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Newcastle 1 Barcelona 2: Match Review
17 Plays7 days ago
Iain hosts Michael to take the positives out of Newcastles gallant home defeat to Barcelona.
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Transcript
Intro and Immediate Match Reaction
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle, proud to be part of the Global Sports Podcast Network and giving an immediate post-game reaction to Newcastle 1, Barcelona 2.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
two So today's soccer chat is going to be, we can't help ourselves, be a little bit glum. And I'm saying ourselves because I'm not solo tonight.
Mixed Emotions and Key Players' Roles
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm joined by my good friend Michael Grameslaw who sat in his home and watched the match as well. Michael, how are you?
00:00:47
Michael
Yeah, it's doing well. um I will be honest. ah Better than what I probably should be, um given the results. But and ah not every day you play Barcelona. So, yeah, coming out with smiles.
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true. That is true. So, um yes, Newcastle have lost 2-1. um Having flattered to deceive a little bit in the first half, we probably had the best of the chances. Could have been ahead, maybe.
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But then but mean Michael's nemesis, Marcus Rashford, plucked two bits of of his best his best effort ever to put Barcelona 2-2 up with...
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
20 minutes to go and it looked very tough. And although we got a goal back with the seven minutes of injury time left, we never really looked like yeah getting anything out of it. But we're getting ahead of ourselves a little bit, talking about that.
Team Selection and Player Impact
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was quite interested in the changes that Eddie Howe had made from a winning side that had beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 last Saturday. Two changes, Michael.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alanga in for Murphy and Gordon in at Centre Forward instead of Volta Marda. How do you think they those two changes went?
00:02:04
Michael
Yeah, I think it's one of those where, firstly, looking at Alanga for Murphy. um It's hard to take Jacob Murphy out the equation when he was so good against Wolves, or at least when he put that one good cross in. um But Alanga was absolutely fantastic.
00:02:19
Michael
I thought you knew how we were going to play. We were going to play on the break with a high press at the same time, try and force them into mistakes and hit them with pace and power.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:02:30
Michael
And Alanga is the best player to do that. And then Anthony Gordon up top as well. Voldemort, fantastic player by the looks of things. But when you've got a six foot six player up there who gets cramped quite quickly because he isn't used to how we play, it's going to be a high intensity game. It just made sense to have Gordon in there as well.
Player Performance Analysis
00:02:48
Michael
What I maybe would have liked to have seen because Harvey Barnes hasn't been great for Newcastle. and we'll get to his performance today, was Gordon on the left, Alanga through the middle, and then Jacob Murphy on the right-hand side.
00:03:01
Michael
Because I would have loved to have seen Jacob Murphy putting the ball in behind for Gordon and Alanga. um But Eddie Howe knows better than me. Gordon's probably better than Alanga through the centre. And we did have some good chances. So I think it did pay off.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
je we I think we went we went for pace, speed, more pace, more speed, because we know the high line at Barcelona we're going to play with, and that gives us a lot of space to run into. And actually,
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
There were several occasions where Alanga was so rapid that he did get in behind. ah One cross that he cut back for Anthony Gordon to hurdle rather than bury in the bottom corner, which was a shame.
00:03:32
Michael
Yeah.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a fabulous early cross to the back post, which unfortunately Harvey Barnes hit so truly, he just effectively played a back pass to the goalkeeper. i mean, if he could have just hit that off his heel and it had gone into the ground, it would have bounced over him another goal.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, Alanga was a real, real threat. um And that pace was an excellent weapon that almost paid dividends. One thing I noticed in the first half, Michael, is Alanga is so rapid that he's too fast even for Sandro Tonali to keep up with.
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Several times he'd made his run for the ball through for him to run onto and then had to check himself because otherwise he would have gone offside whilst waiting for Bruno and Tonali to actually slip the ball through to
Strategy and Missed Opportunities
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
him.
