Newcastle United had another Champions League win in their grasp at the Stade Velodrome but let it slip after a Nick Pope error sparked a second-half collapse. Join me from Marseille to pick through an away defeat that I believe was different from the recent losses at West Ham and Brentford, but was still stained by some individual errors. #nufc #newcastleunited #championsleague
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20 Comments

  1. Spot on but tbh at H/T I was saying Thiaw looks more comfortable alongside Botman and I thought Schar actually got blocks in but I could see the weakness because Embanyang whatever his name had given us ample warning and greenwood was class Jolinton should have been on to rattle him

  2. It was a game of 2 managers

    One brave, changes things, aggressive on the touch line, pro active and turned the game.

    One scared, rabbit in the headlights, predictable.

    When has Eddie ever changed the direction of a football match ? Ever ? God he’s so far out of his depth it’s untrue. This club never progresses until we have a proper elite coach.

    And yes he won a cup, the same cup Steve Mcclaren won, this doesn’t make you elite

  3. Flat on the bounce out the locker. Take a chance shoot over pass be greedy dotn let the home side back in by over cleaver? A bit off form of fitness needs minutes to right that ship sharpness.

  4. It's easy to put the responsibility of the loss on Pope. Past the first 15mn Newcastle did nothing of note. Maybe stop thinking continental teams are below the premier league to start with? A bit of respect would go a long way. Even before the second half, it was obvious Marseille would at least finish with a point. Aubameyang should have scored in the first half.

  5. Wtf was pope out the box for when he can’t use his feet, can’t touch it with his hands out there can he, shouting at abamayang hardly going to stop him 😂

  6. I’ve got to say it, Craig, but after being under the cosh in the first half & I thought we defended well & actually made Marseille look bang average at times. Both teams could have had a few goals. However, what an idiot Nick Pope is. Talk about suck the energy right out of the team & put us in a state of panic. It’s going to sound harsh but I blame him for the downfall & it’s 💯 time Ramsdale gets his run now. I think I’ve counted this as his 5th big mistake of the season. I think the partnership of Botman & Thiaw needs to come back, Botman has served his time out for a small period of inconsistency in West Ham & Brentford. Anthony Gordon just doesn’t have the bottle anymore. There was a chance right at the end of the half in which he just needed to jump & head the ball in, right on the goal line, but he didn’t want to mess up his hair & potential hurt himself. Full on capitulation in that second half & it’s all down to one Man for me.

  7. It’s not a coincidence that during that sustained winning streak last season, Dubravka was in goal. That alone transformed how we played football and kept possession.

  8. Pope’s general goalkeeping has dropped a level since his injury and we could all see the trajectory he was on even last season. The compromise we used to make was that every other aspect of his goalkeeping was high level so we could allow the limitations with the feet. That trade no longer makes sense. It’s time for a change.

  9. Thanks Craig for what I think is an honest assessment of another away game where we take the lead but loose, seems like the team selection and tactics are at odds with each other, it will be interesting to see who starts in goal on Saturday, I hope it’s not Nick pope only as another big mistake against Everton could damage him beyond repair, he has at times been excellent but it’s time for a change

  10. From the firstwhistle we were bossed by a far better team. Pope has always been dodgy and Gordon again shows why he's not a clue down the middle. All he has is pace which is best used on the wings. Howe makes me so angry with his favouratism picks.

  11. Hi Craig 🇦🇿 Pope simply must come out of the team. He did the same at West Ham, same at Brentford and same this evening. You only need to look at Dubravka last season to understand that we're a better team with a ball controlling goalkeeper between the sticks. We're a more assured team and it benefits the defense and whole team. That first goal zapped so much energy from the team and there was no coming back.
    I'd love to know your take on Brunos away form. How can someone be cheese at home and chalk away from home? I can't remember the last time we seen a good away performance from him.
    I don't know what happened to Anthony Gordon. Hopefully you media guys are watching these hard questions to EH. I know the geordie journos have in recent weeks