Matchday thread - Toon v Citeh

by **bodacious benny** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:37 pm

NoteToSelf wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:09 pm

Remember Colo wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:19 pm
I still feel like we missed a trick not trying to attract some more proven talent in the summer before CL, and instead now we'll be trying to negotiate off the back of an underwhelming season.
Thinking of some of the alleged first choices that slipped by - Diaby, Szoboszlai, Maddison, MacAllister, it could have been some squad.
Of the players brought in, when they've been able to play they've largely demonstrated a step up.

I'm still broadly optimistic for the future.

Maddison never wanted to come here, that much was clear. Mac Allister wound never choose us over Liverpool so not losing any sleep over that, same could be said for Szoboslai - regardless of CL football.

Diaby had a good start at Villa but can’t get a start now.

We’ve been unfortunate with our big signings. Nobody could predict the Tonali situation, or Barnes missing so many games.

I’m still optimistic for a decent season next year with some squad development.

by **Colly** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:35 pm

ALF wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:27 pm

Colly wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:26 pm

I think that's fair, but you were suggesting he was getting beat on 1:1s, when both goals have seen him face two men. Our big issue (as usual) is communication and anticipation, when we have the ball we're making wrong decisions and without we're just not getting it back. That break from Doku a bit before the first goal came entirely from Longstaff not reading a recovery chest from Botman, probably because he's off his face on painkillers.

Willock having a stinker at both ends sadly.
Not sure you can blame that on Longstaff. I thought it was Schar but it might have been Botman, but they ran onto the ball as if they were going to bring it down so Longstaff started to make the run forward. It was then chested into a nothing space and the CB just moved away from it.

That's pretty much my point though, if you're playing a team like City you have to be able to anticipate and make the right decisions. It was a hoofed ball and whichever CB it was had a right job to chest it down under control, once it was loose it's an easy get for Longstaff if he's on his toes. As it is we've lost possession with central defense and midfield bypassed. Fine margins I guess, but that game was full of them.

by **NoteToSelf** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:09 pm

Remember Colo wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:19 pm
I still feel like we missed a trick not trying to attract some more proven talent in the summer before CL, and instead now we'll be trying to negotiate off the back of an underwhelming season.

Thinking of some of the alleged first choices that slipped by - Diaby, Szoboszlai, Maddison, MacAllister, it could have been some squad.
Of the players brought in, when they've been able to play they've largely demonstrated a step up.

I'm still broadly optimistic for the future.

by **ALF** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:31 pm

2 goals that were deflections, Willock at fault for both because he wasn't tight enough to his man. It happens. We had some chances. Isak could do no more with his left footed effort. Danny Murphy seems to think he had the whole goal to aim at when the reality was his shot went between 2 defenders. We could have created more but all in all it wasn't bad. City are 38 games unbeaten at home, they keep the ball and keep teams out of the game. They didn't really create too much or cause too many issues for us.

by **ALF** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:27 pm

Colly wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:26 pm

Remember Colo wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:16 pm

That gets at it for me actually. He's being directed to play so narrow, which consistently leaves him having to pick between the ball and the overlapping run, and he's then left in no man's land. If you're going to play 5 at the back the LWB and LCB have to do better, because they won't get the same cover.
I think that's fair, but you were suggesting he was getting beat on 1:1s, when both goals have seen him face two men. Our big issue (as usual) is communication and anticipation, when we have the ball we're making wrong decisions and without we're just not getting it back. That break from Doku a bit before the first goal came entirely from Longstaff not reading a recovery chest from Botman, probably because he's off his face on painkillers.

Willock having a stinker at both ends sadly.

Not sure you can blame that on Longstaff. I thought it was Schar but it might have been Botman, but they ran onto the ball as if they were going to bring it down so Longstaff started to make the run forward. It was then chested into a nothing space and the CB just moved away from it.

by **Slim999** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:41 pm

I must say that I thought after the 4 subs we matched city much better. This was likely partially because they were 2 up & could relax more - but looked more lively with more bite & competition in the middle .
Hall looks impressive and quick . Bruno seems to be a far better prospect when he has 2 or 3 others digging in around him.

I think Eddie should experiment for next phase of the season and fine tune this - he needs to show something if he's to keep his job.

