By ClockEndRider & 21st Century Gooner
Well, that was fun.
Having played so well at the weekend, it was with considerable anticipation that we made the journey into the nether reaches of the kingdom of the land of the Seal People. Up at Sparrow’s Fart and off to Heathrow, we started the day bright eyed and bushy tailed. A Breakfast of Champions at the airport, and then on to the 45 minute flight. What a pleasure it was not to have a seven-hour coach journey as we did in November. Landing at an empty Newcastle Airport was a pleasure too and reminded me of the way air travel used to be – a thoroughly pleasant experience. Straight onto the train into town, having been assisted to buy the correct ticket by a very nice and helpful gentleman who informed us that he wasn’t a Geordie but a Mackem and he hoped we slaughtered Newcastle. Having dumped our bags at the hotel, we enjoyed a very pleasant walk around the town, which was buzzing with young people. It must be a great town to go to University in. A walk in the bright but rather watery sunshine down on the Tyne was further enhanced by a pint in a riverside pub and a walk back towards the train station, stopping in another hostelry or two along the way. We finally settled in the Gunners, over the road from the station and enjoyed a good chat and a pint or two with some very nice and knowledgeable Geordie fans, before skipping off down the road for a pre-match dinner, also thoroughly enjoyable.
The team which was to start was pretty much as we would have wanted. And at that point the good bits ended, because next to come was the game itself. A raucous away end saluted the players onto the pitch and we kicked off. In 3 minutes, Newcastle were ahead with an excellently taken finish from Isak when he had been put through by Gordon after some faffing in the midfield. It was excellently taken by Isak but finally, after an interminable wait, it was ruled out for a marginal offside. Apparently the referee announced the decision to the ground over the PA system. At least that’s what the match highlights showed, but it wasn’t in any way audible in the ground, unlike the booming, frankly appalling entrance music which was played as the players came out, so that introduction seems to be purely for the cameras, like so much of the work PGMOL do. The cancellation was a let-off but the nature of the attack was a precursor of what was to come for much of the remaining 87 minutes.
Ødegaard had a chance in the 18th minute, put through by a pass from Martinelli but his shot hit the outside of the post under pressure from one of the towering Orcs in the Barcodes defence. A minute later and the game was over. A pass from Gordon to Isak, very similar the earlier one put the striker through and he touched once to control and then lashed his shot against the bar from outside the box. Unlike Ødegaard’s effort a minute earlier, the rebound came back kindly across the goal enabling Murphy to slot home, with Raya unable to recover. For much of the half we huffed and puffed without really looking as though we would blow Howe’s house of bricks down and half time gave us the opportunity to regroup. Seemingly it was an opportunity which we chose not to take along with the half time oranges. After a mere 6 minutes in the second half, the coroner was called and pronounced the game dead. Raya played a quite appalling pass out towards Rice just outside our box, seemingly failing to see the big bloke wearing black and while standing only yards away from him. Said walking Everton Mint simply pressured Rice who managed to nick the ball forward to Gordon who passed the ball into the goal. What a polite bunch of gentlemen we are, offering up such lovely opportunities for the opposition. The rest of the game passed in a barely memorable series of dulled attacks. We left the ground serenaded by the home fans singing a song about how Arteta blames the ball, referring to a question asked in the media a few weeks ago in reference to the different ball used in the Carabao Cup, which the manager failed to see as a booby trap to be used to create a wholly untrue story about him blaming the ball. Quite bizarre and indicative just how utterly stupid people can be. We came back to the hotel bar after the game and it was noticeable how the previously really friendly and nice home fans were now pretty ugly in mood and attitude. I suppose this is what comes of supporting a northern Tottenham. Done nothing for 60 odd years but just enough to keep alive the flickering embers of falsehood about being a big club. Sorry to appear bitter but they were pretty horrible post-match.
