Newcastle couldn’t match a determined Arsenal in the second half and have gone down to defeat once again. We’ve been held scoreless for the 6th time in our last 7 matches and looked nowhere near scoring tonight. The lads collapsed defensively and have lost all confidence.
Newcastle came out unchanged after a scoreless first half. Arsenal burst out of the gate and started the second half with a very good chance.
A clearance landed to Alexandre Lacazette in the box. The Frenchman turned and struck a powerful low shot. Karl Darlow made a tremendous save getting down and blocking the shot with his right hand. Another world-class save from Karl.
But a few minutes later, Arsenal broke the stalemate. On a break after another poor corner, Thomas Partey lobbed a ball up the pitch to Aubameyang down the left. The forward drove into the box past Emil Krafth and his shot was blasted into the net.
Arsenal doubled their lead on the hour mark on another break. Emile Smith Rowe surged down the left cut inside and played a perfect ball to the Sako. The winger first-timed it into the back of the net leaving Darlow no chance.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure while Newcastle were struggling to keep pace. Five minutes after Sako’s goal, Karl Darlow made a brilliant save on a point-blank header from Lacazette.
Bruce made his first change after 68 minutes, with Jacob Murphy replacing Andy Carroll. Joelinton pushed next to Wilson up top with Murphy moving to right-wing.
The Gunners added a third in the 76th minute. Cedric burst to the byline and got to the ball just in time. His cross found Aubameyang who tapped it in for his second of the evening. Newcastle have once again fallen apart defensively while offering precious little going forward.
After the goal, Bruce brought Jeff Hendrick on for Matty Longstaff. Elliot Anderson came on for his Premier League debut in the 87th minute. Arsenal pushed for a fourth as Newcastle held on to keep it at 3-0. It looks far too familiar as nothing Bruce tries is working. It’s becoming quite clear that it’s time for a change.
269 comments so far
giimps
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:53 PM
Comment #1Broos oot
AncientC
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:55 PM
Comment #2Bruce looks like he’s going for his Sunderland record of 3 league wins in a calendar year.
What really rubs it in for me; PEA’s smug grin sitting in the stands and after the game. PEA looked a shadow of his former self, but never underestimate Bruce’s ability to put a smile back on the face of an out-of-form (opposition) player who’s struggling to hit the proverbial barn door.
Optimistic prime
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:55 PM
Comment #3Munster
One half you’re bigging him up, the other pushing him down the stairs!
Reactionary opinion, as usual no substance or sense.
Just more screaming waffle from the player manager of Irelands under 12s.
What next, why you’re fair and balanced and didn’t jump on the firrst half performance?
Jail for Ashley
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:56 PM
Comment #4What’s the betting he makes a joke about needing to put the gloves back on after that.
Corkypants
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:56 PM
Comment #5Bruce out!!!!!!!!
lochinvar
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:57 PM
Comment #6Bruce should stay in London and get a West Coast train back to the farm
2 points out of 24
Say that again
2 points out of 24
Adamn_92
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:57 PM
Comment #7Glad we finally saw the team play with the ‘gloves off’ and go for the win, all out attack. 1 shot on target and 34% possession, such a massive improvement from the other games where the gloves were on and we were defensive….
Did anyone see any difference tonight compared to the other matches, because I sure didn’t. Against Sheffield United he claimed he wanted to play higher up the pitch and tonight was apparently meant to be when we went for it and attacked. We have Sheffield the first win of the season and just lost 3-0 with 1 shot on target. So we are awful when we defend and just as awful when we’re supposedly attacking. Exactly what style of football are you good at Bruce
Jail for Ashley
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Comment #8No sending off, no bad decisions, no hitting the woodwork that might have changed the game. What is tonight’s excuse going to be.
Tartantoon
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Comment #9Every game gets more and more painful to watch. To bring on a winger to replace a striker who needed a winger to cross the ball for him just sums this clueless **** up.
Buck
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Comment #10One poster wrote a couple of threads back that it looked like the players played for Bruce today…
From now on you’re the blog clown Munster.
They did not play for Bruce for one second. They played for them selfes, or at best for a takeover.
Ace50
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Comment #11Was Gayle injured?
lochinvar
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:58 PM
Comment #12How many goals do we loose from cut backs to the edge of the box
Players leaving so much space makes me think they’re doing deliberately
DeanToon88
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:59 PM
Comment #13Sell the entire midfield apart from maybe hayden, they are utterly terrible players im sorry to be harsh but its true, they offer us absolutley nothing, cant link with attack and offer nothing, the strikers get absolutley no servervice at all, i cant stand to see shelvley strolling around the ptch any longer, im sorry but he has to be sold, hes gone rapidly downhill these past few seasons, we lack any quality from our wingers as lewis and kratth, they cant delviver a cross and offer us nothing, we have wilson up top who in a capable side would have 20 goals by now, the whole team from top to bottom is championship standard apart from maybe darlow, miggy, hayden ASM and wilson, the rest of the team is just quite simply not good enough it doesnt help that we have a clueless manger managing us.
As if this corovavirus lockdown isnt depressing enough we have to endure newcastle getting thumped week in week out. i despise it.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:59 PM
Comment #14Buck,
He’s been at it for years.
