CL Round: Newcastle - Barca 1-2

[Maradona37]

Also side bar, howe kind of over thought today, should have just played the big guy, they could have pressed almost as effectively as they did at the start with him starting, but have the long ball and cross option early

Game of fine margins innit? If they score one of their early chances when on top, they might go on to win 1 or 2-0 and we all say he made the right decision.

Coaches live and die by the sword. Football is a low-scoring game so luck, variance, one-off moments can all affect things greatly.

I don't think his starting gameplan was bad - I see the logic in it personally. It's just that they couldn't score from the one or two good chances they had. It meant he had to bring on the big guy when losing and chase the game more one dimensionally. I think starting with aggression at the start of the game before Barca have had the chance to score was a good call. It didn't work out tonight but on another night it might have.

As @Don Juan Laporta Estruch Flick adjusted to play a bit deeper a lot with the defensive line tonight. He probably outwitted Howe in that sense. But Howe's idea was sound, given what he knows of Flick in the past.

 

[jamrock]

Think they played a bit under my expectations, and Barca played about as expected. They seemed indeed that they are not used to chase the ball that much and not get it. If they had more experience, they could have hurt us more on those turnovers.

Think it's about a 8/10 performance for us. Good enough under the conditions.

I agree but I would say 7/10, even 6/10.

We have way more upside than this.

Howe got the tactics wrong today, didn't take advantage of his players bar the first 30-35 minutes at all.

 

[JamDav1982]

The Barca performance was Pedri and Frenkie world class, Rashford amazing moments and the rest were up and down.

Lewa did fuck all and Fermin had no real quality but rest were decent.

 

[JamDav1982]

I agree but I would say 7/10, even 6/10.

We have way more upside than this.

Howe got the tactics wrong today, didn't take advantage of his players bar the first 30-35 minutes at all.

Coping well for excuses there why likes of Tonali wasnt better than Frenkie as claimed so often.

He was schooled.

 

[jamrock]

Game of fine margins innit? If they score one of their early chances when on top, they might go on to win 1 or 2-0 and we all say he made the right decision.

Coaches live and die by the sword. Football is a low-scoring game so luck, variance, one-off moments can all affect things greatly.

I don't think his starting gameplan was bad - I see the logic in it personally. It's just that they couldn't score from the one or two good chances they had. It meant he had to bring on the big guy when losing and chase the game more one dimensionally. I think starting with aggression at the start of the game before Barca have had the chance to score was a good call. It didn't work out tonight but on another night it might have.

Yea fine margins indeed if they scored he would have looked like a genius, but after the Barca players adapted to the situation, he didn't.

His step off too much, he has players that are more than capable on the ball and can do more, should have played to his advantage in Midfield and Brought on the big guy sooner.

But also credit to flick and the players for holding out and trusting the process.

 

[serghei]

The Barca performance was Pedri and Frenkie world class, Rashford amazing moments and the rest were up and down.

Lewa did fuck all and Fermin had no real quality but rest were decent.

Pedri and De Jong could not be pressed, frustrated them to bits all game.

 

[Barcaman]

Think they played a bit under my expectations, and Barca played about as expected. They seemed indeed that they are not used to chase the ball that much and not get it. If they had more experience, they could have hurt us more on those turnovers.

Think it's about a 8/10 performance for us. Good enough under the conditions.

Barca had some 30-40 mins combined when played like a CL candidate, but the rest not that impressive by us. Can do better, and 3-4 players did not have a good game imo. Fermin, raphinha, cubarsi, lewandoski.

Ya man, not that great. Not impressed at all. Your man Xavi did better.

 

[JamDav1982]

Players capable on the ball?

When likes of Tonali cant handle Pedri and Frenkie and barely able to get near them while barely making 60% of his passes that is on the players not Howe.

 

[JamDav1982]

Pedri and De Jong could not be pressed, frustrated them to bits all game.

Exactly.. it is about all Newcastle fans and media are saying

 

[Barcaman]

Should have come there and won 5-0. It's just like in FM.

Where were you whiners before game? Whining that we'll lose probably.

 

[Maradona37]

Yea fine margins indeed if they scored he would have looked like a genius, but after the Barca players adapted to the situation, he didn't.

His step off too much, he has players that are more than capable on the ball and can do more, should have played to his advantage in Midfield and Brought on the big guy sooner.

But also credit to flick and the players for holding out and trusting the process.

They do have a good midfield, but I think he knew that they couldn't live with Pedri and De Jong. So plan was to try to smother Barca early and prevent the ball getting to midfield and hence the supply to the attackers. They were pressing very high - they looked surprised that Barca weren't defending as high, though that could in part be Newcastle forcing them back more.

The overall point is that there's a lot of different tactics and things that can happen during a game. Sometimes I feel managers get a bit too much criticism when actually their plan is fine but it just doesn't work out.

You're right though that after Flick and Barca acclimated to the game, Howe had no answer. It is like I thought before the game - Newcastle came out of the blocks very fast trying to score early and upset Barca, but when they couldn't do that Barca grew in confidence and settled into the game, and took control. The last thing anyone wants against Barca is Pedri, De Jong et al to start passing it about and playing triangles.

 

[Maradona37]

Should have come there and won 5-0. It's just like in FM.

Where were you whiners before game? Whining that we'll lose probably.

I don't see many people whining. Most people - myself included - think Barca successfully weathered an early storm, took control, and deservedly won away at an intimidating, tricky stadium and club.

 

[serghei]

They have a good midfield, but Frenkie and Pedri are elite. Many teams have good midfields, but the jump from good to PSG and Barca quality is big. Gonna be some game on October 1st.

 

[JamDav1982]

They tried to man mark FDJ and Pedri with roughing them up through Joelinton and Bruno to then leave Tonali more free.

Didnt work.

Frenkie and Pedri were laughing at them and leaving the chasing shadows Tonali was fucking woeful with the space he had.

Tonali was over hitting near enough every pass and looked a step slower in the mind than Barca mids.

 

[Barcaman]

I don't see many people whining. Most people - myself included - think Barca successfully weathered an early storm, took control, and deservedly won away at an intimidating, tricky stadium and club.

Many were despairing.