Well, we’ve seen that before. Some of the names have changed but the performance was reminiscent of some of last season’s plonkers. Steve Bruce’s Achilles heel of having teams seem unprepared for a match has reared it’s ugly head once again. It didn’t take long.
There were few performances this afternoon that even deserve a mention. Miguel Almiron came on in the second half and tried to spark some life into Newcastle. Javier Manquillo put in an admirable display at right-back.
Callum Wilson gave his all but his wayward header in the 63rd minute basically slammed the door shut on any comeback. But this game was decided well before then. Two teams emerged from the St James Park tunnel but only one was ready from the start. That was Brighton.
We’ve come crashing back to earth after two flat and uninspired displays. The one midweek against Blackburn was understandable as it was a changed team. Today was just infuriating to see a rested first team put in a toothless display like that.
To top it off our goal difference is in the red. The chances of mounting a fighting start this season has taken a serious blow.
We’ll see what Wednesday at Morecambe brings. We expect a comfortable win due to the opposition. As for next Sunday at Spurs, who knows what to expect. Could be excellent, could be decent, could be atrocious. Who knows.
111 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:02 PM
Comment #41Did ASM bottle it there or not, Lamptey had lumps kicked out of him.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:03 PM
Comment #42We’re going to have to go five at the back against Spurs and just try to contain them.
Ketsbaia9
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:04 PM
Comment #43Good performance against West Ham, awful performance today. Just didn’t threaten them enough. Boring game, but we need more players desperately.
toonbrother
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:04 PM
Comment #44Saddest part of today was the handful of “fans” who accused St Max of faking an injury
I seem to remember Lascelles being accused of something similar when he went off injured in a league cup tie season before last (Despite the fact he tried to play through said injury)
when it comes to fans judging the intangible/unseen qualities of players, i see a trend in how certain players are ascribed heroic attributes like “passion”, “gives 100% percent”, “loves the badge” etc while others are automatically tarred with negative attributes like “didnt fancy it”, “only here for paycheque”, faking injury etc.
Fascinating stuff.
Mostly Sad but fascinating
Hail Wor Ashley
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:05 PM
Comment #45JfA
Probably correct.
It’s alright for us on here to get a bit hyperbolic and overly optimistic when given a slither of hope, but if Bruce and his team marinade on the whiff of their own brand after one performance then it’s simply unprofessional.
As I’ve said already, you can point to the line-up, formation etc – but the biggest sin was the seeming complete lack of tactical prep and focus from the beginning. Doesn’t matter what personnel or formation you play, when you kick-off half asleep and completely unaware of the opposition’s style of play, you’re always going to be in trouble. Can’t go into football matches blind, thinking you’re going to be allowed to cruise, which is what it looked like today – simply weren’t battle ready.
sing in the corner
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:05 PM
Comment #46toonbrother
I don’t normally give trolls what they want,but…
While you’re at it, why not start talking about yourself in the 3rd person, and trot out your old mantra about you being ‘the smartest guy in the room’?
🙂
Toon Tang
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:05 PM
Comment #47Fraser the only player showing a modicum of anything. The rest were bastard useless. Crap tactics, crap everything.
Crap
t hibbitt
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:06 PM
Comment #48Kets
before we spend any more money we need a new MANAGER
WLtoon
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:07 PM
Comment #49Jail,
Hav`nt a clue either, yet some fans think we should beat a team like Leeds, why, they look even better than Brighton ffs.
Just bcos a team has`nt finished above us in previous seasons does,nt mean they won`t do it this season, and with Potter in charge of Brighton they will easily have more points than us , i would take a bet on it.
jane
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:08 PM
Comment #50“the biggest sin was the seeming complete lack of tactical prep and focus from the beginning.”
yes this is where it went wrong like Sheffield Utd last week against Wolves.
toonbrother
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:08 PM
Comment #51@sing in the corner Comment #46
Did that comment make sense in your head before you posted it?
I’m genuinely curious :-0
Just a Fat Dave Bassett
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:09 PM
Comment #52Toonbrother
Bruce has always been awful. If he won ten games on the bounce or beat Man City 10-0 my opinion wouldn’t change one bit. I said when he come he’d need two consecutive excellent seasons playing nice football before I’d even consider upgrading my opinion of him up to average. He’s getting worse too. That trend is never going to change. If he was a stock he’d be Hertz. If he was a computer he’d be an Amstrad. Old past it managers or players rarely suddenly become great. He’s not just crap, he plays awful football.
ilovetoon8788
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:09 PM
Comment #53What’s the use signing players when we set up as 442? Don’t even bother.
442 with a big man. Ffs what a joke.
Cathedral on the hill
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:09 PM
Comment #54What an absolute turgid, pathetic, pile of excrement that was. The sad thing is it wasn’t a surprise they did the exact same thing to us in the corresponding game last season only this time they took their chances. Brighton aren’t a team with better players just a team with a clear strategy, game plan, style of play and being well coached. Despite being backed with over 100 million since he arrived Bruce can’t instill a style of play or a strategy and we seem clueless as to what to do with and without the ball. Better hope and pray nick can push this takeover through or another depressing slog to get to 40 points as soon as possible awaits. The truly depressing thought is cabbage head is bomb proof and he knows it.
lesh
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:10 PM
Comment #55Folk waxing lyrical about the performance against WHU makes me wonder whether I and the MoTD pundits missed something.
Did we put in a superlative, tactical performance that brought free-flowing football or was it a case of the lads being fired up and working their socks off?
Mund
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:10 PM
Comment #56Toon(don’t)bother
Have you got any more insults for the fans??
