23 Aug 2026 21:03:44
For me Ed001 this was very familiar looking to last season. Would you agree mate? YNWA
{Ed001's Note - no.}
23 Aug 2026 21:45:52
Nothing like last year, same problems, but at least we had energy. Balance isn't right, up to AI to sort it out, big decisions to be made on who starts and who doesn't.
23 Aug 2026 21:58:35
I thought we were generally ok, and created good openings, but the final ball was lacking. The problem was we were too open at times, but overall I thought it was a promising performance. That game was more enjoyable than anything I watched last season.
One thing is clear, we need some reinforcements.
23 Aug 2026 22:36:13
I thought we were the better team, and when you have 27 shots you should be scoring plenty of goals.
The concern for me was Virgil backing off for both their goals. On both occasions we had more numbers back than they had streaming forward, and Virgil was the closest to the ball carrier. He has to step forward and engage people.
23 Aug 2026 22:42:16
I think it may be time for us to stop using VVD in every game, it's clear he has lost some pace, hence the constant backing off.
23 Aug 2026 22:53:49
But this is how Virgil defends. He delays and delays, waiting for the opposing player to make the first move.
Kerkez has to do better for the first and the 2nd goal. Virg was doing what he should do, but the players around, who should have stopped the attack, didn't for whatever reason.
23 Aug 2026 23:03:22
I agree, Johnny. There were definitely positive signs today though. Munoz, Gakpo, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Jacquet, Koumas, and Araujo all played well overall.
I think Iraola will have learned a lot about his midfield too. Gravenberch charging forward and giving away possession cheaply was the source for most of their counter attacks. He either needs to learn to sit and be a playmaker from deeper areas, or he'll simply lose his place to someone who will do that. If Nyoni gets a chance, I think he'll run away with the position personally.
Kerkez and Frimpong struggled initially too, but settled in eventually, although Kerkez squandered a simple tap in opportunity for Isak.
On that, though, the other major concern was actually Isak. He held up the ball well on a few occasions, if I scrape the barrel for compliments, but he was awful in the final third.
Virgil, Gravenberch, and Isak being poor right down the spine was ultimately what cost us the win today. Early days, though, and a draw away from home in a very hostile ground is not actually that bad of a result. It's just frustrating how cheap the goals conceded were. Impatience from many fans was to be expected, and I don't blame them. But it could've been worse. Spurs, Villa, and Man United all got battered!
23 Aug 2026 23:09:40
Farmer, what is Kerkez supposed to do for either goal? He's never catching Elanga; nobody is. He's literally the fastest player in the Premier League. You have to stop the pass in behind.
On the 2nd goal, Iraola made the point perfectly. Someone in midfield should've fouled Wissa. Once that didn't happen, though, Virgil should've stepped forward and engaged.
We can't just let people run 40 yards unchallenged. Gravenberch got caught miles out of position for both goals, and Virgil didn't react correctly. You only back off if you are outnumbered. On both goals, we had the numerical advantage.
23 Aug 2026 23:16:13
Sorry MK, it's a poor performance. Newcastle have been decimated over the summer and they played through our midfield like it wasn't there. If a team that poor can do it, what about when we face a good team.
23 Aug 2026 23:42:15
Wirtz, Szob, and Koumas all played well, and Kerkez and Frimpong settled in eventually?
I can't have any of that, MK Scouser.
24 Aug 2026 05:48:57
Absolute nonsense, guys defending that. Did you watch the match?
A very average and decimated Newcastle made us look amateurish in many aspects of the game. Our decision making in both defence and attack was really poor.
Some of the individual performances continue to shine a light on some of our poor transfer business over the last two years, although Jacquet did well enough.
Iraola, with his substitutions, showed he's got the measure of them, and the resolve to make the changes required to sort this team out. He may need a couple of windows tbf unless the likes of Isak and Grav improve very quickly.
24 Aug 2026 07:51:38
Got to agree with MK here, though I wouldn't lay the blame solely on Virgil. Either one of our center halves has to engage and not stand off.
Jacquet was a pleasure to watch on the ball yesterday, but it can't be both him and Virgil passing the buck when it comes to engaging the player on the ball.
Newcastle have been decimated, but they were well up for it, and the crowd created a hell of an atmosphere. Let's not overlook the effect that can have when they score early, have a crowd raring for blood and are crunching into tackles.
It was a difficult game yesterday.
Some of the players played very very poorly yesterday, (and I don't think Kerkez was one of them, he was one of the few who escaped with some credit in the starting 11 despite fluffing the pass to an Isak in position for a tap in), but we still got out of there with a point, I'm sure we will learn from this when we watch the tape for next week's game.
24 Aug 2026 08:02:59
Well said, PB. Newcastle away is never an easy game and we showed good character to come back from a goal down twice. It's just how we stop these counter attacks that needs to be worked on now.
24 Aug 2026 08:37:44
Any one else read that " great character " in Rodgers voice. ?