Newcastle have had their moments but were undone by a Ruben Neves blast and trail 1-0 at the half. The Magpies dominated possession and outshot Wolves but lacked a cutting edge around the box.
The lads played in a 4-3-3 with Pope in goal behind a back four of Trippier, Schar, Botman, and Burn. The Bruno-less midfield was Willock, Longstaff, and Joelinton. Chris Wood led the line with Almiron on the right and Saint-Maximin on the left.
Newcastle got an early chance as Joelinton played Chris Wood into the area. The striker tried to round Wolves keeper Jose Sa and put the ball into the net from a tight angle. Sa was up to the challenge and blocked Wood’s shot out for a corner.
Wolves almost took the lead in the 7th minute. Ruben Neves launched a perfect pass from deep to free Goncalo Guedes down the right. He squared a ball for Pedro Neto in the box as Pope charged for the challenge. The ball was richocheted into the air and landed just over the crossbar.
Willock came very close to breaking the stalemate in the 11th minute. After long throw-in from Trippier, the ball rattled around the area before landing at Willock’s feet from a few yards out. Willock stabbed at the ball and punched it just wide of the near post.
Wolves had their second big chance in the 26th minute. Trippier lost the ball on the right and Raul Jimenez whipped a cross into the area. The ball was just slightly too high for Mattheus Nunes as his header drifted wide of the far post.
Wolves created a couple more chances after the 30-minute mark. A cross into the box was just slightly too far for Jiminez whose toe-poked effort was comfortably collected by Pope. Minutes later a cross from the opposite flank was flashed wide by the Mexican.
The hosts took the lead in the 38th minute. The ball was played across the pitch to Guedes on the left. He centered to Ruben Neves outside the area. The midfielder took a touch before blasting a missile inside the near corner to make it 1-0.
The half ended with just the one strike. Newcastle have missed Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the pitch but have still maintained their burgeoning identity with 65% possession. The dearth of clear-cut chances is a concern with not much firepower on the bench.
287 comments so far
DeanToon88
Aug 28, 2022 at 2:57 PM
Comment #1We need reinforcements in midfield, apart from bruno and sometimes joelinton we lack any real quality in that position, willock has been terrible since his loan its as simple as that, he shouldn’t be getting regular starts as he isn’t good enough. longstaff is a terrible player, how many times does he have to give the ball away??? hes slow ponderous and offers absolutely nothing to this team.
Sign paqueta, we don’t need wingers, we need someone of real quality in the centre of the park, its as clear as day, our midfield is poor without bruno. we have a selection of below average players in longstaff, shelvey, willock, we need a player of higher quality in the centre of the park and paqueta is that man. we shouldn’t be allowing him to go to another team.
Wood is completely anonymous, he really doesn’t offer much at all, he’s a striker that needs passes onto his head and we cant provide that, he hasn’t got he pace to beat his man , imo he’s a waste of 25 million.
Its so frustrating that we haven’t improved that midfield as it stands out like a sore thumb how poor that position it is. if we are thinking Anderson can become good and forget about signing a midfielder than that is a mistake, longstaff and willock are good squad player, they should not be getting regular starts for us. play Anderson instead of longstaff at least he offers us something.
IrishRob
Aug 28, 2022 at 2:57 PM
Comment #2I say it every week but games like these have a massive positive. If they don’t convince the powers to be, to spend more then we simply don’t have the ability to spend a whole lot more, because that was dire Enough in a lot of areas.
Hopefully the cheque book is back open after this.
SiOliver
Aug 28, 2022 at 2:58 PM
Comment #3Don’t worry our attacking bench will save us…oh.
gonufc (Andy O'Brien's Cracking Snoot)
Aug 28, 2022 at 2:58 PM
Comment #4It just feels like a waste of a pass to look for Wood.
He did control the ball earlier though, so that was a positive. Doesn’t normally do that.
Match the Paqueta bid!
The Prince's Mate
Aug 28, 2022 at 2:59 PM
Comment #5Why does Alpacin work for me?
Because I’m not a dirty basket and use warm water….simples
theartfuldodger
Aug 28, 2022 at 2:59 PM
Comment #6Very true IrishRob
The Prince's Mate
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Comment #76 the new furst
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Comment #8One of the few times I agree with Coming Home’s attitude. It’s only half time and we’re 1-0 down to a screamer. I’m certainly not writing this game off yet!
The Prince's Mate
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Comment #9So is 8
catchy in norway
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Comment #10im sure some of you are watching a different game. Longstaff should have had a pen, has a 79% pass completion, big joe is on 81% he put a great block from a corner.
i dont think any of our players had had a bad game so far, just we are not troubling them in the box, but is that Longstaff or our front 3?
