As with the Spurs game, we were simply outpaced and out-fought today.
Newcastle, like Spurs, pressed hard from the front. They literally made more than 10% more sprints than us, and ran 10% further. They tracked and squeezed runners in dogged fashion.
They fought for every first, second and third ball. They committed in their challenges. Their centreback partnership won over 80% of their aerial challenges, whilst Smalling won just over 50% of his.
(Figures from here: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42934988)
There's a hesitance in our game. A conservatism that sees us play within ourselves and focus off the ball on structure, quiet organisation and safety over working the opposition and to regain possession quickly.
One point of view - a pragmatic one and one which has some value - says that over a 60-plus game season, in certain circumstances you'll want to dial back a little, keep cool and calm heads, conserve energy, remain patient and let the class show through. This is Jose through and through.
And I thought today might have been one of those days, because Newcasle have been turtle-like all season, even at home. But today, they came out fighting like it was the North East Derby, with rockets up their backsides, and we failed to respond.
Having started as we did and seeing their hammer and tongs approach, we did nothing differently. And we needed to - you simply have to - in those circumstances. Once again, we were short on aggression and commitment, and it showed.
We need to see Jose instruct the players to move into fifth gear when it is required. To chase and hustle, to commit to every challenge, to win every ball, to leave everything on the pitch. Because right now, when things aren't going our way we aren't seeing any of that.
For me, the talent is there, undoubtedly. We don't need to, and can't, spend hundreds of millions continually churning the squad and hoping that one day everything clicks. Because without application and a little bit of fight when needed, we won't compete for anything.
Quality is not the problem
posted on 11/2/18
Really? I can’t say I know enough about them but between them they’ve won a single French and Greek title and 1 German cup.
posted on 11/2/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 11/2/18
Yeah I thought he struggled quite a bit near the end of his time at Dortmund and fell out with the squad, the United job is a far far bigger and more stressful job to take on.
posted on 11/2/18
Cantona 7
Yes, I watched the game. For all our possession, other than Martial's one-on-one and Sanchez's goof with the open goal, we didn't create loads of good chances.
They gave us so little time and space to do anything. I was impressed with them to be honest.
posted on 11/2/18
Really? I can’t say I know enough about them but between them they’ve won a single French and Greek title and 1 German cup.
------------------------------------------------
Leonardo Jardim won a major European league, ahead of a club with far greater resources than Monaco playing relentless fast paced attacking football with a young team.
That ticks quite a lot of boxes for me. The downside maybe being is he favours 4-4-2/4-2-3-1, the former of which some people might like to see with the attackers we have but the midfield would probably be the issue with the players we have.
Tuchel interests me a lot. I think he's such a clever coach who's very flexible tactically and in the systems he uses. He emphasises attacking football that is well structured and controlled yet fluid. I think he'd help our players learn and improve so much positionally.
Fair enough neither manager has won much between them but that's not something that overly concerns me.
José's had a ridiculous amount of success but I don't think we're capable of winning anything other than either domestic cup or the Europa League under him and with our resources you better play football that's pleasing on the eye if you can't win a league title or European Cup which we don't.
Having an attacking coach for once would be a pleasant change.
posted on 11/2/18
TRS
Fair enough and good points, like I said I don’t know enough about them to have a valid opinion really.
Whoever comes in after Jose is going to be a big decision and I guess with Jose and LVG we tried the big name route, maybe it is time for a different approach, but that is a big call.
I agree an attacking coach would be nice see.
posted on 11/2/18
comment by rossobianchi (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 17 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 5 minutes ago
I think it's maybe time now for Jose to go three in the middle and stick Herrera in there with Pogba and Matic.
I'd instruct Herrera to be the one who presses, does the ugly work and generally make a nuisance of himself as, when he does win the ball, he does have the ability to play good short sharp passes.
That means that one of Lingard or Martial (as I don't think Jose will drop Lukaku or Sanchez) are demoted to the bench but so be it.
Upping the tempo in midfield I think would serve us well and we still have game changers on the bench in that case in the event we need them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If energy and commitment is an issue in these kind of games, I don't think we want to take Lingard out of the lineup.
For me, if anyone, it'd be Lukaku dropped for another orthodox centre mid. He was very good today I thought, but horses for courses considered, he isn't going to win any awards for dispossessing defenders or forcing them into mistakes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry been away.
I agree. Lingard does offer us energy, commitment and a good degree of quality but, perhaps for Jose, he'd be the easier one to drop. Not saying he's right but that's the way he may think.
I did say before the Spurs game that I would have played Herrera instead of Matic and perhaps I'd do that now. I don't think Herrera is better as a DM but what I think he does give is more energy and bite.
Having said all that that I don't think there was not much wrong with today's line up away at a team who are one of the weaker ones in the league. I just don't think we played with enough tempo and I feel that we are trying to win games doing just enough when what we should really do is play at a high intensity to begin with and then ease off (if we can) when we've taken the initiative and got a good lead.
posted on 11/2/18
comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 2 hours, 15 minutes ago
Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 16 minutes ago
I think it's maybe time now for Jose to go
----------------------------------------------
You should've just stopped there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Been off here for a bit but didn't want to let that one go without a
posted on 12/2/18
Clerly being outplayed by Newcastle tell sme that QUALITY IS THE PROBLEM. A lot of dead wood in your squad, too many to replace in one window.
posted on 12/2/18
comment by puffinthebushkangaroo (U1950)
posted 2 hours, 53 minutes ago
Clerly being outplayed by Newcastle tell sme that QUALITY IS THE PROBLEM. A lot of dead wood in your squad, too many to replace in one window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was more or less (Bailly excepted) our strongest XI out there yesterday.
I don't think anyone sane would claim that the two sets of players on the pitch were remotely comparable in terms of technical ability.
The quality of the players had nothing to do with the result at all. Neither did it at Huddersfield or against Spurs twelve days ago.