Which NUFC player makes ALL the difference?
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- čas přidán 1. 03. 2024
- The Daily Mail's Craig Hope reflects on Newcastle United's 3-0 win over Wolves at St James' Park. But which player does he pick out for his three merit stars? There were plenty of contenders - Anthony Gordon? Joe Willock? Fabian Schar? Bruno Guimaraes? Tino Livramento? Martin Dubravka? Alexander Isak?
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Willock is such a great player to have back.
So young too, he could become a top top midfielder
Great report as ever, Craig. I totally agree with you about Willock. His performances in these two games show how much we missed him. He brings out the best in the players around him as well. Say what you like about Wenger, but he knew a promising youngster when he saw one. Great win today.
There's something about seeing Willock-Bruno-Longstaff on the teamsheet. Sure, I'm not here to argue with anyone who thinks we can do better than Longstaff, I love the lad but understand why others might not, but seeing that midfield on the team sheet at quarter to 3 took me right back to last season. Lovely stuff.
@@fadedjem I quite agree with you - and yesterday we played like it was last season for the first time in a while ! Let’s hope for more of the same as we get a few more back to full fitness !
As always brilliant stuff Craig .
Don't go anymore but still love the Toon and your summing up of games is great 👍
Fabulous report as usual Craig. I genuinely believe that 4-5 quality signings in the summer will cement Newcastle in the top 4. Can't wait
Spot on Craig.Eddie had the tactics perfect,since he knew we had the pace in transition with Willock back.Wolves played into our hands.Well done all the team👏👏👏
Sehr gut, Craig! You actually pronounced Schär Share! Gordon is competing with Bruno for player of the season. Eddie had the team playing pragmatically. Long live pragmatism!😊
Eddie can plan and change, give the guy time, he analyses and takes risks and is loyal to those who are loyal to him sadly many young people dont know the meaning of loyalty!
So pleased for Eddie, we now have 40 points and I sense we can finish 7/8th which be a good result given the issues. Bruno, schar and Willock for me get the merit stars
33 points to play for ,who knows.
Schar MoM for me. His long balls pretty much nullified Wolves press and he was rock solid at the back. Willock was good but we don't win that without Schar. As for the "tactics" of sitting back, we needed a bit of fortune to get the lead and a keeping mistake made it two. Wolves were very much in it and the game turned on those two moments. After that, other than a short spell in the second half, we saw the game out well and to quote Craig Hope, we had "control" for once. But I come back to my original point, the "moments" came about because of Schar and his lovely passing range.
It’s about time he got the recognition he deserves 🎉
Schar is player of the season. Miguel Almiron was our best player in the Champions league
To have more than a bunch of teenagers and goal keepers on the bench is amazing . What a difference
Is only been an issue because Newcastle have been complaining about it so much and using it as an excuse. Doesn't work so badly for other teams..
@@listey But it's objectively true, as shown by the recent statistics. So it may be an "excuse" but a perfectly valid one.
@@listey it's backed up by statistics that you clearly haven't bothered to read. The stats for the whole EPL show that we've had more injuries and longer injuries than any other EPL team - we're worse in all but one of the many metrics of analysis used. Shame you don't use facts to base your posts on rather than bias.
Couldn’t agree more, analysis always spot on.
Willock offered Burn, who looked nervous great protection & allowed Gordon to stay forwards a bit more. Tino not on the teamsheet felt an error but overall Burn played well.
Agree on Local Hero. Hope new version does great, original back at SJP next home game please 😊
I look forward to your match reports
Keep up with the great work
Well done Craig. Your enthusiasm today mirrors the team's. They looked a team again today. Willock returning meant so much to us in all sorts of ways. Suddenly the team and the bench looks capable again..
Just to say once again, how great it is to hear your summary. Spot on as always - nothing to add as you’ve said it all 👍
Thanks James. That’s nice to hear.
Love the videos as usual - much better watch after a good performance haha.
You're not wrong 😅
I love Willock's energy and quality. When we were at our very best last season, we had Willock's in the middle 3 and Joelinton wide left. With Miggy and Longstaff on the other flank, that was a pressing machine!
