Match Ratings Ratings vs Newport County

[Bus-Conductor]

The rouble with you is, you're so desperate for these young players to get a chance that, when they do come in, you go way over the top with your defence of them. KWP has not been "thrown under the bus" at all. That's ridiculous.

I've defended Trippier under similar circumstances (such as ManC away) many times, and even in this thread defended Wanyama - who was heavily criticised too - too. They are not academy players. I was heavily critical of players like Townsend and Livermore and they were.

KWP performance was not the worst out there Saturday, and first half he was one of the few players to show a willingness to get on the ball and take a bit of game to Newport. Players like Dier, Kane, Llorente, Sissoko, Dembele were at least equally inept and IMO Pochettino's selections and application was the biggest factor in all of that.

And how many times are we going to listen to his "players weren't motivated" bullshit ? That was nothing to do with motivation, it was to do with piss poor selections and tactical set up, but even if it was motivation, that's his job too.

 

[Lighty64]

On top of all the other players who were overawed, like Dier, Dembele, Llorente, Kane etc you can add Pochettino, who was also overawed, made an absolute digs dinner of his job and then threw the kid under the bus to cover his own arse.

Loving this brave new world.

we were 1-0 down, with the kid playing on the wrong side (though he has played that position many a time). no one was performing 1st half well enough, with plenty of excuses (pitch didn't allow our passing, the weather didn't allow for the ball over the top).

if he had left KWP on and we went on to lose, and by more 1, it would of damaged the kid more. 2, the world and his dog would of blamed Poch for putting it all on a kid. when your losing you have to revert to experience to try and turn it around, and KWP doesn't have enough of that yet.

there is a lot of bugs going around at the moment, we had players ill v So'ton and possibly ill v this game. He also can't start his strongest XI (because that's been the case all season) but away to Newport he put out a team he and everyone would of expected to stroll with Man U just a few days later. we haven't got the strongest/biggest squad, if we had played our strongest XI and picked up a bad injury, you would of been the 1st to moan that was a stupid move ahead of the 3 games coming up being important.

I was annoyed he started with Kane, I'm glad I was wrong, but your never wrong are you BC

 

[mpickard2087]

if he had left KWP on and we went on to lose, and by more 1, it would of damaged the kid more. 2, the world and his dog would of blamed Poch for putting it all on a kid. when your losing you have to revert to experience to try and turn it around, and KWP doesn't have enough of that yet.

1. That's just total opinion though about damaging the kid. You could easily make similar claims about killing his confidence by hauling him off at HT.

2. Not always. It wasn't experience that got Poch out of holes at the start of his tenure - Mason sub in the League Cup game, Kane in the Europa, the inexperienced players led by Kane in the league games when the rumours were that all was not well.....

 

[Lighty64]

1. That's just total opinion though about damaging the kid. You could easily make similar claims about killing his confidence by hauling him off at HT.

2. Not always. It wasn't experience that got Poch out of holes at the start of his tenure - Mason sub in the League Cup game, Kane in the Europa, the inexperienced players led by Kane in the league games when the rumours were that all was not well.....

when Poch put them in, we never lost the games or they actually struggled. KWP was struggling like everyone else, and so Poch made a decision at halftime, the only choice he could of done differently was take Trippier off and put KWP on the right, but we then lose one of our corner takers and better crossers of the ball.

when he did get forward he kept cutting back, and it created nothing, he miss controlled 2 balls poorly, which ok they only went out for throws, but with the bloke taking the throws turned into someone taking a free kick. if he made similar mistakes the 2nd half those errors would of been more dangerous with a gale behind the thrower.

the lad wasn't doing anything right (perhaps he wasn't feeling to great & Poch had to pull him off), but when your 1-0 and facing an embarrassing loss you don't weaken the team, you strengthen it, and play a stronger XI

the biggest problem with this thread is no one really giving credit to Newport. League 2 or not, they made it very difficult in closing us down, marking us, and the conditions and pitch never allowed us to play to our strengths.

 

[Westmorland]

We are on BT sport next wed for the replay. VAR will be in use. I think it’s our first go at it

 

[cozzo]

We are on BT sport next wed for the replay. VAR will be in use. I think it’s our first go at it

It will be like an American Football game with all the stopping and starting. I feel sorry for those that are attending who won't know what is going on.