IrishMagpie
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Comment #11Definitely missing that bit of quality through the middle and up front. With Bruno and Wilson we’d be ahead here.
WorflagsBlog
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Comment #12I’m not sure I’m watching the same game as some of you. Willock is pulling out of at least half of his challenges. He is sitting deep in strange positions offering nothing. He missed a sitter, he can’t pass the ball he has had an atrocious half. Longstaff has been almost as bad… neither should be playing first team football.
Ask yourselves this, which premier league team would buy either of them?
I can’t think of anyone, even Bournemouth wouldn’t take them…
WorflagsBlog
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:01 PM
Comment #13I’m not sure I’m watching the same game as some of you. W..ck is pulling out of at least half of his challenges. He is sitting deep in strange positions offering nothing. He missed a sitter, he can’t pass the ball he has had an atrocious half. Longstaff has been almost as bad… neither should be playing first team football.
Ask yourselves this, which premier league team would buy either of them?
I can’t think of anyone, even Bournemouth wouldn’t take them…
The Prince's Mate
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:01 PM
Comment #14TDS…stay out the way…jeezus…
Munster Mag
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:01 PM
Comment #15Rob, was just about to say same.
But the big question is, will we splash the cash after Isak, which was a purchase we probably wudnt have made if Wilson was fit? Or just try for a loan? Testing the short term ambition of the owners.
I think they might get the cash out
shaun83
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:01 PM
Comment #16We definitely aren’t out of it, tbf we should have been a goal up at that point and silly errors at back only time they’ve threatened
Ibizatoon
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:01 PM
Comment #17Catchy being the voice of reason and positive.
This blog has officially gone mad.
Hope you’re well Catchy!
Pope Nicholas the 6th
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:02 PM
Comment #18Longstaff’s pass completion doesn’t matter much when the most important passes like that easy 10 yard one to Saint-Maximin at the end is fluffed.
That’s the difference between a chance or not. Can exchange passes with CBs all day, but it’s those moments which matter.
Munster Mag
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:03 PM
Comment #19Good to see the kit though :). Annoy a few journos 🙂
The Prince's Mate
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:03 PM
Comment #20WorflagsBlog…agree and my point is I know there’s class in there somewhere AND EH just has to draw it out….simples
Pope Nicholas the 6th
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #21We need 4pts from these next 3 to maintain the good start.
So we need to dig in and at least get a point today.
DKillers
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #22I can’t grasp anyone taking the position that Willock and Longstaff are worth defending. They have both been horrid.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #23TPM – stay out of the way? Not sure what you mean.
Romford mag
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #24Need maxi to get at semado!!
Toon fans bad
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #25Jamie Redknapp calls it, Maxi to get Semedo off the pitch!
Romford mag
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #26HWTL
catchy in norway
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #27Ibiza, haha we love you.
its all good here, we have a manager who plays on the REAL front foot, and tries to WIN from the start.
HOPE you are well to 😉
The Prince's Mate
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #28Not sure about the kit tho mind
Munster Mag
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #29Red? V possible
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
Comment #30People complaining about a lack of quality. Well, we’re missing Wilson, Isak, and Bruno in terms of an attacking threat so not a great surprise.
davetoon
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM
Comment #31Oh nooo. Now VAR is gonna screw us again
IrishRob
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM
Comment #32Ffs bad to worse
Pope Nicholas the 6th
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM
Comment #33Straight away Willock and then Longstaff head it to them in midfield within a minute.
JP...from The Rock
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM
Comment #34Surely not a red in the first 5 mins of the second half!?
geordie157
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM
Comment #35Even if it’s a couple of loans, a central midfielder preferably a DM and a right winger are clearly needed.
I think Wood has done OK, getting a lot of stick on here.
Saint-Maximin needs to run at Semedo and Collins every chance he gets.
DKillers
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:05 PM
Comment #36As I said earlier, VAR is a scam.
lochinvar
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:06 PM
Comment #37Wor flags
Spot on
Willock isn’t interested in the physical game and was caught in no man’s land for the second game on a row.
We need midfield reinforcements
IrishRob
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:06 PM
Comment #38Christ I’d say that was literally a mood away from going to var
Munster Mag
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:06 PM
Comment #39Not sure why Lobby got a contract. Its in the same realms as not going for Paqueta
DrGloom
Aug 28, 2022 at 3:06 PM
Comment #40Longstaff is useless , this is his fault if schar gets sent off