Playing with 3 centre backs & 2 wing backs means we can get 5 or 6 players effectively in midfield & overpower teams.

If the midfield / wing choices next season still include all of Bruno, Joe , Tonali, Willock , Miley , Anderson, Barnes , Gordon ( and Isak if we had another consistent injury free centre forward option) - then I'd say 3-5-2 or ,similar may be our strong suit .and also allows us to rotate players more regularly.

Interesting to see what Edfie does next .

If it's back to 442 with Burn at left back then I'm losing hope

by **jpg** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:41 pm

Outcome we all expected. Always feels pointless to draw conclusions after Man City games but season feels like it’s fizzling out already. Can’t decide if Ashworth going is a positive or negative for Howe’s future this summer.

by **originallad** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:37 pm

Don Sholeone wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:31 pm
Sorry but that's a load of bollocks, we have been making these excuses for months, When Botmans back, when Wilsons back, when Willocks back, When Isaks back, etc. feels like people think all we are missing is whoever is currently on the treatment table. Need to get real, we have been dog s*** simple as. Same mistakes from players and the manager week in week out.

Howe and the players have simply not been good enough and we need to stop making up excuses.

Have a beer mate. Tomorrow is another day ,

by **originallad** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:36 pm

Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:40 pm
I thought we’d lose 4-0 so I’m impressed.

I'll drink (more) to that

by **bodacious benny** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:40 pm

I thought we’d lose 4-0 so I’m impressed.

by **Don Sholeone** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:31 pm

Sorry but that's a load of bollocks, we have been making these excuses for months, When Botmans back, when Wilsons back, when Willocks back, When Isaks back, etc. feels like people think all we are missing is whoever is currently on the treatment table. Need to get real, we have been dog s*** simple as. Same mistakes from players and the manager week in week out.

Howe and the players have simply not been good enough and we need to stop making up excuses.

by **seaside nipper** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:25 pm

Valentino's fast feet wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:33 pm
I genuinely think that if everyone was fit and available, we'd be more in this. Heavy favourites against still of course - best team in the world. We are missing our first choice goalkeeper and influential midfielder. I purposely phrase it that way, because same can be said of Man City. We are no where near on that level, and just don't have the capacity to replace such key players. Pope covers at the back as a sweeper mopping up where needs be, and it looks like on evidence he communicates much better with the back line. Joelinton's steel in midfield is a massive, massive miss.

Absolutely this.
We have no grunt and functioning defensive midfield whatsoever, Joelintons value to this team and the way we press and play is only amplified by his absence. We are soft soft soft and get played through with ease far too often.

by **Colback's Orange Tufts** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:22 pm

Imagine how bad we'd be if Gordon and Bruno were out

by **Don Sholeone** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:19 pm

Much better after the subs, Burn and Longstaff well over due a spell on the bench but I have zero faith that Howe makes the right choice for the team unfortunately.

by **originallad** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:03 pm

overseasTOON wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:22 pm
Have we won yet?

We're getting there. Very slowly.

by **Colly** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:56 pm

At least we aren't Spurs.

by **Colly** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:49 pm

They both come from Willock not tracking his man, Joelinton doesn't do that.

by **Don Sholeone** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:45 pm

I think that's clutching at straws a fair bit

by **Colly** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:36 pm

Valentino's fast feet wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:33 pm
I genuinely think that if everyone was fit and available, we'd be more in this. Heavy favourites against still of course - best team in the world. We are missing our first choice goalkeeper and influential midfielder. I purposely phrase it that way, because same can be said of Man City. We are no where near on that level, and just don't have the capacity to replace such key players. Pope covers at the back as a sweeper mopping up where needs be, and it looks like on evidence he communicates much better with the back line. Joelinton's steel in midfield is a massive, massive miss.

If Joelinton's on the pitch there's no way we concede those two goals.

by **Don Sholeone** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:33 pm

Whilst we are on the subject Howe can f*** right off with the Longstaff excuses, Option 1: Play Miley, Option 2: Play Hall, Option 3: play Ritchie.

He goes for Option 4: persist with an allegedly injured and vastly underperforming Longstaff and moan we don't have options so he has to play.

Matchday thread - Toon v Citeh

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