Why Schar red card WON game for NUFC + Guehi transfer update!

Hello guys, I'm back after a break and that was certainly an incident-packed return! Here are my thoughts on Newcastle United's 1-0 win over Southampton on the opening day of the Premier League season. Spoiler: I thought Fabian Schar deserved to be sent off... and my video explains why.

[neilnicholas]

Good to have you back Craig. I totally agreed about guehi. His price is over inflated due to his exposure in the euros. There must be better value centre backs out there so we can spend some of the cash on a right wing attacker. As for the red card, I don’t agree with it but it probably was in line with the rules - however seeing a grown man rolling around like that has no place in sport. I’m glad it backfired for him!

[Gggwwwppp]

Well done Craig, as usual a balanced and fair report. From a Saints Fan.

[leechefski]

A lot of people seem to be ignoring the fact that the ball was not in play when Schar was rugby tackled in the back by that coward Brereton Dias. If you're going to be dishing red cards out for "dangerous play", at least show some consistency. Despite going down like he'd been hit by a sniper and lost a chunk of his cranium judging by the way he was holding his face, at no point did the Southampton bench make any attempt to get medical staff onto the pitch to treat their severely injured player, nor did the ref ask them to. EVERYONE knew it was a con job, including Pawson.

[cutter]

I agree Schar should of been sent off. You say Diaz got a yellow for the movement of his head toward Schar? Surely he should of also got a yellow for an unprovoked shove in the back of Schar which would have made it a second yellow for Diaz?

[PaulJohnston]

Good to have you back Craig. Balanced and sensible comments restored as per normal.

[terrym]

If you agree with the red card you are agreeing that Fabian Schar should be banned from playing football for 3 games. You and I both know there will be potential leg breaking tackles this season and get exactly the same punishment

[johnenglish]

Good to see you back, Craig. I’m surprised no one has mentioned Isak’s inch perfect pass for the goal. He really is a class act. He is so calm under pressure and invariably makes the right decision. His pass to Joelinton was brilliant.

[gonufc]

Craig!
I'm still very optimistic about the season.... But isn't it about time we look at what an absolute mess this transfer window has been? We've sold two good prospects whilst buying two backup keepers and a striker who's never
And I'm not sure we'll even do any more business now. It's been a mess.

[stuarthunt]

Diaz smashed into schar when the game had been stopped for a free kick to Newcastle and Diaz got rewarded for it…yes schar should not have took the bait …but var should have dealt with that by awarding yellow to both players

[krulbekind]

A lack of quality incomings would contribute to the lack of excitement and enthusiasm.

[montybrewster]

At last craig, somebody talking sense on the guehi situation. I'm sick of fans saying 'just pay it' like we have an endless amount of cash we are able to spend. With psr/ffp we don't!!! I would have kept my mouth shut if we'd got him for between £40-50m. He's a really good player who would undoubtedly improve our starting 11. But anything north of that & you are into decent goal scorer territory or at the very least the type of money that could land someone like fredrico chiesa who i think would make a much bigger impact. You make an excellent point too regarding us being in the situation where we are being asked to pay upwards of £60m for a defender. It definitely reflects poorly on our scouting team. I didn't expect much this window but seeing the same team/bench as last season on game one was more than a little disappointing. Cheers as always craig.

[chrisk]

We were poor from the start. Hall gave the ball away too much, however saved ua 2 points with the goal line clearance.
We need the powers that be to get their fingers out and improve the starting 11. Walk away from Guehi deal and stop letting Palace take the piss. Also Murphy offered nothing before being taken off . Its obvious the 2 positions we need strengthening are the 2 positions that have not been improved since the takeover.

[TheMarkyboy]

With regards to the red, I disagree with it being a red, but agree with it stupid by schar to give the ref the choice. The reason I don't think its a red is becauase at no point (in my opinion) does schar move his head forwards (to butt). The two heads come together and the minute the touch, player goes down.

[kyled]

Eddie is obsessed with English/premier league players. The scouts have probably already brought him a few options from the continent but he always seems to favour English players when he can. As mentioned the botman, bruno deals etc should surely convince him to let the scouts do their job.

[TrevorWalker-tc]

Thanks Craig, I've wrestled with that match since the final whistle and you've just cleared everything up in my mind. Totally agree with you

[DaveRB]

Welcome back to St James Park. I really enjoyed it the atmosphere was great the pantomime villain made it more entertaining. Clean sheet, three points in the bag, utter madness as always.

[brianquinn]

Good to have you back Craig, cash better spent in a forward at that price I recon .

[ztyneisnigh]

Our player gets clattered after the whistle has gone for a foul the other team made. 2 times in quick succession and it is our guy that got sent off while the clown fakes a head trauma. I would have preferred if Big Dan Burn hauled him off the pitch and dumped him on the side lines. Ref was a clown and not the funny kind. He ruined the game and tried to ruin the day for 52000 fans who came to see the match.

[ChrisWall-ipgl]

Ridiculous to assume Newcastle wouldn’t have gone on to win with 11 players, real negative tone from local press after yesterday and in general at the minute. They are really driving a negative agenda at the moment. Plenty of positive options from the bench to change things up and we have seen examples of a resurgence in the second half from this lot before.
Games gone soft if that level of head movement from Schar warrants a 3 game suspension as well. Where has the game management and common sense gone from officiating? Agree he doesn’t need to put himself in that situation but those types of reactions from Diaz need punished just as much.

[nigelturner]

Think the players felt the pressure on opening game of season, it showed as we need to keep the ball better, not always a mad press, it saps energy. Honest review as always Craig,