Newcastle came out in their customary 5-4-1/3-4-3 with Fabian Schar on the left side of the back three. The lads were able to get forward down the left twice early but were unable to create anything to threaten Crystal Palace.
Palace had an excellent chance forcing Dubravka into an early save in the sixth minute. Gary Cahill connected on a lofted corner, which Dubravka did brilliantly to tip away.
Newcastle actually had more possession in the first fifteen minutes but continued to give the ball away cheaply. Nabil Bentaleb was dispossessed in the midfield leading to another Crystal Palace chance. Fortunately, the shot was deflected out for a corner.
On the subsequent corner-kick, Martin Dubravka made another world-class save to rival his first one. This time it was Scott Dann who headed in the ball at the near post forcing Dubravka into an acrobatic stop.
Newcastle continued to struggle looking disjointed while being very lax in possession. Palace created another golden chance from a set-piece in the 23rd minute. Patrick van Aanholt put in a dangerous free-kick that Christian Benteke could only head wide.
In the 28th minute, Fabian Schar had a critical interception on a through ball that would have seen an Eagle through on Dubravka.
The Magpies sorted themselves out somewhat at around the 30-minute mark, enjoying a spell of possession. They were finally able to string more than two passes together as they asked a few questions of the Palace defense. However, they weren’t able to create any clear chances.
Crystal Palace found their breakthrough on a free-kick, which was given away just before the break by Fabian Schar. Former Magpie Patrick van Aanholt whipped in a wonderful free-kick that sailed by Dubravka. What a terrible time to concede a goal.
Newcastle have had more possession and passes than Crystal Palace. However, we’ve only tested Vicente Guaita once on a shot from Joelinton. Palace have been the far more threatening side, and we just don’t create enough chances.
This is just not good enough. After showing signs of life to close the first-half, it all comes undone on a set-piece. In all honesty, Newcastle deserve to be down after such an uninspired display.
177 comments so far
JDdubai
Feb 22, 2020 at 3:58 PM
Comment #1Why keep playing the same way????!! It has been clearly not working for months, why doesnt Bruce try to change things??
We have a CF who has no confidence and clearly needs help – plan is to isolate him completely and let him work off scraps so he knows he will only get 1 or maybe 2 half chances a game so the pressure is ramped up when they do come along.
5 at the back isnt making us better defensively, only our top keeper saving us repeatedly has keep us in games so 5 at the back isnt working defensively and is hindering us in the attacking sense too.
Midfield generally overrun ever game.
So in all aspects the formation and style is losing us each area of the pitch.
And yet he keeps on churning out 541 every game regardless of opposition and seems baffled why we are getting the same results.
why not try pushing Miggy up front with joe, kind of like a Bellamy to joe’s shearer(obvs not the same class) but looking for knockdowns, run the channels and flick ons. ASM in the hole behind, 4 at the back and press higher up the pitch.
Ron Knee
Feb 22, 2020 at 3:58 PM
Comment #2Dubs:
Premier League
?@premierleague
· 40m
Save of the season? ?#CRYNEW @NUFC
IrishRob
Feb 22, 2020 at 3:59 PM
Comment #3It seems their “we will try harder next game” spiel is being said so often now that it has no effect on them anymore!
Lindisfarne
Feb 22, 2020 at 3:59 PM
Comment #4Nothing is really much different.
TomaKaThor
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:00 PM
Comment #5I genuinely believe we have one of the next big stars in football in Saint Max, he is so good at protecting the ball ect while onit.. But how long before he gets tired of this s show… Only time we do anything is when he manages to produce magic.. There isn’t much point him attempting to pass because Joelinton never makes the right run
Jammydodger
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:00 PM
Comment #6Gayle and Matty on for bentaleb and fernandez
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:00 PM
Comment #7_________________Dubs____________________
Lazaro______Schar_____LAscelles______Ritchie
__________HAyden_____Longstaff
ASM___________Joelinton_____________Almiron
_______________Gayle
Make it happen.
Natural width, speed on the flanks, get to the byline and pile into the box. Stop neutering ourselves. Stop treating football as more complex than it is. Stop having an inferiority complex when we have an abundance of talent.
Mad Frog Boom 22
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:01 PM
Comment #8Crystalboys 1 – 22 Toon, only our goals needed
davetoon
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:02 PM
Comment #9How Bruce could name an unchanged team (Clark injured) after conceding 4 goals in their last half of football is amazing.
Nufc-83
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:02 PM
Comment #10I would agree now it’s time to go in hard on Bruce. Every game we should all be shouting for him to be out and boo him.
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:02 PM
Comment #11JD
Tha’s another possible approach, yes. The point is there are numerous approaches.
Another is how we played at Oxford when Joe went off.
