Zaha should have scored. Ayew made the wrong decision 99% of the time. Our midfield has no creativity. A good goal scored against us. The usual Palace story really.

Red and Blue Army!

He took off a midfielder and put on a striker, how is that defensive. We went 4-4-2 having had no influence on the game with our standard 4-3-3. That required the replacement of Gallagher (who was having a quiet game), with Mateta and McArthur to add a bit more thrust in midfield. It worked very well and were we not so toothless in front of goal we would have got something out of the game.

I haven’t always liked his decisions but today they were good substitutions.

They were being kind. We struggled to live with their aggression and were lucky to only be a goal down after an hour. Once again we spent so much time passing around at the back even when losing. Vieira made the right call on the hour and we probably should have equalised.

Their idol Bruno did a dive at one point that made Havertz look honest. They also kicked Zaha all game and really should have had at least a couple more bookings. I thought Wilf kept a cool head given the ref was doing sod all.

The team who wanted it more won on the day. My memory of the game will be the silly little Saudi owner waving his giant Newcastle flag and then getting trapped under it.

Yes, he corrected the situation that Newcastle had put onto us very well tonight.

Erm calm down tickling pink! We were not excellent I first half against Chelsea we was a team on back foot trying to create something which never happened and tonight was shocking ,

Edited by SwordFish (20 Apr 2022 10.56pm)

“This is a crisis, a large crisis.... in fact if you have a moment, it’s a 12 storey crisis, magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24 hour portage , and an enormous sign on the roof saying “This , is a large crisis” - Edmund Blackadder

That’s a fair enough summary from Newcastle fans from that second half. It really was that final ball and perhaps to slow in the build up allowing Newcastle to get players behind the ball. Don’t like our combinations in midfield. I always feel we don’t play the best midfield players alongside each other and then take of one or two of them bringing on someone like Macca who would benefit still having them on the pitch. The substitutions never seem to make us a better team at present. On Sunday we brought on more forward players leaving one midfield type player on the pitch. And then when I thought Luka was coming on for one of those forwards he took of Kouyate. For me having Gallagher, Kouyate and Macca together or even Hughes or Schlupp gives more balance and these players can get into the box as well as making crucial passes to create chances. All we end up with when we bring to many forwards on is our back four hitting long balls which are easily dealt with. Both Chelsea and Newcastle were there for the taking in the last two matches and we blew it with strange formations and substitutions in my opinion :-( Let’s hope we get back to winning ways next Monday?