Interesting to read through these BBC Sport ‘neutrals’ comments, following on from Newcastle United drawing 1-1 at Fulham.
A very open match with plenty of action at both ends of the pitch.
Newcastle United though with the clearer chances and the better team in the second half.
Jacob Murphy with a superb left foot long range strike that looked to have won it on 80 minutes, only for Fulham to hit back with an equaliser three minutes later as United failed to clear their lines and a couple of deflections aided Fulham.
Referee Rob Jones was woeful as usual with Newcastle United, looking to give Fulham as many decisions as possible.
Four games in London for Matthias Jaissle in all competitions and still unbeaten, three wins and a draw in the capital.
Always interesting to hear the neutral perspectives, as well as the perspectives of fans of Fulham, Newcastle United and…Sunderland.
The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals…
‘I thought the ref was very consistent as he gave Fulham every 50/50 call including the Wissa incident to deny Burn his goal. Then after getting in the way of a Newcastle pass he gave the ball to Fulham. Astonishing.’
‘Funny result considering the Fulham scorer should’ve been sent off for elbowing Thiaw within seconds of entering the pitch.
The referee had a nightmare today.’
‘Red card all day that!’
‘I like Newcastle as a neutral but can forsee a battle at the wrong end of the PL. No consistency again and never know what you are going to get.’
‘A point earned. Great performance from the travelling toon army. Not impressed with the refereeing which seemed very inconsistent.’
‘Again another game in which newcastle had more than enough chances to score, at least this time Murphy came up with something. I think a game is going to come when they actually take most of the chances and score a hat full, hopefully that will help them kick on for the rest of the season.’
‘(Sunderland fan) We’ll be very lucky to stay up this season.’
‘Ref jones is horrific literally in every game he takes charge of. Standard under Webb is so poor.’
‘(Fulham fan) I thought the ref.had a decent match,as it happens. He let the game flow, wasn’t afraid to make some big calls and to have the courage to change his mind.
I was at the match . Fair result. We were the better team 1st half,NUFC had the better of the 2nd. That’s 4 matches in the Prem unbeaten now. Onwards and upwards !’
‘No wonder Newcastle fans are switching to archery!
Their football is dreadful!’
‘Newcastle manager has got to go …schar on in 84 minute , miley and willock ? Not game winning subs there. Same pattern as howe …same players that start with same subs and vice versa when subs are starting…toure needs to start and bamba needs to be given a chance..and please put another midfielder in there and not wissa .the players are used to 4 3 3 system from last season.’
‘I am beginning to believe that Newcastle are just like Spurs – a ‘nearly team’. Let’s be honest, Spurs have done Jack Poo in goodness knows how many years, while Newcastle are more-or-less the same – by winning their first silverware in a zillion years! IN FAIRNESS, BOTH TEAMS ARE RUN MORE BY A BUSINESS REGIME RATHER THAN A PROPER FOOTBALL CLUB!’
‘All football clubs are businesses.’
Photo by Colin via The Mag
‘A point is a point and there are signs this could be a decent season for Newcastle.’
‘What’s happened to the toontastic days promised not so long ago?
Howe saw precisely what was coming and did the right thing in leaving them to it. A long slow fade in progress…must be tough for the jawdees to stomach.’
‘Awful game . Newcastle parked the bus . On a par with Hull . There are some decent pub teams up north . So dull. Fulham can’t buy a goal so we better buy a decent striker ….or two.’
‘This is a transition season for the toon, but there are some fundamentals that must be addressed. They need a settled back 4 or even a 5 with three centre backs, because the full backs are all .attacking players. They certainly need 3 midfielders who can all win the ball carry and pass accurately. Then two, or 3 up front who are quick and can shoot. They have the players but need organisation.’
‘(Sunderland fan) We (Newcastle) will be lucky if we finish 4th or 5th bottom this season. The worst is still yet to come when the inevitable injuries come to essential players who will be replaced by inexperienced youngsters or a massive drop off in ability.’
‘”This is a transition season for the toon”
1927-2027
100 transition seasons!
Is this an English record?’
‘Most teams have a transition season every so often when a group of senior players either moves or retires and the team changes considerably. A change in manager can be similar. Sometimes, especially when the playing style remains the same, they manage this with little loss of form, but a change in manager and style can mean rebuilding from scratch and is a huge unnecessary risk.’
‘Not all doom and gloom. This was a tough fixture in reality and Fulham are a team on the up. Wissa looked slightly sharper than in previous games and the defence was a lot more solid than previously. A defeat would have been damaging and a point against a rival in decent form is no bad thing. Would be nice to have a decent FA Cup run but improving league form has to be a priority.’
‘A point is a point and there are signs this could be a decent season for Newcastle.’
‘Decent season ?? 12 points after 10 games ..with upcoming fixtures I cant see this changing…this is relagation form…if we loosing to Leeds, Coventry …’
‘I remember when we won something like five on the bounce at craven cottage. Now we’re lucky to get a point. Well, I say lucky, Fulham can certainly thank the ref for his performance.’
‘This column seems to attract the pessimistic NUFC fans.’
‘I love the geordies ! A dire side and they all sound so bitter …about the ref .I thought they were better than that. My grandpa was a geordie and he’d turn in his grave at some of their comments …shameful.
My boys with an average performance (again) Ffc.’
‘It’s about time the traveling army were rewarded with wins.
Put a Plaque inside the players bus to remind them with those words.
It’s about time some of the players put a decent shift in, instead of stealing a living.’
‘(Sunderland fan) Beating Fulham 1-0 is not for everyone.’
‘Beating PSG 4-1 is an achievement though, losing to Zagreb at home is not.’
🎙️ THE MAG PODCAST
Ep 13: Newcastle United beat Palace, Schar and Burn Deliver, and Eddie Howe to Man Utd?
Listen to the latest episode of The Mag Pod! Join Jamie, Simon, and Hutch for unfiltered football debate.
| Spotify | Apple Podcasts |
| Amazon Music | YouTube |