Newcastle put in a committed performance on Tuesday but were ultimately unable to overcome Ciaran Clark’s early sending off. The lads battled hard while down a man for 81 minutes in the 1-1 draw.
Joelinton has topped our poll for the Norwich match with 68% of the vote. The Brazilian was forced to drop deep as Howe transitioned to a 4-3-2. He adapted quickly and played with complete devotion to the cause.
Fede Fernandez was called up after Clark’s dismissal. Despite not playing since early October, Fernandez was a rock at the back and comes in second in the poll. Both he and Joelinton received praise from Howe after the match.
The disappointing result on Tuesday gives added weight to Saturday’s match against Burnley. While there are still plenty of matches to play, this one has the dreaded ‘must-win’ written all over it.
Newcastle simply have to pick up wins before the end of the year. We’ve failed to beat Brentford and now Norwich at home. They were all considered critical going into a brutal December.
So to come away with anything less than three points against The Clarets will be another nail in this season’s coffin. The lid is starting to run out of room for nails.
The task ahead is daunting, to say the least. None of the three previous Premier League clubs to start the season without a win in 14 matches have survived. Newcastle will need a historic rebound to stay safe this season.
For that to happen, three points on Saturday are practically a must. We are still 6 points from safety and we just simply can’t allow that to stretch to 9 with the run of games coming up.
20 comments so far
One Dog....and a man
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:42 AM
Comment #1win
One Dog....and a man
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:44 AM
Comment #2I mean vs Burnley.
I don’t want to spread rumours….but
Martoon once lived in Nelson… (Burnley to us) could be a 5th column!!! just saying
One Dog....and a man
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:45 AM
Comment #3I once saw him in claret…when he spilt his drink on his shirt
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:47 AM
Comment #4Pug – 6 points from safety, not 8.
If Everton were bottom and 6 points from safety, many fans on this blog would be saying they’re doomed. I hope there are no fans left here under any illusions that we’re in a relegation battle. A successful result this season will be staying up. That’s no slight on Howe or the ambitions of the new owners, it’s the legacy we’ve been left by the previous chumps.
Not another deJong
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:48 AM
Comment #5ASM usually has a good game against Burnley
One Dog....and a man
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:54 AM
Comment #6TDS, 8 points to a safe position that brings in a lot more teams.
captainmarvel
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:59 AM
Comment #7Are they waiting for Overmars to start in January?
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 2, 2021 at 10:59 AM
Comment #8What idea did Rafa have behind playing Rondon and Richarlison as a front two against Lpool??
To make that work you’d need Gray and Townsend bombing forward leaving huge gaps that Lpool would always exploit. And they did.
If Rafa get sacked after his less than impressive stint in China I think he’ll struggle to get another Prem job. He’s made two very bad decisions going to China and Everton, one money motivated and the other just to be close to his family.
I think he is in a bigger ‘mo win’ situation with the Everton fans than Bruce was with us. He won’t last the season and possibly not even the year.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:01 AM
Comment #9@TDSarf
I think Everton have tried to bridge the gap but they haven’t had the Director of Football or Managers on the same hymn sheet!
They bought 10 no 10s and have bought a lot of top 6 cast offs who haven’t really done the business
So it shows if you don’t have a proper strategy and a manager then it can go quite wrong
I think what is good about Howe though is he will play young players and likes to play high pressing football so you can target players for that style
Everton have had Koeman, Rafa, Ancellotti, Silva and a few others who have various styles
captainmarvel
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:02 AM
Comment #10The team has the pace to hit Burnley on the break I do not think we have the confidence yet to mix it with many..
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:03 AM
Comment #11Everton spending £500M in the last 5 seasons shows that big money buys don’t guarantee big improvements in performance.
I’m amazed we haven’t got a DOF in place to plan recruitment in January.
If even a 10th of the rumours have some truth in them WHO is making the transfer target decisions?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:04 AM
Comment #12@Bills
Yeah I think Rafa has actually ruined his premier league chances going to Everton
The Newcastle ship has sailed now that we have Howe once he gets us going there is no way that the fans will want to go back to defensive football
Plus his wage demands etc he isn’t likely to get a Burnley, Palace etc
captainmarvel
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:04 AM
Comment #13Bill’s agree about going to Everton I think China helped his bank balance! I couldn’t blame him for that..
captainmarvel
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:08 AM
Comment #14Bill’s I am certain the favoured one will be working on that as it is critical..
I’m going for Overmars but he has the Ajax squad to sort before he leaves as well, if I am right of course..No bets!
ShaytoStay
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:09 AM
Comment #15Was loving this clip
https://twitter.com/GianfrancoShoIa/status/1466022042600452101?s=20
ShaytoStay
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:10 AM
Comment #16Big joe getting some praise, I think he has been transformed under Howe
Adamn_92
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:14 AM
Comment #17I think it’s great they’re taking their time getting a DOF in. Using Everton as an example again, look at their spending, recruitment and even managerial appointments with the squad they have. It’s been a lot of spending and not worked. We don’t want to make similar mistakes so getting in the perfect candidate is very important and shouldn’t be rushed at all. I’m more than happy for them to take their time and get it right, as the right appointment will see us improve for years to come. The wrong one could be a disaster.
catchy in norway
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:16 AM
Comment #18could it be that he is not a good manager?
people have this deluded opinion that if he had time he can fix things, he can play better football, when in fact he has never done any of those things.
his average time at a club is 1.9 years, and thats boosted by NUFC and LIVERPOOL.
he has never build a club or a team, he has only ran them into the ground.
people make excuses for him and i have no clue why.
he is the Boris Johnson of Football, knows stuff but no idea how it works
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 2, 2021 at 11:19 AM
Comment #19Lee Charnley Bunga Party – Yeah, well it just goes to show how hard it is to break into the top 4. The top teams have excellent structures and do most things incredibly well. Certainly Liverpool, Man City, and Chelsea are excellent in almost every area. Sure, Man Utd have areas to improve but they’re immense in many areas. Then there’s Leicester (punching way above their weight) and the North London duo. All of those clubs are miles ahead of us in almost every area and they’re a long way ahead of Everton too. Bridging that gap isn’t just a case of doing a good job and you’ll climb the league, it’s a matter of doing an exceptional job as you have to actually do better than clubs that are already excellent.
Leicester have been amazing. Agree that Everton have had some inconsistencies with managers and signings but then Leicester won the league with several players that no other top 4 team would have touched. Simpson, Morgan, Albrighton, Ulloa etc.
Wor B
Dec 14, 2021 at 11:17 PM
Comment #20yikes