It was as predictable as it was annoying.
The final whistle blowing on Newcastle 0 West Ham 2.
The result of this match wasn’t in any way predictable.
I am talking about the reaction of a certain section of Newcastle United fans afterwards.
Indeed, I was already experiencing it long before the final whistle from many of those sitting around me inside St James’ Park.
Once West Ham had scored their opener on ten minutes, the atmosphere was absolutely shocking.
Many of the Newcastle United fans in my vicinity in the Gallowgate, more than ready to be vocal whenever there was a misplaced pass or anything else didn’t come off for the team. Whereas when it came to getting behind the players, their silence was deafening.
All of this just a starter before the main course, which was the reaction of a certain section of Newcastle United fans.
Toys out of the pram as usual when things don’t go our way, it is simply embarrassing.
They have only two settings with nothing in between.
Eddie Howe and his team are brilliant if we win, useless if they don’t.
If any Newcastle United fans think this was a woeful performance, they can’t have watched many matches.
It wasn’t brilliant BUT it wasn’t terrible.
You know, that bit in between.
Newcastle played really well in the first half but didn’t take their chances, whilst West Ham scored with their only real chance of the opening 45, a very badly defended corner that saw the limited but lanky Soucek left with a free header.
Isak went through after five minutes or so and brilliantly scored past Fabianski, cleverly lifting the ball over the keeper. VAR swiftly decided offside. I haven’t seen any replays myself but when I got outside the ground after the final whistle, I received texts (which didn’t arrive during the match due to the woeful wifi as usual) saying the offside was too close to call for them and they couldn’t understand how VAR had decided so quickly.
Five minutes later Soucek put West Ham in front, the first time they had got in our half.
This all felt very much like Brighton.
The reaction of this section of Newcastle United fans the very same after that game/defeat.
Just like against Brighton, Newcastle were all over West Ham in this first half and the ball just wouldn’t go in the net.
The Alexander Isak who had scored in each of his last four Newcastle matches, was brilliantly picked out by Bruno just before half-time, expertly chested it down, but then lashed it just wide of the post.
Before that, Willock should have scored but put it wide, Gordon was impressively alert when the ball broke in the box but when he should have given Fabianski no chance, he allowed him the opportunity to make a great save.
There were other chances, great situations, but the fine margins just weren’t going our way, all luck against us. It happens.
It wasn’t why we lost but you have to say the referee was absolutely useless, the timewasting from West Ham was excruciating throughout the entire game, which is fine as you can’t blame them. However, you can very much blame the referee who did nothing at all to stop it, not even giving any warning to Fabianski as for what felt like the 50th time he took the bets part of a minute to kick the ball.
After the break, how on earth it wasn’t a penalty when Wilson was fouled right in front of goal?
Then whilst efforts from Anthony Gordon and others agonisingly crept wide of the post. In a rare break into the Newcastle half, Wan-Bissaka saw his effort go in off the post.
It instantly made me think of our last match, Newcastle were excellent at Forest BUT at the same time, both the Joelinton and Isak goals hit the post on the way into the net.
This is football, those margins are so often so tight between scoring and not scoring, between winning and losing.
That second goal took the wind out of our sails and as the subs were made, Newcastle became less threatening and more ragged as they tried too hard to get back into the match. Forcing passes, chasing shadows, made all the more difficult as West Ham understandably grew in confidence and started knocking it about.
Again, this was very much like the Brighton game, where Newcastle should have had the game won but everything went against us, including poor finishing.
This is only the second defeat in ten and a half months that Newcastle United fans have seen at St James’ Park.
Yet I see some laughable comments from some Newcastle United fans lashing out at Eddie Howe and his players. Some even saying Howe should be replaced.
For these Newcastle United fans, they also seem to think that it proves they are more passionate than the rest of us, because they slag off the players and manager.
Even saying ridiculous stuff like players weren’t trying.
Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin as Newcastle United fans and accept that it wasn’t meant to be.
Newcastle 0 West Ham 2 – Monday 25 November 8pm
Soucek 10, Wan-Bissaka 53
Possession was Newcastle 52% West Ham 48%
Total shots were Newcastle 18 West Ham 15
Shots on target were Newcastle 2 West Ham 6
Corners were Newcastle 8 West Ham 3
Touches in the box Newcastle 35 West Ham 17
Newcastle United team v West Ham
Pope; Livramento, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Longstaff, Bruno (Trippier 84), Willock (Barnes 46), Gordon (Wilson 68), Isak, Joelinton (Murphy 69)
Targett, Dubravka, Almiron, Osula
(We were the dominant team at half-time – Eddie Howe – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 0 West Ham 2 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 0 West Ham 2 – An international break when we were building momentum didn’t help but… Read HERE)
Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:
Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle (3pm)
Wednesday 4 December – Newcastle v Liverpool (7.30pm) Amazon
Saturday 7 December – Brentford v Newcastle (3pm)
Saturday 14 December – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)
Wednesday 18 December – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (Carabao Cup)
Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)
Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon
Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports
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