After weeks of lacklustre play at the top of the pitch, Newcastle produced two goal-fests on Wednesday and Saturday.
Mid-week saw United gain a thrilling point at home against a high-flying Liverpool side. But, keeping with the common theme of much of this season, points were dropped at Brentford in a fixture full of shoddy defending and crucial errors at the back.
Welcome back to another Toon Review, where I’ll run through both games, Howe’s comments, the latest rumours and what’s next after a busy but ultimately frustration week for Howe’s Mags.
Points Shared and Points Lost
If Wednesday showed a willingness from Newcastle to go toe-to-toe with the big boys, Saturday showed the inconsistency that has plagued Howe’s side from the moment a ball was first kicked this season. In the space of a few days, the intense display of passion and fiery competition was to be overshadowed by yet another missed opportunity against more mediocre opposition. The display at the G-Tech was pretty much as dire as Newcastle can get at the moment.
From the off, something seemed different in United’s approach. The fire from the last couple years was finally back (or so it seemed) and Newcastle looked to take the game to the visitors from Merseyside. A 35th minute wonder-strike from key man Alexander Isak punctuated what many deemed at the time to be a turning point in the Magpies’ season: a bullet from just outside the area from one of the world’s best strikers. The roof was lifted.
Curtis Jones would equalise for the visitors before perennial Liverpool transfer target Anthony Gordon restored the Magpies’ lead near the hour-mark. A vintage showing from Mohammed Salah meant that the lead switched hands again, before Fabian Schär pounced on a positional error from Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher to tie the score at 3-3 in the dying embers.
Riding high on the back of an excellent point earned against one of the world’s top sides, Newcastle travelled through Storm Darragh to take on Thomas Frank’s Brentford. It was never going to be easy with the hosts being this season’s best home team, but we shot ourselves in the foot on an afternoon of defensive errors that gifted them the win.
Isak found himself on the scoresheet again, but his attacking prowess was undone by a shocking defensive performance which Howe would rip into after the match. The conditions, granted, were not ideal, but that should never be an excuse at this top level of football. What’s the point in working so hard mid-week against the top team in world football just to throw away points at the weekend against (no offence to Brentford) a ‘lesser’ side?
Consistency is the key to turning this season around, and Newcastle must find it soon or it will be too late to challenge for European football next season.
What Howe Said
On Brentford defeat: “We didn’t defend well enough, simple as that really. The goals we conceded, we’ll look back on and we’ll cringe.” You can’t defend like that and win games.”
On the conditions: “There were a lot of individual errors today because of the weather, but that’s no excuse.”
On the difference between the first and second half: “In the first half we were right in the game; I thought we could score at any moment. The second half was always going to be a bit more cagey.”
On Brentford’s third goal: “The manner of the goal was very disappointing. We didn’t stamp our authority on the game. We were always chasing the game. We’ve got a week to prepare for our next game. There’ll be a lot of reflection and a lot of hard work and we need to come out firing.”
The Rumour Mill
United are monitoring Bournemouth and Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo, as well as Brentford’s Cameroonian striker Bryan Mbeumo, for potential January moves. (The iPaper)
Pep Guardiola is pushing Man City to sign Bruno Guimaraes as the Champions plan to sign TWO midfielders in 2025 (The Mail)
Newcastle United continue to track Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who is also attract interest from Man Utd and Chelsea (Bild)
Alexander Isakis a target for both Arsenal and Chelsea, as both London clubs are targeting a striker alongside Barcelona (Caught Offside)
Newcastle hold interest in 18-year-old Scottish midfielder Lennon Miller of Motherwell**(The Mail)**
Newcastle, as well as Tottenham, are pursuing Lens’ 20-year-old Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.(The Telegraph)
On This Day
On 9th December, 1999, the Magpies were held at home in a 0-0 draw against a star-studded AS Roma side who, at the end of the night, would advance to the 4th round of the old UEFA Cup with a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Fabio Capello’s Romans featured the likes of defensive stalwarts Cafu and Aldair, as well as attacker Marco Delvecchio and Mr Roma himself, Francesco Totti.
United’s side, made up of talent such as Nobby Solano, Gary Speed and, of course, Alan Shearer, failed to upset the visitors from the Italian capital, but it still proved a memorable collection of stars on a chilly Thurdsay night on Tyneside.
We would also like to wish a happy birthday to current Magpies winger Harvey Barnes, who was born on this day 27 years ago. Many happy returns, Harvey!
Leicester next
Speaking of Harvey Barnes, Saturday will see Newcastle host a lowly Leicester side who find themselves just five points ahead of the drop zone. The Foxes were able to earn a credible point at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
Howe’s United must show that they can turn up against (at least on paper) weaker opposition. A common theme recently has seen intensity sky-rocket against top opposition, yet dwindle against sides placed lower in the Premier League table. Newcastle must return to the ruthlessness they showed at times over the past two seasons, and then kick on and find some consistency as the calendar flips to 2025.
Well done to everyone who got last week’s trivia question correct! Andy Carroll’s move from Newcastle to Liverpool was worth a fee of £35 million in January 2011.
With the Foxes coming to town on Saturday, let’s see how many of you can remember this. How many points were enough to ensure Leicester’s historic Premier League win in 2015/16? Remember, no cheating!
I’ll see you all next week. So long for now!