Thomas Frank, Brentford’s head coach, was asked if he could see a change in the way Newcastle played during Saturday’s 3-3 at home to the Bees.
A setup question, obviously.
The game on Saturday was one of the most entertaining games seen at St. James’s Park for some time, with the team on the attack from the first minute.
It was a great game for the fans, but only one point, which was not enough.
This is what the 48-year-old Danish coach said as reported by the Shields Gazette: today:
“Yeah, 100%,”
“Definitely more front-footed. Definitely much more aggressive in the pressure, and I think you saw the first steps of a team that wanted to play a bit more.”
“That’s the most difficult thing to train and improve, and I think you saw the first signs.”
“I’m pretty sure Eddie would say ‘we need to do a lot better’, not because it was bad, but I think he would say ‘there are bits and pieces we need to do even better’.”
“But you see very aggressive, very front-footed, and on the ball much more willing to keep possession.”
“The fans were unbelievable. Fantastic atmosphere. I think our fans did well.”
“So a fantastic occasion, a fantastic atmosphere to be part of.”
“What a game.”
Yes – it was a fantastic game, but we didn’t win it, and we shouldn’t be conceding 3 goals at home.
However, when you look at the nature of the goals we let in, the first two were simply errors and the last one was an unlucky deflection off Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles.
Martin Dubravka should be back in goal at the Emirates on Saturday, and we are hoping he will make a big difference at the back.
Going forward, we looked very, very good on Saturday, but the frailties at the back were still there for all to see.
That has to be fixed – and quickly, too.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
41 comments so far
DONK
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:20 AM
Comment #1Blimey, is this a first?
DONK
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:21 AM
Comment #2Better get back to work! The bronze furnace is coming up to temperature.
IrishRob
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:28 AM
Comment #3Anyone else kinda think Bruce might actually get the job until Jan or the summer. As long as its only an interim role then I actually think it’s possible. Because there’s literally no one available longterm who’s suitable for the job until the summer.
Weird thing is as long as its short term I think he might actually do well, that team is so good the ONE THING he’d have to do is just improve morale and be good at motivating them, which I think is his one skill set as a manager providing he doesn’t stay there long term.
If he stayed longterm it will get comical.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Comment #4Rob,
I think there are already too many cooks at manu mate.
That could be their problem.
IrishRob
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Comment #5I’m not sure if I want him to get it, because if he got lucky we’d never live it down. But surely if he was there until the summer his luck would eventually run out and it would become the most hilarious thing to watch since that Metro kid or the two Sunderland hags.
Wor B
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Comment #6Davas
Cheers, mostly luck methinks!
I got off to a bad start, no idea what I was doing at first, put a team together that looked good on paper but not for FPL points. Been making changes every week and starting to pick up more points / wins.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:32 AM
Comment #7from some of the comments yesterday I thought he had been given the job temporarily!
I’d be astounded if he was offered it, I think the Glazers have a bit more football nous than MA had.
IrishRob
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:32 AM
Comment #8Lol Clint
IrishRob
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:35 AM
Comment #9Essex scary thing is it could genuinely work short term, it really could. Granted what will probably happen is they will do well for a month and then the sht hits the fan.
IrishRob
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:37 AM
Comment #10Would the Man United team get even more deflated with his appointment though, you’d imagine that’s also very possible.
But could you just imagine the amount of snide remarks that he would throw at us at every opportunity. Or if they beat us at SJP he’d do cartwheels, wouldn’t be able to control himself
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:38 AM
Comment #11Well, y’know…. will never manage Man U. Manure? perhaps, Man U? Never
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:39 AM
Comment #12Could you imagine Bruce trying to train Ronaldo ?? The guys in every morning first thing for training Bruce would be like why are you coming in your days off hahaha
Pogba would love him though 2 of the laziest to ever grace the game
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:39 AM
Comment #13I would not be able to stop laughing!