00:04:23
Michael
Yeah, I noticed that.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've I think when they get two months, three months training with each other instead of two or three weeks, that sort of thing will be ironed out. and I think we've got a super potent weapon there.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um um Definitely justified, what quite a controversial decision, I think, to leave Murphy out and bring Alanga in. um I quite like Gordon down the middle.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's really busy. He's the only one I've seen that can press the two fullbacks and the goalkeeper as he's crossing the pitch. um i mean, he's like a terrier with a bone, isn't he? He just won't let go.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And his pace is a weapon. Won a few fouls to get us into some dangerous positions. but And I know he scores the goal right at the end from his left wing position.
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, there was that cut back, which he stepped over instead of hitting, was just so frustrating.
00:05:13
Michael
yeah
00:05:20
Michael
Yeah, 100%. It was one of those where it was the first moment of the game where you were thinking, wow, we actually could get something here because it was it felt like such an easy chance for us
Player Instincts and Game Dynamics
00:05:30
Michael
to create. We just got it to Alanga.
00:05:31
Michael
He beat his man with ease, which is what we've seen so many times already with Anthony Alanga.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
What would be a good one?
00:05:37
Michael
It does seem to just be with ease that he beats his man. um and then But it's it's something we've seen quite a lot from Gordon.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's a good one. I think it's a good one.
00:05:44
Michael
That initial reaction of just get your foot through the ball that a lot of strikers do have, a lot of players not in that position, don't really have those instincts.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's good one. I think it's a good one.
00:05:54
Michael
I think a Johan Wisser, me and you were speaking before, the the pardon you mentioned, Wisser, would it have been different?
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's a good one.
00:06:01
Michael
He's the kind of player that would have those instincts to already have his foot, basically where that ball is going to go so he can divert it.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's a good one. I think it's a good one.
00:06:08
Michael
Anthony Gordon just steps over it a little bit.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry,
00:06:11
Michael
Instincts of a winger, really, ball gets to him. And then he's it's always going to be beat the man.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
00:06:17
Michael
Hitting it first time, it's not what a winger usually does.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
00:06:20
Michael
So ah as much as, you know, it's not great for Gordon, the fact that it happened, I think you mentioned the goal at the end there as well.
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
00:06:30
Michael
That's what happens when Gordon's on the left wing.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry.
00:06:32
Michael
He can score goals and he can put in performances.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
00:06:35
Michael
Now, I'll say um when he was running at Jules Koundé at the end of the game, I was very frustrated because he never beat him.
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sorry.
00:06:42
Michael
ah But Barnes didn't really beat him throughout the entire game, really. like um But it just shows you what we can do on the break with Anthony Gordon on the left, Jacob Murphy on the right, and then maybe a Pacer striker through the middle.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, um i we were talking and I suggested that if Wisser had been fit and available, he would have played tonight, the centre forward.
00:07:05
Michael
Yeah, 100%.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Newcastle probably two at two up at half-time because we think he would have buried that chance that Gordon missed and probably would have would have certainly made the goalkeeper work a lot harder than the Barnes chance that was saved.
00:07:05
Michael
and so
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was injured. So we couldn't do that. And i i I'd like to, maybe Alanga could go through the middle. But I think if Howe has decided that Barnes is playing on the left, I'd rather see Gordon through the middle rather than and play down the right.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:07:37
Michael
No.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, from the ground, Joanne has been quite vigorous in her texting to us that he picked the wrong team. She's convinced that Valtimada should have started at centre-forward.
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't think she's got a lot of support for the rest of us. Do you want to um you want to say why we don't think Valtomar would have been a any any better than Gordon centre-forward?
00:07:54
Michael
no
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:01
Michael
Well, to to not list the reasons that you and Kev have already sort of gone through, the main one for me is the counter-attacking style of play, the pressing we had at the start.
Counter-attacking Style and Tactical Decisions
00:08:10
Michael
All of our chances early on come from either fast breaks or high pressing.
00:08:17
Michael
And I don't think we're capable of doing either of those with a centre-forward who, let's be honest, if you watch the second half, his movement isn't great.
00:08:27
Michael
um when we're driving and forward. He's always sort of hanging off a little bit like a number 10, which it's it's one of those things where, you know, that's one of the things mentioned.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He does.
