Yep send the 1st XI on holiday. Fernandes and AWB have looked knackered recently. Rashford doesn't look himself. Martial's been brilliant since the restart though.
Lindelof played well, Williams solid too. Matic improved a bit in the 2nd half.
GWT: PL Matchweek 38: Season Finale, Finally
- Thread starter Savant
- Start date
Yep send the 1st XI on holiday. Fernandes and AWB have looked knackered recently. Rashford doesn't look himself. Martial's been brilliant since the restart though.
Lindelof played well, Williams solid too. Matic improved a bit in the 2nd half.
East Coast Bias
Registered User
And you've all missed out the real story - Liverpool denying Newcastle silverware. Namely, the 'More Points than Last Season Cup'
This was a trophy specially created by the English media on 1 July, to be presented to any English manager whose team surpassed their points tally from the season before, provided they met one of the following criteria:
1) their name was Steve Bruce
2) their predecessor was Rafa Benitez
Since Newcastle entered their final six games of the season on 42 points, and Benitez led NUFC to 45 points last season, the trophy was within Bruce's grasp, and certain English 'journalists' as well as one or two journalists, were positively creaming their pants in excitement. Some people were even touting Bruce as a Manager of the Season candidate.
NUFC's results over their final six games: two draws, four defeats, goal difference 5-15.
Thus can the 'More Points than Last Season Cup' be reverently placed back in the cabinet along with the North East Top Dogs Trophy (which hasn't been awarded for the last three years either).
Bruce, you may recall, was given the job with the brief of improving NUFC's style. (Actually, you may not recall, since the media rarely addresses this point. The fact that addressing this point shines a light on how turgid has been much of the football his team has played - ie that Bruce has failed in his brief - is purely coincidental, of course.)
One game less won than last season, fewer goals scored, ten more conceded. This despite the net spend rising from zero to nigh on £30 million. Bruce's supporters will point out that most of the money was splurged on Joelinton - a player he didn't choose. This is true, but not a particularly honest defence of their man given the club made clear that accepting the Joelinton deal was a precondition for Bruce's employment. And being agreeable to people who further his mediocre career is something Steve Bruce does exceedingly well.
No doubt as we speak Steve is brushing up his skills for defending human rights abuses or explaining why vulture capitalism ain't so bad, to hedge his bets in case either one of the mooted takeovers goes through. Whether he can incorporate into his tactical manual anything more recent than 2008 is altogether thornier.
This was a trophy specially created by the English media on 1 July, to be presented to any English manager whose team surpassed their points tally from the season before, provided they met one of the following criteria:
1) their name was Steve Bruce
2) their predecessor was Rafa Benitez
Since Newcastle entered their final six games of the season on 42 points, and Benitez led NUFC to 45 points last season, the trophy was within Bruce's grasp, and certain English 'journalists' as well as one or two journalists, were positively creaming their pants in excitement. Some people were even touting Bruce as a Manager of the Season candidate.
NUFC's results over their final six games: two draws, four defeats, goal difference 5-15.
Thus can the 'More Points than Last Season Cup' be reverently placed back in the cabinet along with the North East Top Dogs Trophy (which hasn't been awarded for the last three years either).
Bruce, you may recall, was given the job with the brief of improving NUFC's style. (Actually, you may not recall, since the media rarely addresses this point. The fact that addressing this point shines a light on how turgid has been much of the football his team has played - ie that Bruce has failed in his brief - is purely coincidental, of course.)
One game less won than last season, fewer goals scored, ten more conceded. This despite the net spend rising from zero to nigh on £30 million. Bruce's supporters will point out that most of the money was splurged on Joelinton - a player he didn't choose. This is true, but not a particularly honest defence of their man given the club made clear that accepting the Joelinton deal was a precondition for Bruce's employment. And being agreeable to people who further his mediocre career is something Steve Bruce does exceedingly well.
No doubt as we speak Steve is brushing up his skills for defending human rights abuses or explaining why vulture capitalism ain't so bad, to hedge his bets in case either one of the mooted takeovers goes through. Whether he can incorporate into his tactical manual anything more recent than 2008 is altogether thornier.
I will say I like the direction Moyes has said he wants to go. He wants to bring down the age of the squad, inject some pace, and get hungry players. A lot of links in the Championship where there are some good players to be had. A guy like Felipe Anderson, undoubted talent and a recognizable name, but big wages, fleeting work ethic, and no defense is how we got here.
Famous last words, but I don't think they'll be fighting relegation next campaign.
Your posts make me wish Newcastle will eventually have the same fate as Sunderland and be a league one side.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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Just realized Villa are only up right now because someone forgot to turn on goal line tech against Scheff....
JeffreyLFC
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
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Chimaera
same ol' Caps
I like Felipe Anderson. But I don't know that Moyes is the type to get anything out of him. If West Ham wanted to do a cut rate jettison of him, I would take him.
Blender
Registered User
- Dec 2, 2009
- 51,383
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Yea that was a travesty at the time and looks even worse now. The fact that it wasn't reviewed and awarded by VAR is a joke.
- Jan 18, 2016
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Wee Baby Seamus
Yo, Goober, where's the meat?
Was anyone in that crowd? The only real counter-crowd to restarting was points per game, no one was in the null and void camp
Chimaera
same ol' Caps
Anderson's issues pre-date Moyes. He has 2 goals in his last 42 games...
