[Albion] Premier League 12-14/1/24

[jcdenton08]

Some terrific goals - great game!

 

[Berty23]

Newcastle have an XG against of 15 in their last 4 prem matches. That is incredible. (Luton 1.5, forest 3.5, Liverpool 7.1, city 2.8). That is not unlucky. That is match after match getting carved open time and again.

If I was them I would be worried. These defeats have not been unlucky. They could have been worse. Their biggest sob story of the season was when PSG finished like a pub team with xG of 4.5.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Blatant is when the player is yards offside. Today, after the injury, the lino put his flag up for offside. If it was close then yes, keep the flag down.

So before VAR the linesmen never flagged incorrectly for offside ? If so then we don’t need it.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Man City were excellent tonight, a joy to watch really. Newcastle's goals were top drawer, Isak and Gordon are a real threat against anyone. However, their bench is woeful and you could see they had no one to bring on to pose a threat to Coty in the last 20 mins. St Maximin would have been a great option had they not had to sell him to stay within FFP. Now that sale is biting them on the arse. Similarly, losing Tonali is huge. Thank you again City.

 

[birthofanorange]

Spuds win to keep Man U below us (and us a game in hand), yet allows Spuds to pull further ahead, or a draw which puts Man U ahead of us, yet kinda keeps Spuds in reach?
Difficult, but I think I'd opt for a Spuds win....or do I?

 

[Milano]

They’ve lost 4-2 at Liverpool and now 2-3 at home to city, in both games they were outclassed for the majority of the game, on the face of it the score lines would give the impression that both games were close, they weren’t, the score line flattered them in both games. What excuse did Smug come up with tonight?

 

[Berty23]

Man City were excellent tonight, a joy to watch really. Newcastle's goals were top drawer, Isak and Gordon are a real threat against anyone. However, their bench is woeful and you could see they had no one to bring on to pose a threat to Coty in the last 20 mins. St Maximin would have been a great option had they not had to sell him to stay within FFP. Now that sale is biting them on the arse. Similarly, losing Tonali is huge. Thank you again City.

I can’t believe they bought tonali. Surely they must have known something was going on doing due diligence. The complaining by geordies about the unfairness of it all really really annoys me. They bought Burnley’s best striker to rob a competitor of him to help save themselves. They have soent so much money it is crazy but the narrative is they have hardly spent anything. It genuinely baffles me. If villa beat them then Eddie must be in trouble.

It would be hilarious if Saudi got bored with not being able to spend and naffed off. In fact. Let’s hope their league collapses and then they give up on the World Cup while they are at it. Go and buy tennis or something.

 

[Berty23]

Spuds win to keep Man U below us (and us a game in hand), yet allows Spuds to pull further ahead, or a draw which puts Man U ahead of us, yet kinda keeps Spuds in reach?
Difficult, but I think I'd opt for a Spuds win....or do I?

Draw. But whatever result is fine really. If United win then I can laugh at my spurs mates. United losing is always funny.

 

[dazzer6666]

They’ve lost 4-2 at Liverpool and now 2-3 at home to city, in both games they were outclassed for the majority of the game, on the face of it the score lines would give the impression that both games were close, they weren’t, the score line flattered them in both games. What excuse did Smug come up with tonight?

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to MOTD: "It was a really good first-half performance from us. End-to-end, brave football. We probably ran out of gas in the second half.

"It looked like we had done enough for the point, with the way we defended you'd have backed us to see it out but we couldn't do it in the end.

"We are limited from the bench at the moment. The lads gave a lot in the first half, we looked really good, we just probably couldn't sustain it.

"That's the quality they have, but you have to find a way. You just hoped we could see it out and get a really good point.

"In the first half, physically we were causing them problems. We were stretching their back line. We had chances when we got the lead were in a really good moment but we couldn't sustain it.

"The frustration from us you could see what we can be at times but we haven't been able to put that together for the last month and it has cost us. You accept that but of course we need some players back and to lift the group."

 

[Berty23]

United have just as many injuries and also managed to come bottom of champs league group. ETH is useless according to media while Eddie is unlucky.

 

[Hugo Rune]

They’ve lost 4-2 at Liverpool and now 2-3 at home to city, in both games they were outclassed for the majority of the game, on the face of it the score lines would give the impression that both games were close, they weren’t, the score line flattered them in both games. What excuse did Smug come up with tonight?

Something along the line of having a brilliant first half but running out of gas a bit at the end with the implication that they are playing a lot more games and have a lot more injuries than any other side when in practice, Eddie is an old school ‘best 11’ merchant and has driven his team into the ground with over selection and training.

 

[Berty23]

Something along the line of having a brilliant first half but running out of gas a bit at the end with the implication that they are playing a lot more games and have a lot more injuries than any other side when in practice, Eddie is an old school ‘best 11’ merchant and has driven his team into the ground with over selection and training.

Correct. For several weeks he had several experienced first team players on the bench but would not rotate. Hoping the same thing happens to Villa tbh

 

[hart's shirt]

Glenn Murray makes his Saturday night MOTD debut.

 

[jakarta]

Glenn Murray makes his Saturday night MOTD debut.

I'll bet the Bernardo SIlva goal brings back memories of someone hanging around the goaline and flicking them in.

 

[Berty23]

Glenn Murray makes his Saturday night MOTD debut.

He was good. Agreed with the majority on here that wasn’t a foul on Trafford last night. You don’t have to part for the keeper.

 

[kevo]

Best PL game of the season according to some comments on BBC Sport.. Fact? I didn’t see the game.

The BBC report describes it as 'a game which both teams dominated for periods'. WTF?! Man City dominated throughout. Two great goals against the run of play for Newcastle, but no way was it an even contest.

 

[bhafc99]

Best PL game of the season according to some comments on BBC Sport.. Fact? I didn’t see the game.

Well, it had changes-of-lead, a come-from-behind winner, an injury-time decider, 5 quality goals… so in many senses a classic.

But it was also very one-sided, in terms of possession, pressure etc. Newcastle were hopelessly outclassed for most of the game, so to me it lacked the edge of a true contest.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Something along the line of having a brilliant first half but running out of gas a bit at the end with the implication that they are playing a lot more games and have a lot more injuries than any other side when in practice, Eddie is an old school ‘best 11’ merchant and has driven his team into the ground with over selection and training.

Correct. For several weeks he had several experienced first team players on the bench but would not rotate. Hoping the same thing happens to Villa tbh

Although in truth Newcastle have used the most players this season in the premier league. Perhaps their injury list really is that bad

(They have used 30. We are 6th with 27. Arsenal, West Ham, Luton, Liverpool And Wolves bring up the rear with 23)

 

[Berty23]

Although in truth Newcastle have used the most players this season in the premier league. Perhaps their injury list really is that bad

(They have used 30. We are 6th with 27. Arsenal, West Ham, Luton, Liverpool And Wolves bring up the rear with 23)

But injuries will continue to get worse if you flog people into the ground rather than rotate. It becomes self fulfilling.

 

[Brok]

Spuds win to keep Man U below us (and us a game in hand), yet allows Spuds to pull further ahead, or a draw which puts Man U ahead of us, yet kinda keeps Spuds in reach?
Difficult, but I think I'd opt for a Spuds win....or do I?

Yes, you do. We probably can't catch them, but we can stay ahead of United.