00:08:38
Michael
He's not and potentially a natural number nine. He does like to sit a little bit deeper. And if you if you're hitting on the break with pace, you just need players who are willing to get in behind the man.
00:08:49
Michael
yeah I hate to say it, But Isaac, that's something he did brilliantly for us. And Johan Wisser, that is something that he will do brilliantly for us. But when you're trying to play on the counter-attack, I think it is just not it's not Walter Marder's day.
00:09:04
Michael
when That's the thing. With Bournemouth as well, we'll probably play a similar way. And I'm not sure... Well, Walter Marder will have to start because Gordon is is banned.
00:09:15
Michael
But I'm not sure it'll work out that well. But, well, that's an issue for another podcast.
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have to see. We'll have to talk about Bournemouth tomorrow, probably. m Yeah, so um I was going to say something very interesting there about Vultimata and it's gone out of my head, which is a bit of a shame, isn't it? Oh, no.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
The other thing.
00:09:35
Michael
Yeah.
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
is, of course, and you've just got to catch yourself, that Valtimada has had such a meteoric rise. I know he was player of the tournament for the under-21 Euros, um but he'd never played in europe European football before.
00:09:46
Michael
Yeah.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't just mean he's never played in the Champions League. He's never played in the Europa League. He's never played in the Conference League. So massive, massive first European game for him to start centre-forward for Newcastle in front of those 52,000
00:09:58
Michael
yeah
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
fifty two thousand baying for blood from the first second. m i I agree with Howe's decision. I thought the two changes he made worked out really well ah in relation to not working out very well.
00:10:14
Michael
Yeah, I think we're...
00:10:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And once we have heard from Ken and Bionique, we'll talk about his changes in the second half, which I think didn't work out quite so well.
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
Second Half Review and Key Moments
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're back for part two. Sorry about the extra stinging there, Michael. It's the closest I get ever to being like a DJ. Mixing. wow wow wow wow Yes, part two.
00:11:32
Michael
ah see it's it's For me, it's like ah music class all over again. You've got the keyboard, you've got dictionary, come on! And you've got jingle bells and all that you can just randomly play. It takes me back, so I can never apologise for doing that.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I ay have no idea what you're talking about because I you when i When I was at school, there would there weren't any there was no such thing as digital.
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's all analogue. No buttons to click to get all sorts of this stuff.
00:11:55
Michael
True, true.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm kind of guessing I know what you're talking about. But anyway. Anyway. um It's nil-nil at halftime. I think Newcastle had the only shot on target. But Barcelona had a few shots.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a distance. don't think Pope would have to make a save. None of them on target.
00:12:13
Michael
no No, we made the changes about five minutes afterwards.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Quite exciting going into the second half. We started... Reasonably well, I think. We were trying to start like the house on fire that we had done in the first half.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I can't remember if we made... that We then made the changes, didn't we, before Barcelona scored their first goal? Oh.
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did we?
00:12:38
Michael
Yeah.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. So bos barcelona Barcelona score a goal.
00:12:38
Michael
yeah
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fab Char just beforehand had been kind of knocked out with a ball to the face.
00:12:47
Michael
Yeah.
00:12:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm wondering if there was still a bit of an effect of that because he did go off from the effects of that.
00:12:52
Michael
Yeah.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But five minutes after he managed to come back onto the pitch from that, it's him who has just backed off and gives Rashford an extra half yard, maybe a yard to be able to step forward and have a free header effectively, which he took very, very well um into the bottom corner.
00:13:10
Michael
Yeah. You did, yeah.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pope had no chance whatsoever. um And that is that's when we do our changes or do they get the second one before were putting them on?
00:13:22
Michael
No, no, so we make our changes just after the first goal, but i do just want to note, you mentioned there, we had our medical team come on and they said that Fabian Scher was okay to continue. Now, if you watch Fabian Scher's performance throughout the entire game, he is aggressive on the front foot and always going towards the ball.
00:13:41
Michael
That is the first moment in the game he takes a step back instead of attacking the ball.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:46
Michael
And i I think that's more just muscle memory because he's probably concussed.
