’t give the injured players the barrel / ice treatment. At the moment, It’s cold enough outside of a tub in Benton never mind in one.
b) Let JoeLinton “go home” during the transfer window and maybe sell him to a South American League. I reckon Fray Bentos of Argentina would pay be willing to fork out some money on him.
jimiley
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:36 PM
Comment #48Joe is laughing all the way to the bank
80k a week for 6 years.
The club really stood on a mine with him. Both legs gone. He could take us into the Championship no bother.
I dread to think how many millions 80K x 52 x 6 comes to.We would be better selling him for 5 million and taking the hit.
At least we can get Joselu back for nowt. He will score more goals.
jane
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:36 PM
Comment #49if you have a poor player in your team the best place to stick them is up top out of the way. 🙂
Nufc-83
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:37 PM
Comment #50Anyway the biggest issue is the formation/style of play and tactics not the players. If Joelinton is sold I would bet my house he will go onto becoming a very decent player. Unless the style of play and formation changes no player will be a success at Newcastle. ASM and Almiron would be top draw in a good quality side.
TomaKaThor
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:37 PM
Comment #51Any player would be mad to join us with the treatment our fickle fans dish out, I actually enjoyed Perez celebration it was like a heavy dose of Karma to all the fans who booed him whenever he didn’t score for a few games.
Small World
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:38 PM
Comment #52Jane
“if you have a poor player in your team the best place to stick them is up top out of the way.”
I’d suggest Left Back (in the dressing room)
kimbo
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:39 PM
Comment #53Ivan Toney or Joelinton?
Just a fan
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:39 PM
Comment #54I might be in a minority of one here but for a team that is second in the league Leicester were just not really very good.
Two stupid errors from us and doing nothing against ten men.
dougie
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:40 PM
Comment #55Only Sports Direct FC would sanction ÂŁ40 million for Joelinton with his track record.I thought ÂŁ20 million for Almiron w
jane
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:40 PM
Comment #56i’m glad Perez didn’t shy away from putting his fingers in his ears but didn’t over do it either.
Jib
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:40 PM
Comment #57jimiley
The club really stood on a mine with him. Both legs gone.
That’s terrible
I once saw a movie (Forest Gump) where a guy lost both legs
You’ve REALLY upset me
You should apologise to all bloggers IMMEDIATELY !!!!!!!!
Jib
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:42 PM
Comment #58As Ayoze walked down the tunnel he probably said to Joelinton
“Better get used to it son , there’s some right arseholes support this club”
dougie
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:43 PM
Comment #59I thought Almiron for 20 million was bad enough from the MLS which is League one standard.They are just absolutely clueless.Even the parasite admits he shouldn’t even own a football club.
TomaKaThor
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:44 PM
Comment #60I imagine Joelinton might be one of the players forced out the club because the fans demand instant success even though there is clearly a good player and will go else where and show they are a good player, like Thauvin or Mitrovic both of whom I wanted to keep..
Anglo Saxon
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:44 PM
Comment #61Jib 1 Positive.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:44 PM
Comment #62Just got back
Where do you start
One thing – if that fu**wit of a owner Ashley cannot see we are desperate and does not sanction the buying of at least 4 players of Premiership class then he and we the supporters can kiss the Premiership goodbye.
And the f**kwit supporters who constantly booed Perez last season showed us what we miss – links up defence and attack never stopped running and scored !!
Yes some of the players should not of been playing already carrying injuries but did Bruce have a choice as the rest of the defence were also injured ie Clark Lascalles or carrying knocks.
As for the game started slowly could of been behind first minute but gradually grew into the game missed a glorious chance with JoeLinton – decent save from Keeper- then the wheels came off big style
One of the first things you are taught as a kid do not pass across the box. Once Perez had pounced there was no way back and to gift them a second argghhh
Second half became a practice match for Leicester when we went down to ten
Merit marks
Dubravka 8 – kept us in the game with some smart saves early on no chance with the goals
Manquilla 5 – did ok until he limped out of the game
LeJuene 3 – awful today two silly mistakes but kept going till the end needs a rest as he is running on empty
Schar 4 – another who looked like he was carrying a injury before he went off with a pulled hammy.