👌
Agree about Willock, must keep him fit, but many star performances, good to watch and just shut the game down second half, kept it messy when that was all they needed to do ... another good match report thanks
Brilliant video again. These videos are definitely the ones I look forward to the most post match although I think I would have given Schar the 3 stars with willock a close 2nd
Thanks Craig, always an honest report
Willock is VITAL to how we play, everyone thinks it’s J7 but it’s actually willock. He’s phenomenal.
I agree but I think it’s both
@@JohnnyJakarta I agree its both too. Last season Joeltinon wide left and willock left of the 3cms was our better option. It gave good attacking threats and counter and they also were able to swap about a little and help out Dan Burn at lb
@@meshzone It's a tough one, Gordon is SO GOOD this year, but yeah I spent all summer banging on to anyone who would listen that Joelinton was our best left wing option, or rather than big Joe and little Joe rotating between that space and the left advanced midfield area was an unbeatable combination. Individually you can't argue with Gordon, he's by far our best player this year and I've fallen entirely in love with him, but I'd love to see how our team would look with him out on the right and the J7+Willock combo on the left.
Howe is going to have some nice selection problems when everyone is fit and firing.
@@fadedjem Yeah its tough and clearly not saying drop Gordon not at all. Gordon and willock worked similar but in dfferent ways today so we will see how the pair together on the left are going forward and playing together even more
It's both. One thing they both have is the energy and ability to press and get stuck in and then quickly carry the ball out of midfield in transition.
It's something we just haven't had with Miley and Longstaff.
Great to see Eddie Howe has got his plan B, next learning to switch from A to B in matches but one step at a time.
Next he can learn to count to 10 followed by all letters in the alphabet
The best part about that performance and result was the fact that Eddie howe has finally done something about the gaps between defence and midfield. By doing this, we will be so much harder to beat aswell as finally having another tactical option to games.
Well done Eddie howe for biting the bullet and acknowledging the pace and threat that wolves team can have in attacking areas.
Imagine how good our midfield would be with joelinton being fit now too.
That 3 of willock, joelinton, Bruno is elite, and it's such a shame we aren't able to see and utilise that for a long while.
Good that howe made early subs aswell to actually positively impact the team and the players coming off got a good break in their legs.
Fabian schars ability to stay calm in every situation when he has the ball is amazing (scary at times) but his compusure is so beneficial in this team with our pace on the break we will cause a lot more problems for teams playing like this when we need to for certain fixtures.
Well done lads, well done Eddie howe. Only thing left is for us to improve our set pieces... They have been very poor as of late in an attacking sense with the aerial threat we have.
Great content as always Craig.
Superb stuff again Craig. Your analysis and comment is an absolute staple in our house.
Good to hear Mark! Thank you.
Craig, I just love watching you. You’re a true fan , but an honest one too. Long May you continue to enlighten us as the Toon story continues to unfold . As a transplanted lad from Tynemouth who has worked in london for many years ( but still has family up here) it’s wonderful to be able to stand tall these days. Howay the lads 😉👌
I bet he's never been to st james park in his life
He’s not a NUFC fan mate
I felt Bruno was MOTM. He was everywhere in midfield.
Absolutely. For me head and shoulders above everyone else.
Definitely played well. He'll be missed next season for sure.
I love these videos. I would have swapped Schar and Willock in the merit stars but great to see the energy Willock brings. He's brought back the smiles.
You always have the players to sit in. Great shape, should av done it 2 months ago. HTLs 🏳🏴
Just got home from the match, some imbibing may have given even more of a rose tint to my perspective on a great 3 points but I have discussed with people how it seemed we invited them onto us and played them at their own (counter-attacking) game. I’m happy to defer to Eddie on this. That was a ploy. And it worked a treat. Great result.
Edit; just got to the end and wasn’t sure you’d go with Little Joe, but hoped you would. Agree with all of your reasoning.
