Voting was locked for this match at midnight on Sunday 5th February but you may still add your mini match reports. Note that members and non-members alike were able to vote.

Your Newcastle United v Southampton Match Reports

darthvader added 08:27 - Feb 1 We lost this game and hour before kick off, the team sheet saw to that
1

wibbersda added 08:51 - Feb 1 The game was lost in the first leg. The team seemed balanced and other than their 20-minute onslaught, which any opposition would have struggled with, I thought we gave it a good go, and was a great game. Only 2-1 and against "Moneybags" in that Cauldron was respectable. Good Luck to NU I hope they smash the nasty b'tard of the North.
5

kristianJ added 09:22 - Feb 1 5 at the back didn’t work. It just meant that our midfield was overrun by theirs and gifted them possession. They exploited our unfamiliarity with the system and the gaps between the 3 centre backs and full backs. In the first half Bree provided virtually no protection to Lyanco, who struggled with the pace of their forwards. We looked a lot better in the 2nd half with a back 4 and Lavia in central midfield, however the tie had been lost by this point. It was strange to see Jones abandon his recent tactical switch of playing JWP as a number 10 as he looks our biggest goal threat.

6

smartjoe added 09:26 - Feb 1 We rate the players, the ref and the match. The important omission is the rating we should give to the manager. He is the one who really has the most influence on the match result. Yesterday his team selection was ridiculous. His tactics were stupid......until forced into changes by events. My rating for our manager yesterday would be a generous score of 2. He was responsible for vertually gifting Newcastle the game. He is a total clown.

2

Boris1977 added 09:38 - Feb 1 Looking at the positives - Jones has managed to reduce the scoreline of our defeats if not the inevitably of them, but has the same obsessions as Ralph of trying to be 'clever' and playing 5 at the back, leaving our brilliant LB on the bench and playing our best available RB at LB. Like Ralph he's managed to run one of best players into the ground and to injury. Our best tactical manager over the past few years have been circumstances rather than the well-paid managers. Let's see what the new players add to the team, but I can't share the blind optimism of some around here. COYRs

4

SWH1748 added 09:47 - Feb 1 Glaring chances missed in both legs sum it up. Lost both by one goal when both could of easily been draws.
4

I_would added 11:30 - Feb 1 Right starting eleven - 2 Wrong starting eleven - 1
0

Flamingbankers added 12:07 - Feb 1 I thought we murdered them in the second half without the end product and Saints commentary didn't do us justice, they seem to spend most of the game not commentating on what was actually happening on the pitch - bring back Brian Moore. So I'm not down hearted, in fact I'm proud of the lads for the second half performance. We just didn't have the midfield thrust especially in the first half. We grew into the game but after the two quick sloppy goals it was all over and Newcastle largely closed up shop - which they do tremendously well. You do have to wonder how many brain cells NJ has, and whether he'll ever learn, after: beating man City but playing a consistently failing formation; putting Bree (for his first game) and Bednarek (who hasn't played a full Premiership game in months) in; and leaving out Perraud, Caleta Car and Lavia. NJ seems to have an arrogant, obstinate streak in him that says I always know best disregarding anything that has happened. Even with the new transfers this stupid attitude could lead to relegation. But at least we'll all know he'll be to blame because I don't think we can now not doubt the owners after their excellent efforts albeit a year too late. Time's running out because we have to win matches. NB. Unfortunately Charley went AWOL last night and Orsic stayed sat on the bench. Looking for to seeing all the new lads get game time only wish there was a decent reserve team and league for them to get purposeful practice.

6

SanMarco added 12:13 - Feb 1 Ridiculous starting line-up lost us any chance of playing on Saudi anxieties. We simply handed them it with the passing (and falling over) in the first 20 mins. Even then, just like the first leg, there was a key chance at a vital stage that fell to one of the people we pay handsomely to score goals. 2-2 with 20 mins ago would have got the Saudis really twitching
4

SaintPaulVW added 13:34 - Feb 1 I don't think it was really the place to tinker with the back 5 in the second leg of a semi final. Playing Bree straight away seemed bonkers. However, our main problem was that no one seemed able to make a pass. Tie over after 20 minutes unfortunately.
5

codge added 13:49 - Feb 1 Can we at least learn to cut out passes to the opposition.
4

AmericanSaint added 16:23 - Feb 1 Reading the comments and agree with all who said NJ starting picks were off. Diallo should not have started and Roman should have. NJ stubbornness to this back 3 is going to be our down fall. We were playing away in a hostile environment and should have started with a 4-4-2. His subs were badly done (except KWP who had a awful game). One note, Salisu was at fault for turning the ball over more than 8 times, with 3 of them passing the ball out of play with his left foot. He is LEFT footed. The ref was horrible again. Gameraes should have seen two yellows way before that horrible tackle on Endozie. At halftime, we hade 10 fouls and they had 2????? The refs in the Prem are just getting worse as they have not fear of not being selected for games. Final note, if AA scores, then the final minutes would have caused NU to panic and we could have maybe nicked it.

0

YosemiteSaint added 17:21 - Feb 1 Playing five at the back may energize the wings. But, especially with our players, it guarantees errant centering passes to midfielders who are overrun in the middle of the park. Check our goals against and you'll see the same pattern over and over.
2

DPeps added 18:03 - Feb 1 Not sure I agree with the negativity towards Diallo. by contrast, Alcaraz looked like he thought he was playing for the Saudis, there were that many misplaced passes. Hopefully just a bad performance as he's looked decent
0

Block8 added 18:42 - Feb 1 A game that we may have had a bit more success with if we had started with a back 4. When we play 3 CB's we weaken our midfield as our FB's are neither defenders or wing backs. Also there is no pace at all in our CB's so quick turn overs kill us! Saying that we played reasonably well, apart from the first few minutes & the atmosphere up here was electric. Now we really need to sort out a style that we can play with consistency and move up the table. COYR

2