Fernandez 6 – pick of the defenders but another who looks pooped
Willems 4 – looked slow and ponderous and not op for the battle until he went off injured
Shelvey 5- started brightly lovely turn and set up for Joe but quickly lost steam letting players run past him. Could of been the injury
Hayden 6 – good at what he does breaking up play and short passes but created nothing today played to deep. Maybe should of had a pen when two footed tackle second half – should of went to VAR
Almiron 7 – never stopped running and trying didn’t let his head drop – good on the lad. Carried the ball out of defence second and defended well to
JoeLinton -5 poor game had great chance to put us one up – half decent save but the vitriol on here is way over the top
Muto – 6 did ok full of running but showed more than Gayle. Never looked like scoring but who did. Needs run in team
Subs
Yedlin 6 best of the rest got us up and down the right defended well when had to
Kraft – 4 did ok but Leicester were not really trying second half
Longstaffe 3 – what has gone wrong lad looked out of sorts couldn’t pass or tackle today
Just a fan
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:47 PM
Comment #63Leicester are such a well run club.
A manager keeps them from being relegated so they sack him.
A manager wins them the league so they sack him.
They don’t have our history or fan base.
They will be back to normal shortly.mid table or relegated.
Jib
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:48 PM
Comment #64I was going to mention early doors in the game that Willems seemed to be feeling his groin
Ninjacent
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:52 PM
Comment #65I’ve said this from day one, the style of play is awful. The results have been good OVERALL to date, but if you don’t have the ball you CANNOT CREATE CHANCES, if you don’t have the ball, THE PLAYERS HAVE TO RUN MORE TO CLOSE SPACE, which leads to fatigue physically and MENTALLY, leading to injuries. Bruce has had the rub of the green and now we are seeing opportunities to score goals not occurring which will in turn drown us out of the top league.
Tyran21
Jan 1, 2020 at 7:59 PM
Comment #66Not sure why people is blaming Joel, with this amount of possession. Even Shearer can’t do much. I thought Joel did ok on the right side. Why did Bruce not swap Joel’s and Muto’s position makes me wonder.
Moonraker15
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:01 PM
Comment #67Jib
I can’t believe you are defending the regime in the present circumstances.
In a few weeks we will be in the bottom 3 and I don’t think they have the ability to get us out of it.
WTF are you defending?
c-dog
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:01 PM
Comment #68Our best results have come with Clark
Jib
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Comment #69Moonraker15
Point out a defence and I’ll endeavour to answer
Ketsbaia9
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Comment #70Joelinton is best on the left wing or just behind the centre forward. Set up the goal against Man Utd and seemed ok running with the ball on the left.
jimiley
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Comment #71Jib
Its symbolism for a disaster.
Forest Gump is a movie. Not real. Try not to worry.
Macas
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:07 PM
Comment #72Against Man U Bruce was slated on here for rotating the squad and playing the two Longstaff brothers in midfield. Today he again gets slated for deciding to stick with the senior pros as the only alternative was academy kids against the second best team in the league. No matter what he does he will get abuse on here.
Today there was nothing much in it until two individual mistakes and four injuries pretty much ended the game.
Considering Bruce has a bunch of attackers who never look like scoring he has done a pretty good job so far.
As for saying the football was much better under Rafa…….some people must have short memories.
Ketsbaia9
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:07 PM
Comment #73Very clumsy player though. Can look slow at times. Slimani was a better player. Fast and scores goals. Rondon wasn’t fast but at least he had good balance.
Uncertain Toon
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:09 PM
Comment #74Can’t see us gaining any points this month, could be up against it in Feb.
Hope I’m wrong.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:11 PM
Comment #75No Jib,
Not because he’s get hard, because it would be funny to see you soil yourself in the rare occurrence you left your pit.
jimiley
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:13 PM
Comment #76Nothing much in it until the errors.??
Just 80/20 possession.
If you enjoy watching the Toon at home with 20 per cent possession then good luck.
I want to watch my team play not the other way around.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:14 PM
Comment #77Bruce bemoaned the fact he’d inherited six CB’s, now we know he was really moaning about not inheriting eight.
Bambams
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:16 PM
Comment #78The one good thing about Bruce is he was AshLIE choice, so therefore he wont want to prove us lot right and should back him in the window.
It wont be easy but the bare minimum of Gayle, Muto, Murphy and Elliott should be sold, take a hit on price but it frees up wages in the long term.
Depending on who he is after (Bowen) we could also sell a winger (Atsu) – again it all depends on who Bruce is after.
My actual belief is we will be the same as most windows, AshLIE will believe we are safe for fourth bottom and spend nothing.
Hope I am wrong, we need a goalscorer – I think there is only four other teams out of the 92 clubs that have scored less than we have.
Not good
toon22
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:16 PM
Comment #79JIB
Proven to work for the clubs PR dept
Pointless debating anything with him
Ketsbaia9
Jan 1, 2020 at 8:16 PM
Comment #80lol we still don’t need to buy any defenders in January. We’ll have Lascelles and Clark back soon. Definitely need a holding midfielder whom is technical and has pace. We also need Jarrod Bowen, a creative player and Mateta and Everton Soares.