Laughable Chimp

I don't know much about Newcastle, but I don't think their system intentionally works in such a way that their front 3 isn't supposed to score, that seems insane to me. Pretty sure they are in fact supposed to score they just aren't able to for whatever reason.

First of all, I said Firmino is not relied on to be the main goalscorer for his team, not that he isn't relied to score goals at all. Secondly, are you joking me? So are we not supposed to rely on Wesley as a goalscorer then? Well he certainly isn't really providing the asists either unless you think 1 assist in 14 games is acceptable for a "non-goal scoring forward", so why the **** are we playing him on the field for then?

Yes? He is still relied on to be the main goalscorer of our team and the fact that we're the 6th highest scorers in the league doesn't change that. If he's supposed to be like Firmino then I would expect more assists to his game as well but that's not really there either. **** hell, even his one assist that he's had to his name isn't some great pass either. Its a basic pass to Luiz outside of the box who proceeds to curl it into the top corner.

Firmino's also assissted 2 more and is not relied on to be the main goal scorer for his team. Wesley is.

Dunno, but they do go more in detail than that on aerial duels. He's had 9 offensive aerial duels, won 2 and lost 7 of them.

I mean, they could both also technically both be earning too much in relation to their contribution for us. One being worse doesn't automatically mean the other one's good. And no, I'm not actually saying that's he shouldn't be earning that much for us. Impossible to say without knowing how good he'll become for us eventually.

Another one of those games for Trez where he's a hard worker, but ultimately doesn't contrubute a whole lot. He does seem to showcasing that he has a crackign shot more often though. To be frank, I don't think he has that much of a footballing brain. Everything is so direct and simple with him and at this level you can't do that unless you have insane levels of pace. There was no guile or trickery with him a lot of the time, he's just a runner who runs with balls and at balls and hopes for the best. Can't ever expect him to beat his man unless he gets a bit lucky. El Ghazi is like the opposite of him bigger, stronger than Trez and around similarly fast, better finisher, more guile, more precision and trickery but lacks the hard work that Trez has and as a result is more inconsistent than him. But still, and on form El Ghazi is vastly superior to what I've seen from the best of Trez.

Didn't particularly notice him at any point of the game but Konsa got a 5.9 rating from whoscored at full time, the lowest of all the players on the pitch. Judging from just that, I think bringing Engels back next week is probably the better option.

That missed sitter though....I think that cancels out his contribution on the finishing front this game. The rest of his game, good as usual. I thought he was much better in the first half though. The fact that had to foul him so much in that first half really highlights this.

What are you talking about? He subbed in Lansbury at the 81st minute. The Trez sub he was forced to do so.

Well us winning that point had nothing to do with his subs this game mind you. Just thought he could've done much better in that department this game, perhaps even allowing us to win the game.

Subs, do you understand them Smith.

He tried to dribble it out to the side 3 times I counted instead of just passing it straight to the keeper. The first one led to the corner which let to the goal. The second one he just barely got off successfully and the third one led to a throw in for them. At this point I'm starting to think that these are specific orders he's been given by Smith for some reason. There is no benefit to him doing these dribbles, just pass to the keeper ffs.

In before the "Wesley was playing well because he created space for other attackers" brigade to come in.

Ok its happened again. Why is Mings refusing to pass the ball to Heaton when he's under pressure and instead always tries to dribble it? I think Smith told him to do this

I take back everything I said about Mings. Bloody love the man

Mings almost does it again. PASS IT TO THE KEEPER FFS

Saves us 3 times a match? Yeah, no.

Time to bench Mings. I'm sorry, but I'm sure we can survive without super defender Tyrone Mings who is somehow clearly our best defender despite being directly responsible for an unnacceptable amount of our goals conceded. Jesus, imagine if Taylor made any mistakes per 90 as MIngs does.

Norwich really are a joy to watch on the attack

You'd think that but pretty sure we're the only team in the bottom 10 who have not picked up any points from the top 6 of the previous season.

Judging by how Norwich have played, I wouldn't be surprised if they shoot themselves in the foot again.

I feel bad for Norwich fans lol. What a rollercoaster of emotions

How many assists the player is expected to have from the chances they created I guess. Most of Elmo's came from the Bournemouth game where several of his crosses led to attempts on goal.

I don't think the clear and obvious error rule applies for handball in the build up to a goal considering how hard it is to spot handballs in the build up towards a goal sometimes, yet we've been seeing quite a few of those be disallowed by VAR even when in these cases, it would've been hard for the ref to spot. And imo, it was an obvious handball from a slowed down perspective and from a better camera angle. Not obvious to the referee of course but I think its pretty blatant from certain perspectives.