[Slick_Footwork]

It’s interesting how we view a game differently  

I have no issue with the effort from the players but that’s about the sum total of that performance. I honestly think that was the worst home performance under Allardyce and, yes, I haven’t forgotten Villa, Leeds and Arsenal. Those were teams that had attacking players with attacking intent and who were vastly superior to our eleven. Today, Newcastle were missing their 3 most influential out players (it would have been a different game had they been playing I reckon), so they came not to lose and, if possible, catch us on the break. Despite that, and the expected amount of possession we had, we created bugger all, just a couple of half chances - chances that a team with some semblance of attacking ability might have converted but we don’t have that. All the effort and possession in the world is only useful if you do something with it and we didn’t. This had 0-0 written over it after about 10 minutes. Allardyce has undoubtedly improved the defence and Yokuslu is the defensive midfielder we have needed all season but he has done nothing to improve us as an attacking threat.  
We have all been critical of Grant - and justifiably- but if Diagne is the answer then what’s the question? Let’s be honest , for all his physical presence, he’s in the team to score goals. He’s managed 1, been offside countless times and missed a good few sitters. I can’t help thinking that we have acquired the Senegalese Joelinton - on today’s showing, I’d take the latter.
If others can take positives from today, then great. For me, it was a shitshow against a team as bad as us and who came looking not to lose

I think you're right, it was a poor performance today, many players under par.

But I think the reason people are seeing positives is because of how bad we were earlier in the season. We were that bad, particularly defensively, that we're content just looking like a proper side at the back. Not having to bite out nails every time the opposition cross the half way line. We look like a proper team now. A crap team, but a proper XI at least. We were an embarrassment before.

The only thing I'd disagree with is your assessment of Diagne. I think he's a massive improvement on what we had before. I think the opposition defence had it easy against Grant or Robbo, where as Diagne is a real handful who fights for ever ball. He gets us up the pitch and gives us more balance. Don't get me wrong, he has his flaws and was poor today, but he has something about him. I think he would score goals in a side that creates, attacks with purpose and get crosses in early like the one Gallagher delivered against Man United. He just has that knack of sniffing out a chance. Most of his chances for us he's made himself.

He's exceeded my expectations as an unknown coming from an inferior league for nothing.

Do think it was a big cock up by Sam by not replacing Pereira with Snodgrass though. He's a player capable of delivering those dangerous balls into the box rather than Pereira's floaties into the goalkeepers arms.