Class as alway's Graig. There were glimpses of the old nufc, I totally agree. *willlock, for me, was the difference. He really is a class act, & will get better. We played them at their own game today. Eddies, prior game management 👌. Dubravka, is now surely our new Nu 1......
The energy in pressing, recovering and driving forward with the ball by Willock and Joelinton were key to our best form last season. Maybe Tonali has similar qualities and will show it next season. Bruno and Miley have different strengths, but leave the defence more exposed. I don't know what to make of Longstaff this season, he's getting further forward and in good attacking positions, but doesn't seem to be covering at the back as well as last season. Hopefully Howe will be able to get the right blend in the midfield now that more players are available.
Tonali will be banned for most of next season. If he's really a "gambling addict" like he claimed there's absolutely no way he didn't bet on football since he moved to Newcastle.
Straight to the point and full of facts regardless if there good or bad good win Craig 👏
Excellent summary Craig. Willock’s performance was a reminder of what we have been missing. Our midfield has been decimated this season. I can’t help but think was could have been if we had joelington and Tonali available too.
More dynamism in the midfield. Sometimes we forget that Willock was an Arsenal boy, technically very good and quick.
Gary O’Neil is an honest down to earth manager I hope it goes well for him
Great report Craig great to hear your thoughts on a fine first home win this year and over the moon for the fans support for Eddie Howe. Fingers crossed we can build on that result ,thanks again 👍
Completely agree re Willock, Craig!
Excellent analysis of the game and agree with your merit awards.
Great report Craig the more I watch Gordon the better he gets, I think he’s got to be one of our best signings
agree with you on all points - so much better today
The most unenjoyable 3-0 ever! That weather!
But! Different team on display 👏
Willock was special. That spark! Fires that attacking third up, and as you say Craig, a level of protection for BDB!
Spot on reporting as always Craig, thanks mate. Agreed, Willock made such a huge difference to our midfield today, such a huge player for us and how we've missed him. Thought defensively we were loads better and Botman looked a lot more confident. Let's hope we can press on from here. By the way, it was great to see a smiling and happy looking Joelinton in the team photos after the match, hopefully it's a sign of a new contract coming for him 🙏 Thanks again Craig, all the very best mate 👍🖤🤍🖤🤍
Spot on with the merits mate. As always perfect reflection 💪🏼
Merit stars are the way forward, more fun than trudging through giving every player a rating when you can just check out the match report for that.
I kind of look forward to these post match videos…I probably agree with most of your summations…our formation/System reminded me a lot of the home game v PSG…Schar stepping into midfield and pressing/intercepting & breaking the lines with forward passes. However, Bruno was my 2 ⭐️ & Schar the 1. Bruno’s ability to carry out defensive duties & get forward to create is exceptional allied to his new found discipline….🎉
PSG had more possession than us. So Arsenal, City and PSG had more possession at SJP.
I said in your previous video that when Willock and Joelinton return a lot of Howe's problems go away. Miley needs to develop and Longstaff has to do far more of the 'seen' stuff. Howe's methods are dependant on a midfield that can actually break up play and win the ball and that has been badly lacking this season
How pleasing was that! Willock back, Schar inform, Tino goal, Gordon energy, Bruno magic, Isak looked better, Murphy getting back to form, clean sheet (er... wow) ...you could run through the team and make positive remarks but key was that change of plan from Eddie. Clearly Wolves had selection problems and we were 'playing better' but there were so many positives and who knows the charge to the end of the season (and Wembley who knows) might just have a better look to it.
Listening to the game with Matt and Ando , the change in tactics was clear , the back five were more consistently mentioned and the press was more controlled . From the commentary Fab , would have got the 3 stars , however having seen the highlights on MOD , the run from Bruno for first goal was special . There were a number of players that weren’t mentioned for long periods.
Wolves very much like us , can’t afford to loose big players.
Good report. Aye, having the ability to bring on decent players from the bench is vital for the way newcastle play. How many goals have we conceded late on as the team tires
Craig after watching the game your right Wilock was really good and does make us tick. Great result and better tactics from Eddie well done just want to say Gordon has been amazing and had taken his form way ahead since he arrived. Has to be in the England squad
Willock is so important to our transition, for all the Eddie doubters 🖕😂. My view was Tino is 1 star, Gordon 2, Schar 3 all the others equally 1/2 star.