Substitutions and Game Momentum
00:13:51
Michael
um But it's it's one of those where I'm not saying the medical team cost us there.
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:13:55
Michael
That's not what I'm saying at all. But I do think maybe we should have sat down and just gone, look, he's got a head injury. Let's just get him off and get him replaced and not take any risks. Because now the question is there of that.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. Yeah.
00:14:10
Michael
Has that injury cost us?
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he made four changes at one go. some ah Some were very good. And the one, it's because we're talking about Shah, I thought Chow came on. He looks really good.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got a fantastic touch.
00:14:23
Michael
Excellent, wasn't he?
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not somebody who just puts his laces through and boots it up into the opposition half to make sure things are safe. He's doing Cruyff turns and all sorts to be able to stay in control, finding a really good pass.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he looks a fabulous addition. I want to see a bit more of him, to be honest. However, what I was disappointed to see was that our Our most ah danger man, Alanga, was taken off and replaced by Jacob Murphy.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing against Jacob Murphy. He's a very good player. And in fact, it's him who plays a fantastic early ball across for us to score our goal in the 90th minute. But with Alanga off, we kind of seemed to take our foot off the gas.
00:15:01
Michael
Yep.
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we didn't have that pace up front anymore. Yeah.
00:15:12
Michael
Absolutely.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joe Linton was already booked. Maybe Eddie thought he was going to get another one. I don't know. But Willock coming on for Joe Willock. so Sorry, Willock coming on for joe lint Joe Linton is a standard sort of a swap.
00:15:23
Michael
Okay.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But one that was um I was disappointed with again because that's some of the aggression gone.
00:15:27
Michael
Yeah.
00:15:30
Michael
You don't like to see it really, do you?
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. and um And which one I missed? Oh, this is when Barnes comes off.
00:15:40
Michael
For Nick Vultomata, yeah.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gordon switches to the left. and Walter Marder comes on to play up front. What did you think? I mean, just do a just do a mini review of those four substitute performances.
00:15:54
Michael
Yeah, I think Volta Mata comes on for Barnes, doesn't really do too much. You can't expect too much of him in a game like that. ah Joe Willick comes on for Joe Linton. I thought Joe Linton was poor.
00:16:05
Michael
Joe Willick, probably about the same standard. Malik Chiao, as you mentioned, I genuinely thought there was times where we were in the final third.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:16:14
Michael
The ball was going to Malik Chiao. He was doing little turns, and I was like, we've got the Willick back of twenty twenty two twenty three and they're like... That's Malik Chow. Wow. That's our centre-back doing that.
00:16:24
Michael
That's brilliant. um Yeah, he came on for Fabian Scher. Scher, I wish, had gone off 10 minutes earlier just so we didn't have the question of, oh, was it the concussion that sort of made him step back?
00:16:36
Michael
He was still excellent throughout the entire game. And then Murphy comes on. I agree, Alanga shouldn't have come off. um He was the best player in the first half. He was a bit quieter in the second, but I think you could really see, even before the second goal, the stuffing had kind of been knocked out of us a little bit and the subs didn't really have the impact that we thought they would.
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
know No, i was sad I was hoping because the Barcelona, get the right way around, left back, was that Martin that was marking Alanga?
Individual Performances and Reflections
00:17:08
Michael
Yes.
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'd already been booked and and he he looked like an accident waiting to happen whenever Alanga got a chance to run at him.
00:17:16
Michael
Yeah, 100%.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so he breathed a huge sigh of relief when Alanga went off, I'm sure.
00:17:16
Michael
Yeah.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so yes, I agree. Alanga going off was disappointing, although Murphy came on and, and with Trippier getting bad cramp and having to be replaced by Bottman, we reverted to three centre-halves and Murphy ended up as as a wingback.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, which which was a strange move, I suppose, needs must if Trippier couldn't continue because it sort of took the edge off our pacey attack.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I guess that had already been taken off with having Valtimada sitting up there as well. um I thought Valtimada showed some good touches.
