It is right after the Newcastle and Spurs match and after a spanking last year at the same venue, I would have hoped that we would have learned our lesson but writing this after a 4 nil hammering , it seems like we haven't. I was confident going into this game as Newcastle would have been forved to attack us given their home crowd and I was under the impression that this would play into our hands. But Eddie Howe had other ideas and Newcastle bossed the game from start to finish. 4 - nil it ended which is a bad defeat and Ange's tactics are now being brought into question.
The midfield is the talking point as the attack and defence pretty much pick themselves nowadays at Spurs. With Richy injured it was Sonny through the middle again. Werner on the left and Johnson kept his place on the right. But the midfield which you would say is our strongest area on paper is having problems and Ange can't seem to be getting it right. He picked Bentancur , Bissouma and Maddison in this one. The midfield we all want to see. But the problem is that all three players are off form. Bissouma once again was woeful today and you begin to wonder what Hojbjerg had to do to get a start over him. Bissouma should have been dropped today after last weeks performance. Maddison should be as well and maybe Los Celso needs a chance but Newcastle bossed that midfield today and it was clear at half time that changes needed to be made. Ange took off Bissouma and Bentancur and Son on the 57th minute after terroble performances and brought on PEH to shore things up but it was too late.
Newcastle got a 4th and the game was over basically at the 51st minute. A disappointing day at the office. Many fans are shouting for a plan B from Ange but I don't like this shit. Klopp does not have a plan B . Either does Pepe. They have their style and they play their style. There is no Plan B . So I like when the manager sticks to his methods. It is not as if Ange does not change things tactically. He does but they are small changes. The worry is that teams are figuring it out but as Ange points out , they just have to do it better.
I listened to a podcast during the week when an ex player of Ange pointed out that there are 6 players on the pitch that can go whereever they like. We can see it here with the roaming full backs and the number 10 and maybe the midfield. But the 4 players that have top stick to the plan are the two wingers and the two Centre halves. They are drilled to be in places during certain build ups etc. I was surprised it was the wingers that were the players that were given instructions but it makes sense. The full backs then create chaos by roaming wherever the hell they want.
Ange's system ain't the problem here in my opinion. Micky VDV has a rare off day at the back. The defending set pieces seem to be the problem. We are very bad at defending corners. Udogie is prone to a mistake as well and got muscled off it by Gordon a number of times today.
Now there will be murder on X for the next week and I will be in the middle of it calling for calm. If Arsenal beat Villa and United are shit like they always are then there are no worries. Newcastle have the easiest run in of the lot , now there is a concern. With Liverpool , Arsenal , Chelsea and Man City coming up , you can't but not be worried, Also with Liverpool and West Ham as well as Arsenal and Man City faltering in the European cups , there may not be a 5 th place Champions League stop which is a concern.
Yes the nest 15 days now without a game so I can dwell on the drivel that was served up to us today. The summer will be interesting as Ange creates his own team. There will be a few casulties in the summer and maybe a few surprise ones. Overall we have had a successful year with Kane gone. Paul Merson had us relegated. 4th , 5th and 6th is not a bad finish. Some are saying ( not me) that a Europa League place would be more beneficial than the big Champions League place but I do not agree. I want to be taking on the big boys in the top trophies. Sure it wasn't that long ago we got to the final. Probably my greatest memories of games was that quarter final against city and the semi against Ajax. With 6 more games to play it will go to the wire with Aston Villa. They have the easier run in but Villa are notorious bad finishers. It's in our hands but the team has got to improve over the next 15 days. Bissouma may need to be dropped here and PEH to come in . Ange has not gone on form players . He has trusted the players than got him his 8 wins in a row back pre Christmas. Maybe it's time to start playing the players that are on the sidelines