Nah Schar definitely 2 star, without him we don’t get 3 goals. He’s massively underrated. If he’s English he’s our number 1 CB for the Euros
Brilliant report thought Willock was excellent and thought the Toon played better when Timo came on well done everyone involved
Willocks ability to carry the ball and cover ground has been a huge miss all season. We cant afford to miss him or Joelinton but never both. It's no surprise that our worst period under Howe has been when they are both missing, it affects that whole left side. Burn and Gordon would agree I'm sure!
I'm so glad Willock is back!! Let's just pray he can stay fit
So glad i was on the top row of gallowgate. The rain looked mental
I agree that it was an improved performance however we shouldn't get too carried away as Wolves had players missing, particularly up front.
I also agree that Joe Willock made a big difference on the left - supporting Dan Burn and allowing Gordon to stay further up the pitch. We now know how important he is.
However, it's worrying that we don't have good enough midfield replacements for Willock, Joelinton or Bruno. The Summer transfer window will be very important for us.
Great report Craig 🍺🍺
Fantastic content thanks Craig
Because Eddie changed how we play and it was the right decision to get the result, he will have more confidence in doing it again. Brilliant management today. Having Willock back has also made a big difference, if we can get Joelinton back before the end of the season we could nick that last Europe position.
I be love Miggy and have fought his corner at every opportunity but I’m loving this Murphy-Almiron tag team. Both run hard and chase back to cover.
Murphy just keeps bringing it and is more creative, bringing the rest of the forwards into his play- ideal for the first hour. Miggy then brings intensity and a shift of pace when defence are tiring, and, if needed, a new key to unlock a Difficult defence
This looks like a great system developing. EH just needs the flexibility to make the shift quicker if things are not going well.
Were missing Moussa Sissoko
Bruno gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️ just for his amazing bit of silky skill followed by a ‘no look’ pass right on the button for Almiron 🤤
I find myself agreeing with virtually all of your summing up ...great stuff .. You fidt mention that Wolves defending was awful especially for Tinos goal .
I thoroughly enjoy your post match analytics… however, every time I watch I wonder, are you holding the camera via an extension arm or is a colleague somehow managing to walk backwards with it and has eyes in the back of their head? Whichever… some skillful ability is on show. Oh… I agree, Joe Willock was the difference maker…
If have willock , joelinton and barnes fit. It gives alot of options on left and can play gordon upfront when needed or on the right. Looking forward to summer to see do they target defensive midfielder and quality right winger. Eddie definitely deserves next season with added depth after all the injuries this season.
There was a couple of points during the second half where Wolves managed to find a layer behind Dan Burns. Im a fan of his, but I think he would do with a spell out. Teams target him and it's a problem.
Agreed
Agree with your points. We looked a little shaky when Tripps went off but the manager was able to swing the control back with the triple subs. The bad - Sean Longstaff. Again a massive passenger and absolutely the weakest midfielder in the team. Miley has surpassed him. Murphy is unconvincing and I could not believe he got to start after the stinker he had last game. The manager again lacks the guts to put in the proper personnel. Miley and Miggy should have started. Barnes again unconvincing. Poor decision making again and again. Good to have Elliot back. Energetic and more reliable. Dubz was massive in goal.
Willock the key man, helped Burn and Gordon. Schaer key in all 3 goals.
As much of a blow it would be to lose Trippier I really feel it gives us a chance to see Tino get a run of games in his favoured position because he is clearly the future and with Trippier only having a year left on his contract at the end of the season I can see the club cashing in.
I like your Newcastle scarf Craig
Always the best match reports!
Just start Tino & Trips. Tino right midfield or left back watever, he def starts! HTLs🏳🏴
Enjoyed the video as always. Do you think Schar looked better for an improved Botman at the side of him after his rest on Tuesday night?