00:17:56
Michael
Yeah, 100%. I agree.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
He certainly has a really nice little layoff in the middle of that really super slick move that ends up in the goal.
00:17:59
Michael
Yeah.
00:18:05
Michael
Yeah.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um he's ah He's in there laying a nice and nice ball off. am
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chau was brilliant. Murphy was all right. Willock, to me, i thought there were some flashes there of the way he used to carry the ball forward that looked really encouraging.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But once or twice, it was a bit like a but like a comedian who was telling a joke and got to the end then forgot the punchline because it just to out and it gave the ball away.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, both times he gave the ball away, it was turned over so quickly that Barcelona were really very threatening afterwards and you can't do that.
00:18:34
Michael
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bruno started doing that a little bit as well, which is a nasty habit I think he's developing over the last few games um of giving a goal away in silly places.
00:18:44
Michael
yeah
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, you know, we pushed. The crowd went very, very quiet. You can understand that. They'd had the stuffing knocked out of them. And then we scored this fabulous goal, which I'm not going to try and describe how many people were involved in it, but it was all one-touch stuff with a lovely ball across, going at the far post.
00:19:01
Michael
yeah
00:19:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've to see it. to believe it's Newcastle and not Barcelona that you're watching.
00:19:13
Michael
but
00:19:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as we talked about it, Barcelona are magnificent, aren't they? They never really looked under any pressure to see out for a 2-1 win.
00:19:20
Michael
Truly.
00:19:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, they have they forced a few corners.
00:19:25
Michael
No.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pope made one fabulous save from ere an Olmo shot. um So Barcelona really looked more like scoring and injury time than we did.
00:19:37
Michael
Yeah, 100%.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But I think having decided last night that that was a free hit. um' I think 2-1 is a very respectable scoreline against Barcelona.
00:19:48
Michael
Yeah.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I think we've got a number of very positive things to take out of this game. Certainly looking forward to Bournemouth. And perhaps after we've heard from Bindipa Jesse telling us about Zencastr, we can start picking out some of the positives.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Take it away, Jessie. All right.
00:20:46
Michael
I'm sorry, but why do Scousers never... Well, why do Liverpool fans never have a Scouse accent?
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know i was going to ask if you thought that actually was Jesse because I don't recognise that voice I've been on a podcast with Jesse a few times but I don't think Scousers go Zencastr if I'm honest anyway whoever that was well done thank you very much for using the Queen's English and not Scous to tell us all about Zencastr
00:21:04
Michael
No. Absolutely not.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So,
00:21:14
Michael
ah
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think there were a number of positives. I thought Nick Pope was a positive performance. Working through the team, he made some good saves. don't think less He had no chance with either of the goals, to be fair.
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
al I thought that Dan Byrne was excellent again. I thought Tino was excellent again. Tonani was everywhere. um Who else is worth a special mention?
00:21:28
Michael
Mm-hmm.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Malek Chow coming on.
00:21:43
Michael
oh
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Ben Botman coming on, actually. Both looked fit. Both looked assured. Both looked confident. um They were my highlights. What about you, Michael?
00:21:56
Michael
I'm actually going to start with maybe a bit more of a counter-argument to Tonali. I thought his passing today was really poor. I thought he was one of those that was trying...
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:22:08
Michael
You know when you can clearly see players are trying to force it and they think they're doing they're trying to do a bit too much?
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:14
Michael
That was Tonali all over for me. I do agree. he was Defensively, he was all over the pitch.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:22:20
Michael
Defensively, I was very impressed. um I thought Tonali and Bruno today... showed the reason why they're at Newcastle and not at Barcelona. And I know that's very, very harsh from me, but every time we got the ball, it was, I've got to be quick and I've got to try and get it somewhere. I've got to make it happen myself.
00:22:40
Michael
While at Barcelona... Pedri, Frankie de Jong, Rafinha, Rashford, all of them just had that bit of quality to go, we're just going to work it together, we're going to get it forward, and we're going to do this with pace, precision.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:22:53
Michael
and you know They weren't great today, they weren't their usual standards, but I think we nullified them a bit to that. But I think... When you look at De Jong and Pedri against Tonali and Bruno, there was there was levels today. And it's usually what we say the other way whenever we play anyone in the Premier League.
