At the end of the day, Newcastle showed more fight and intensity despite 3 games a week and an injury crisis than we did. Their distinct gameplan was to attack our left back, to play long balls over the top. It was also to disrupt our shape and solidity and it worked in part due to the extreme lack of discipline shown by our players. We made it far too easy for them. That was one of the worst 2nd halves I can remember us playing and we were lucky to only have one player sent off. So much stupidity on our part everywhere you looked.
Btw, our former Academy POTY right back playing extremely well out of position at LB whilst our £64 million LB had another shameful performance was especially noticeable and depressing.
23 years old, over 150 professional games played, and he's taking lessons from something that shouldn't be happening whatsoever after about 50 professional games. The way he totally loses his composure when frustration creeps in is his biggest flaw aside from staying fit. It's like he doesn't fully understand just how important he is as a player. I use to joke that our entire attack flows through him because he's a literal game changer but then the more he played the more that joke became a fact of life. So, sure, Malo Gusto playing next week isn't necessarily a bad thing but it's clear how much Reece ups the levels when he actually plays.