04 Dec 2024 22:23:59
draw probably fair in the end.
messy game and we made way too many individual errors and had gaps through the spine of the field.
These two games away to newcastle and everton were always going to be big challenge coming straight after Real Madrid and City, especially after we won those two games with such dominance.
It shouldn't but it happens time and time again in sport when it can be difficult to back-up.
I think it's harder as well against a "lesser" opposition because any kind of slip in mentality will impact 10-fold away from home.
Anyways taking the point and moving on. Last derby at Goodison. Hope the lads are up for it!
04 Dec 2024 22:52:51
Faith, I agree to an extent but after battling that hard against ourselves, the oppo. and in some cases the ref (who suddenly became a homer in the second half for no reason, IMO), we should have seen out the result, end of. Our guys fought hard and showed a lot of grit and determination to never back down, keep fighting/ pushing to win the game.
For me, we did not lose (we could have had Isak not been marginally offside) so Im happy about the mentality and determination we showed. On another day, Kellerher (who has been brilliant overall) doesn't get his hand caught in the cookie jar trying to be too clever by half, we win. We take the point and off to Goodison which will be another cliffhanger of a game.
04 Dec 2024 22:54:38
I thought Newcastle played well faith with their big players turning up on the day.
Let’s not forget they have Isak, Gordon, Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali who are all top class players on their day.
All of them played well and made it very difficult for us. Added to that, last week was built up so much that there was always going to be a bit of a come down from us which levelled the playing field. Especially on a windy, rainy night, away from home under the lights.
We very nearly got it done.
No point crying about it and saying woulda, coulda, shoulda. We take a point and we move on. YNWA.
04 Dec 2024 23:07:20
just to clarify my "lesser" opposition comment, I didn't mean that specifically about Newcastle. was just making the point about going from big results against the elite of europe and then having to keep that mentality for the next match.
Oli - I recall back to Klopp's first season and a half when we conceded so many goals from really bad individual errors. It wasn't exactly like that today but always feel like the best laid plans can get thrown out the window when there is an individual error. Kelleher won't make that mistake again. at least he shouldn't do.
04 Dec 2024 23:31:05
As soon as that free kick was taken I shouted ‘keepers’. He just needed to catch it I can’t understand what he was thinking.
People saying that Ali would’ve done better and perhaps he would be he’s not without errors himself. Look at Arsenal away last season for an example.
It happens, they are human and they make mistakes. He was very unlucky to be punished so severely though as Schar still had a lot to do which he did very well.
In the end, Newcastle will feel they deserved something from the game and they probably did. It’s tough to be philosophical after such a disappointing end to a game but we have to be. We can’t let something like this derail our season and start to put doubts in our minds.
This game is gone, on to Everton.
04 Dec 2024 23:37:49
Indeed, @Faith. I fully agree. You will never catch me beating Kellerher up for today's game cos as we both know, there is a lot of blame to go around individually and collectively. A mistake can happen and all the work is for nothing. Gianluigi Buffon once said that for a GK, it is very tough esp. mentally cos if you make a mistake, it is a goal and there is nowhere for you to hide, period.
I will not slate Kellerher too much cos as much as we are 7 and 9 points clear over Arsenal and City, we are not where we are without Keller in goal. That is just a fact. The mistake will be focused on BUT I'm not arsed about it that much after calming down. It is what it is.
Also, can I just say how much of a luxury it is to have him here cos I bet you had Arsenal or City had to rely on their no. 2's the way we do with Kellerher for the past 2 months (I have no clue who Arsenal's no. 2 is, btw), they are nowhere near the position we are in. He will learn from this, like you said.
04 Dec 2024 23:50:03
Oli - agreed about kelleher and further to that point, we have the best depth in the premier league. hopefully we put it all together and keep it going to see this season through.
Interestingly, was looking at last 5 seasons and we're 1.5 points better than average points tally for the leading club after 14 games.
But, only once has City held the lead at this stage of the season and obviously they've gone on to win the last 4. That includes being 1, 3 and 5 points off the top in three of those seasons and going on to win.
All to play for and just need to keep as consistent as possible. there will be dips along the way, and hopefully we don't fall into long stretches of games where we drop points.
05 Dec 2024 00:03:24
Like most of you I can live with a draw. What I want to see us continue to do is to beat the teams we should beat, have acceptable draws against mid to top tier teams, but not lose against bottom feeders. I think that was part of your Jurgens Achilles heel. Sadly those poor losses for the difference between first and second for handful of years.
05 Dec 2024 00:24:05
Pete - in the years we lost to City by a point we didn't beat them once. Could argue those matches with our direct title rival were the key difference.
05 Dec 2024 01:24:54
Arsenal got beat at Newcastle and City managed a point. No shame in the point. I think Slot learned tonight that if he has to play Gomez and Quansah then put them RB and CB respectively. Also I like Macca further up the pitch and Jones deeper. For me got that backwards as well. Nunez I have no words for.
05 Dec 2024 03:59:35
Faith, I must have been off on the years we lost to the 115. My point though I think or hope was valid. Beat who you should and some draws against good teams is not the end of the world. It seems to me Jurgen had his team up for certain games but jad some poor loses or draws against crappy teams. A draw on the road against Newcastle is not bad as long as we smack everton, fullham, and south hampton. That is what I am hoping will change under Slott.
05 Dec 2024 04:47:34
Just looked at the highlightst twice.
For all the pressure NUFC put on us, the amount of chances we missed. unbelievable (overl 90 mins, we had better opportunities to score)
Nunez at far post
Salah's shot hitting woodwork
was it Jones heading stright to keeper
Murphy also hit woodwork and missed an open goal but that was very far. not as close as ours.
finally we gave them the match on a platter - Kelleher not doing anyting on that cross. not sure if somebody called out asking him to leave.
very poor error in judgement that lead to draw.
We lost it because of very poor judgement on that goal and Gomez/ Quansah pairing is a disaster. (it was forced due to injuries)
Overall it hurts that we gave it away after coming twice from behind, leading to make it 3-2. We should have just closed shop and managed.
Isak's first goal was terrific. have to say.
05 Dec 2024 05:43:57
In a sense Newcastle are like we were at the start of Jurgen’s era - always gave the top teams a really good game but prone to slip up against 5h3 ‘lesser’ teams. I have to say I still don’t like Eddie Howe. He’s like a smarmy version of 5he talking waistcoat.
05 Dec 2024 09:57:36
West Derby Wanderer3, I also don't like the way Howe coaches his team/ players to dive, cheat and flop to the ground anytime a player walks past or breathes on them. I didn't like it when Macca was doing that either.
05 Dec 2024 10:02:25
"People saying that Ali would’ve done better and perhaps he would be he’s not without errors himself. Look at Arsenal away last season for an example. "
And there is a lot more where that came from if the "Ali would have saved it" brigade would like to be reminded.
{Ed001's Note - but Ali would not have let in all 3. It really is that simple. I am sick of this debate about selling Alisson to replace him with Kelleher. There is no comparison, Alisson is miles ahead of Kelleher, who is absurdly overrated by a lot of Liverpool fans. His kicking is horrendous and should be enough to see him moved on as soon as possible. We would be better off with Jaros, at least he wouldn't just give the opposition the ball every time he kicks it out more than about 10 yards.}
05 Dec 2024 10:34:49
I didn't like it when Macca was doing that either.
Did you like it when Nunez done it against Southampton and Real in the recent fixtures?
Or do we turn a blind eye to that?