Only a sadomasochist amongst Newcastle United fans could have derived any pleasure from what transpired at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.
After this first home defeat of the season, the natives are restless, if not yet revolting.
The first half was especially difficult to watch.
Toothless in attack, anything but ruthless in defence, a massive disconnect between the back, the midfield and the forwards.
Two old friends, long-term holders of season tickets, were quick to confirm my impression of what television broadcast to the world.
This was Paul’s verdict on the state of the club/team: “That’s as bad as it gets, surely we cannot plummet any lower in terms of performance.
“My main concern is, Mattias Jaissle got us pretty late in the close season. There was positivity from the Liverpool performance, high-press intensity, very unlucky not to win.
“We maintained this at Spurs and I would expect, given time, MJ would instil his brand of football into the team. We have rapidly worsened and I can see little prospect of him improving players or changing the players’ positions to improve the team.
“Many supporters now don’t have faith that he’s up to the job.”
My immediate reply didn’t exactly dispute Paul’s opinions; if anything it was even less encouraging.
“Liverpool are crepe but lucky. A home draw was two points dropped, because Iraola was never getting a tune out of them in August. Spurs are just crepe. We might look back at the Hull win as the biggest three points of the season.”
My friend Dave, who like Paul had the “advantage” of witnessing the game in person rather than from his sofa, said he wouldn’t bore me with his views because it had all been said elsewhere. He did, however, look at our next challenge,
Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Sunday, in the light of Brighton hammering Pierre Sage’s outfit 5-0.
“Don’t underestimate or dismiss the anger among the fan base. It seems you will be watching two teams with foreign managers who are both out of their depth. Should be intriguing.”
Whether Sage will be in the dugout come Sunday is a moot point. I’m assuming Jaissle will be. The last thing I want, less than three months after Eddie Howe left, is a Herr today, Gone tomorrow scenario.
Looking at the contemporaneous comments I exchanged with my daughter Jo during the match, they started when she texted: “FP reminds me of Miggy.”
I told her Matias Fernandez-Pardo was better than Almorin, who took about 12 months to score his first goal (if memory serves).
My positivity dropped when Lewis Hall combined smartly with Joe Willock, only for the latter to smash the ball into the side netting from a ridiculously tight angle. “Very wasteful by Willock after Hall played him in behind the full-back.”
That incident was the game in microcosm. On the rare occasions our players outwitted or outplayed Villa, the vital decision and/or execution were woeful.
On the big talking point of the first half, the yellow cards for Joelinton and Sven Botman, she agreed we couldn’t dispute both yellows were justified: “Out of control tackles.” Neither of us would have been surprised to see Botman dismissed, especially after the VAR took a look.
Photo by The Mag
I believe two factors spared him: the referee was Jarred Gillett, probably the most laissez-faire Premier League official; and Pro Ref is extremely reluctant to see the on-field referee contradicted by the Stockley Park viewer.
Jo earned precisely nil points for originality when typing: “Botman is a liability. He’s been poor all season.” And so say all of us, unfortunately.
Apart from Hall, nobody in black-and-white stripes had a good game. The malaise even spread to the Sky Sports commentator, who announced before kick-off that Josh Murphy had dropped to the bench and Joanne [sic] Wissa had started the season well . . .
In the first half, at least, Wissa did more running than in the 4-1 defeat at Coventry, though I did write: “Our attempts to press are uncoordinated, leaving us wide open when Villa attack.”
When we were awarded a free-kick a few yards inside our half, the outfield players hesitated, then decided Lukas Hornicek was the best option to take it. If that’s an example of progressive thinking by our set-piece coach, I’ll prepare my job application letter tomorrow!
Lewis Miley’s lack of experience as a full-back was exposed when the unmarked Johan Manzambi headed the only goal. What Botman and Malick Thiaw were doing as the ball was swung in from Villa’s right flank was also less than impressive. Uncharitably, I suggested they were fast turning into Dumb and Dumber. That’s what happens when frustration becomes despair.
My half-time verdict: “Difficult to be positive about much. Villa could have had more goals.” It was also my full-time verdict, having watched Villa restrict United to the not-so-grand total of one effort on target in 90-plus minutes.
Annoyingly, 24 hours later a not-so-grand total of one deflected effort on target proved to be all that was needed for the Woolwich to win at the City Ground in Nottingham. The visitors there attracted a lot of criticism for their boring, stilted play but there’s no denying they have a top keeper and at least one top centre-back, two essential ingredients of a winning recipe.
As for United, the booing at the end of each half on Saturday was understandable, albeit regrettable. As Paul pointed out: “I’m concerned that the thousands who gave up their season tickets in protest at Ashley have been replaced by people that simply don’t care as much. The volatile atmosphere has been diminished as a consequence. We are a less intimidating ground to the opposition, especially with the corporate expansion in nearly every stand.”
Jaissle felt the need before the Villa game to say: “The important thing is that we stick together during those downs and use those moments positively to learn from and grow. With your support behind us, we know that anything is possible.
“I’m confident that we are still on the right track and, overall, I believe there is a lot we can feel encouraged by and plenty to build on from my first two months at the club. We have a young squad going through a period of transition and adaptation, so it is inevitable that we will experience ups and downs this season.”
A newish manager appealing for the supporters to back the team is, from my perspective, a worrying sign. The atmosphere at St James’ Park 30 years ago, with a 36,000 capacity, was better than it is today, when there are more than 52,000 spectators. There is no comparison with the aggression expressed in the mid-70s, that’s for sure.
Looking to the future, there will be a further reduction in the proportion of rabid, screaming Geordies if and when the ground is expanded or replaced by a bigger stadium.
That’s a worry for tomorrow. The most important issue now is how the team get back on track, starting at Selhurst Park on Sunday.