Season 2 - The Games Keep Coming

With the Champions League this season the fixtures are coming thick and fast and is taking a toll on our squad with injuries. With a small matter of 14 games to play between November and December we really need to keep our key players fit if possible and keep results coming our way if we're to maintain a title challenge that the start of the season was making look possible. We've also had a preview of our youth intake for this season which we will look at later and hopefully we can get one or two top quality youth players starting to come through as we've upgraded our youth facilities a lot over the first season and a half. With all that being said, let's go find out what the results are for this bust period of fixtures.

The Matches

Newcastle 6 - 1 Bournemouth

We started by continuing the form of the previous months as we put Bournemouth to the sword in the first game of the month. We were dominant from start to finish, but had to wait until the 22nd minute for the breakthrough when Isak got a foot in on their defender on the half way line, and was able to run from there through to the box and finish it under the keeper to make it 1-0. The second came when Hall breaks down the left wing and plays a deep cross, landing right where Isak is jumping and he heads home to double our lead. Just before half time Tonali loops the ball over the top of the defence and Isak runs on to it and finishes his hat trick to give us a 3-0 lead at half time. We bring off Gordon and both fullbacks for the second half just to rest them but that doesn't seem to hinder our attacks. They did get one goal back when they play a cross from deep in our half and Alex Scott is able to break free and volley it in, but shortly afterwards Bruno sends it out wide to Barnes who beats his man and gets it into Isak who smashes home his fourth from close range. Bruno and Tonali then come off on the hour mark for a bit of rest too and we manage to get 2 more goals in the last 10 minutes of the game. Bueno gets it out to the right hand side for Kuol who has lots of space and puts it under the keeper to add our fifth. Then in the 92nd minute Joelinton gives it out left to Barnes who hits it from 35 yards out and into the top corner for a real cherry on the cake to end the game.

Arsenal 4 - 1 Newcastle (Champions League Group)

There's nothing like getting rewarded for resting the key players when you did. Unfortunately, despite having the players nice and fit for this game we really did not show up and defend well at all. It started just 25 seconds into the game, when Saka makes light work of Hall and gives it to Odegaard, who then cuts it to the edge of the box for Vieira to score the opener. We did get ourselves back into it 3 minutes later when Frimpong makes a run into the box before laying it back to the edge of the box for Bruno who hits it into the bottom corner. But that was about it for good moments for us as then it became all them. Martinelli was able to get a cross in from the left where Jesus is able to meet it with his head to get them the lead again at half time. The second half was even worse by us, and they added a third when Odegaard's corner is met by Tomiyasu and a simple header. The fourth was a defensive disaster, as Merino is given far too much space and time in our box, and is able to pick out Vieira in the box who is also completely unmarked and he adds his second of the game and makes it 4-1 Arsenal.

Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle

Another poor result despite a close game in terms of how the two teams played. Pope was dropped due to his performance in the Champions League and we was expecting Caprile to take his chance, but instead he dropped a performance even worse. 10 minutes into the game they get their first chance, when Gordon loses the ball on the half way line and they hit us with a swift counter attack which is finished off by Bissouma to give them the lead. A few moments later Chiesa plays a poor ball into the box, but our defence all miss it and it somehow finds its way through to Nunez who finishes to make it 2-0 at half time. We step up in the second half and get our reward on the 56th minute when Joelinton plays Gordon through, who cuts inside his defender and hits the top corner to make it 2-1. However we weren't able to make anything more than that and then to make matters worse for us, Caprile tries to play a simple pass to Garcia and gets it all wrong, instead gives it to Gakpo who hits it first time into the open goal and we lose 3-1.

Newcastle 1 - 0 Chelsea

After two poor results we needed to try turn it back round at home for ourselves, and we managed to just about do that when we scraped a 1-0 win against Chelsea. This was a very quiet match and it was decided by a moment of brilliance early in the game. In just the 5th minute Frimpong played it to the edge of the box where Joelinton ran onto it and absolutely rattled it in to the top corner to give us the lead. Other than that both teams defences were on top and no real chances were being created by either team so the screamer ended up being the moment that got us back to winning ways.

