JOHN GIBSON
Keep faith with the Magpies’ No 1
posed supporters and a bold headline in the Chronicle which produced a double meaning on whether or not he should be given a break.
Well, discussion is fine – and this is my take. The guy stays!
Goalkeepers are the most vulnerable of all players with their mistakes highlighted because they almost inevitably end up a goal.
Whereas a central defender can be dug out by his goalkeeper or an outfield team-mate and a striker missing an open goal can be forgotten in a welter of further activity.
Let’s be truthful, there are those in United’s team who have played consistently worse than Dubravka over 90 minutes and in the last two matches.
DeAndre Yedlin is becoming targeted in the PL.
He may have blistering pace going forward in attack but defensively he is naive, getting caught out of position time and again and often reverting to giving away needless fouls through barging opponents in the back when coming to challenge.
Basically he is a defender who cannot defend . . . a symptom of modern-day football where fullbacks are expected to play like wingers. As a defensive coach I often wonder what Benitez thinks deep down.
Huddersfield is an absolutely crucial match because for once Newcastle are fully expected to win.
Their visitors are on such a bad run of defeats he pressure is on United, and that can produce individual errors.
Benitez has warned the Terriers will come free and easy, which could make them dangerous.
Maybe so, but United will not have a better opportunity this run-in to secure themselves three points.
It is a match between the two lowest scorers in top-flight football but the Mags cuffed Cardiff 3-0 in a similar game up here last month and a repeat has to be targeted.
Forget about Dubravka. He is OK. Let’s concentrate on who is going to get those goals!