Frankly, over three games this season so far, Nice Eddie has totally had the number of Mikel, We have hardly laid a glove on them in 3 games They haven’t battered us, but they haven’t had to. They have been relatively efficient in front of goal, and we, erm, haven’t. Overall, it was another enjoyable trip to a very pleasant city that was somewhat soured by the 90 minutes of football we went to watch.
To end, a few points about Geordie Land that I (21CG) would like to make are the people of Newcastle are for the most part, thoroughly decent chaps. I’m sure you would find some colourful characters in the city centre at 2am on a Friday/Saturday night but they are a friendly bunch. St James’ Park is located pretty much bang in the centre which is always convenient. Plenty of things to do, places to eat and drink pre or post-game. Getting in and out of the ground could not have been any easier. I suppose the fact our hotel was only five minutes down the road probably helped but it was very impressive how the flow of fan traffic was managed.
We have bigger fish to fry.
Nice one gents. Glad you had a good trip even if the football wasnt a big part of that. As you say, bigger fish to fry.
Much appreciate the report, and thanks for taking the short straw gentlemen.
Got nothing to say about the game as I didn’t see it but it does look like they
have worked out how to wind us up over the last couple of seasons.
And Leicester away after our break is a nice opportunity to get this one behind us.
Cheers folks. I’m glad I didn’t bother going into any local pub and just watched that on the iPad (once I’d sorted that I had to used my mobile as hotspot, as the hotel wi-fi raised a complaint that I was not in France – bizarre how it should be different with the phone, even if my ‘home network’ is France). Some heads may have been in Dubai already in the second half. Pretty poor performance all round, think expectations came from Sunday’s high, but this was more in tune witch how we felt after the first leg.
Hopefully the trip away will focus minds on the long, final stretch of the season!
I hope Martinelli’s injury is not serious.
I found that report helpful and therapeutic, thanks chaps . I’m also very much in sync with GSD’s conclusions .
The problem I have post-match is that the tedious narrative from the ghastly, sarcastic Sky commentator was actually quite accurate . We are perfectly set up for Newcastle ( especially with no Saka ) and Havertz could play all night against them without scoring. Isak did severely bully Saliba who didn’t handle him well . Willy can be pardoned an off-night he has been tremendous for us since he started in the team. And Isak is very, very good .
Our lads have had a tough run of games and this was a game too far but if we are serious about improving we need to analyse what we did last summer because it hasn’t been especially productive and the failure to find a top striker was a clear failure which will almost certainly cost us significantly this season . Arteta is a wonderful coach but does seem reluctant to bring in attacking resources . Hopefully, that will change .
On a brighter note the quality, character and commitment of our two young tyros shone through . In the second half Nwaneri put in a brilliant cross which Havertz was nowhere near . As it went across the six yard box that was a pity and an indication that Kai for all his admirable qualities is not a predator . MLS oozes feistiness and drive . He is a real baller .
Let’s get down to frying those bigger fish- maybe starting with a barbecue in Dubai!
A great report, thank you. A tough game to watch. Our attacking presence was minimal and our defense looked uncharacteristically shaky, even our normally reliable GK was in on it. It’s hard to see how any trophies will be won this year. Isak really shines a huge spotlight on what a Top forward brings to the table. I’m hoping Saka is back sooner than later and that Martinelli isn’t badly injured. Arteta is going to have to earn his money in getting the team ready to perform through the rest of the season. COYR’s.
This was a match that I’d pretty much lost interest in after the disappointing first leg. A smallish resurgence of that interest was spiked by Sunday’s performance. Sadly, last night Arsenal were as poor on every metric as they’d been excellent on Sunday. No one shone and, sadly, even Big Willie succumbed and delivered his poorest game in an Arsenal shirt.
Overall, for me in the two matches the tie was lost more by poor defending than the absence of a striker. Having said that, Isak is in absolute peak form. Had he signed for us in the summer we’d still be second in the League but we’d likely be playing in the CC final rather than the beer belly brigade.
