| Match thoughts 22:58 - Feb 8 with 1491 views | Mach_foreignBlue |
Very windy and cold afternoon up north. Nice to see GlasgowBlue today.
The opening line-up suggested that we were going to play a draw. Therefore our first half performance was surprisingly good. Well dominant and creating chances. One of the best halves for a while. Some of this season's games saw us dominating an opposition without threatening them today though was much different. Certainly a hell lot better than Rotherham 11 days ago where we had been utterly appalling.
Lambert in his post-match interview underlines how good we were in the first half, however ... we still failed to score. The league table isn't going to give us points for this.
We had an early chance from Kenlock as his shot was blocked by their full-back, soon later a bit of nonchalance from Norwood as he tried to lob the ball when one v one against McLoughlin but the latter dealt with it comfortably. A few minutes later shot on target from Nolan.
Yes it was tasty to watch. Chances galore but again we still failed to score. Sunderland completely hopeless and struggling to cope with our attacks and movement. Their manager Phil Parkinson was never going to be happy and I firmly expected much better approach from them after the break. In fact it was even much more better than I expected.
The match proceedings changed and they completely dominated but we still had two glorious opportunities. That one missed by Norwood still grates on me and really is unforgivable. Dead ball from 8 yards and he still failed to hit the target !
In their skillful midfielder Lynden Gooch the hosts have had that bit of quality we missed. 5 minutes after the break he embarrassed our almost entire defence by doing a kind of Maradona's famous run and easily going through them. Had he scored instead of hitting the post it would have been of the goals of the season.
They hit the bar soon after too. We needed some injection of spark and movement to revive ourselves. All hopes in substitutes Jackson and Huws but they both never delivered. That second chance I have mentioned was Jackson's one v one but his hesitance allowed the returning defender to stab the ball and prevent conceding the goal. It would have been a deserved equaliser (deserved for our 1st half efforts) as a few minutes before Maguire's potent shot gave Holy no chance.
All in all yet another defeat and we keep sliding down. Yet again we fail to beat a top 8 team. Downes in my opinion was our best player followed by Nolan and Donacien as the latter put his body on the line on a couple of occasions.
We are ending up 7th in the 3rd tier. Really heartbreaking and making me downbeat but on the other hand it comes as no surprise whatsoever to me. A few years of Evans' destruction and it is what it is today.
People keep voicing their concerns/fears about staying in this league beyond this season. Of course it's better to go up but for me personally we're in the lose-lose situation. Stay in this league means will be here for a few years before Evans and his destructive policy takes us down to League Two while promotion means that this squad will need a drastic improvement otherwise we might not even have a chance to fight relegation. We all know that Evans is never going to provide the manager with the funds in order to compete in the Championship so quick return to League One would be very likely.
Each to their own and this is how see it above. Downes and Woolfenden are going to be sold this summer, they will be replaced by out of contract lower leagues' dross and we are gonna continue our decline.
Depressing times and I can't wait for the day when Evans sells up the club and pisses off. It might take a few more depressing years though.
Really don't know where to take the optimism from. Lambert gets 5 years contract therefore he feels no pressure whatsoever. No point to shout Lambert Out as he'll be with us for years but he longer gives me confidence and faith. I'd lost my connection with him following the Rotherham game after which he didn't admit getting his tactics wrong.
Wimbledon on Tuesday a must win? Yep certainly so but I'm out of faith in this team and manager. Whatever happens, happens. Too downbeat tonight.
A final whistle today was followed by the boos from a few people but hardly surprising. Once again we gain no points and end up out of the top 6 in this poor league.
[Post edited 8 Feb 2020 23:00]
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| Match thoughts on 07:50 - Feb 9 with 1190 views | peterleeblue |
By and large agreed.
I think you are overstating how good we were first half and likewise how good Sunderland were 2nd half. The concern for me was how poor we were 2nd half. We are playing a wing back system with no pace what so ever in the wing backs. Makes no sense at all. I assume Garbutt and KYV provide this. Without them should the system be changed?
I know its one player but our downturn seems to be very much aligned to KYV being injured is he that important to us? |  | | |
| Match thoughts on 08:54 - Feb 9 with 1070 views | ArnieM |
It is a very depressing time. No doubt about it. But I honestly can’t see what us fans can do about it. There is many a call to “ demonstrate” against Evans. But I can’t see where the will get us. Newcastle fans have been trying for years to get rid of their owner, and they aren’t £100m in debt , and in the 3rd tier of English football. So at least they are an attractive proposition for would be investors , unlike Town.
Lambert has been here just over 12 months, and essentially the squad remains the same from when he took it over. Little wonder there is little change in how we play or results to my mind. I was amazed PL didn’t offload ( maybe he couldn’t because they’re that Shyte ?) , players when he came in. All this rotation carp has been because we have such a large squad, and LamBert is , to my mind, trying to be all things to all men , and that never works. Thats seen as a sign of weakness.
I’ll be amazed if Town make the play offs on our from. If we did?.....well we all know the outcome don’t we! |  |
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| Match thoughts on 09:31 - Feb 9 with 967 views | allezlesbleus |
| Match thoughts on 08:54 - Feb 9 by ArnieM |
It is a very depressing time. No doubt about it. But I honestly can’t see what us fans can do about it. There is many a call to “ demonstrate” against Evans. But I can’t see where the will get us. Newcastle fans have been trying for years to get rid of their owner, and they aren’t £100m in debt , and in the 3rd tier of English football. So at least they are an attractive proposition for would be investors , unlike Town.
Lambert has been here just over 12 months, and essentially the squad remains the same from when he took it over. Little wonder there is little change in how we play or results to my mind. I was amazed PL didn’t offload ( maybe he couldn’t because they’re that Shyte ?) , players when he came in. All this rotation carp has been because we have such a large squad, and LamBert is , to my mind, trying to be all things to all men , and that never works. Thats seen as a sign of weakness.
I’ll be amazed if Town make the play offs on our from. If we did?.....well we all know the outcome don’t we! |
It really is depressing that I would almost rather us finish outside the play-offs, rather than the almost inevitable defeat in them. I would only have about 10% optimism about us going through via the play-offs, unless we somehow have an amazing turn of form and get our (atm totally fragile) confidence back. |  | | |
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