Ace50
Jan 18, 2021 at 9:59 PM
Comment #15We certainly look doomed if something significant doesn’t happen within the next month or so
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:02 PM
Comment #16What difference would ASM have made tonight really? Cedric or Tierney would have eaten him alive
The sooner we get a new manager in even someone to give us a bit of organisation and structure
Playing 442 with inverted wingers with Shelvey and Carroll playing was always going to end well that’s 4 players who will be ineffective and so it proved
lochinvar
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:02 PM
Comment #17Jamie Carragher
” a better way to loose” ( compared to Sheffield)
” such poor quality all over the pitch”
TomaKaThor
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:02 PM
Comment #18Seems pretty simple to me.
Look at Bruce’s record as premiership manager
Look at Newcastle stats under Bruce… We are in the bottom 2 for almost allattacking stats
Look at what people say who watch us who haven’t before. Look at how we play week in week out… We would have been relegated last year probably if not for Saint max
Ace50
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:02 PM
Comment #19Watching the two sides is depressing. We cannot retain possession. As soon as Darlow gets the ball, almost all defenders just look away and think, hoof it. When defenders have the ball, they almost always look to Darlow, to hoof it. When midfielders have the ball, there’s no movement, so most of the time go backwards, ad infinitum
West Lancs Geordie
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:03 PM
Comment #20I think as soon as he goes behind he’s on to that footballing genius Ashley to say what do we do now.
Ashley says “Nowt ” I’ve every confidence in you to get us out of this mess. So he does nowt and gets hammered.
Personally I wouldn’t let him back on the team bus and leave him in London.
Ace50
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:03 PM
Comment #21The opening analysis before the game was spot on….we are clearly regressing. Nicky summed it up….incoherent
wartongeordie
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:03 PM
Comment #22Only Almiron and Darlow played anywhere near decent
No confidence, no skill, no fight,.
Defended awfully and booted it back to them every time, has anyone ever seen Lewis beat a man or for that matter complete a pass or make an important tackle, shocking.
Novocastrian66
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:04 PM
Comment #23Bruce has been at the club for 18 months and he doesn’t have a settled defence or midfield. Every game he makes wholesale changes and wonders why they play like strangers. He has to go.
lochinvar
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:04 PM
Comment #24Bruce
No press interview – he’s got his gloves caught in the toilet door
toon kk
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:04 PM
Comment #25Everyone keeps blaming Bruce, Yes he’s sh.te
But our players are really poor, no manager can change that without investment and good scouting.
naptoon
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:04 PM
Comment #26Go on Gary takeover needs to happen ASAP.
CJ
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:04 PM
Comment #27Garry neville actually sums it up well. “Nothing will change until the ownership changes”
jane
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:05 PM
Comment #28i said recently we concede most of goals when the opposition counter-attacks. this is what happened with the first goal.
magic hat
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:05 PM
Comment #29Play a 442 without crossers…. with a target man up top. Then take said target man off and put the winger he was crying out for on. Had Ritchie and Murphy started on the wings or max and fraser had they been fit. the attack could have worked. Bruce really should walk away as he’s totally clueless… we need a midfielder who is up to scratch to sit alongside Hayden as he’s the only consistent midfielder we have. Also I’ve seen enough of Joelinton in various positions and I’m yet to think there is even potentially a premier league player in there. He’s up (down) there with Joselu and Riviere for me…
Tsunki
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:05 PM
Comment #30All things considered though I think that went well. 😐
martoon
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:05 PM
Comment #31Tartantoon @9 Spot on – what was the point of bringing Murphy on and taking Carroll off and leaving the dreadful Joelinton on – clueless!
Mund
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:06 PM
Comment #32That performance surely has shown the hierarchy that every day he is left in his position he is putting the club in jeopardy.
He needs to be gone and anything is better than Brucey. I can see him getting rid and putting Shola in charge on a interim short term role until takeover is done and dusted. But god knows how that will work out if it does become a reality
wartongeordie
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:06 PM
Comment #33Well said West Lancs, I would have a whip round for his hotel in London till the end of the season.
stan anderson
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:07 PM
Comment #34Well and truly doomed with cabbage heed not knowing what to do.
He’s got a be moved out but will it happen?
lochinvar
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:07 PM
Comment #35Play the Academy
Jail for Ashley
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:07 PM
Comment #36Neville:
“It’s been nothing but doom and gloom for years now”
Tell that to wor flags and the thousands that chipped in for the worst biggest surfer flag.
Ace50
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:08 PM
Comment #37Joelinton was very poor today. Matty seemed slow. Shelvey in a middle 2…just no. Carroll didn’t put himself about like he did in the cup tie. That’s why I was wondering if Gayle was injured. If not, he could be on his way out…salvage some money
Adamn_92
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:08 PM
Comment #38I admit that our players are playing poorly, but I refuse to blame them over Bruce. It’s up to the manager to find out the players limits and play to their strengths, both individually and the way the team is set up. This group of players should not be performing and playing this badly. It is down to bad coaching and management.
Mund
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:08 PM
Comment #39Krath may as well of played CB the amount of space he kept leaving on that right side!! It was a joke absolute wide acres of space
Paul141726
Jan 18, 2021 at 10:08 PM
Comment #40I haven’t posted in awhile, but feel compelled to do so tonight.
If I had a choice between watching that team that was on
offer and having a root canal at the dentist’s office, it’s the root canal
every time!
I will at least say the first half was dull, but at least scoreless.
The second half, they just reverted to form and after the initial
Arsenal goal, you could just see how they KNEW there was no
way back into the game.
I didn’t look, but were we ever in their half of the pitch for more
than two passes? And what about shots on goal.
If something is not done, and soon, I see no way that this team will
be anywhere near 40 points.
Even with a change in coach (I refuse to call Bruce a “manager”) this team
is sleep walking into the championship.