 

[mpickard2087]

when Poch put them in, we never lost the games or they actually struggled. KWP was struggling like everyone else, and so Poch made a decision at halftime, the only choice he could of done differently was take Trippier off and put KWP on the right, but we then lose one of our corner takers and better crossers of the ball.

when he did get forward he kept cutting back, and it created nothing, he miss controlled 2 balls poorly, which ok they only went out for throws, but with the bloke taking the throws turned into someone taking a free kick. if he made similar mistakes the 2nd half those errors would of been more dangerous with a gale behind the thrower.

the lad wasn't doing anything right (perhaps he wasn't feeling to great & Poch had to pull him off), but when your 1-0 and facing an embarrassing loss you don't weaken the team, you strengthen it, and play a stronger XI

the biggest problem with this thread is no one really giving credit to Newport. League 2 or not, they made it very difficult in closing us down, marking us, and the conditions and pitch never allowed us to play to our strengths.

We were definitely losing games when for instance Mason came on in the League Cup (and thumped one in the top corner), we were behind in games such as Villa away (2-1 win from behind) when Kane scored that freekick at the death - when by that logic he'd have been one of the prime candidates for being subbed as 'senior players needed to rescue us'.....

If we're going to pick errors and what-if's you could have said what would have happened if Trippier had come out second half and again bottled a header, or Dier had got caught out as last man with the ball and nearly letting them score, or Vertonghen constantly waving his leg at the ball and gifting them the ball back or not closing down the cross which results in a goal, or Wanyama looking like he hasn't played for 4 years let alone 4 months, or Dembele missing/shirking all his tackles in that half, or Sissoko just being Sissoko...... Repeating all these errors could have been disastrous for us, in fact some of them did keep repeating them!

My outlook, maybe hipster-ish and too overcomplicating matters for a lot of fans, is to look past the results (obviously hoping we win every game) and that you've got to constantly be looking to build, to learn, to develop, to challenge the team/squad, especially when it's a cup game like that and a prime opportunity. KWP would have learnt more from that than anyone out there in 90 mins, and the manager in turn learns about him, instead he was hooked at the first sign of trouble. We're going round in circles now, but I just wouldn't have done it and don't agree with it - most couldn't care less as we got back into the game. Opinions......

 

[Westmorland]

It will be like an American Football game with all the stopping and starting. I feel sorry for those that are attending who won't know what is going on.

As it’s on tv crowd might be only 30k region. Top tier shut so max 50k

 

[Lighty64]

We were definitely losing games when for instance Mason came on in the League Cup (and thumped one in the top corner), we were behind in games such as Villa away (2-1 win from behind) when Kane scored that freekick at the death - when by that logic he'd have been one of the prime candidates for being subbed as 'senior players needed to rescue us'.....

If we're going to pick errors and what-if's you could have said what would have happened if Trippier had come out second half and again bottled a header, or Dier had got caught out as last man with the ball and nearly letting them score, or Vertonghen constantly waving his leg at the ball and gifting them the ball back or not closing down the cross which results in a goal, or Wanyama looking like he hasn't played for 4 years let alone 4 months, or Dembele missing/shirking all his tackles in that half, or Sissoko just being Sissoko...... Repeating all these errors could have been disastrous for us, in fact some of them did keep repeating them!

My outlook, maybe hipster-ish and too overcomplicating matters for a lot of fans, is to look past the results (obviously hoping we win every game) and that you've got to constantly be looking to build, to learn, to develop, to challenge the team/squad, especially when it's a cup game like that and a prime opportunity. KWP would have learnt more from that than anyone out there in 90 mins, and the manager in turn learns about him, instead he was hooked at the first sign of trouble. We're going round in circles now, but I just wouldn't have done it and don't agree with it - most couldn't care less as we got back into the game. Opinions......

we brought Mason on just after going behind, and he must of been performing well in training as he made his League debut the next game away to Arsenal

why would Kane of been subbed when he had performed well in cup comps, and was brought on as a sub.

Trippier never bottled his header, after watching it again he miss judged it, he tried to flick it away, fucking hell just because it's against a league2 team it doesn't mean mistakes won't happen. just before the goal, a league2 player made KWP look like an amature.

Dier made a mistake and we got away with it.

Jan perhaps he was flapping because he wasn't seeing the ball till late as they were coming from a height and the flight of the ball was hidden due to the floodlights being a lot lower. plus the goal they scored, was from a clearance from 1 of their long throws, the player got a very dangerous cross in. even if this was a non league team, they still know how to play football.