The goals would be one thing on its own, but he's shown non-existent effort on the pitch and zero interest in tracking back. Klopp would have an aneurysm watching this guy. He had a good season last year and completely fell off the cliff. At least if there was production you could live with a little less attention to detail, but he couldn't even offer that.
- Jan 18, 2016
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Live in the Now
Registered User
Just watched our game. The Keita performance, wooo that was good. If this guy can stay on the pitch he's top class. Can dribble through everyone, can shoot, intercept perfectly, tackle even though he's small, and has great passing vision. Now hopefully he can stay fit, the seasons before he got to Liverpool he was fit to play a massive amount of games. Hopefully the injuries were just bad luck, because his inclusion makes the team extremely difficult to beat.
Machinehead
GoAwayTrouba
Me last May: "I feel this was our chance. We'll never put up a point total like that again."
Liverpool:
Liverpool:
Wee Baby Seamus
Yo, Goober, where's the meat?
Reflecting on this game:
This honestly might've been our best performance of the season. We didn't create an absurd amount of chances, but everything was so calm and under control from like the 20 minutes point onwards. Kovacic and Jorginho controlled the midfield so well, and Azpilicueta especially had a great game suffocating pretty much every Wolves counter. It's a testament to those three that Wolves only had the one shot on goal. I think that was the most controlled, least chaotic game we've played this year, and that it came in a must-win is a tremendous sign. The passing was so crisp and confident, especially in the second half. Really high quality stuff.
Besides that, just a few notes on individual players. Caballero vs Kepa really was night and day, and you could tell the CBs were far more relaxed with Willy there. Alonso did way better against Traore than I ever would've imagined, he actually won that battle pretty convincingly. Kovacic was quality, as per usual. Jorginho really bossed it - you could see him shouting at players to move and make runs, especially in the first half when we were pretty static. He's still a key player. Obviously Mount was man of the match. Pulisic was way quieter today, but he still had his moments. The more I watch Giroud's goal the more I'm impressed by the finish. CHO and Abraham looked pretty dangerous when they came on too.
On the whole, it was one of those games where no one (except Mount maybe) stood out a ton, but everyone on the field played a solid 8/10, and that's enough for a convincing victory.
This honestly might've been our best performance of the season. We didn't create an absurd amount of chances, but everything was so calm and under control from like the 20 minutes point onwards. Kovacic and Jorginho controlled the midfield so well, and Azpilicueta especially had a great game suffocating pretty much every Wolves counter. It's a testament to those three that Wolves only had the one shot on goal. I think that was the most controlled, least chaotic game we've played this year, and that it came in a must-win is a tremendous sign. The passing was so crisp and confident, especially in the second half. Really high quality stuff.
Besides that, just a few notes on individual players. Caballero vs Kepa really was night and day, and you could tell the CBs were far more relaxed with Willy there. Alonso did way better against Traore than I ever would've imagined, he actually won that battle pretty convincingly. Kovacic was quality, as per usual. Jorginho really bossed it - you could see him shouting at players to move and make runs, especially in the first half when we were pretty static. He's still a key player. Obviously Mount was man of the match. Pulisic was way quieter today, but he still had his moments. The more I watch Giroud's goal the more I'm impressed by the finish. CHO and Abraham looked pretty dangerous when they came on too.
On the whole, it was one of those games where no one (except Mount maybe) stood out a ton, but everyone on the field played a solid 8/10, and that's enough for a convincing victory.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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It's even worst because Bournemouth will have trouble coming back up I'd imagine. Their financial situation is not the greatest
Martinez > Leno, I just don't know how you can justify playing Leno over him next season. He was MOTM today I thought after Auba got his second brilliant goal. That touch for his bicycle kick was phenomenal, also if Rob Holding is going to start next weekend then give Chelsea the FA Cup because he was somehow worse than Kola has been since Project Restart.
It's a travesty/crime that Spurs somehow made Europa in addition to Chelsea and United making Champion's League. Complete crime, United was fortunate for having so many penalties awarded to them this season, Chelsea/Spurs were fortunate that Sheffield, Leicester, and Wolves lost pretty much all their momentum in Project Restart. If EPL didn't shutdown I think we would've seen Sheffield and Leicester in CL with United and Chelsea/Wolves in Europa.
It's a travesty/crime that Spurs somehow made Europa in addition to Chelsea and United making Champion's League. Complete crime, United was fortunate for having so many penalties awarded to them this season, Chelsea/Spurs were fortunate that Sheffield, Leicester, and Wolves lost pretty much all their momentum in Project Restart. If EPL didn't shutdown I think we would've seen Sheffield and Leicester in CL with United and Chelsea/Wolves in Europa.
Ehhhh, gotta disagree with that. This chap made them play the right away, besides the first 30ish minutes they were easily the better team. If they played like they did against us in the Championship next season then absolutely should be back two years from now.
hatterson
Registered User
1.) I don't think they played differently than they did when they won 2 straight to almost dig themselves out of relegation.
2.) It's Watford. They've had 12 permanent managers in the last 10 seasons, they're not keeping a manager for 2 years, especially if he doesn't win promotion in the first one.
Machinehead
GoAwayTrouba
N o o d l e s
Registered User
I can't think of many teams who got f***ed harder by VAR not working properly this season than Sheffield United
I'd like to wish ill on your club, but I'm afraid I can't recall which one it is.
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