Last night after Newcastle United knocked out Chelsea from this year's Carabao Cup I wrote about how brilliant Lloyd Kelly was in the post-match write up.
Lloyd Kelly has struggled to break into the starting XI at Newcastle since his summer switch from Bournemouth with Eddie Howe opting to use Lewis Hall and left-back and Dan Burn at left centre-back, however when Kelly has played he's looked decent - to me at least.
Last night Kelly replaced Dan Burn at LCB with Lewis Hall out to his left and once he got his feet under the table, so to speak, I thought he looked really solid.
He made a couple of goal-saving blocks that really stuck out in my mind, and perhaps that's what coloured my judgement.
In general discussion after the game between my NUFC Feed colleagues and in a WhatsApp group of Newcastle fans, there was a clear divide.
Those who were at St James' Park didn't rate Kelly's performance, while those who watched on TV thought he had a great game.
Kelly himself was clearly pleased with his efforts as evidenced by his interview with NUFC TV.
“My performance was where I know I can play at. Being that voice, being that leader on the pitch and doing my job.
“I’m definitely pleased with it.”
It just goes to show how our opinion on a game can be coloured based on how and where we're watching the games.
Watching on TV in a crowded pub with no sound you'll probably have a different opinion on someone watching at home listening to the commentary and they will have a different opinion to someone who was at the ground.
For me, what this highlights how easy it is to be looking at the same thing and see something completely different - which is why in post-match interviews you sometimes hear a manager praising a player who you thought was total garbage. Everyone has a different perspective.
In this case, the debate now is: Did Lloyd Kelly do enough to warrant a start against Arsenal on Saturday? For me, he absolutely did, but I feel like those who were inside St James' Park last night may feel differently. It's a funny old game.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
14 | 18 | 35 |
2 |
Chelsea
|
15 | 17 | 31 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
15 | 14 | 29 |
4 |
Manchester City
|
15 | 6 | 27 |
5 |
Nottingham Forest
|
15 | 1 | 25 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
15 | 0 | 25 |
7 |
Brighton
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
9 |
Brentford
|
15 | 3 | 23 |
10 |
Fulham
|
15 | 2 | 23 |
11 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
15 | 12 | 20 |
12 |
Newcastle United
|
15 | -2 | 20 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
15 | 1 | 19 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
15 | -8 | 18 |
15 |
Everton
|
14 | -7 | 14 |
16 |
Leicester
|
15 | -9 | 14 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
15 | -6 | 13 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
15 | -13 | 9 |
19 |
Wolves
|
15 | -15 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
15 | -20 | 5 |