Well, that was a bit of a damp squid for Newcastle United on Elland Road, but Hey, two clean sheets away from home and a persistent version with 10 men to get up to the champions again. Not really bad.
I have heard and read that Eddie Howe should not have joined such a negative approach in Elland Road, playing five at the back against a newly promoted side … he didn’t do that.
The Leeds match confirmed what we already know, Osula is not ready to be considered a second striker that can play against competent opposition.
He may be ready for a home band against Bradford City, but Eddie’s restraint to playing him for Gordon’s Red Card, turned out to be justified. Why that would be questioned is beyond me.
Osula has a lot to learn and unfortunately is the possibility to make those intelligent runs, to get the defense on the back foot or to open space for our midfield to exploit, there is simply not with him. His effort cannot be interrogated and as an impactsub where you try to break down a tired defense, it is useful. If a starter and a striker will keep the ball up and bring others into play, it was simply not there yesterday.
This in turn did not help midfield that did not have much of an option that was available to them. Murphy, Bruno, Sandro ‘Ole Ole Ole’, were forced to look sideways and backwards. Calvert-Lewin showed his experience and the ability to do this when he came into play later, apart from his 25 Yard quirky effort that is still going through the country.
Elanga did not have much further when he came, where we usually see a passage of triangles up space up and allow space in the 18 Yard Box. Lewis Hall did better and I personally prefer the left, despite the excellent form of Tino. Although I do understand why Eddie Howe starts Tripps, given his leadership and organization on the field, along with the fact that he has them on the training field day in day out.
Regarding the five on the back, Tino and Tripps high, supported the midfield and binding to add more options in the last third when we were in possession, together with Schar who pushed forward in a lake. Well, that’s how I saw it on the field. This undoubtedly worked because we did not admit, we just never looked like scoring.
Gnonto was a nuisance for them (then James not so much), a constant plague when he ran to us and tried to find out, but we managed well with the aforementioned drops back to support in possession.
At the end of the day, a clean slate and we can now go into the international break, but with our heads held high. We also go into the knowledge that (international injuries allows) that we will go into the home game against Wolves with a new hungry striker, would like to make an impression. Hopefully we have a fully fit team to choose from and a recurring Anthony Gordon back in the fight for the midweek match against Barcelona.
It is a great reflection of the work done at Newcastle United, which we have now deposited so much for their international tasks, but it would have been great to spend Woltemade with the coaching team for two weeks.
Other things to look forward to …
The closure of the bloody transfer window and an end to Alexander ‘The Rat’ that the Pi takes … From us. However, if he stays, I would really like him to be brought back into the fold because the quality cannot be questioned.
Imagine it, two fully fit and targeted strikers in Isak and Woltemade are challenges.
On the other hand, and my Newcastle United Striker preference, ‘The Rat’ brought us around 140 million and we have Woltemade and Wissa or Strand Larsen to choose from, maybe all three.
Do not be surprised if another striker appears completely Left Field on Newcastle Airport, which has been the case with almost all our signing sessions under Eddie Howe.
Anyway, remove these next two weeks from international football (what a joke just a few weeks in the season) and let’s go again.
Eddie How’s Black ‘N’ White Army.
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