Enjoyed your report, Gents. I’ve driven through Newcastle many, many times. Your tale made me inclined to actually stop and visit on some future occasion.
As TTG said, a therapeutic report for a foregetable night, and, as you say, Eddie has got Arteta’s number. As I said in the previous drinks, we rest and move on.
You catch the appropriate mood perfectly, 21CG and CER. Well done getting a report out at all after a night on the broon ale, let alone first thing in the morning.
I share the feelings of many in the Drinks above about this match. It looked a very big but not impossible task after the double sucker punches of the first leg. However, some optimism that we could pull the fat out of the fire was triggered by our superb victory over C130y and Trev’s recounting of our many fightbacks. However, the first goal was critical last night to give the Codes the jitters and silence their mob but when Ødegaard’s shot struck the post after Isak’s disallowed dress-rehearsal goal only to be followed by Isak repeating his surge past our defenders with his shot rebounding perfectly for Murphy, the task became virtually impossible. We kept working and creating half-chances but Lady Luck was looking the other way and Raya’s extremely rare error eliminated the ‘virtually’.
My own reflection is that while my hopes were buoyed up by the performance against C130y and the Codes’ two consecutive home defeats, I feel that the all-in performance to beat C130y, at the end of a ridiculously busy schedule, probably took more out of our minds and legs than I had recognised, while on the other hand, the Codes had their minds exclusively on THIS game after they won the first leg. They certainly phoned in the Fulham defeat and had the day off. We were virtually lambs to the slaughter.
We desperately need some R&R though Dubai would not be my personal choice of destination. Fingers crossed they can find some horse placenta for Martinelli and our other wounded soldiers.
Onwards.
Seems that we are not the only ones feeling refs and VARs are biased against them.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx2y1yxy7yno
we won’t go out of the champs league to a reasonably well organized, decently motivated team we showed almost no chance of scoring against – honest.
Unfortunately it didn’t go any better for the Arsenal Women, also out in the League Cup Semi-final.
@9 thanks Ned for the link, of course they are paranoid wacko’s for thinking everyone is out to get them, everyone know that’s us not them….
OM@12: Just because you are paranoid, it doesn’t mean that they are not after you…
Nice one, chaps ! Tough one to get much fun out of but the socials sounded interesting.
@13 Absolutely, and of course if Barcelona
have kept up the payments then it might
even be true 😂
It is rare that I have any sympathy for Tottnumb …. and I haven’t now . My Son in Law who lives on the dark side had a chance to experience the corporate hospitality there and went more in hope than expectation
But that performance was as Spursy as they come . They not only showed up Ange’s lack of tactical nous but one would have to doubt his motivation all skills . This was the biggest game they’ve played for a while and Liverpool ( who were excellent) just rolled them over. Not one shot on target in ninety minutes
Interesting to hear Jonathan Liew say later that one of the things that attracted Liverpool to Slot was his record of avoiding injuries to his players . Feyenoord had very good stats in this respect . One assumes Daniel Levy didn’t have access to that algorithm
Motivational – not as shown !
TTG – not sure how Slot would avoid Kovacic trying to break his players’ ankles but, yes, take your point and they do seem to be doing very well on that front.
I was pleased to see the Mugsmashers progress, not merely because it avoids the sneering from those on the Dark Side, such as False Nein who has changed his Spudz-related e-mail handle to circumnavigate the block applied following an offensive contribution, but moreover because it avoids the frustration of seeing the Marshdwellers progress (by some miracle) to the final where we would, through our own failings, miss out on the opportunity of taking them apart in the final. I suspect Matey is on borrowed time and that Levy is batting his eyelids at the Ipswich fella.
As to False Nein, his contributions suggest that he must be extremely juvenile or, if older than 12, have arrested intellectual development as all his contributions in the Drinks are akin to puerile graffiti. His barely literate interjections are a far cry from the intelligent contributions of Dave’s Spudz supporting pal who occasionally dropped in and with whom one could have a reasoned discussion.
