The Mag
·15 de diciembre de 2024
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·15 de diciembre de 2024
Leicester fans returned to St James’ Park after a gap of 19 months.
That May 2023 match saw Newcastle United heading for top four and Champions League football, whilst the Foxes were heading into the Championship.
One of the most one-sided goalless draws ever seen, the away team’s goal leading a charmed life and then Nick Pope needing to make a very late save that ensured United would finish the season in the top four.
Leicester fans had seen three changes of manager since that May 2023 visit to St James’ Park, plus former NUFC coach Ben Dawson taking temporary charge.
Ruud van Nisterooy the new (latest) boss, a mini new manager bounce ahead of this St James’ Park clash, in two home matches, beating West Ham and then a late great escape to grab a point last weekend, having been 2-0 down until Jamie Vardy started a comeback with a goal on 86 minutes and the Foxes then grabbing a second in added time.
At St James’ Park on Saturday though, Leicester totally outclassed.
It ended 4-0 but could easily have been closer to double figures.
Leicester fans commenting before AND after this thrashing from Newcastle United via their Foxes Talk message board:
‘Newcastle are a mess defensively…
They’re beatable…. But at the same time they can be deadly. Depends which Newcastle turns up.’
‘These aren’t great.’
‘They are a hot and cold team. You won’t know what you get with them but they have some very good players, especially going forward, which could be a lot for our defence to deal with! If they’re on it, there’s little chance for us I’d reckon.’
‘Newcastle are dangerous, but beatable.’
‘Another draw here to keep the points ticking would be superb. They’re a good side but not as good as Brighton albeit they’ll have the home advantage.’
‘Here’s hoping we keep up the RVN positive vibes and performances be great to bring home all 3 points COYF !!’
‘I fancy us in this, and I think it’ll be a Vardy brace 2-1. Nervy finish.’
‘Reckon will win this.
They seem a bit fragile at the moment.’
‘Play narrow, force them wide, defend the shooting areas. I can’t see any other viable tactic.’
‘Force them wide where they’re strongest and we are at our weakest?’
‘Going up for this for my birthday weekend and visiting my daughter who’s at Newcastle Uni.
Would love to be in smug mode after, whilst out in the Toon but doubt it.
You never know though and it’s always a great night out anyway.’
‘Don’t think I can stomach losing to Geordie Arabia.’
‘Newcastle are a bit hit and miss lately, so I’m fairly confident we can get something.
It feels great having more hope again!’
‘I am not sure what to make of Newcastle really.
There was such hype about their takeover, but seem to be struggling a bit currently.’
‘If Hamza is playing, he’ll do a job as he normally does. Probably a good game to have him in as well, with their physicality in midfield.’
‘Newcastle are very inconsistent, so you never know, but Isak is a scary prospect with the amount of shots we give up. Lad can score from anywhere.’
‘Another game where the opposition will create lots of chances against us.’
‘Newcastle really aren’t as good or unlucky as they’ve been made out to be this year. In the table they are exactly where they deserve to be.’
POST-MATCH
‘Thank god that’s over.’
‘The best team won. Simple as that. Was disappointed at the lack of fight from us.’
‘We got off lightly.’
‘Wasn’t there, didn’t watch it, listening to the commentary I can’t really remember Leicester being involved in the game at all. I’d hate to be about to undertake a long drive back from Newcastle after that.’
‘This day could not have gone any worse.’
‘Never in this game really, just totally outplayed throughout. Just no midfield at all.’
‘With Mads we draw that game, it was such a shame he was injured at half time. Our back up players are rubbish, we still have a lot of deadwood we need to get rid off.’
‘No we don’t lol.
Agree our backups are very poor, the drop in quality especially in goal and a bit in midfield is poor.’
‘We were only 1 down at half time, we could have drawn that game if Mads was fit.’
‘Not in my opinion, it’s not like we not utterly under the cosh first half.’