00:23:11
Michael
So that just tells you how a good Pedri and De Jong are.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i I agree they were superb. I know Bruno picked Pedri out as one of his the best players in the world, didn't he, in the pre-match chat?
00:23:22
Michael
Yeah.
00:23:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he is. um I think you're being harsh on Tonali because I read these stats about it's the creative midfielders who've got the poorer pass completion rates because they're trying something all of the time.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, is that forcing it? Just because you're trying to do something? There's a fine line there. And maybe he is guilty of that some of the time. But I think i think ah that other times you need him to try and do that.
00:23:47
Michael
Yeah.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So we'll have to agree to differ on Tonali. I thought he was stiller ah still a great performance for him. and Still an encouraging performance for him that he was in form. And he kept going right till the end. It's his shot right at the end, which would have... Which if it had been five yards either side, come through those all those legs straight into the goalkeeper's arms,
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:24:14
Michael
yeah
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
we might have got an unlikely to come out of it with an unlikely two-all draw.
Future Strategies and Opposition Analysis
00:24:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, is there stuff there that we could take him into Bournemouth?
00:24:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because obviously Gordon is still suspended for the Bournemouth game.
00:24:28
Michael
Yeah.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And you'd assume that would mean Volta Marder would start at number nine. But is there any ah are there any alternatives to that?
00:24:36
Michael
Yeah. I think for me,
00:24:41
Michael
I don't think there's an alternative, but what I think we can see is that Andoni Uriola bases his style of play.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:24:48
Michael
He did it real Valicano on sort of that tiki-taka Barca and then going, you know what? We're just going to launch it down to the wings.
00:24:59
Michael
but We can pass it around the back, but we we know as soon as those two wingers get the ball forward, ah get beyond the man, we can launch it. They play more long balls. They're more direct than any other team.
00:25:11
Michael
um And I think we saw that a little bit today with Barcelona as well. You'll notice there's a lot of long passes because they overload the middle of the park and then Rashford or a Rafinha will just stay wide.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
00:25:24
Michael
And then all of a sudden the defender's looking over their shoulder and going, of course he's there. It's the only place I haven't looked. um And it's it's one of those where Bournemouth do that excellently, whether it's Semenyo at the minute, it's Tavernier on the other side, um formerly of Middlesbrough, surprisingly.
00:25:43
Michael
But when it's when it was Cliver as well against us, or even Evan Nielsen, or every single one of them was brilliant at that. And it's sort of based on that more direct version of the Spanish sort of tiki-taka, which I think we saw today, there wasn't any just pass, pass, pass, pass without much penetration.
00:26:02
Michael
It was pass, right, this ah there's someone making a run on the right, let's drive it through.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and wear some There were some fabulous long balls. um I think that was largely mopped up by Rashford not being very good in the first half and Trippier dealing with him.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:26:20
Michael
yeah
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Bern and Livramento on the other side being being the match of ah the wingers coming at them. Thank goodness Laminia Mow wasn't playing, I suppose, because Rafinha was quite quiet.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also, we were wrong, weren't we? Because Lewandowski did start his first game of the season ah and and looked.
00:26:39
Michael
Yeah, it's a weird one. I would be starting someone for the first game of the season in this game.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if he looked unfit or if he's just looking 36 now. What do you think?
00:26:48
Michael
Yeah, for me, i wouldn't have... I mean, I'm not Hansi Flick. He knows a lot more about football than I do, and he sees Lewandowski a lot more than I do.
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:55
Michael
But ah for me, yeah i don't start a striker in his first game of the season when he's coming back from a bit of an injury.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Okay.
00:27:03
Michael
against a Newcastle side who you know are going to be putting tackles in left, right and centre. But I think one of the things that did work quite well for them was that when we hit on the hit on the break, they had someone that they could still just launch the ball towards and he would be able to hold it up well. um That which he did very well.
