Kanj

To be fair, the minute Rafa left our defensive unit from last season was gone. Evidenced by how often it fell apart in second half.

Rafa basically created a team brain they operated off of which was mostly down to training repetition and him on the sideline walking them through matches. Bruce can’t do that nor the ability to. We will really struggle if things don’t click and we get some luck.

Jetro can play there for sure and did ok there. Lol.

The players who might feel happy they have some freedom and easier training that is repetitive etc will be shown up for how good their old manager was at coaching and tactical prep. Rafa did that shit to world class players and that’s why they and he have trophies. we are totally going to blow hot and cold all season. Whew.

A better manager gets us something today.

Poor bench selection by bruce to have so many defenders and not a center midfield sub. Poor substitutions Poor managerial performance I’ll happily judge him by his body of work. And today he cost us a point at minimum.

Joelinton needs to play with more aggression and needs to get the ball and turn at defenders. Looked leggy tbh. Almiron looked bright. Wish he didn’t go down so easily in first. ASM was decent as well. Could be exciting. The subs were baffling. Ultimately cos for us a point or even a chance at 3. But we were lucky to face a weekend Arsenal side. I can gty that our academy coaches wouldn’t have made those subs man.

More I think. Those were the worst subs I’ve ever seen.

Trying to grasp those subs which lost our shape and ultimately the game. Why wasn’t Ki on bench?

Was Shelvey and Longstaff hurt?

It happens in football. You know, not going for the ball and acting asleep when you should be going to the ball. Even professionals. Very poor of course. But lord.

Wat. We have one center mid out?

He was passed the ball at halfway, he had plenty of time to come forward and take control of the ball, instead he just froze still and allowed a cheap interception PD telegraphed his pass for 45 seconds and played it weak as well. Willems stared at it.

Poor by both PD and Willems

ASM and Miggy supporting Joelinton will really push them back imo. Longstaff looks a guy who is little off the pace. May come into it more second half. Willems for Ritchie?

Not a bad half. Had some decent chances for both team. Willems for Ritchie and Asm for Shelvey.

Hope we can get a result today. Their back line is a major question mark to me, not as much as our front line who have so much to prove but a ton of potential to be very exciting. I hope the boycott shows itself well and those who are in power from ownership and tv take notice. I also hope whoever is out there watching the match at home, pubs, or the stadium have a proper good Sunday. In what has to be the worst summer at this club that I can ever imagine - one I never thought would happen - I’m still happy to see football back and I’m looking forward to this roller coaster of a season. Likely more pain than joy but aye, I’ve been on this Newcastle roller coaster for 23 years. Lets have it today boys.

Lol someone deleted their Kane post quickly about him having a crap year

Eriksen is so smooth on the ball

I’ll not know until Sunday, I boycotted Spurs and was one of only around 15 who went in late last season in the Milburn Paddock but I’m more inclined to go on Sunday. Ashley is the disease I don’t want my club to die as a result and they’re will be players out there on Sunday who need our support and are the future. Might sound contrived but there you go, I can certainly boycott in the future if I decide otherwise on Sunday. Don’t need to explain yourself man. You’re a human being entitled to do whatever you want with your time and money. Life is too fucking short. I’ll be sat on my couch and will be watching with my arsenal supporting friend and my little nearly 2 year old son. I hope we play well and the players on the pitch get a result.

Almiron spent a ton of time tracking back and pressing from the front line

Yedlin is still not fit.

People think he'd not do his 5-3-2? Dub, Manq, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett, Willems, Hayden, Shelvey, Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton ... surely?

Rafa taught us so much man. Sitting watching this and all I can think about is how idiotic it is to try and take a game to Liverpool at their own stadium. It's a 38 game season and you need to figure out how to amass as many points as possible or minimize the goals against when you're a team that will not get many wins over the course of the campaign.

lol, poor Norwich