Wish people would stop picking out players to blame, we've had a good solid season and our first where we've really got our teeth into trying to play in a different way. All clubs have moments that they wish they didn't.

This passing the ball sideways in defence, especially when you're only one goal down. Is it to do with PV's upbringing in tippy tappy Arsenal, or is it a lack of confidence in the front player, or is there just a lack of movement ahead of them which gives the defenders no avenues to pass in.

The only alternative then is the big punt upfield.

If we had started the game with the increased urgency shown in the second half it could have been a different story.

But we deserved nothing from that first half performance.

Newcastle have been adept at protecting leads at home and proved it again last night.

The rotational fouling and theatrics from their players bear all the hallmarks of Bournemouth under Eddie Howe.

Ultimately it was another narrow but disappointing defeat. Too little, too late.

Old, Ungifted and White

Guehi said "When you start a game like that in their place, you get what you deserve,”.“We were second best to everything. They beat us to every duel, every challenge....."

Quite shocking and damning.

Similar to the Leicester game, we could have got a draw from the Newcastle game.
It’s a pattern that’s been repeated this season where we have not quite managed to eke out results when not at our best.
It took an excellent goal to beat us and I for one am quite happy that Mitchell did not bring Almiron down.
I’m fed up of this tolerance that has come into the game for bringing down players in threatening positions (‘he’s taken one for the team’ as opined by Sky).
We hate it if it happens to the like of Zaha or Olise and it seems to have even crept into amateur football.
We are at a stage of our development where inconsistency of results is not unexpected but as the club we are moving forward, and I’m hopeful for some good additions in the summer to address the areas that need to be improved.

The lowest points total in a season under Hodgson was 43 pts, accordingly we need 6 pts from 6 games to match that total.Whether we actually achieve this total is a matter of conjecture.

Apropos the cup fixtures, Hodgson's sole focus was to secure PL safety and he achieved this feat over 4 seasons on a net spend of around £10 Mill.

Edited by Willo (21 Apr 2022 9.44am)