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Pervasive pessimism greeted the idea of Newcastle United (19th in the form table) v. Liverpool (6th in the same) the match chosen to feature on Monday Night Football this week. Perhaps the best news regarding this high-profile time slot relative to the performance ultimately put in by the team tonight is that now, instead of talking about how fickle we supporters of this non-entity club are or how we have unrealistic expectations, people will understand.
They will understand that our one selectable center back in our senior squad is terrible. He passed to Joe Allen in a goalmouth scramble for Liverpool's second goal. He was demolished in the air by Dejan Loveren. He was poor positionally. But he can hoof a great ball!
They will understand that for as much as Ryan Taylor does care (and he does) having to play him instead of Daryl Janmaat at right back is three steps in the wrong direction.
They will understand that Vurnon Anita is a poor midfielder and an even worse left back. They will understand that, for all the reputation he has, Moussa Sissoko proved again that he is not any kind of captain as he got himself sent off and likely suspended for 3 matches, just like Fabricio Coloccini did. They will understand that Newcastle have so much heart and drive that they're scheduling their own vacations late in a season that is in danger of developing meeting as the bottom of the table drifts higher and higher relative to stagnant Newcastle.
They will understand that, in spite of suggestions to the contrary, Newcastle *are* frequently on the wrong side of poor refereeing decisions. This time it was Dejan Lovern who tripped Ayoze Perez late in the first half and was not called for what was a blatant penalty.
They will understand that, in spite of noise made from the club ownership, we are a club without ambition, without any drive... a club shriveling on the vine. I say it every week, but we are getting closer and closer with every match we get nothing from a white-knuckle end of this season. Something has got to change.