‘I think we were always losing that game, but with Mads its not 4-0. We ended the 1st half positive, if a little limp up top, but the change knocked the stuffing out of us. I think we may have had a goal in us but lost 3-1?’
‘Just watching the highlights, ffs where was the defence?
They left so much space for Newcastle to exploit our wings, Choudary wasted so many passes giving the ball away.’
‘What do you expect? There was no defensive midfield.
Newcastle major strength is their midfield…… it’s as good as any in the league.
We turn up with two pub team midfielders, it’s never going to end well.
It’s only Ruud’s third game in charge….. hopefully he sees this and realises he can’t adopt the same tactics away from home…. But he really wasn’t helped having to play Skipp and Hamza, I would have even felt sorry for Cooper if that’s all he had to play.’
‘I agree and it’s the physicality that Newcastle have that makes them so competitive in that area. Guimaraes and Joelinton against Skipp and Hamza says it all really! With a fit Wilf and Soumare you have half a chance, but when Hamza can’t find a blue shirt and we kept losing possession no wonder they overran us as they need no encouragement to step onto you.’
‘About the most facile victory you’ll see all season.
We have about 4 players in the whole squad who are prem standard.
This Squad zero chance of promotion from the Championship it really is that bad!’
‘Alarming and abysmal. If he didn’t know it already, that will be a big wake up call for Ruud as to the size of the job he has on his hands.’
‘We seem to be able to offer nothing going forward but still wide open at the back,
it’s like we have 9 players.
its hard to explain.’
‘Shocking result. We got trashed sadly today. Tough to take.’
‘Hands up all those that actually thought we’d get something out of Newcastle before the game.’
‘Think it’s quite alarming that we conceded 4 and could have been 8, and our best outfield player was probably our centre half in Vestergaard.’
‘There is a massive difference between us and the Saudis, it’s difficult with a fully fit squad but we have a lot of injuries. We need to beat the teams around us and sneak the odd other point here and there at home, that’s all we can hope for.
‘Ruud has a challenge, I did not see a never say die attitude. Newcastle wanted it more, more energy etc, that is sad, new manager needs that in his team and it did not happen.’
‘Not really alarming is it, considering that our starting and backup CM were missing…. We could never get control of the game at all, and Newcastle are a good team.
Dust down, regroup and go again.’
‘Wasn’t expecting much with the dearth of options in midfield, but to say they were abject would be complimentary to them. Newcastle had an easy afternoon, could have had more if they wanted it.’
‘End of first half, when we were moving it around nicely, we looked alright, albeit with no end product.
The start of the second half was shocking. Ward should be paid off and released.’
‘This game shows where we are at. Level of squad is poor. Probably enough to stay up, but not compete against superior teams like Newcastle were today, especially with key players out. Shows how far we’ve dropped. Players tried their best mostly, but just not good enough.’
Newcastle 4 Leicester 0 – Saturday 14 December 3pm
(Stats via BBC Sport)
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Murphy 30, 60 Bruno 47 Isak 50
Leicester:
Possession was Newcastle 60% Leicester 40%
Total shots were Newcastle 27 Leicester 4
Shots on target were Newcastle 11 Leicester 1
Corners were Newcastle 5 Leicester 2
Touches in the box Newcastle 53 Leicester 9
Newcastle team v Leicester:
Dubravka, Livramento (Trippier 65), Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Bruno (Longstaff 65), Joelinton, Murphy (Barnes 65), Isak (Osula 73), Gordon (Willock 81)
Unused Subs:
Vlachodimos, Targett, Almiron, Kelly
(Newcastle 4 Leicester 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)
(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Very interesting on Newcastle United after win v Leicester – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 4 Leicester 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 4 Leicester 0 – If his next outing proves just as easy, United should be playing in the League Cup semi-finals again – Read HERE)
Newcastle United upcoming matches:
Wednesday 18 December – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (Carabao Cup)
Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)
Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon
Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)
Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)
Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)