Newcastle 3 - 1 Antwerp (Champions League Group)

Suddenly our attack sprung to life in this game, almost like they wanted to make up for the poor performances of the last couple of games and they did just that. It started in the 17th minute when Botman goes down in the box and we are awarded a penalty. Isak steps up and smashes it past the keeper to make it 1-0. However that lead only lasted 2 minutes as they took a long range effort which took a huge deflection and wrong footed Caprile to give them the equaliser. Wirtz slid the ball through on the right for Pino who shoots in to the far corner but the goal is disallowed for offside so we go in at half time 1-1, although we're not entirely sure how we're not winning at this point. Fortunately the second half didn't change too much and it was all us with the pressure again trying to get the breakthrough. It came in the 62nd minute when Pino plays the ball through from the right hand side for Isak to run on to and he unleashes it into the top corner for his second of the game. We then add the third when a corner finds Bueno on the edge of the box, who plays it across to Garcia who hits it into the bottom corner and scores his first goal for us since joining last January.

Brighton 0 - 2 Newcastle

We were in the flow of it now and performances were starting to improve across the pitch, and next up were Brighton who were unable to stop us. We started right from the beginning and within the first 10 minutes we had 2 big chances saved. Brighton were hanging on for the first half, and we finally managed to break them down just before half time. We took a free kick which made its way over to the back post to Barnes who knocks it back to the edge of the box and Bueno fires it hard into the corner and gets his first goal for the club. The second half continues in the same vein as the first half, but the goals just don't seem to be going in. We do add a second when Bueno plays it out wide to Kuol who releases a cross straight to Moerstedt who finishes into the near post to make it 2-0. Then the bad news comes, as Frimpong gets an injury that forces him off and we find out after the game that this injury will keep him out for 6 weeks so he will be out until the new year. They did get one back in the 98th minute when a corner routine fools our defence, but they had gone too early and it gets disallowed for offside so the deserved clean sheet is restored as well.

Newcastle 4 - 1 Burnley

With Livramento also injured at the moment, third choice Pedro Lima is going to be getting a run at right back for us and he played really well in this game so any worries about him not being fully ready where getting smaller as he looks like a player who wants to take his chance. We were against dominant in this game and we took the lead nice and early again. Tonali took a corner in the 4th minute which was met by Joelinton, the keeper managed to stop that effort but the rebound fell to Harwood-Bellis who tapped home the opener. Joelinton played a ball to the back post which gets volleyed back inside by Isak, straight to Pino who finishes and doubles our lead for half time. We didn't let up in the second half, and pretty much straight away Hall broke down the left and played a low cross which took a deflection off the defender and in for an own goal. The fourth came as Tonali takes a smart free kick to Bueno, who slides it through towards the back post where Garcia is able to score again. They then got one back from a lapse in concentration and another long range effort that beats Pope, but it felt nothing more than a consolation goal and that was how it stayed. A thoroughly deserved win.

Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Newcastle

This game provided the second of our big injuries, and unfortunately this time it came before the game was wrapped up and we wasn't able to keep up the recent good form in front of goal to cover it. Isak went off just before half time and he will be out for 2 months which is annoying as he hasn't long come back from injury and had gotten up to speed, and to add more insult to it, Sesko is also out currently with a slight knock. However just before the half time whistle went we were able to take the lead, when Barnes was able to receive the ball from Bruno taking the free kick, and cut inside and curled into the far corner to give us the lead. Second half they took over, and got their equaliser when they crossed the ball from the right hand side but Pope decided to come out to it, and all he could do was tip it out to Eriksen who now has an open goal to tap it into. Shortly afterwards Eze swings in a cross and Eriksen meets it again and gives them the win. Keeper is starting to become a problem position again for me as it's another poor performance by Pope as he's beaten by the only 2 shots on target in this game and it's cost us points.

