Newcastle 1 Wolves 1 verdict thread

[Carrotdude]

Everyone knew coming in that 3-4-3 was the way to go with Traore Jimenez and Jota but for some reason we went 3-5-2 which hasn’t looked good all season with 3 players basically out of position. If we’d started with intent and the right formation we’d have won today, we can’t keep just turning up for 45 minutes a game.

 

[Tredman]

I wouldn't discount the change wasn't part of the plan, a poor pass just tore it up.

I thought that too, Nino likes to keep it tight first half - it’s just individual errors keep messing that up.

 

[The Bear]

This isn't helpful.

Agreed. It's unnecessary and not funny any more and is tedious to keep reading.

 

[Johnny75]

I thought that too, Nino likes to keep it tight first half - it’s just individual errors keep messing that up.

But it isn't working. Conceding goals in every first half bar two without reply is more than just individual error. He should've changed it after 20 minutes when he could see it wasn't working.

I think you've been harsh on Neto, he took players on and looks to strike the ball from distance and how his cross evaded everyone I don't know.

Plenty of positives second half.

 

[YoungWolf]

Nuno got it wrong first half.

Second half was completely different - thought we played very well and should have won. Think this needs to be the starting eleven from now on.

And fuck var. astonishingly bad again.

https://understat.com/match/11738

Comfortably better on xG too.

 

[Tredman]

But it isn't working. Conceding goals in every first half bar two without reply is more than just individual error. He should've changed it after 20 minutes when he could see it wasn't working.

I think you've been harsh on Neto, he took players on and looks to strike the ball from distance and how his cross evaded everyone I don't know.

Plenty of positives second half.

Agreed I don’t think it’s working, but I imagine he is still concerned at how easily we conceded with 3-4-3 at the start of last season.

Possibly a bit harsh on Neto, but he just seemed to give the ball away all the time. Would rather have had Vinagre up top.

 

[NicholasG1973]

Seems to me that we only start playing when we’re chasing the game.

Yet again we have given a sh&te team a goal start and then we start playing - Patricio hardly had a thing to do.

Nuno got it wrong but we are so, so deep - Neves looked good because he had so much time today, Newcastle were rubbish and the tempo was so slow.

We didn’t miss Boly at all (they were toothless) and Saiss and Donk were comfortable. Coady was ridiculously deep today to compensate for Boly missing - would have been punished by a better team.

Positives - solid enough at the back, Adama looked lively and Doherty looked good.

Negatives - Jota runs around doing not much apart from diving, moaning and fouling, Jimenez not at his best and Moutinho was too flat first half.

Oh, and first impressions look like Neto has had the same football coach as Vallejo - sorry.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Seems to me that we only start playing when we’re chasing the game.

Yet again we have given a sh&te team a goal start and then we start playing - Patricio hardly had a thing to do.

Nuno got it wrong but we are so, so deep - Neves looked good because he had so much time today, Newcastle were rubbish and the tempo was so slow.

We didn’t miss Boly at all (they were toothless) and Saiss and Donk were comfortable. Coady was ridiculously deep today to compensate for Boly missing - would have been punished by a better team.

Positives - solid enough at the back, Adama looked lively and Doherty looked good.

Negatives - Jota runs around doing not much apart from diving, moaning and fouling, Jimenez not at his best and Moutinho was too flat first half.

Oh, and first impressions look like Neto has had the same football coach as Vallejo - sorry.

The first half of your post was sound, but you’ve had a very lacklustre second half.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Thought Doc, Neves, Adama, Coady and Saiss excellent.

(Donk good other than not tracking Lascelles run)

Jota seemed knocked by that head smash (I felt that challenge was far more dangerous than Longstaff's although he should have been booked twice before that challenge.)

Raul poor today - Lascelles matched him well, Jonny not great a good goal aside.

Pleased with the result, we can't underestimate how much Boly's injury would have effected confidence. We all know from playing ourselves when one of your best players isn't available it can effect mentality.

However if we are going to be so passive first half we MUST start keeping it 0-0!

 

[Johnny75]

Agreed I don’t think it’s working, but I imagine he is still concerned at how easily we conceded with 3-4-3 at the start of last season.

Possibly a bit harsh on Neto, but he just seemed to give the ball away all the time. Would rather have had Vinagre up top.

He may well be concerned we would be the same 3-4-3 and both Neves and Moutinho aren't strong or mobile enough against better teams. We need a Saiss or Donck in there for that but against rubbish like Newcastle they're plenty good enough.

