Newcastle v Villa post match

[Paul.S]

If you take a look at the 2 decisions in the Tottenham/Chelsea game a few weeks ago. The over the top, high challenge and the elbow. The excuses given for not sending them off were weak and both should’ve gone.It’s the inconsistencies on a game to game basis and the way VAR can manipulate incidents to back referee’s on pitch decisions. VAR is a waste of time and will be unless you get people in there who can speak with no relationship to the officials.
The people we have in charge of refereeing and the referees themselves just aren’t good enough. The red card today should be challenged and cancelled but it won’t be. All supporters are massively frustrated by it and by the inconsistency of match officials.

[brontebilly]

Coped alright with Haaland last week. Before you say it, I know Isak is on form and Haaland is struggling. But this idea that Torres can’t defend, and basically when we win it’s in spite of him and when we lose it’s down to him just isn’t the case. He makes mistakes, but so do all of our dedenders.

Torres is at his best when a team steps off us and his playmaking skills come to the fore. That was never likely today. When he needs to defend in the PL he is very average. How many times did Konsa have to clear low crosses coming in from the left side? Konsa was poor today too, mind. Ideal game for Mings to start or even come on at half time to get minutes into him.

[VillaTim]

Coped alright with Haaland last week. Before you say it, I know Isak is on form and Haaland is struggling. But this idea that Torres can’t defend, and basically when we win it’s in spite of him and when we lose it’s down to him just isn’t the case. He makes mistakes, but so do all of our dedenders.

Torres is at his best when a team steps off us and his playmaking skills come to the fore. That was never likely today. When he needs to defend in the PL he is very average. How many times did Konsa have to clear low crosses coming in from the left side? Konsa was poor today too, mind. Ideal game for Mings to start or even come on at half time to get minutes into him.

Defensively having to accommodate Torres is a major issue . The stats don't lie. Not sure Emery wants to accept it though. We need a RB in January and then get back to Konsa / Mings in the middle and Digne is quality at LB .

[The Edge]

Atrocious refereeing matched only by our atrocious performance. To go a goal down inside 2 minutes is pathetic.
Our central defence is a shambles , worst defence in the top 12 and we are now down to 9th.
Thought onana had a decent game spoiled by the error for goal 3 .
Watkins now gets his c⁸hance to make the 9 spot his again .

Going  a goal down inside 2 minutes is pathetic? What a daft comment. That happens all the time. Sometimes to the best of them. It's not pathetic but its not an ideal start to a game of football. It's how you respond that determines things and we just never got ourselves back into the game at all. Hate to say it but Eddie Howe had our number again today and Emery couldn't come up with a meaningful response. Thays now 9 points from 9 scoring 2 conceding 11. Now those stats are pathetic and Eddie Howe is fast becoming Unai Emery's nemesis.

[edgysatsuma89]

I mean, conceding goals early as frequently as we do is piss poor. I basically almost expect it to happen.

[HolteL4]

That was never a red for me. he slid on his left and fell towards the right with very little force against the player. Unless he could have removed his leg not much chance of avoiding that. Maybe he could have turned his foot, but cannot see that was intentional.

Dubravka got him sent off, it was accidental he was falling over Duran could do nothing about where his foot landed. The reaction of Dubravka got Duran sent off, even the commentators said accidental until Dubravkas reaction. The ref was weak and reacted to Dubravka and the crowd and because how VAR is set up couldn't correct the weak ref. To think that ref is seen as the best in England, how can the best league in the world have such sub standard officials.

[Scott Nielsen]

We struggle when teams come at us and press hard that is why it puzzles me why Mings was not selected for this one. We were lucky that it was only 3-0. I give Emery his due, he has said that he expected a drop off this season with all the extra games to be played.

What puzzles me is why UE won't change anything in how we play when everybody knows we struggle when teams come at us. If the system does not need tweaking then the most likely conclusion must be he feels performances can only be addressed through player upgrades.

I also think this recent thing from UE about how our league form was sure to suffer sounds a bit like rationalization after the fact. I believe the club expected us to do better in the league and he is feeling a little bit of pressure which is telling in how he suddenly has questioned a few refereeing decisions - something he just never did before. I don't hold it against him, it's human.

[Villafirst]

Villa's passing accuracy was atrocious at times yesterday. We needlessly gave the ball away at least 3 times on the edge of the area - McGinn twice, Onana and even Martinez with one very poor pass. We keep folding too easily in away games. Emery needs to start Tyrone against Brighton to try and get some stability at the back.

[ROBBO]

The reason Mings if fit should have played is he is mouthy and shouts his orders out, he is a commanding presence. I have no qualms with Torres he is a decent player but for this one knowing the way they play we needed a general in defence and Torres isn't that. After being caught out for their first Cash nearly made the same mistake later on, he gave his apponent far to much space and was being yelled at to get to him. Not many of us expected a result from this, as I look at it we are still into team building, to get to where we are in the short amount of time is amazing, Emery can see the weaknesses it's whether we can fill the gaps, time will tell.

[geolex]

Although the ref was generally shite, it was definitely a red card. The actions of a petulant child. You could see he was fuming that he wasn’t allowed to take a free kick. Not only did he ensure we lost that game, that’ll be 3 more games without him too.

Needs to grow up really quickly if we’re ready to gleefully march Watkins out of the door.

Yet Unai, Shearer Nevin and  all disagree

[geolex]

We should absolutely contest that red card. Let’s not be milksops about this.

Contest the obviously correct red card? I wouldn’t have thought it was worth our while.

Well you're wrong because we are contesting it,

[geolex]

We should absolutely contest that red card. Let’s not be milksops about this.

Contest what? Are you saying it wasn’t Duran’s studs on the defender’s back?

 Really?... Its the intent that is in question

[Rico]

The thing that made me most  angry about the sending off was that it shouldn't have happened in the first place. The whole incident stemmed from the free kick that was awarded on the edge of our box when the whole world and his dog could see it was Cash that was being fouled. They had a shot that Martinez saved, that lead to a Villa break away. I haven't seen such an inept refereeing performance in a long time. Actually it shouldn't be called inept, more like corrupt. Wouldn't surprise me if the ref has a nice new shiny car on his drive when he returns home. The performance from Villa today was poor, no question about it, but they were playing against twelve men from the very start. I never really moan too much about match officials, but that was about as one sided refereeing as I have seen in a very, very long time.

[Villafirst]

That's the last 2 away games now at Forest and Newcastle where the ref/VAR have screwed us over with major decisions. I really hope the Duran red card is overturned, but can you trust them to do so? Even Eddie Howe said the decision was harsh and basically not a red.

[rob_bridge]

That's the last 2 away games now at Forest and Newcastle where the ref/VAR have screwed us over with major decisions. I really hope the Duran red card is overturned, but can you trust them to do so? Even Eddie Howe said the decision was harsh and basically not a red.

I'd agree with the Forest one - it was a blatant pen. Last season it gets given but this season guidance is to use it more sparingly.

Yesterday's looked very foolish to me by Duran and one of those where replays make it look even worse. We'll see whether it gets overturned.  Nobody can 'prove' the intent, only JD will know for sure, but he doesn't get to decide.