ToonForum - Newcastle United Forum

well over the past 5 games Jones erm i mean bruce has been playing a more pressing and attacking style and system (4-3-1-2). If we had done this from the start of the season where do you think we would be in the league?

Nowhere near 17th.. maybe comfortably in mid-table (13th - 11th).. ?

Matches against Brighton, Fulham, West Brom, etc we probably would have picked up 3 points instead of losing/drawing so could have had 30 points by now if Jones was here at the start of the season.

This is just and if and but thing, it serves no purpose to anything. If Brighton hadn't beat Liverpool, if Sheffield hadn't beat Man U. If we hadn't beat Everton, twice. It serves no purpose.

Bloody hell, we're allowed a hypothetical...

Colly wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 9:51 pm Bloody hell, we're allowed a hypothetical...

Fair point

If my aunty had bollocks, she'd be my uncle.

I think we'd be slightly higher but then again who's to say it would work long term? The game that stands out for me is the Sheffield United game, if we pressed them and tried to play we win that easily. Instead we just folded with a bad, ultra defensive line up.

I'm not a fan of hypotheticals, but my general feeling is that we play better when we take a more offensive approach, and particularly when we press further up the pitch. My guess is that we'd be several places higher, 14th or 15th maybe.

I'm also of the opinion that our defenders, as a group, are not good enough to be tasked with the ultra-defensive tactics we employ so often. And by that I really mean our fullbacks, our centre backs are pretty decent.

Donkey Toon wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:53 pm I'm not a fan of hypotheticals, but my general feeling is that we play better when we take a more offensive approach, and particularly when we press further up the pitch. My guess is that we'd be several places higher, 14th or 15th maybe.

I'm also of the opinion that our defenders, as a group, are not good enough to be tasked with the ultra-defensive tactics we employ so often. And by that I really mean our fullbacks, our centre backs are pretty decent.

Completely agree with your second point, and have been harping on this for years. We've been relying on a middling defence for years playing an ultra-conservative approach, that allows so many chances it's inevitable that one or several of our defenders will eventually make mistakes. And even our CBs, who are overall better than our FBs, are the type to occasionally switch off or make a gaffe, and it's asking for it when conceding 70% possession and sitting deep.

CIH wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 9:46 pm This is just and if and but thing, it serves no purpose to anything. If Brighton hadn't beat Liverpool, if Sheffield hadn't beat Man U. If we hadn't beat Everton, twice. It serves no purpose.

jeeze sorry! i was just thinking hypothetical. if you have a problem with the question then dont reply lol


I think we would of beaten fulham, shef united and brighton which would be an extra 7 points = around 14th

Might have been able to beat Brentford reserves in the league cup too...

Bodacious Benny wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:03 am Might have been able to beat Brentford reserves in the league cup too...

oh god forgot about that.......thanks lol