Newcastle 3 - 1 Feyenoord (Champions League Group)

This game was made quite a bit easier when Bueno gets hacked down in the 13th minute and they receive a straight red card. From that moment on the game was a precession and it was only a matter of time until our goals started to come. We get the breakthrough when Barnes plays a low cross to the back post where Pino is waiting and taps it in to make it 1-0. We then have to wait until the second half where some changes are made before rounding out the game comfortably. Moerstedt started the additional pressure when he had a header cleared off the line, but then Gordon spots a poor back pass and runs on to it before hitting it past the keeper into the near post to double our lead. The third comes when Sildillia and Pino link up down the right and Sildillia hits a cross which is met by Gordon for a close range header. Unfortunately we couldn't keep a clean sheet as another long range effort obviously beats Pope to make it finish 3-1. We have now confirmed that we are at least in the knock out rounds of the Champions League but with a couple of games left we may be able to get the automatic qualification still.

Wolves 2 - 2 Newcastle

This is a draw that could end up being a huge moment in our season for a few reasons. To begin with, we deserved to win this game and it was down to their keeper who stopped us scoring more than the 2 we did get that means it's only a draw and some big dropped points where we would have expected all 3 usually. The other reason being Pope was subbed off and this may now be the end of his Newcastle career with us. It started when in just the 2nd minute Cunha took a long range effort which flew past Pope as usual. We did get one back when Bruno plays it into Sesko, who holds the ball up, spins his defender and then releases the pass for Wirtz to run down the middle of the pitch and fire home to equalise. Just before half time we took our deserved lead when Pino plays a low cross which was missed by everyone except Le Bris who runs on to it and taps it in to make it 2-1. Shortly into the second half was the decisive moment for Pope, when Botman misses the ball and it comes through for Hwang, who only gets to the corner of the box and then fires a poor shot straight at Pope, but he somehow allows it through him and is instantly replaced as a result. The rest of the half was all us trying to get the winner but their keeper made some brilliant stops from close range and they were able to hold on for the point.

Newcastle 4 - 0 Norwich (Carabao Cup Quarter Final)

Up next was the cup game and Mycael was given the chance in goal to prove his case for being the starter for the rest of the season seems as Pope needs replacing and Caprile has had a few dodgy games himself so far this season. We did not fall in to the trick that we did against them in the league however and this time we were able to walk them off the park. We got the opener just before half time, when Bueno takes a corner and it's poorly headed away to Lima on the edge of the box who fires it through all the bodies and gets his first goal for the club. The second half we completely opened them up and took our chances this time to make the game more than comfortable. We got the second when Gordon cuts it back to Livramento down the left hand side, who passes it in front of an incoming Miley who hits it first time to double our lead and get his first goal for the club too. Wirtz then reminds us how good he is, as he gets the ball on the edge of our own box, runs the length of the pitch and makes it all the way to the line before cutting it back for Moerstedt to finish off the chance to make it 3-0. Finally Miley plays a deep cross which Kuol gets on to the end of, takes his shot from a tight angle and it's saved but all the keeper can do is deflect it across the front of goal where Le Bris is waiting to tap in a fourth. This sets up our second semi final appearance in as many seasons in the Carabao Cup and this time we will be up against Aston Villa.

Newcastle 2 - 0 Everton

We then switch our focus back to the league where we're up against a now bottom of the league Everton so this should be a comfortable win. However know last time we played the team at the bottom we switched off and got punished. Fortunately this was not the case today and the team were dominant. Mycael continues in goal and put in another strong performance to stake his claim. We got the opener in the 6th minute as Hall sends in a corner which was about to be met by Botman before he was shoved to the floor by the defender. The penalty was given and Hall stepped up for it, and hit it straight down the middle as the keeper dives away from it to make it 1-0. A few moments later Sesko takes a long range effort that finds the bottom corner and doubles our lead. Everton are hanging on for the first half and just as they were about to make it through to half time, their defender brings down Gordon and receives his second yellow card to put them down to 10 men. The second half was more of the same with us creating everything but our finishing disappeared in the second half and we were unable to add any more to our 2-0 lead at half time and that is how the game finished.