I dont think Vinagre would have the space he did without a forward like a Jota or Neto in front of him. Gave him space and made us a threat on both flanks.

I'd like to see more of it.

 

[Deano]

Jonny had a terrible game apart from the goal. I was surprised Vinagre wasn't introduced sooner.

 

[malta mick]

Play Doc and Adama in the positions they are most succesful, and hey ho we look a different team second half. A lot of half chances that 1 or 2 may have gone in another day. VAR again does us no favours. The one angle showed to be a stone wall penalty but not given, and the assault on Jota worthy of WWE - a clear sending off.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Didn't turn up until the second half - interestingly the formation/players suggested on here was the one that came back into it (& that's before Longstaff was sent off & once he was then they just tried to see it out) and was far more potent.

Could have won (decent chances for both Jota & Doherty).

Average performance against a team that will still struggle with relegation this year.

And the pull on Doherty was a penalty all day long!

 

[Pablowolf]

It's strange, almost as if the players need Nuno to give them specific direction on how to overcome the oppo at half time. Is it possible we've got a talented but thick-as-pig-shit side?

 

[Jabbawolf]

It's strange, almost as if the players need Nuno to give them specific direction on how to overcome the oppo at half time. Is it possible we've got a talented but thick-as-pig-shit side?

I think the finger should be pointing more at Nuno than the players - they are only adhering to his formation and instructions.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Nuno is very good (the best Manager we have had for many years), but he is not god & gets it wrong at times (as everyone will).

Today think he was trying in the first half to extinguish the youthful exuberance of the Longstaff brothers - should really have trusted the experience of Neves & particularly Moutinho to do so anyway. This would have allowed us to play the formation we went in the second half.

Hindsight is a wonderful gift which none of us have at the start.

 

[Jack Regan]

I think the nail has been hit on the head repeatedly in this thread. We can no longer keep setting up not to concede in the first half because it does not work. We all know this, it didn't work Thursday against poor opposition and it hasn't worked for the majority of this season either. We're so easy to play against when we do that, unless it's against out and out attacking opposition it simply doesn't work. Nuno really needs to get over this blind spot or its going to keep costing us points.

 

[Monstrum]

Of course nuno is going to get things wrong from time to time, to be fair they only had a single shot on goal, unlucky they scored. We were much better second half, doc should have scored from that magnificent raul cross, and was a blatant penalty at the end. Shirt pulling, both arms wrapped around him pulling him back, if doc had dived down it would have been called. Cant complain though, im used to var fucking us over, we really should have created more. Similiar to the Southampton game really

 

[PuntsWolf]

I sound like a broke record but the one time we have started 3-4-3 we have gone and scored first and won the game. We did it against besiktas too but MGW and Neto were rancid. Palace we played really well and we’re unlucky not to go in with a lead and they didn’t have a sniff. Every other game we have been 3-5-2, looked awful and given away goals.

3-5-2 has a place away at Man City. When a team like Saints, Newcastle, is Willing to let you have the ball then it isn’t going to work. It often leaves Neves alone in the middle on the counter and he’s makes Milijas look quick.

We got away with it in midweek as we managed to score 2 goals. We didn’t quite get away with it today. It’s not late to rectify and still have a decent season. I thought this was all obvious before today, but not to Nuno. Surely it must be now.

 

[WolfmanOz]

I sound like a broke record but the one time we have started 3-4-3 we have gone and scored first and won the game. We did it against besiktas too but MGW and Neto were rancid. Place we played really well and we’re unlucky not to go in with a lead and they didn’t have a sniff. Every other game we have been 3-5-2, looked awful and given away goals.

3-5-2 has a place away at Man City. When a team like Saints, Newcastle, is Willing to let you have the ball then it isn’t going to work. It often leaves Neves alone in the middle on the counter and he’s makes Milijas look quick.

We got away with it in midweek as we managed to score 2 goals. We didn’t quite get away with it today. It’s not late to rectify and still have a decent season. I thought this was all obvious before today, but not to Nuno. Surely it must be now.

Nailed !

We are still a very difficult team to beat, but I wish we were more positive in going for a win, instead of these tepid opening halves. In the 10 league games so far this season we have fallen behind in 7 (and then finished with 5 draws and 2 losses).

Yes VAR has done us no favours but we're not helping ourselves as well.