Saint86

He didn't blame the formation, he blamed the players. Now we all know that his formation and line up were the real issue here. Yes the players struggled and were poor, but ditto Bednarek and Bree didn't ask to be shoved into a makeshift back 5 with 3 other players they've not been paired with before this season, and no meaningful cdm anchor in front of them. Jones then wonders why the marking and closing down was poor, or why we had limited tracking from central midfield for longstaff etc. Add that to the fact that the whole world understood what atmosphere would be facing the players - and you genuinley need to question his perspective and ability. Especially if he can't see that his team selection and formation directly caused the bad start.

I agree with his press conference but.... The reason we were shite at the start was because he took a load of off form, non match fit, and unfamiliar players.... And shoved them in an unfamiliar formation. That is why the tracking and marking was bad, why the passing was bad. And as manager that is clearly predictable and should be expected, and it's clearly his fault.... But he left all that unsaid. If we get the two attacking players in he will have nowhere to hide if we go down. After 19 games we were 2 points off 14th...he will have signed 5 players and had more than half a season to close a miniscule gap. No way he keeps his job if we get relegated from that position surely? I wonder, if we hadn't changed mananger (and style), would we have had signings in the door circa 1st Jan? I'd have backed Ralph to keep us up with a fit lavia and kwp, let alone with someone like alcaraz and a striker / new winger...

Newcastle had twice our number of total shots and shots on target, and 5 corners to our 1. The few times we penetrated we didn't have the quality to finish the chance. People really can't be dressing that second half up as a good performance because Newcastle simply sat off us and defended/managed the 2 goal lead. All you can say is it was better than the first half. 😒

They're the future of English and European football sadly... The only thing that will maybe stop them now is that they've got to get the best players in the world to agree to live in Newcastle... That or sanctions on Saudi money.

Or stands like a camp tea pot waving bye bye...

I've said it before. Hes fine if he isn't playing at CB. At CB he is an absolute liability.

Newcastle fans are some of the worst in the country easily. They were raging against Ashley for not investing when he spent over £40M on joelinton (crazy entitlement)... They're incredibly toxic when not winning (look what they did to pardew when he almost got them champions league), and they're quite happy seeing any soul of their club / history being usurped to sportswash abuses such as the khashoggi killing whilst they not only lap up the blood money but also dress in Saudi garb... Honestly couldn't name a worse fanbase in the country... And the UK media's bias towards them is equally sickening on that front. I hope man united smash them and they miss top 4.

Bruno G also suspended for their games vs West ham and bompey ffs.

Jones needs to refund the travelling away support himself.

Newcastle just set up shop and knew we carried no threat. Easy to look better when the oppo are content for us to have the ball 😅

Have we had a shot on target playing vs 10men and a concussed issac? Have we had more than 1 shot on target this half. Anyone that thinks we played okay this half needs to understand that Newcastle just shut up shop. Manager threw this game with the lineup. Offered basically no threat when needing to go for it... Joke.

Fair play to our away support. Out sung 48k geordies this second half.

And again... Fuck me.

Jones out. Unforgivable selection. Winnable Cup semi final that we chucked away.

Last time Newcastle made it to a league Cup final was 1976 at least...

No defending Jones for this one. All on him.

Bree's superb technical crossing ability on show there...

Taken off our pacey powerful cb chasing a game vs issac and asm...

The ref had been pretty decent tbh...

Great play bazunu!

Diallo is shockingly bad at this level.

Also, we had to score in that 15min period. Can't see it now sadly. Game was thrown by the manager - awful line up and waits until we're 3-0 down in a 2 legged cup semi final to take it seriously. Unforgiveable

If we're going to go out, I can't be the only one who wants our entire backline to leave studs on Murphy until he has to go off... With our players waving at him?

That is never a free kick against salisu...

He's are starting right back vs brentford now 😍