I never got the hype around Bruno but this season he seams to have come on loads in terms of holding the ball and getting himself around the pitch
%100 Willock MOM
Just wondering Craig have you heard anything about Yakuba Minteh for next season?....he seems to have become an integral part of Feyenoords team/squad this season and from all the Feyenoord games I've watched this season he looks like a fantastic prospect.....
I said the same thing about Willock that he’s improved the team and players around him simply because he has pace something our midfield lacks. What might of been this season if we didn’t lose Joelinton and Willock for long periods. Certainly think we would be in and around the top 4.
Schär launching the breaks for all three goals with pinpoint long passing. One of his best days.
I don’t know if it’s because goalkeepers are in the background a lot but maybe Dubravka deserved a star because today and in the last few games has been very good
Willock looks like he would slot straight into the current Arsenal team, full of energy and deceptively quick, Dubravka is improving with every game and is surely going to retain his place when Pope returns to fitness. Great game, great result and great report Craig.
Not a chance Dubravka keeps Pope out
@@markglendinning3956 Pope is a great keeper and shot stopper but for me Dubravka can actually catch the ball from corners and crosses, also Pope can appear a bit nervy at times.. just saying 😉
Have to, respectfully, disagree this time Craig. I thought Bruno was impeccable today. Yes, there was some show-boating towards the end, but felt he absolutely ran the midfield today. Having Willock on the pitch gave Bruno a bit more freedom to play his natural game, instead of him feeling he has to do everything. Thought he was unplayable at times today.
For me anthony Gordon Bruno schar but willock he was the difference yesterday but dubravka has been quality between the sticks it was great to feel so relaxed watching it great team effort cmon the TOON
Perfect timed subs
That early goal made all the difference. They let Wolves come out
This is why I like football.
You look at Real Madrid, and they don’t play like Man City/arsenal/liverpool.
France also did it in the World Cup
much better yesterday, but our passing and ball retention is just terrible
We played the same trick in the second half of last season
What is no press conference shown now after Games.Used to be.?
Dare I say thats the way we should play against City in the FA cup? Not that we'll have a choice, but having Willock in there and fresh legs in attacking areas will give us a chance of sneaking it.
Willock, Shar and Bruno were pinging some ridiculous passes in behind the Wolves Defense today. Willock has been a huge miss this season. Can't wait for the remainder of the run in this season.
Interested to get your opinion on various media outlets reporting Dan Ashworth met Graham Potter to discuss ManU manager job, surely that is breaking the terms of his contract if true.
Great to have 3 points in the bag, even better to have 3 points & a decent performance. Great to have joe willock back, i think we are all aware of just how much we've missed him this season. Happy days. Cheers as always criag.
Not sure Craig has sat in the “wet seats” at SJP. Weather during the match was worse than it looks in the video.
It's become very obvious that the injuries to KEY players has been a major issue. Think the 10 games or so left could be very positive
Great assessment as usual Craig, I wonder if you would do a piece on how NUFC can navigate the FFP restrictions to catch up on the Manchester and London teams... Could you clarify if it is possible for NUFC to invest in youth football with a view to creating gazzas and shearers in the future without being deemed to be spending a fortune - ie - could we invest a few hundred million in schools and academies around northumberland with long term gains in mind. The other area I think we can take a march is in womens football, selling out stadiums for mens and womens games and selling shirts around the world - in 10 years time I can see the womens game being almost at the same level as the mens.... would love to see a discussion about ideas to catch up financially
Imagine us with pedro neto on the right be unbelievable
He's not as good as Almiron
Time for spec savers 😜
Couldn't afford him.
@LordKananga5 good joke 😂
@@adamc5477 Almiron is elite, Neto is decent, but Almiron is faster and better on the ball
Would love to switch out Barnes or Anderson for Longstaff
Almiron for Longstaff. He's faster and stronger
Joelonton
The Eddie Howe /Dark arts line seems to be a favourite of the media. What did we do today that would be described as dark arts?
Schars long passing is some of the best in the league, probably better than Shelvey in his prime.
My motm was bruGorSchar 😊