The College Dropout

This is obvious, no? He's our best defender and a real leader and organiser. I've not looked it up for any other player, so I did have an idea. I must say though that nearly half our goals conceded in the five (five!) matches he missed exceeded my expectations. We were getting slapped 3 goals or more every single game he was injured lol. And it stopped immediately upon his return.

This is obvious, no? He's our best defender and a real leader and organiser.

Their squad needed much more of an overhaul though. Before Guardiola coming in some of their squad building was absolutely crap. Than Man Utd? Disagree. Pep had Aguero, KDB (and Sterling). Man Utd prior to last season.... not the same level of class.

IMO they should discourage it as it's a terrible spectacle - Sky that is. But it was the best thing to do for Newcastle United imo. I would hate it from other managers tbf.

Clean sheet here. Like the look of that back 4 minus Karl Disaster.

Tbf City have spent £80m more while already having KDB & Aguero on the books.

Nah Elliot doesn't let in significantly weaker efforts than Darlow. Darlow's no more better at commanding his box. No more better at kicking. It's not a few times a season. He was directly at fault for multiple goals in the games he started this season. And he also let in some questoinable efforts.

Disagree. Titus had all the raw ingredients of a top player. Strength, good pace, good in the air, good natural tackler and pretty comfortable on the ball with both feet. Jonjo Shelvey is really good at mid-to-long range passing. That's it. There's nowt else of value to his game. You get a CM to get on his toes, he's completely done.

Yeah Chema. Because it was 100% intentional and 100% unnecessary. It's not improvised at all. He's seen the ball coming and decided long before it's come that he's going to volley it with about half a dozen team options. He's not running on to it or anything. Also the reaction of his teammate to celebrate then hold his head in amazement is hilarious too. I normally go for beating players like Messi did over volleys and long strikes but that edges it.

Nah Elliot is better. He'll make routine saves. Not throw it into his own net. Darlow - only marginally a better shot stopper. IMO is often too low and getting beat by balls shoulder height. And he's far more likely to throw it into his own net

5 is being kind. I can recall 2 personally.

He’s not even that good on the ball. Needs time and space to get his passing on. He not a Carrick 1 or 2 touch into feet or space type. We rarely have teams penned in and he’s no KDB. But in the first half 3 or 4 times KDB got the ball deep, 2 quick touches at the most and he’s. Putting accurate dangerous balls in behind our already deep defence. Shelvey NEVER does that. Most o his best passing is from very very deep. Rarely into the box or frequently enough into a space where the player can cross or something. He’s had 1 full PL seasonish with us now across 2 half campaigns. Think he’s put in maybe 5 solid performances in. He can be overrun in games by the likes of Tom Cleverley. If we could get N’Zonzi for Shelveys fee and wages I would do it instantly.

Exactly. You know that if they get anything from this game, it'll all be "ooh little Palace gave Arsenal a game, Newcastle didn't even try last night" Arsenal's strike force is probably worth thrice the amount. 55m gets you Lacazette only. Don't let the fact we don't even want to compete blind you from what is still a significant gap between the top 6 and the rest of the league. There is a massive gap obviously from the top 6 and the rest, but (on paper at least) there is a sizeable gap between the likes of Everton, Leicester and Crystal Palace and possibly West Ham to the rest. Obviously Burnley are currently sitting in 7th but you have to ask yourself how many of our players would get into Palace's side? 2 of their players are arguably the best that we've had in the Ashley era and then Benteke and Sakho cost more than £50m between them - our first team is primarily dotted around with £4m or £5m players (Yedlin, Manquillo, Lascelles, Elliot/Darlow, Diame, Joselu, Atsu, Clark, Hayden) - figures we were paying more for 15 years ago signing the likes of Titus Bramble and Carl Cort well before the current vast inflation. Even Warren Barton cost £4m 22 years ago for some perspective. Palace have 2 left backs that they paid more than £25m for. They are definitely operating on a different financial level to the likes of Newcastle, Swansea etc. Huddersfield & Brighton both spent 40m net in the transfer market. Crystal Palace are the norm for a fairly established PL club. Watford 20m on CM's. 30m on attackers. Bournemouth 30m on a defender and a GK. There's us and Swansea - everybody else has tried to invest (Burnley are an anamoly). That's why you look at the league table and apart from Swansea, every other team has some proper quality. West Ham, Palace & Stoke probably have too much to go down with any decent management. Then you look at Bournemouth, defensive signings not been brilliant so far. Don't score many either. WBA big signings have barely scored in the league. Then you're hoping Brighton and Huddersfield go on a terrible run or Stoke, Palace or Wham suffer from terrible management.

Must add Wilshere has been great in the last 2 games going forward.

Would still take Cabaye. Don't know where he's been but i'd take Paddy Van Aanholt too.

Exactly. You know that if they get anything from this game, it'll all be "ooh little Palace gave Arsenal a game, Newcastle didn't even try last night" Arsenal's strike force is probably worth thrice the amount. 55m gets you Lacazette only. Don't let the fact we don't even want to compete blind you from what is still a significant gap between the top 6 and the rest of the league.

Palace have far too much quality to get relegated imo. Keep Zaha fit and they'll be fine.

Solid as ever. Looked comfortable at CB. Glad he’s back. He and Lascelles stay fit we’ll get more clean sheets.

IMO we should man mark De Bruyne. He can get in behind us with his passing. Need to limit those balls.

Wright is much improved imo. Much like Shearer his analysis of strikers - their movement and patterns of finishing is top notch. He also seems to do his research (except when it comes to his mate Pardew - and I believe they are literal mates and he doesn't try to hide that bias). Wright has made the effort to improve imo. But like you say... if you disregard all of that. At the very least there's personality, wit and a bit of charm.

He's such a bad pundit though. There was a point when Shearer and Wright were bad pundits. But at least (Wright has always been a character) they were great players. Shearer arguably the best the PL had ever seen and Wright a top 10. Murphy was decent. Why is he on the tele? Never managed at any level. A handy but unspectacular PL player. A crap pundit. No charm. Ugly as owt. Compared to Sky - at least the pundits were mostly really good players. Often get in ex-Managers.

Phil Neville and Murphy are terrible.

Hatr Murphy. Wasn't even an impressive player.

Which ones?

We look that bit more capable of soaking up pressure with him in the side.