We asked Dave Marshall to give us his match ratings and comments on individual Newcastle United players after Fulham 1 Newcastle 1.
Nail-biting. Teeth gnashing. Unease. Anxiety. Growing disapproval. Such were the rumblings of a sizable, and growing, section of Newcastle supporters as United headed to west London for a date with Fulham.
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The Cottagers a side going in just two points above relegation but showing signs of life in recent weeks.
A good omen for United going in, though: winning three on the bounce in the capital this season with no goals conceded.
But pressure mounting on Matthias Jaissle and the lads after a string of bad results.
While there are both positives and negatives to take from this performance and result v Fulham…
What’s most concerning is the vibe around the club.
It was noticeable Monday at St. James’ Park. And the ranting and raving online has reached ridiculous levels of theatre.
It was good that Newcastle had an away match after capitulating twice to the Merseyside Mackems because St. James’ Park would have been too toxic to have been any support for the black and white today.
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This is not the place to debate Jaissle’s tenure or his seemingly increasingly tenuous position to remain United’s gaffer.
This is not the place to criticise the personnel decisions the brass have made in recent months.
Nor is to call out any players for lack of effort, skill, finishing, passing, common sense, etc.
But it is a place to remind you that we are Newcastle United.
And United supporters have a reputation for being among the most loyal, fervent, rabid, and supportive.
50,000 strong showed up on the regular even when having to endure seasons in the Championship.
Traveling Geordies are always lauded, especially on the continent. It’s no stretch to say that a lot of club brass around England are envious of the support Newcastle gets. Supporters who bleed black-and-white.
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Think 50,000 would regularly show up if one of the Septics got relegated after so many years without any trophies and Mike Ashley the club owner?
(It’s still early, but we’re on course to find out next season… but I digress.)
Face it… this is nothing compared to the dark ages of the Fat Tub of Ashley years.
The struggles of a team that lost three of its top skill players and several of its top leaders and mostly replaced them with younger, greener, and arguably less-skilled footballers?
Not the worst times United supporters have ever endured.
The learning curve of a new gaffer who’s not been on the touchline even three months yet?
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Not the worst depths Geordies have suffered through.
A string of bad performances, bad results, erratic play, defensive mishaps, poor finishing in front of the net…
Not happy with MJ’s tactics or his line-ups or his substitutions or his in-game management?
Fair play.
It all sucks, yes.
But what sucks more is the vibe of the supporters right now.
It’s as if a sizable portion of the fanbase is already certain that Matthias Jaissle is a failure and this team is not worthy of support.
The schedule ramps up in quality and intensity after this international break.
So it’s time for us as United supporters to ramp up our own intensity, passion, love, and support for the black-and-white.
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Come matchday, it’s time to strap on our favourite United top and do nothing but get behind the team 100%.
The fact of the matter is this:
When the season kicked off on August 23 at home to Liverpool, pretty much no one expected United to be on 12 points and hovering mid-table after Matchday 10.
Newcastle were tagged for relegation and left for Championship dead. So it’s fair to say that United have exceeded expectations so far.
It’s also easy to forget during a long season, particularly in the midst of a spell of bad results.
Anfield and Old Trafford get all the plaudits for being difficult venues for opponents.
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But those of us who live and breathe English football know, even objectively, that no set of supporters gives its team that vital push more than the rabid throngs inside a pulsating St. James’ Park.
And that’s what we have to be again to get through this.
Newcastle United Fans leaving Craven Cottage Fulham
Photo by Colin via The Mag
PLAYER RATINGS
Lukas Hornicek – 8
Bounced back after the flub v Everton on Monday. Stood tall with five saves, several of them spectacular, including early on to deny Oscar Bobb and then a last-second stop to deny Sessegnon’s laserbolt in stoppage time. Can’t be faulted on the equaliser; nothing to be done once it deflected off BDB.
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Amar Dedic – 6.5
While he seemed to handle Iwobi, he struggled with Robinson’s overlapping runs. Solid in the first half as United sat back, but lagged as the match went on, his 92nd-minute yellow card invited unnecessary pressure as the draw played out.
Malick Thiaw – 7
Much-needed athleticism was back on the backline. Composed, accurate for most of his time on the pitch. Didn’t clear the ball well enough in the build up to the equaliser.
Dan Burn – 6.5
Goal disallowed due to a soft foul by Wissa. Dominant in the air, and though unlucky for Muniz’s poke to deflect off him for the equaliser, not quick enough to close down the cross that led to it. Solid partnership with Thiaw.
Lewis Hall – 7
As good as we all think Hall to be, and no doubt we’re correct, to be truly world class, he’s got to bury that 88th-minute effort, even with his non-dominant right foot. Back to his usual level for the most part, otherwise.
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Sean Steur – 6.5
Good to see him back and playing with confidence. Was tidy on the ball and always looking to direct passes forward. Still not sure about him being part of a two-man midfield. Not really sure about it generally speaking, to be fair.
Nico Gonzalez – 6
Had his moments in the middle of the park, but wonder about his fitness, as he was subbed for the 2nd game in a row on the hour mark. Though he helped United keep their shape, there was no creativity to his game to break down Fulham’s low block.
Yoane Wissa – 5
Will be aggrieved with the soft foul he got called for that cancelled Burn’s would-be goal. Still, can’t put himself in position for such a call. Had a couple of opportunities but made a meal of them. Didn’t trouble the GK as much as he should have.
Jacob Murphy – 8
A screaming curler that should’ve won it and was denied an assist for Burn’s header. A Murphinho performance that United needs more consistently from him, as he was Newcastle’s most consistent threat on the break.
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Harvey Barnes – 6.5
Harsh? Maybe. But when you’re an “all-he-does-is-score” kind of footballer, you’ve got to put away at least one of the three glaring chances he didn’t. He caused Fulham all types of issues but not scoring is unforgivable and it cost United two points.
William Osula – 5
Was not the beneficiary of much good service but his inconsistent effort was disappointing, Did not get a shot on goal.
SUBS
Lewis Miley – 6
Came on for Nico on 61′, vital defensive header to clear a dangerous Iwobi free-kick late but hope competition with Steur will have him passing more forward. Still, good to see him back.
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Joe Willock – 6
On for Wissa on 61′, he added energy dynamism to the midfield but only managed 1 SOG, and it was from long range, not too troublesome.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo – 5
On for Steur on 74′, back for the first time in weeks. Late header was saved but not too much impact. Seemed to suffer a knock in stoppage time, so hope it’s not too serious.
Anthony Elanga – N/A (On too late to rate)
On for Osula on 85′, no impact in this cameo.
Fabian Schar – N/A (On too late to rate)
On for Thiaw on 85′ following the equaliser to help see things out.
Matthias Jaissle – 6
Not sure that this match set-up worked, not with our cast of characters. However, Jaissle’s plan to sit deep and counter was not a bad idea, given the past couple of weeks. A sniff of desperation? Not sure, but it almost worked perfectly. However, another failure to hold the lead. You can blame MJ all you want, but it was the same last season under Howe, and with a much different cast. It’s hard to explain. But it’s got to be fixed.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
