Post-match: PL Match 24: Everton vs Newcastle United, Jan 21

Discussion in 'Newcastle United' started by el americano, Jan 22, 2020.

  1. el americano

    el americano Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Jun 9, 2006
    San Francisco
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Premier League
    Tuesday January 21st, 7:30 PM
    Goodison Park, Liverpool

    Injured: Willems (gone), Dummett (season ending), Ki, Manquillo, Yedlin, Muto, Gayle, Carroll (NUFC), Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Gomes, Gbamin (EFC)

    Referee: Simon Hooper

    Another midweek match, but we're finally exiting the end of year fixture congestion. The injury toll has been brutal. We don't have a right back to play. We lost two players on the left for the rest of the season, as well as the chance to make Willems permanent after his loan. And our only striker was the £40m flop, who would wind up injured in this game. You'd expect a relegation fight, except we unexpectedly rob points from teams like Chelsea who dominate us for 90 minutes, but don't score. Then, we get our first corner of the match in added time and somehow score on the second delivery. Already on 30 points, and looking clear of trouble.

    Then there's this match. Everton is a club I like to measure ourselves against. Always out of the top 6, but stable, and able to hope for Europe with some improvement - and their fans dream, and complain, about that last step. So, we're level on points, and I'm expecting a decent showing after being dominated in possession this season at record levels. But no, Everton is able to keep the ball and pass through our midfield with ease. After their second of two well-taken goals, I figure we're done, but as a long suffering fan, I always watch to the end to look for any signs of life.

    How to sum up? Florian Lejeune, who had come on as a substitute, scored twice in the final minute of stoppage time - including an overhead kick - to overturn the previous 90 minutes and take a point. Schär had come on for Joelinton, so I suppose a defender had to score for us, if at all. We all saw our issues plainly during that match, but we can enjoy wondering how to field a decent 11-man squad while watching replays of Jordan Pickford livid at having let the second one in. That goal mouth scramble saw the ball hit the post, then off a defender, then off Pickford who was standing a yard inside the goal. That's what I call "playing in goal". We definitely own some real estate inside his head. Cheers, and howay the lads!
     

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