00:27:22
Michael
um that You don't get that with Ferran Torres, although he's brilliant with the ball at his feet. I thought with that though, on Lewandowski, thought Fabian Shear marshalled him fantastically in that first half. And yes, he is, what did you say, 36?
00:27:38
Michael
Something like that. um
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
36, yeah.
00:27:41
Michael
Yeah, so he is getting on, but so is Fabian Shear. And to be able to you know keep Lewandowski quiet, just a credit to how good our defence can be.
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I lived in Poland, do you remember? but um
00:27:54
Michael
Yes.
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
six Up to six years ago. So that was right when Lewandowski was... i mean, he's still a god there now, isn't he?
00:28:00
Michael
50 goals a season in that. but
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was so he was a real star there and everybody loved him. I remember him scoring when Poland beat Germany for the very, very first time. And you could hear the cheers coming from the National Stadium two miles away because it was Lewandowski.
00:28:15
Michael
Wow.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And his wife. His wife is ah is a lovely tights and underwear model. She's all over the place.
00:28:26
Michael
Right.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
There go.
00:28:27
Michael
but
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Little insight into one of my...
00:28:29
Michael
I did not know that.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, what I didn't know, which I heard on the commentary, is Lewandowski's got 105 Champions League goals, third only behind Messi and Ronaldo.
00:28:41
Michael
Let's see Ronaldo.
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't know that, but I mean, he's prolific.
00:28:44
Michael
Mental.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a prolific.
00:28:46
Michael
I think he scored more against English opposition than any other opposition as well. I think that was also said. a might and That might not be 100% true, but I'm pretty sure id that's what I'd heard.
00:28:57
Michael
And Newcastle still hasn't scored against us. way So who won really?
00:29:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:03
Michael
hu
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that must be it The moral victory. On Lewandowski, was it something intervened?
00:29:07
Michael
Yeah.
00:29:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
he was He was on his way to Blackburn as a young man.
00:29:17
Michael
Really?
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yes, the terms were agreed and he was on his way. And something happened. Oh, it was the volcano stopped his flight from coming.
00:29:29
Michael
The Iceland one.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he missed. Yes. So he missed signing for Blackburn and God, just think if he'd done that, he would have been retired within 18 months instead of which, instead of which he ended up at, uh, I don't know where he went to.
00:29:39
Michael
Yeah, would have been the new Rocky Santa Cruz.
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably he was at, was it Bayern Munich? He scored all those goals for.
00:29:49
Michael
Yes.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that was where he ended up going. um
00:29:54
Michael
Mansell.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Instead of Blackburn. So sadly, they still dream of having another Shearer. And it's not him. were Waffling on now, aren't we?
Final Thoughts and Optimism for Future Matches
00:30:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, I'll give Newcastle a 7 out of 10 for the performance.
00:30:04
Michael
Speak for yourself.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a disappointing result. i thought the performance was good. I enjoyed the match. I don't think anyone had a stinker. um
00:30:16
Michael
No. No degree.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is Which is always good. Which is it is at least two players better than all the other games we've watched. um And I thought, you know... I think they'll buoyed by their performance to go into a really tough away game against Bournemouth.
00:30:32
Michael
yeah
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Do you take those positives for that game, Michael?
00:30:36
Michael
100%. think anytime you play Barcelona and you're still in it, for the last kick of the game, you can take positives from that game. um They're a great side. And unfortunately on this day, Newcastle just didn't take their chances. That's it. We could have scored three against Barcelona.
00:30:54
Michael
Bournemouth, as good as they are, they aren't Barcelona. So if we can score three, almost score three against Barcelona, you know, you'd like to think we can take positives into Bournemouth who normally batter us.
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, they're not.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Well, let's look let's forget that who normally batter us. We'll delete that and just leave the last sentence of the podcast as we could take a positives into the game against Bournemouth on Sunday.
00:31:16
Michael
Nah, can't be positive.
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thanks for joining me to look at that, Michael. We're not too down, are we? Even though we've lost our opening game of the Champions League.
00:31:28
Michael
no
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
PSG did that last year and they ended up winning a competition.
00:31:34
Michael
Bring it on.