Wor B
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:39 AM
Comment #14When Ole took over, he got a huge bounce because the squad wanted to stick one up to Jose. That’s not the situation now at Man U, there’s still a bit of respect for OGS, he was just out of his depth.
I don’t think Bruce will get involved, but if he is, it will turn sour very quickly.
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:40 AM
Comment #15I’m guessing Rodgers
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:42 AM
Comment #16Who is manager of PSG this week?
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:45 AM
Comment #17I wish we could be as “unsuccessful” as Man U under OGS
niafron
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Comment #18@Peter
No one. Like all the previous week since Ancelotti.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Comment #19Manu’s strategy room must be like a convention…fergie, ex players, media bods, board, pundits, players, everyone shouting over everyone.
😀
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #20Steveie B
Mund
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #21I think Poch will be the one
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #22StevieB for PSG
SuperShearer
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:49 AM
Comment #23Still fuming about that quote from Klopp: “obviously the Premier League, Richard Masters, thought: ‘Yeah, let’s give it a go.”
No Jurgen, that’s not how it works. I loved Klopp when he first arrived in the PL. Was delighted to see him and Liverpool rise. But some of his comments around the ESL and our takeover paints him in a poor light in my opinion.
Wor B
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #24Clint
If they’re doing over zoom, add in babies crying, kettles whistling, dogs barking and the hoover running. 😆
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #25Greggs are opening an outlet in Paris – That cannot be coincidence… (# falsenews)
CLINT FLICK
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:53 AM
Comment #26Peter
That would fit rogers MO, walk into a ready made team.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:53 AM
Comment #27Wor
😀
Excellent
Mund
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Comment #28SuperShearer
Same mate. I loved the guy and wished we could have such a passionate manager but since the takeover I’ve seen his true colours and lost that love. Comparing the takeover to be the same as the disgraced Super League idea 🙄 what a Pratt
Ron Knee
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:56 AM
Comment #29Susie Dent@susie_dent
Word of the day is ‘hingum-tringum’ (19th-century Scots): feeble and barely presentable; just about hanging together.
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:58 AM
Comment #30Ron, Why is Susie Dent having a pop at me lol
Wor B
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:58 AM
Comment #31A work colleague who had contacts at OT told me when OGS was near the end of his playing days at Man U, he answered the door to a delivery man. The delivery guy obviously knew nowt about football, asked Ole to fetch a parent to sign for the package. 😆
SuperShearer
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:06 PM
Comment #32@Mund – exactly, and on top of that shortly after the Super League debacle he said things like “can we stop talking about it now?” – NO, Jurgen, we cannot. Because what those clubs, your’s included, tried to do was KILL the sport as we know it. To place themselves above all others no matter their achievement.
I just think he’s lost a bit of perspective in his desperation to stay competitive.
I’m still fuming that the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham places themselves above a club like Leicester who have won the league significantly more recently than either of them.
To then try and draw comparison between that attempted daylight robbery and our takeover just highlights that there is a fear of certain clubs being knocked off their pedestal.
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:07 PM
Comment #33WorB broke the blog….again!
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:08 PM
Comment #34We needed SuperShearer to rescue it
Mund
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:11 PM
Comment #35SuperShearer
Exactly mate spot on.
They should all just get on with there own jobs and shut up about it all as they come across hypocritical and bitter towards it all.
Tell you what tho mate at least it’s making our jobs easier on who we can put on our black list from all this. I’ll never forget
Wor B
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:11 PM
Comment #36Peter
You do the jokes, I’ll provide some hingum-tringum. We should muddle through til the afternoon shift starts.
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:13 PM
Comment #37Sounds like a plan. –
lesh
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:15 PM
Comment #38A point at Arsenal and three each from Norwich and Burnley…… ?
lesh
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:16 PM
Comment #39Wor B
@36
Is there a typo in there?
Peter
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:18 PM
Comment #40a missing ‘