toontownman

Good 5 mins for ASM

Joe is a great destroyer and disruptor in the middle but passing is definitely not a strength today.

Maxi is going to get hauled off at half time at this rate! Ge hasn't been that bad to be fair but that give away was poor.

Deserved for west ham tbh. We have been poor the last 15 minutes.

That pass

Take that haha

Nesbitt chumming with Fergie lol

Palace so close. Fancy manure to hang on though. Jammy gits.

Bit gutted about isak like. He needs match time. Edit: I guess not if he if he is actually concussed lol

Tuned back into the manure game. Knew they were 2-0 up before the picture loaded because I could hear the manure fans singing. Silence at 1-0 before I tuned out. I imagine they will come to their senses and settle back down soon.

Completely missed the McClaren was assistant coach with manure again lol.

Close from Chelspree there. Canny clearance...from the post lol.

Mitro going full radge.

His favourite former Newcastle player is Danny Dyer to be fair.

I must be mad. I'm adamant I've seen him get caught more than once with opposition on the break and getting in behind. Likely when he has been exposed with Joe and willock caught in attack. Targett did too though a few times and most fullbacks do in that situation unless they have obscene pace/recovery speed. In general he has been excellent in one on one's though. He doesn't generally get skinned and the saka example is a great one as the team defended well as a whole and Saka got next to nothing.

It is a tough one. BDB has certainly been exposed against pacey wingers but has been overall really solid. I think Matty was pretty much similar in that regard. He struggled a bit against the best wingers but that is pretty usual. Matty offers more coming forward but with potentially playing ASM we need that defensive balance. I feel like I prefer Matty to BDB at LB but that makes me feel guilty and a bit harsh, Matty is like being excited about an old lost toy being found. He barely put a foot wrong last year though and I thought he was going to be pushing for an England place prior to season start and his injury. Other thing with BDB playing LB, he gives us that tactical versatility and fluidity to switch to 3 at the back when attacking. Can't wait to see Matty back though, even if it is off the bench.

Think we will be fine regardless. It is clear to see where we are heading. Top 4 will be a game changer though if we can find some way of sustaining top 4. It will just make our recruitment that much easier and likely fire us up a bracket of potential signings to where we were expecting to be. It is a BIG ask to stay top 4 though imo.

Murphy would be epic. BDB for the win though. Would be an incredible story for him. Longstaff too!

Absolutely bricking it. We have to embrace it either way and remember this is just the start. It is going to be incredibly tough though. Manure are peaking at the wrong time for us and keep gaining momentum. We are no pushover though. This squad will fight tooth and nail. It's going to be a fascinating watch, if i can keep my hands from covering my eyes.

Solid 7 I think. I was close on 6 but shifting the players that we did was fantastic. Two very great young additions to help with the home grown rule. Obviously elephant in the room was not adding another central midfielder or another body upfront. Howe is an advocate of small tightly knit squads and not bringing players in for the sake of it. As frustrating as that can be the club haven't deviated from that plan. It's also served us well so far. We are set nicely for the summer. Let's hope our players stay healthy and in form until then.

Didn't he play as a striker at one point for us when we were short? Or am I making that up.

Jonjo had a great redemption arc. Real shame about his injuries this year. He leaves with his head high though under Howe. Good luck to him.

Did Everton not bring anyone in?

Team mascot at this point tbh We can't get rid of him yet.