We're Going To Play Hard For Four Quarters Two Halves

Maybe the Magpies need Ted Lasso to provide some motivation.  They certainly didn't play hard in the first half against Burnley.  Possibly the most incompetent display of football this season.  Newcastle were deservedly down 0-1 at half time.  So Pardew presumably reads them the riot act in the lockerroom, makes two substitutions (Cabella for Perez and Taylor for Williamson) to start the second half and they level the match at 48 minutes (with Cisse returning in his role as "The Equalizer").  Alas, they could do no more, though they were the dominant side for the last 45 minutes. 

So Newcastle are the best second half team in the league, going from 11 points at halftime to 20 points at the final whistle.  Here's my question.  Do we credit Pardew with being a great manager for being able to talk to his team and to find the right personnel adjustments?  Or do we fault him for lousy game preparation, noting that Newcastle have been outscored in the first 30 minutes by 0 goals to 6 goals?  I suppose both is a possible response.

Somewhat inclined to give the whole side a pass for Tuesday as the line up was rather unsettled.  The two Magpies with the highest work rates - Sissoko and Colback - were both suspended for the match.  Krul was already out but there was concern that his backup - Rob Elliott - would be unavailable as his wife was possibly going to give birth at match time.  Coloccini was also still injured.  Unfortunately, that should have been a chance for three points and they had to scramble to get the one.  Worse, the December fixtures don't look all that inviting.  If Newcastle are still in the top half of the table on New Year's Day, it will have been a good month.


Limited Viewing

That's the bad thing about a full mid-week schedule (But mid-week games are so wonderful when you work from home on Wednesdays) - I only saw two other matches.  Aston Villa was pushed around for 90 minutes plus stoppage time but it didn't matter because of 15 seconds of Benteke's brilliance, which is this week's YouTubeableMoment.  The 1-0 win and the three points were big for the Villans (and the Benteke goal gives me actual hope for the future).  Tottenham faced Chelsea in a London Derby that has historically never gone well for Spurs and this was no exception.  Testimony to the Blues depth, leading scorer Diego Costa was out (one game suspension) but his two replacements (Drogba, then Remy) tallied one each.  Add in Hazard's opener at 19 minutes and you have Tottenham losing 3-0 and still looking for their first win at Stamford Bridge since I could still run a sub-5:00 mile.

Other news - Aguero got 2, Man City got 4 and things weren't too bright at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland went down 1-4.  Man United didn't look great, at least according to their manager, but got their three points against Stoke.  Everton had to settle for a draw with Hull, at home no less.  Arsenal helped Southampton flunk the second stage of their three part test with a late goal from Sanchez; the Saints have lost two in a row to quality opposition and now face Man United on Monday.

Liverpool took their time against lowly Leicester, even conceding an early own goal (shot off the post rebounds off the keeper – feels like a harsh own goal).  Eventually they established control over the game and finished it out playing up a man for 30 minutes.  West Ham also conceded early, but managed to take a halftime lead and hold on for the win over West Brom. While watching these matches, I noticed that my brain has not adjusted to the concept of relegation yet.  I cheer for the underdog by default, always forgetting that bottom table teams earning points is actually very bad for my personal rooting interest.  It feels weird to hope the best teams keep winning, but I guess that comes with the territory when your team is kinda crappy.

Pseudo Dives

During these last two rounds of matches, I noticed a surprising, but pleasant, trend in refereeing decisions.  Not once, but twice, were players given a yellow card for a handball while protesting for a foul.  We see it all the time in the professional game -  player gets fouled (or not), flops to the ground, and righteously grabs the ball to stop play.  It is though the player is just daring the referee to allow the perceived injustices to go unpunished.  Well this weekend, the referees fought back by brandishing the yellow and hopefully sending a message – “You play the game, we call the fouls."  While not quite bookings for simulation, these calls are equally satisfying and produce delightfully incredulous faces from the players. 

Proper Technique

Pictured left, Dennis and Mikey demonstrate flawless EPL viewing skills.  You should  definitely try this at home.  Dennis is the one not begging for a belly rub, at least not shamelessly. Neither is wearing the Aston Villa scarf - though I think I see it behind Mikey -  so we must conclude they are not watching the Villans.


Cyber Gunners Vanquished

Not a new action flick or new video game, just the results from Football Manager.  Chester held on for a 1-0 win over Arsenal, who aren't quite as good in Football Manager as in real life.  I had planned to rest several regulars since it was a midweek match and we were facing Liverpool on Saturday but at the last minute decided the Arsenal match was the more winnable one.  That move paid off, especially when one day later, the Liverpool match was postponed because of too many players being away on international duty.  The next three matches are against the bottom three sides so I will probably be using the "Don't get complacent" pep talk.


Donovan Finale

Win or lose, Sunday's MLS final will be Landon Donovan's last game.  Not a big fan of either the Galaxy or the Revolution so my appreciation of Landon Donovan's career is likely enough for me to pull for LA.  That's on Sunday at 3 pm on ESPN.

EPL has a full slate, starting off with Newcastle-Chelsea at 7:45 Saturday on NBCSN (no ExtraTime this week!).  The Magpies get several players back but this looks like a struggle - would gladly take a draw.  Aston Villa have an eminently winnable home match against Leicester - another chance for the Villans to put some distance between themselves and the relegation candidates (also on NBCSN, not ExtraTime).  Man City hosting Everton is the NBC match at 12:30 on Saturday - things don't seem to get any easier for the Toffees right now.  Tottenham will hope to right the ship with a home match against Rebecca Lowe's Crystal Palace while Arsenal travel to Stoke City.  Monday's match looks pretty good too - Southampton hosting Man United.

Final group stage matches for the Champions League are Tuesday and Wednesday.  With 11 berths to the knockout rounds already clinched (am I to understand that several Spanish sides are in that number?), another 11 teams are vying for the five remaining spots.  To this Anglophile eye, the Manchester City - Roma match has the most appeal; the Citizens advance with a win as long as CSKA Moscow don't beat Bayern.  Liverpool can also advance with a win over Basel.  Chelsea and Arsenal have already locked up spots in the knockout rounds.

In short, you have plenty of choices over the next five days.