Almiron and ASM most advances players Longstaff behind them Almiron playing on the shoulder much more and running the channels.
Lindisfarne
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:03 PM
Comment #12JDsports 1
Sports direct 0
Slatymag
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Comment #13I suppose we’ll see a sub after CP’s next goal. Good thinking Bruce, false sense of security and all that
TomaKaThor
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Comment #14Let’s just camp 30 yards further up the pitch, who cares if we get battered.. Our goal diff is shocking
Do One Dinosaur
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Comment #15What a load of Roaaaaaaarbish
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Comment #16This is the thing that folk who were slagging Rafa don’t get with Benitez he tried a fair number of players and formations to finally get us attacking and defending perfectly in the 343 but before that we had 4231, 442, 433, 541 etc
Bruce copied the formation and its only the same in numbers only
Its not been working for ages now Rafa would have changed something a long time ago
Now the teams have came out so no subs?
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Comment #17His flexibility seem to be limited to swapping ASM and Joelinton at the start of this 2nd half.
Jib
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:05 PM
Comment #18It’s an interesting piece of social observation – a blog.
Losing 1 – 0 away at half-time and the criticism gets cranked up
by the minute by posters vying against each other to see who can
make the most condemning statement
ilovetoon8788
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:05 PM
Comment #19Bruce has had 9 new players and 30 games with us. And we look utter shi* week after week.
Currently the lowest scoring team in the league. Another stat that we are at the bottom of.
Brucemags
Reilly
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:05 PM
Comment #20fkin hell
Just a Fat Neil Warnock
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:06 PM
Comment #21Bruce is definitely worse than pardew and mclaren. Although those two managed years ago while dinosaurs were still the ruling species so theyd probably be just as clueless if they somehow got another premiership job.
TomaKaThor
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:06 PM
Comment #22Freaking embarrassing defending.. Sigh
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:06 PM
Comment #23They do exactly what I prescribed for us, get a chance and hit the post.
Byline, cut backs, bodies in box = chances.
DubaiMicky
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:06 PM
Comment #24How is that not 2????
MikeAshleysWallet
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:07 PM
Comment #25That’ll be more of the same tactics then. Bruce might even chuck in a “come on lads” shout just to surprise the opposition.
TomaKaThor
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:08 PM
Comment #26Jib get a grip for once, we have been shocking all season.. In fact abysmal.. Even when we win I don’t think we have deserved it maybe more than once or twice at a stretch.. Its horrible every game.. Stats dong lie
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:08 PM
Comment #27For 3 CBs we get absoutely dominated at set-pieces.
West Lancs Geordie
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:08 PM
Comment #28Bruce make changes HA Ha! His usual option Carroll is long termed injured and he can’t play hoof ball without him. In all honesty he’d be better putting Lejeune on for Joeyboy. Clueless and predictable.
davetoon
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:08 PM
Comment #29Shots 13 – 5, shots on target 6 – 1
IrishRob
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:08 PM
Comment #30We should be 3 or 4 nil down. Shocking!!
Just a Fat Neil Warnock
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:09 PM
Comment #31Jib
Not including Carver who wasn’t even good enough to be called a dinosaur, can you name a time we played worse in the EPL or a worse manager (in comparison to those he was up against)?
#cans
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:09 PM
Comment #32Jib – I think it’s because the football seems to get worse by the minute, we’re making Palace look like Liverpool..
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:10 PM
Comment #33@Jib
I think most knew Bruce wasn’t good enough before he came here but folk were willing to give him a chance but hes now been shown up for what he is not good enough to be a coach of Newcastle!
Unfortunately under Ashley hes employed too many people that should never be getting near our club
@Nufc-83
He already thinks hes been getting a raw deal from the supporters as well……
TomaKaThor
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:10 PM
Comment #34We are making the team that we get compared to look like a class attacking side.. But you be content jib.. As always..
Sheikh Unknown
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:11 PM
Comment #35Hurry up Palace and get the second, we can all then do something a hell of a lot more enjoyable like doing the ironing or watching some paint dry.
TomaKaThor
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:13 PM
Comment #36Bruce it’s time to accept that the Benitez 5 at the back you have fluked your results on isn’t working anymore.. Its been a while the new players and the fact the old won’t remember his training drills so well anymore
DeanToon88
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:14 PM
Comment #37Losing to a team that has had 3 straight defeats, ive had enough of this
JP...from The Rock
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:14 PM
Comment #38Just give ASM the ball all the time every time!
toon22
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:14 PM
Comment #39DoD
Proper funny
Hahahahaha
IrishRob
Feb 22, 2020 at 4:14 PM
Comment #40Hayden for Bentaleb and It should be Joelinton for Gayle, but he won’t take Joelinton off he will take Miggy off watch!