They managed to limit Man City to 12 total shots and just 4 on goal, while giving up 76% possesion. That's some mind boggling numbers there, and to accomplish that would require a lot of good defending from a lot of people
Is this the most glorious victory in the history of Newcastle United, and maybe even football in general?? I may be biased, but I think the answer could be yes. I still love you Rafa!
I am more in this boat but your (@appoo) freeze framed images do somewhat mitigate this for me. Live it looked worse, he wasn’t aware that the far post run was being made, and this is a common occurrence. So still culpable in my opinion but less culpable then I had originally thought.
Outside of the first two minutes, I thought Yedlin played very well. Good to see him rebound so well after a tough start
watching the replay on goal 1, I think he saw the run, I just don't know what the hell he is supposed to do on the play. If he slides out, it opens a lane for a pass on the ground to the far post, which he can only cover by sliding wide and back toward goal, but if he slides back, he plays Aguero and a near post attacker onside. Plus there is KDB, who gets a lane to goal if he slides out. He's got to play the most immediate dangers first (Aguero in front of goal, KDB with a central run to goal, ball on the ground to back post), you can't cover everything and on defense - especially for Rafa - staying compact is a priority.
Rafa did his Rafa thing. 23% possession, 2 shots on goal (both goals), 3 keeper saves, and only one corner. Antifootball baby, but it works. We could use Benitez 'round these parts.
According to some posters, this win shouldn’t even count because they didn’t play attacking attractive soccer.
The demise of his defending has been greatly exaggerated. Fell asleep on the first one, had a poor pass that resulted in a good chance for City, but otherwise defended Sane, Aguero, and Sterling very, very well. No small feat.
Looking at that video he looks very strong. I think Berhalter can work with that. Keep it simple and focus to your strengths - contain and use your pace.
I have no idea whether he played well or not this past game. However, wouldn't all-touches videos flatter the performance of defenders? In moments when a defender fails, it often results in no touch.
Perhaps, but a 2-1 win, coupled with an all-touch video - absent some scathing descriptions of a defender badly burned, out of position or ball watching, probably give you a reasonable picture - (not to mention DY now has multiple seasons of EPL highlights available, if not entire games). Really, at this point, if you don't have a sense of DY's + and - as a defender you're just not paying attention (or a very good reader of da game.) I saw much of the Citeh game - he (and NUFC) played defensively well and disciplined (for them) and City was a little out of sync. NUFC has benefited from an outstanding keeper this year and I doubt very many DY watchers would argue he is clearly better than, maybe, bottom 1/3 EPL defender - everything else being equal - but it's also silly to suggest that's not a pretty high level. He is not an impenetrable defensive bulwark, clearly, but he's also strong enough to be a reasonable choice given the speed he offers. His touch is average, his crossing probably a bit below average, but if he was, I dunno, Cafu or Bale-esque, he'd be getting Bale-dollars.
Freisland, I have no problem with your evaluation since you watched the game. I have some problem with posters who comment on the performance of a defender (or may be even an attacker) based (solely) on an all-touches video.