Trev
I think they were mainly referring to muscle strains
I am honestly not sure which of Manure or Spuds is the more poisoned chalice these days.
I suppose the pay off used to be better at manure but the Monaco tax dodger is notoriously tight so that might not be the case anymore.
I’d guess the Bournemouth guy will be in demand soon.
Matt @21, Iraola is no doubt on every big clubs radar given the trees he has pulled up at Bournemouth. I hope that he is more intelligent than to fall into the mantraps that Manure and Spuds have become.
No one engages with False Nein so let him continue to play on his ownerism.
SP @23, that’s the plan, unless he becomes offensive again.
@22 time will tel with Iraola I guess. The enjoyable implosions at manure and spuds have opened a couple of doors in the PL in a way and the league is better for it. Forest and Bournemouth this season, Brighton and Villa before have made it more enjoyable of late than the same top 6 every season. Santo has done well at Forest after a conspicuous failure and i wonder how Potter will do at Wham, his reputation was high before the Chav debacle.
@23 😂😂 yes, exactly
Interesting side notes about Slot’s injury record. He attributes a lot of it to Ruben Peeters, the performance coach he brought from Feyenoord. Slot suggests in the Liverpool Echo that it is down to managing the training load. The depth of squad he has, which allows the regular rotation of his starters, must help, too.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arne-slot-dismisses-liverpool-injury-30940348
I’m hearing that Martinelli will be out for a month. That’s a lot of games at this stage of the season . It leaves us very short out wide . Let’s hope Bukayo can be back soon
TTG@27: The first game in a month’s time is at OT on March 9. In between, we have league games against Leicester, West Ham and Forest. So Martinelli would miss three games if the month’s absence is an accurate estimate, although that’s three games it would be better to have him available for.
Perhaps an opportunity for Kabia or Butler-Oyedeji, both of whom are with the first-team in Dubai. Also there from the Academy are Tommy Setford and Jack Porter, though it isn’t much surprise that both keepers would travel, the right back Josh Nicols, whose been injured recently, the up-and-coming Max Dowman along with fellow midfielders Michal Rosiak and Jack Henry-Francis, and Charles Sagoe Jr, who was recalled from his loan at Shrewsbury in January.
Disappointing news about Gabigol though not really surprising given how he went off against the Codes and the comments from MA8 thereafter. I wonder if we could take the opportunity of still having KT3 on the books – a former left winger who can swing a wicked cross or cut-back into the box, rather than simply wearing out Nwaneri, Havertz and Trossard every game. We can of course alternatively add Sterling to the front line but to date Tierney looks far more likely to add something effective.
Not sure how Ornstein would have gotten Martinelli’s scan results within 48hours of the injury occurring.
Martinelli didn’t look to be restricted in his gait at all as he walked off completely unaided. Think I’d wait a bit before believing all that – if Ornstein is the source.
Arteta usually keeps this sort of information very private and I can’t imagine he would have already briefed anyone with the injury so new.
@19 Cusop! I finally remembered 😄 for no reason at all it had been bothering me
I suppose there are quite a few people involved who would have access to Gabi’s results and we give Ornstein the occasional scoop in return for his reporting what we want reported at other times. Hope Trev is right of course @30, he is an expert so I am optimistic!
MA did mention we will have to get creative with selections so KT3 is an option or MLS of course. Tomi, Benjamin or Timber for the right wing?
We’re gonna see more of Sterling, and I’d much rather that be from the left than the right. Ben White’s return could be vital. At RB he offers width and overlaps better than anyone else. Could we play him at right wing for 20 mins when Nwaneri has to come off towards the end of matches? Dunno if that’s a terrible idea, but all options have to be considered as we are looking like Harry Redknapp in his Halloween costume right now. Bare bones!
It may be a coincidence, or I have missed him, but there seems to be no sign of Ben White in the second batch of photos from Dubai that the club has released, whereas he was to be spotted in the first set.
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