Yep, mm hm. I hate being right. Effing idiot Steve Bruce REALLY set the team up for failure. He features MUTO, of all people, under the guise of rotation, in reality trying to "feature" him to sell in the January window. If you want to rotate, you don't start Lejeune again, forcing him to play so many games in the matter of a week after JUST coming back from injury. Two huge mistakes from him to gift two goals--from a player who SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING. Manquillo is struggling with injury, which came from the coach's own mouth--so why didn't he get more of a rest instead of being ROTATED in? Poof, injury replacement. The coach says Schar is struggling with injury, and he's played multiple games in the space of a week. Rotation? Haha, don't be silly! Whoopsie, after 3 subs, Schar is injured, so they play the WHOLE 2nd half with 10 men! Bwahahaha!
Nothing could be done about Shelvey's injury. No blame there. Willems? He's gotten some off time, so the injury is unfortunate. But damn, was that a team set up for absolute and abject failure. Guess what? THEY FAILED! Now, Newcastle are in the midst of an injury crisis. In the face of that, perhaps COACH and CHANGE TACTICS and FORMATION. Or at least promote some younger players into the lineup as cover--Watts was ready. Nah, let's just throw the injured players into the meat grinder again LOLOLOL Oh, you have to laugh at Bruce's idiocy, or you'll cry.
Newcastle got where they are in the table with against the run of play smash and grab wins over terrible teams they should have been beating--or at least playing well against--anyway. Unfortunately, Bruce's lack of ideas and lack of nous is coming home to roost.
And don't even get me started on Joelinton. a 40 million center forward 1-on-1 with the keeper? Nah, why should I expect him to actually score there. Wide open shot in the opponent's box? Why should I expect him to do anything but scuff the shot? What a fecking waste. All this "Bruce is the best" bullcrap from the media, how much "better" he is than Benitez. Well, Benitez didn't want Joelinton, but he did want money to spend to make the team better. With Miggie, whom Benitez fought for and got at the twilight of his spell in charge, he at least gives you other aspects to his game. Joelinton? Hold up play? Kicks or heads it out of bounds or right to the other team, almost every single time. Can't score to save his life. Plays a bit better as a wide man, but doesn't have the pace or tricks to make it truly effective. We'd be lucky to sell him for 10 million.
I guess I got myself started on Joelinton lol Okay, rant over. For now.