Well, that was dreadful.
No fight, no spirit, no backbone - need I go on? The only thing that can really be said is that we created a lot, we just didn’t score any and were then awful defensively.
Anyway, I don’t want to dwell on it too much. Let’s get this over and done with, shall we? Player ratings from the game below.
Lukas Hornicek - 5
Not really sure what he was supposed to do today.
All three of the goals were clear cut opportunities where Hornicek was left almost completely stranded. Other than that he actually didn’t have a lot to do so it’s difficult to be too harsh on him.
Amar Dedic - 2
Just clear your lines, let it go out for a throw, anything but what he did for that first goal.
Other than that mistake he did really struggle to impose his attacking threat barring a couple of half chances. Definitely one of his worst performances in black and white.
Fabian Schar - 4
Feel like I might have been a bit nice to Schar here but, even though we got beat 3-1, I didn’t really notice him do anything overly wrong.
It certainly wasn’t close to his best performance and the experience that served us so well against Palace definitely didn’t do the same here, but by no means was he our worst player.
Dan Burn - 4
Gets a little boost because of the goal at the end, but again it didn’t feel like he did much wrong, although questions can probably be asked of his awareness on the third.
Positionally I think both of the centre-backs were a little bit all over the place, but that largely came as a result of midfield runners and ridiculous transitions where the whole team was caught open.
Lewis Hall - 4
Probably Hall’s poorest performance in a good while, certainly didn’t cover himself in glory for the second goal.
He definitely got caught out more than usual today, he’s clearly being told to get high though so I don’t think you can blame him too much when it does happen.
Nico Gonzalez - 3
Nico struggled today and I don’t think he deserves the coddling he has maybe received in previous weeks For this performance.
He was still left open at times in transition but I’m starting to wonder whether he is doing enough to prevent those attacks from breaking given he’s supposed to be our holder.
We need to find a way to get the ball more and actually allow him to dictate play, that is where he’ll do his best work this season.
Jacob Ramsey - 3
Clearly better suited to the 10 in this system and is developing quite the tendency to switch off and let players run off his shoulder.
Both the first and second goals could probably have been prevented had he been closer to his midfield runner, but it did feel maybe a little harsh to see him dragged off when he was.
Another midfielder who likes to have possession in a team that rarely has possession, perhaps not a shock it didn’t work today.
Jacob Murphy - 2
Where on god’s green earth was he?
No Jacob, you can’t stick one good cross in and the call it a day for the rest of the season, that’s not how it works.
I’m just sick of watching him play football, if you can even call it that at this point.
Joe Willock - 6
Probably the only one of the few (basically just him, Hall and Hornicek) who can come out of the game with any sort of pride in fairness.
Was involved in almost all of our attacking build up, got the assist for Burn, should have definitely had another for Wissa and I really thought he looked lively.
Fully expect to see him scapegoated because that’s what Newcastle fans seem to do, but I’m not having it today. He definitely deserves some recognition for that.
Harvey Barnes - 4
Again, was involved in a lot of the forward play but clearly just didn’t fancy finishing his dinner today.
There was at least two or three chances that you’d always expect Barnes to do a lot better with which ended in either a tame effort or the entirely the wrong decision being made.
He gets an extra point for being lively but it was still a poor showing.
Will Osula - 4
Difficult to judge Osula really given he was taken off at half-time and spent most of the first period hobbling about after a rough challenge from Tarkowski.
Looked lively at points but never really got into the game, I just hope he’s not injured because I don’t know where our goals come from if it’s not him.
Substitutes
Yoane Wissa - 3
I really think he should have scored that ball from Willock. I understand him coming deep to get on the ball but I wish he’d just stay up front, we’d get much more out of him that way.
Anthony Elanga - 5
I’ve realised that Elanga always looks lively, I’m just not sure what he actually does with it. His pace definitely gave us some more impetus but it never really sparked into chance creation - I appreciated his effort though even with us 2-0 down.
Joelinton - 4
Did what he does. Came on under difficult circumstances and put himself about but didn’t offer too much on the ball. Gets some brownie points for scrapping everyone towards the end.
Bazoumana Toure - 4
Just desperately needs a run of games to give him some confidence as he’s clearly a player who thrives off that self belief. Frustrating because I feel he has so much to offer but just isn’t managing to force his way into the XI right now.
Sean Steur - N/A
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