Is it slot ball??
You can’t criticise free pass Wirtz.
its a clash between 2 mid table teams at the moment…
Osula was in the middle of the pitch. Had Virg stepped across to help out Kerkez, Osula would’ve had an unimpeded run straight through the middle to goal as Jaquet was a few yards off to take over.
Nothings changed.
All over the place.
Just quicker at getting out of position 
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Yup. Looks same atleast to me. May be with some reinforcements to the wings we might play different.
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Disappointing half time scoreline, thankfully we have recently tended to play much better in the second half of games and have a stacked bench to bring on some game changers … oh
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Id put macca and nyoni on for gravenberch and sobz, get a bit more control in midfield. And put munoz on for rio on the right. Move rio over to the left and take Gakpo off.
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Same as last year really. Same players and setup, so not a surprise. Same deficiencies, particularly in midfield as I have talked about ad nauseum. Might take a bit longer to get that pressing but otherwise I am not expecting much change there.
Still, Newcastle aren´t a good side so hopefully we can outwork them and nick a goal or two second half. Set piece probably our best chance.
Jacquet a positive. Looked good on the ball and nice and composed generally.
Would bring on Nyoni. Or take off Wirtz and play Mac and just forget trying to have a number 10 and go to out compete them in midfield.
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Doing ok, but we need to be aware of the transition as they look the most dangerous when we turn over the ball.
On their goal, apart from Grav not shooting there wasn’t much we could do, yes may be Kerkez could have started deeper but I’m sure our coach wouldn’t be wanting him supporting and pressing, no one is going to catch Elanga with that much pace.
Also, I thought that Ali should have come out a little more to close down the angle more which is the norm for him.
Front 3 are blunt at the moment.
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Why are we spending so much time and effort in getting Barcola but ignoring the glaring issue at the middle of the park?
The midfield pivot cannot pass for shit, cannot screen for shit and cannot tackle for shit. And Szobo likes to rush so far up that it leaves gaps in our midfield. Gravenberch’s key strength is that stupid piroutte that is fucking useless if the opposition stands off far enough from him and he cannot do a through pass for shit.
We need a good passer and someone who can fucking win the damn ball.
Rio is so subdued on the right. Gakpo has reverted to form to the point that we might just take that 70-80m pounds bid from THFC and run with it.
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Definitely a home whistle in that 1st half.
Stay positive.
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Poor all around. Need to improve our intensity
Will take time to get the pressing or whatever but otherwise what would we expect to see that is much different?
It´s 10 of the 11 same players, setup in the same formation. If it´s possible, it will take a while to get them to think and play even a bit differently.
HT Newcastle 1 -0 Liverpool
We’ve been here before all last season. Started probing. Make a mistake, opposition pounce a counter and score from their first attack.
Then they go defending and look to counter, while we struggle to break them down.
Set pieces could be a way back into the game, but better delivery needed. Virg being held at corners, so with the new rules in place, aim the corner at him. He’d then be active.
As for the ref, he’s blowing for any contact. Usually Prem games are allowed to flow. Of the yellows, only Wissa was a real yellow. Others should’ve been more aof a verbal warning.
Kerkez…the worst left back I’ve seen since Traore.
Kerkez has been amongst the worst. Another brainless showing
Next season should buy Hall to replace him
I may have mistaken you for another poster then. I apologise.
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Really poor half. The attack is playing like they have just met, all Newcastle have got is counter attacks and we’re only too happy to oblige, and the ref is shite to boot.
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