Lee Clarks article with the Tribal Football.
"The mood isn't great around Newcastle after two losses. I was at the first game against Arsenal and I thought they looked quite bright in the first half. They were getting the ball into the front two, they were playing on the front foot and they had some half chances. But then as the game wore on they just got a little bit tired in the new formation they were playing and it allowed Arsenal back into the game, who didn't have many chances but they didn't need them in the end. So in defeat there were some positives to take from the first game, knowing that this was a work in progress.
"But last weekend was a real downer for everyone. From the first moment to the last. They were second to everything in every department. They put on a real disappointing performance even though they did have opportunities to go and get goals. Joelinton had a terrific chance as well as the new Swedish fullback Emil Krafth, who blazed one over the bar.
But from then on in it was backs to the wall. Everyone knows that when it's a newly promoted team in their first home game there's going to be a buzz around the place and they're going to come at you, and that's what Norwich did. Newcastle couldn't handle it and if it wasn't for Martin Dubravka the scoreline could've been more than 3-1.
"The manager made some quotes like the players didn't put their boots on, meaning that they never got started. Then Paul Dummett is coming out and questioning the players application from the start in terms of warm-ups. Those warms-up get you focused and in the zone, ready for the match, they get you up to speed and in the tempo of what is coming. They are crucial. You have to get those done properly. You've only got a couple of minutes to get yourself back in the dressing room and then back out on the pitch. And I think Paul was saying that to him they didn't look right in their preparation.
That responsibility falls solely on the players themselves. It's the second game of the season and we're questioning whether the players are up for the game? It's got to fall with them ultimately. You should never, never not be up for a Premier League game. It's absolutely crazy. You've got to do better. And it showed in their performance.
"Some of the situations that you see where they should be making recovery runs and they were just jogging, rather than being full sprint. You never know if you chase someone down, if your recovery run and sprint and the keeper saves a one-on-one, you might give him a chance to clear it. If you just jog back and the keeper saves it and parries it, then the forward has got the opportunity to tap the second one in. So never give up, always try and make something happen. And that right there has been the downer for everyone since Norwich - the nature of the performance.
There was nothing to be positive about, even when Jonjo Shelvey scored the consolation in injury-time the supporters didn't really celebrate because they were so down about the performance and rightly so.
"Steve Bruce absolutely needs to field his best side for the League Cup game with Leicester.
I know he has come out and said that and he has to follow through by fielding what he thinks is his strongest team with all his senior players. It's a great opportunity despite it being one of the hardest draws. Leicester away is a tough prospect and they will be disappointed with the draw so early on. But as I've said previously in this column, Newcastle need to be focused on winning trophies. And getting knocked out of a competition so early will only add to the disappointing mood around the city at the moment."