Newcastle’s approach to getting beat by Chelsea was pathetic.
Think I’m wrong? Ok, give me some actual evidence that it was correct. Find some and comment on this article below.
Here’s mine:
April 2018:
Newcastle 3-0 Chelsea. Newcastle set up in there usual formation of 4-4-2 and hammer Chelsea with a team full of their first team regulars.
The Newcastle team available to Rafa on Sunday had better players than the one last season. Shelvey was the only significant loss if his injury was actually real. We all know Lascelles’ wasn’t.
Last 5 PL matches at SJP:
Newcastle 3-0 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-1 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea
Newcastle 3-2 Chelsea
More evidence? Ok. Chelsea under Sarri are only two games in and are trying to find their feet under his way of playing and philosophy.
Against Arsenal they were exposed defensively time and time and time again. Newcastle are capable of opening them up in the same way on their own pitch.
As soon as we went 1-0 down, Rafa suddenly switched his formation to 4-4-2 and we scored. Funny that. So, basically, Rafa wanted a 0-0 draw and thought we could hold out sitting back for 90 mins?
If your evidence is how much the Newcastle team cost compared to Chelsea, then explain how that made any difference in the previous 5 matches in the PL at SJP?
For Rafa Benitez to ignore all of the above and assume Chelsea are such a high-quality outfit that will no doubt whatsoever tear his team apart if he were to set up in the same manner he did in April, is seriously questionable.
As a Newcastle fan, I don’t like my team under any circumstances reducing itself to such defeatist pathetic tactics. But if we are up against Man City or Barcelona (one day) then I can accept it.
This was unacceptable.
The fact we lost leaves a very sour taste in the back of the throat.
If the next mid-table type team play Chelsea at home and beat them convincingly, it should embarrass Mr Benitez.
The Ginger Pirlo
The Ginger Pirlo 