Match Day 4: Newcastle (A)

Another away game, another Northern battle. Decided to mix it up a bit, putting Fellaini in the centre with Garmash, and having the OX on the right.
Going to make sure that I expect a performance rather than pander to the fans. The players tend not to be fully up for it if you say "do it for the fans".

Also, start for my new striker Ademilson, Monreal starts on the left. But notice, Chamakh plays against his former club. Let's hope that selling him doesn't come back to haunt me.
Assertively tell the players that I expect a win, only responses are "confused". Hmmmm...

Lets Go!

19m: Despite being up for the game and playing well, the ball falls to Chamakh who slides the ball that unlocks the defence, Papiss Cisse on hand to score. 1-0
Half Time: Uneventful first half really... other than the goal. Told the team that I want something else in the second half, and a generally all-round positive "fired up" look. Mertesacker looks to have switched off... He may come off later...
58m: Wrong German coming off. Podolski forced off with an injury (JOY(!)), Cristian Tello going to replace him, along with Giroud replacing Ademilson. Not the greatest debut, but to be fair, he is young.
61m: Cassani plays it to Zieler, and foolishly he passes it STRAIGHT to Papiss Cisse, who punishes the young keeper's error. 2-0
78m: Giroud scores the Penalty. Fight back occurring!
And that's how it ended. 2-1 to Newcastle. Steve Bould's advice of saying that the lads were unlucky taken, only Mertesacker didn't really respond. He finished the game on a 7.0 rating - by far the best player for me today. Unhappy. Evidently wrong to swap Zieler for Sczezny.

This is how the table looks now. (apologies for the sizing, This is the best way I can get it):