Wanyama, and Sissoko were just really bad on the day, Dembelle myself I wouldn't of started on a pitch like that with his injury record, but perhaps Poch never had anyone else fully fit to attempt to play 90, or he would of had to play 1 of the kids we had on the bench.

Poch most probably learnt something about KWP, that he might in future have to play him in his strongest position on the right. he played him there v AFC Wimbledon, Barnsley and he played the whole matches, yet his best performance was v Newcastle on the opening day, there must be something wrong since then for him to not of been played much since, but we don't see what goes on at the training ground

 

[Lighty64]

As it’s on tv crowd might be only 30k region. Top tier shut so max 50k

the price of the tickets might draw a full crowd

 

[Gb160]

the price of the tickets might draw a full crowd

I could be wrong but arent we limited as to how many matches we can have at full capacity? bearing in mind this one wouldn't have been planned for?

 

[Lighty64]

I could be wrong but arent we limited as to how many matches we can have at full capacity? bearing in mind this one wouldn't have been planned for?

well if we are it will still most probably see the 50k mark compared to the amount i quoted

 

[ravo]

That was shit. Pitch was shit, first touch was shit, we were just completely shit.

It's easy to blame individual players for their respective dreadful performances (because many were), but they key to all of that was the thoughtless team/formation selection.

Southampton was a lesson that the Eriksen role in our structure is vital. So, do we address it? No, we go the other fucking way. The 3-5-2 was 1990s Div 2 stuff. WTF?

Biggest takeaways for me were:

- We had to play a 4-2-3-1 or variant that had a #10 role.
- Lamela should have been playing at #10.
- Super defensive midfield against them was a huge mistake. We were pinned back as there was no link between defence adn strikers to get us moving out of our own area.
- KWP is def. not a left wingback.
- WTF has happened to Trippier lately?
- Sissoko just isn't good enough (obviously). It's great that he's working really hard in training, etc. but that doesn't cut it.
- Foyth showed some quality under pressure, which was a plus.
- Wanyama was woeful, but we know he has the quality and just needs the minutes on the pitch, so he should start the replay alongside more attack-minded midfielders.
- Vertonghen and Dier could both do with a rest for the replay.

Barring injuries, I would line up like this for the replay:

Vorm
Trippier - Foyth - Sanchez - Davies (or other left-footed youngster)
Wanyama - Dembele
Son - Lamela - Alli
Kane

Need to keep Eriksen wrapped in cotton wool (as clearly he is the most important link option in the team at the moment). Hopefully score a couple early and get Kane and Son off. Wishful thinking, I know.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

That was shit. Pitch was shit, first touch was shit, we were just completely shit.

It's easy to blame individual players for their respective dreadful performances (because many were), but they key to all of that was the thoughtless team/formation selection.

Southampton was a lesson that the Eriksen role in our structure is vital. So, do we address it? No, we go the other fucking way. The 3-5-2 was 1990s Div 2 stuff. WTF?

Biggest takeaways for me were:

- We had to play a 4-2-3-1 or variant that had a #10 role.
- Lamela should have been playing at #10.
- Super defensive midfield against them was a huge mistake. We were pinned back as there was no link between defence adn strikers to get us moving out of our own area.
- KWP is def. not a left wingback.
- WTF has happened to Trippier lately?
- Sissoko just isn't good enough (obviously). It's great that he's working really hard in training, etc. but that doesn't cut it.
- Foyth showed some quality under pressure, which was a plus.
- Wanyama was woeful, but we know he has the quality and just needs the minutes on the pitch, so he should start the replay alongside more attack-minded midfielders.
- Vertonghen and Dier could both do with a rest for the replay.

Barring injuries, I would line up like this for the replay:

Vorm
Trippier - Foyth - Sanchez - Davies (or other left-footed youngster)
Wanyama - Dembele
Son - Lamela - Alli
Kane

Need to keep Eriksen wrapped in cotton wool (as clearly he is the most important link option in the team at the moment). Hopefully score a couple early and get Kane and Son off. Wishful thinking, I know.

Good stuff Ravo.

You have a very awkward opponent unlike any you normally play, a very different stadium environment to what we normally experience, a poorer quality pitch than usual, adverse weather conditions, so what does our coach do? He decides today is the day to play a completely different format to what we have ever played before, with a combination and structure of personnel that was probably the least equipped to handle the conditions he could have done.

It really was a piss poor piece of game management. The kind of thing we see at development level when the ethos is try to challenge the players and make the game difficult for them so they learn, rather than get a result.