Where do we go from here?

[BromleyMonkey]

The cross would not have been viewed as "Superb" if our defenders had not allowed Osula so much space to prod it past Benitez. Diabolical defending.

I’m trying hard not to defend our slack defending, but sitting in the Whitehorse with a great view of it, the cross really was excellent and you could say it took our defence and keeper out of the game it was that good, but obviously we’re on a downer at the moment and we’ll always say we could’ve defended it better

 

[Teddy Eagle]

We'll do what we always do:

-Bring in a defensive firefighter manager to keep us safe and steady the ship.

-upgrade to a more ambitious manager when the firefighter has run his course.

-start playing well and showing promise.

-sell our best players and replace them with junk.

-blame the manager for the downswing in performance

-Bring in a defensive firefighter manager to keep us safe and steady the ship.

Groundhog football.

 

[Willo]

Indeed, and I would go further , we didn't stop the cross.
The ball was played behind Mitchell, Canvot was drawn out to cover but failed to stop the cross and was also then not in box to help defend the ensuing ball in.

Mitchell in his time with us has been one of the best full backs in the division at stopping crosses.
However, he's starting position further forward now means he often chasing back trying to recover rather than having the play in front of him where he can get tight to his man.
On the other side neither Khalaili or Mingueza look comfortable preventing crosses, whatever their other attrubutes may be.

I wholeheartedly concur with these sentiments.
I will add that neither Mitchell or Wharton are not the players of old since Sage has arrived.
Apropos Khalaili, he clearly looked impressive in the Belgian League but his defending in the PL leaves a great deal to be desired and he has struggled to meet the demands in such a challenging League.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

I know where we could go from here, it won’t help the defending, but Osorio was a positive yesterday when he came on and deserves a start.

 

[Willo]

I’m trying hard not to defend our slack defending, but sitting in the Whitehorse with a great view of it, the cross really was excellent and you could say it took our defence and keeper out of the game it was that good, but obviously we’re on a downer at the moment and we’ll always say we could’ve defended it better

How someone is afforded so much space in front of goal is unforgivable.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

Indeed, and I would go further , we didn't stop the cross.
The ball was played behind Mitchell, Canvot was drawn out to cover but failed to stop the cross and was also then not in box to help defend the ensuing ball in.

Mitchell in his time with us has been one of the best full backs in the division at stopping crosses.
However, he's starting position further forward now means he often chasing back trying to recover rather than having the play in front of him where he can get tight to his man.
On the other side neither Khalaili or Mingueza look comfortable preventing crosses, whatever their other attrubutes may be.

I think this is spot on, and one of the most striking things watching the team this season. I am the first to say that a managers tactics are only as good as the players performances, but when you see as reliable a player as Mitchell constantly trying to recover position, having seen it so rarely for so long, it's difficult to attribute it to anything other than the specific details in the coaching.

 

[Willo]

I know where we could go from here, it won’t help the defending, but Osorio was a positive yesterday when he came on and deserves a start.

Osorio is basically a winger but we don't play with wingers.
I am informed that his strengths lie in his long-range shooting and his crossing with his precise left-foot. Furthermore he can advance left or right when faced with a direct opponent.
I believe we have an option to buy for £24 Mill.

 

[OneStevePerrin]

This is my issue. I completely understand the argument for sacking, and that goals conceded rate is alarming.

BUT, apart from 10 mins yesterday we were the better team. And in the first half shifted the balance to keep things tight (which blunted us a little going forward).

So what happened in those first 10 mins of the 2nd half. Did Sage tell the team at HT to open up a little more? Or was it the players just coming out of the blocks slowly?

I think it was more that Newcastle knew once they had those two goals they had won the match. Don’t think you can go on how good we looked after conceding those goals - match over!

 

[Willo]

I think it was more that Newcastle knew once they had those two goals they had won the match. Don’t think you can go on how good we looked after conceding those goals - match over!

I wholeheartedly concur with these sentiments.
Having taken a 2-0 lead Newcastle were content to manage the game, hence we had more of the ball without unduly threatening their goal. Defensively they were resolute, far removed from what we have witnessed from our team.