Fulham 1 - 0 Newcastle

This one was a disappointing loss as we didn't deserve to lose the game, but it's hard to argue we did enough ourselves to win it either. The first half was as bland as they come with neither team creating any chances and it finished 0-0 with neither team looking like they had a goal in them. In the second half we stepped up the pressure a bit but we could only create some long range efforts. Livramento hit the bar with one and then 15 minutes later Klemens hit the bar as well with his long range effort but nothing was landing for us. Then with 10 minutes left they get the breakthrough when they produce a deep cross and their striker is able to meet it and head home from close range to give them the win. Wirtz also picked up a training injury just before this game which is keeping him out for a while as well now so hopefully Bueno can keep up his impressive form he's shown in his chances this season.

Newcastle 2 - 2 Arsenal

Again a bunch of injuries and players just completely worn out by the schedule meant we had to rotate a lot of players for this game and it showed as in the first half we were completely dominated by Arsenal. It took just 2 minutes into the game for them to take the lead, when Odegaard sends a cross in to the back post which is met by Martinelli to finish. Then 3 minutes later Odegaard whips in a corner which is met by Saliba, but Sesko is able to block the initial header but it spins back off him and goes in for an own goal to double their lead in just 5 minutes. We do manage to get one back before half time when Bruno plays the ball out to the left where Hall is able to get into the box and hit the far post with his effort and give us a chance despite only having 20% possession at this point. The second half our possession didn't get much better, but the chances we were creating when we had it were as well as cutting them down to pretty much nothing. We finally got an equaliser in the 86th minute when Pino fires a cross to the back post which is met by Gordon to get us back on level terms and probably deserved based on the improvement we shown in the second half. A minute later we think we've stolen the win when Bueno wins the ball back and plays it out to Gordon, who cuts it across for Kuol who scores but it's disallowed for offside and the game finishes as a draw. A good result considering how many players we've got out injured for this one.

Competitions

Premier League

After a mixed bag of results where the last couple of games have really hit a dip in form we have ended up dropping down to third, however we're only 5 points off the league leaders Liverpool and we're met by two surprising teams in Forest and Brentford for the rest of the Champions League spots. Everton remain bottom of the league with Norwich and Bournemouth also in the relegation zone, however Wolves, Leeds, Fulham and Burnley can easily still be drawn back in to it if results start to change over the second half of the season.

Champions League

As we said when we beat Feyenoord we can no longer fall into the knocked out places due to our 15 points at this point, and with 2 games left we are looking in a good position to get automatic qualification rather than the extra knock out round. Ajax and Lyon are looking like the most surprising teams to completely miss out if it stays as it currently is, however Barcelona are very close to the bottom of that group as well.

Extras

During this time we also got an advanced look at our youth intake for this season which to be honest looks a disappointing one, but if we could get one player in there that has the high potential we want we will fee like the improvements we've made in the first year and a half in charge to the youth structure are starting to show some reward. However I would expect that to be from next season onwards to give it time to be fully implemented for an intake.

The other big issue with this current part of the season has been the big players picking up injuries at a vital time, for the Arsenal game these were all the players missing which meant we had no back up to Bueno due to Wirtz being out, we only had Sesko up front as Isak and Moerstedt were out, Frimpong is still out and Hackett being out meant Livramento was covering both left and right back. Although Lima has showed improvement there so we can use him still at right back. Barnes out as well means that Kuol comes on to the bench but he's covering both right wing and striker for us which means limited options off the bench currently.

Next Time

Next time we will be dealing with 9 fixtures including the semi final of the Carabao Cup against Villa, our entry into the FA Cup against Derby County which is a personal one for me and the final 2 Champions League games against Dortmund away and Shakhtar Donetsk at home. We also have Man U and high flying Forest in the Premier League to deal with as well as the January transfer market to go over, but I imagine it will more likely be people leaving than it is coming in for us this time round.