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Opinion

Cardiff 0 Newcastle 0 – Match ratings of all NUFC players

6 years ago
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Cardiff 0 Newcastle 0  – Saturday 18 August 12.30pm

We asked Jonathan Drape-Comyn to give us his match ratings after this afternoon’s match.

Newcastle drawing 0-0 down in Wales, almost snatching a victory with THAT penalty in the 96th minute.

Dubravka – 7. I didn’t make the game last week but heard that Dubravka’s distribution wasn’t great and that was certainly the case again today. Still looks solid when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net though.

Manquillo – 3. All over the place! ‘Really poor’ is probably being generous but he must improve. Was perhaps a tad lucky to still be on the pitch after giving away so many fouls. The difference between him and Yedlin is staggering.

Clark – 7. Had a decent game. Not much to say about the two centre halves as I thought they looked alright. Most of Cardiff’s play came down the flanks… namely through Josh Murphy.

Lascelles – 7. Gave away a few needless free kicks throughout the game but still looked ok next to Clark and kept a clean sheet.

Dummett – 6. Did as you’d expect but offered absolutely nothing going forward. This isn’t a surprise but I thought today he made very little attempt at all to cross the halfway line. Maybe that came from Rafa? But especially when Yedlin is out injured, Dummett HAS to do more going forward if Newcastle are to be any sort of threat.

Diame – 6. Certainly not the same Diame as we saw for most of the second half of last season. However, can’t fault him for a lack of effort as he put himself about and broke up play quite often. Not great on the ball though, although neither was anyone else apart from Shelvey.

Shelvey – 7. Newcastle’s best player and biggest threat by a clear distance. The only Newcastle player who wasn’t abysmal in possession today. Madness that he didn’t take the free-kick in the last minute… Shelvey, or the captain, should be taking control of situations like that.

Ritchie – 6. Alongside Shelvey was one of the better performers but still did not do enough in terms of creativity going forward.

Kenedy – 2. No beating around the bush that he should have had a red card after watching it back. I just read that he didn’t complete a pass in the first half and was the first PL to do so since 2010! Staggering. I am not going to fault him for his effort at all, (which is why he gets a 2 and not a zero or one). However, that was probably one of the worst individual displays I have ever seen from a Newcastle player. I don’t think many could disagree with me on that one! Nor do I think Kenedy would disagree either!

Perez – 4. Missed a great chance… let himself down with poor first touch on quite a few occasions. Was rightfully hooked off for Muto later in the game.

Joselu – 6. I actually thought he did ok again, not great, but ok. He obviously didn’t do anything spectacular but did as good as you’d expect. I don’t think he should have started the game, it should have been Rondon for me.

SUBS:

Hayden – 1. Looked like a player who didn’t want to be out there playing for Newcastle United. Even before his red card, he made quite a few silly fouls. Jamie Sterry may be Newcastle’s only fit right back come next weekend’s game against Chelsea and Eden Hazard. Having watched the tackle back again, I don’t think it was a red card but it was a bad tackle, no complaints though considering Kenedy should have definitely seen red.

Murphy – 6. Tell you what, maybe we signed the wrong Murphy? Difficult for Jacob coming on at right back, and he didn’t do anything wrong at all… although Josh gave both Manquillo and Hayden the run around all game. Looked far more comfortable at right back out of the three.

Muto – 5. Didn’t do anything at all when he came on, except lose possession a couple of times.

Stats from BBC Sport:

Cardiff 0 Newcastle 0

Possession was Cardiff 51% Newcastle 49%

Total shots were  Cardiff 12 Newcastle 12

Shots on target were Cardiff 1 Newcastle 6

Corners were  Cardiff 5 Newcastle 5

Referee: Craig Pawson

Newcastle United:

Dubravka, Manquillo (Hayden 45, sent off on 66), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (Murphy 70), Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy, Perez (Muto 65), Joselu

Unused Subs:

Darlow, Fernandez, Ki, Rondon

Crowd: 30,720

(Alan Shearer reacts to today’s dismal match HERE)

(A nightmare for Kenedy on Saturday – Read HERE)

(Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to the 0-0 draw HERE)

You can follow the author on Twitter @JonathanComyn
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