24 Aug 2026 10:38:29
I thought VVD was at fault for both goals yesterday. His insistence in dropping off the attacker rather than engaging is v frustrating. Rather than debating whether Jacquet or Araujo should be starting. I think the debate should include VVD.
24 Aug 2026 10:52:42
Vvd certainly played his part in both goals, mate, but he wasn't at sole fault.
That second goal, I've seen more aggression in my daughter's netball than I did in Szob and whoever the other was, with the pathetic attempted tackles on the half way.
Plus Grav cheaply gave the ball away for both goals.
24 Aug 2026 10:54:32
I think a lack of a proper dm cost us more, in all honesty, Bobby, but Vvd did not cover himself in glory.
24 Aug 2026 10:56:26
There were lots of things wrong with both goals yesterday, from Grav not shooing to midfield to high up, slow defence and I thought Allison could have done better.
24 Aug 2026 10:57:26
I completely agree. Virgil might need phasing out sooner than expected, but it's the first game so I'll reserve judgement for now.
I do think we have to temper our reactions to this draw, though. So far the home side has won 7/9 games in the opening round. It's a huge advantage playing at home on the opening day. Players are still half fit, tactics aren't quite refined, etc. Having tens of thousands of fired up fans excited for the new season roaring you on can carry you through that summer hangover.
We've come away with a good point. I do understand the reaction from a lot of fans, though, because conceding two very similar goals is very frustrating. Iraola broke both goals down after the game, though, and he clearly knows what he needs to do to fix it. After we win the next 3 in a row, people's spirits will be lifted. ?
{Ed025's Note - A good spin on what we all know was a horror show MK..
24 Aug 2026 11:02:27
How about lack of a dm who should have stopped that Wissa run. Fabinho stops that 100%.
24 Aug 2026 11:17:44
You don't have to be a DM to put in a tackle or give away a free kick 80 yards from our goal, which is what should have happened for the 2nd goal. I'm not a believer that we need a specialist No.6. We just need more aggression and an ability to read what your partner is doing out of the two players in the pivot.
24 Aug 2026 11:19:21
You don't need a dm to stop that Wissa run. Anybody could have fouled him that was close to him. Why would you need a dm to stick a foot in and make a tactical foul?
24 Aug 2026 11:21:33
Life of Pie, I said it in the summer and I'll reiterate it; if Grav doesn't learn some positional discipline, he'll lose his place. If he does go forward and loses it, he needs to take the yellow card for the team.
Mac Allister and Araujo made a huge difference when they came on, purely because they both started putting in tackles rather than back off.
Grav and Virgil are going to be a problem if they can't show some more aggression and gamesmanship.
24 Aug 2026 11:16:37
Ed025, stop winding people up. You've been a football fan for long enough to know going away on the opening day to a place like St James Park is not easy. Silly Billy.
{Ed025's Note - you have to look at the quality of the players MK, Liverpool should easily beat a team of chancers like Newcastle mate, you can make as many excuses as you like but that was just not good enough imo..
24 Aug 2026 11:12:11
Virgil's defending is the reason why Ed001 has no hair left
24 Aug 2026 11:35:03
While I am sure the defenders could have done better for both goals, the fact that both midfielders were practically on the edge of the 18 yard box when the ball was lost was a much bigger factor.
24 Aug 2026 11:35:30
VVD has always dropped off to allow other players to tuck back in and bide time. He wasn't at fault, but when you're in and around the box, he should be forcing their player.
24 Aug 2026 12:00:11
What ED25 says is correct.
24 Aug 2026 12:17:45
Florian and Patrick, of course, you're right that any player could stop Wissa, but they didn't, and they don't. That's our problem, VV says all the time our midfield is soft, no physicality, and can't tackle. That was the story all last season and now first game of this season.
This is why people want a tougher, more dominating and aggressive midfielder brought in, because we don't have one, we just don't, and we will continue to ship goals as our current mids have shown it's not in their game.
24 Aug 2026 12:44:24
I've been criticising Virgil's defensive style for some time now. Yes, he's one of the best, but he's overly reliant on dropping off and holding out for a mistake or someone else to step in. Watch, this will happen numerous times this season. It's incredibly frustrating to watch.
He was able to get away with it in previous years because he was fantastic everywhere else, but it'll stick out like a sore thumb now that his form has taken a turn for the worse over the last 12 months. Let's hope he can sort it out.
24 Aug 2026 12:01:40
Ed025, you could say the same about Spurs and Man Utd, but football doesn't always work like that. There is always context, and I'm not making excuses either. I've already said Virgil, Grav and Isak cost us the game. However we dominated the game and got stung twice on the counter. It happens.
{Ed025's Note - i expected a lot better if im honest MK, Newcastle had a scratch side out and even though they had the crowd a team with your players should prevail and not rely on a last minute penalty to secure a draw mate, im sure you dont want to be classed in the same bracket as Spurs and United though my friend..
24 Aug 2026 13:24:34
In fairness to Virg, he only had 1 pre season friendly after an extended break before this game.
24 Aug 2026 14:39:54
Let's defend Virgil, but criticise Jacquet who's a young guy in a new team in a new league coming off a big injury, seems fair that.