What an arse
mindshaft
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:10 PM
Comment #57I called it the other day in my prediction , we struggle with pace and teams who press , setting up with a 4-4-2 with the players we have against Brighton was suicidal – sadly I had us scoring a couple of goals to get a draw … Was obviously blind sided by Wilson last week , all the new signings looked poor today as did the rest of the team .
Poor management tactical awareness and decisions today pretty much carried on from last season despite the new players.
Clueless on and off the pitch … And I doubt it’s going to get any better against spuds …
It’s pointless comparing Bruce to previous incumbents – he’s had three transfer windows and brought in a lot of players to make this team his own and to play the style he wants, it’s all down to him and his coaching staff
Our Toon
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #58Jail
My personal feeling is ASM bottled it, had a previous injury to play on and wanted out as lamptey was to good for him.
ilovetoon8788
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #59If eddie howie is available we really should go for him.
We are in desperate need for a new manager. A young modern coach.
We don’t need players anymore.
lesh
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #60Jane
Just a Fan was posting earlier today… have you two fallen out already?
😉
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #61WL
Do you think we shouldnt be thinking we could beat Brighton at home?
any PL game is tough but Brighton at home is one which, despite their threats, we should be thinking that we CAN win the match.
Just a Fat Dave Bassett
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:13 PM
Comment #62Leeds have average players but a great manager. Brighton the same. Sheffield Utd have crap players but a good manager. Southampton the same. We have good players but a crap manager. The teams with inferior players will wipe the floor with us.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:13 PM
Comment #63Was it really that good a performance against West Ham or were they just so poor, like Bournemouth last season. I know they say you can only beat what’s in front of you but if we were that good we made West Ham and Bournemouth look so poor why didn’t we follow those performances up against not so stellar opposition in Brighton and Watford (I think)
toonbrother
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:14 PM
Comment #64@JaFDB well said
Lets hope he somehow flukes his way to survival this year
and we stay in the premier league long enough for Big Mike to sell the club to ambitious new owners who can then fire him
Great White Hunter
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:14 PM
Comment #65Hi all, watched the game live, and just watched it again, anyone who thinks Bruce knows about tactics, football know how or plain knowledge, is living in cloud cuckoo land. BHA manager Potters footballl level is ten times what Bruce is, he is a Dinosaur, end of, nice guy but that’s it. We don’t have a plan B,C just plan A, hump it up for the forwards to run & jump for it and hope something happens ! I said in August without a crowd to back us at home, we are struggling big time. Ashley watching, must be thinking it’s easier bringing my retail shops back to life…….
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:15 PM
Comment #66Lesh
Imo the West Ham game went well as Bruce was up against another old school dinosaur in moyes who had a team with low morale and didnt throw anything tactical at us that needed thought to overcome.
442 was suited to that game and i said Bruce did well last week as had the lads playing well for that match. but just replicating the same 442 longball each week regardless of opposition will lead to more days like today.
jimiley
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:15 PM
Comment #67Carroll has started an average of 5 games a season over the last 5 years. He has not scored for 36 games and nearly 4 years.
Does anybody see a problem on 80-k a week.???
He excels at the forearm smash but thats about it.
He has to be the luckiest guy in the league. But you are dealing with the dumbest club in the league.
Totally dysfunctional club.
Has Amanda bought us yet?
lesh
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:15 PM
Comment #68I don’t know whether it’s been posted, but The Mag has it that despite starving Rafa of funds when needed, he’s overseen a net spend of £100m for Bruce
Ron Knee
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:15 PM
Comment #69It’s a puzzle how these dinosaur managers keep getting work.
toon22
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:16 PM
Comment #70We need a new manager
Sadly there’s no chance of getting one
Another fun season ahead it seems
t hibbitt
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:16 PM
Comment #71WL
Brighton at home should be at least a 50/50 not a Brighton walkover,
Mund
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:16 PM
Comment #72I’d take Eddie Howe tomorrow.
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:17 PM
Comment #73lol that sending off for Chelsea was mad – rugby tackled.
sing in the corner
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:17 PM
Comment #74Finding positives..
Well I agree with some earlier comments that Fraser was bright and busy. Almiron the same when he got on.
Wilson was canny too,finding some good positions. Movement was good for the sitter he missed.
A bad day. The tests will come thick and fast for Bruce and HIS team. That’s what it is now. He needs to show skill, turning round a performance like that
toon22
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:18 PM
Comment #75Lesh
It’s utterly bizarre
Why give an utter failure of a manager money but deny a guy who’s won everything
lesh
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:18 PM
Comment #76Gothmog’s Pyjamas
@66
That was my point but made much more eloquently. What’s the point in bringing ball-players if they’re not used to maximum advantage.
jane
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:19 PM
Comment #77“Was it really that good a performance against West Ham or were they just so poor”
or were we just so poor today. 2 games is too early too know.
lesh
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:20 PM
Comment #78Froggy
The answer to your question is quite simple, Bruce doesn’t present a challenge to Ashley’s need to be boss, whereas Rafa did.
Mund
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:20 PM
Comment #79Far play to Graham Potter because he has got that team well drilled and playing like a propa football team.
The movement and intensity they work at should be a given for any premier league side but not us.
Honestly looked like the team just got off there jollies. Managers need big balls and Brucey boy has lost his
jimiley
Sep 20, 2020 at 5:20 PM
Comment #80This virus lock out is a blessing for the fans. They just do not know it. Just imagine paying money to watch that.
The problem for the club is that many may never come back.
Rather watch a Queen video with a bottle at hand.