J7

Na, we weren’t. We got exactly what we deserved. One of our weaknesses is breaking teams who sit back down. Brighton played us perfectly. The last 10 minutes or so were a mess.

He ran out of ideas today and that’s worrying. It ended up a bit of a disjointed mess.

Bizarre decision to take him off. He’s been back going on 2 months and it wasn’t even an injury. Gets his 90s for Italy and we seem to have to restrict his minutes.

Park there sometimes and get the Metro in. Get stuck in post match traffic at the moment over an hour after it.

I’m three rows from the back right in the middle and haven’t sat in my seat for months. Maybe Forest on Boxing Day when it was over anyway. The odd moaning cunt picking on their chosen hated players, but it’s pretty good around me.

Fair enough. I suppose it’s what you’re used to. I’d hate that site too tbh. I’m travelling from Edinburgh every other week.

For what reason out of interest? The ballache of having to travel that far?

You really think the tick box FAB are going to have any influence over a billion pound decision? 😂

There were loads of cup games pre-Ashley without an atmosphere or any kind of noise. Against that Arab Israeli team for example. We got destroyed 1-5 off Birmingham in one game and I remember sitting in three of the stands at different points in the game.

I’ll admit, I’m no expert in stadium costs. The big American ones do seem to be well more than a billion though.

I’d be amazed if they redeveloped SJP for £800m - £1bn when they could build a new stadium. Especially given the disruption.

Not sure it does us any good Villa getting Champions League money and profile 2 seasons in a row.

Probably doesn’t mean too much, but I find it a bit strange how few social media followers we have compared to some. Sure we’re behind even West Ham.

Worst of all worlds that. The best thing about it is Gallowgate and turning it into another Leazes would be poor. A new well designed ground would be far better than 3 sides of atmosphereless stands like the two we currently have.

Oh well. I can’t go and can’t watch it now, but sounds like I’m paying for it! 🤣

Ridiculous thread. If it was ‘all powerful head coach’ v ‘sporting director model’, then it would be better. I voted Mitchell based on that, but it’s no criticism of Howe. The OP is winding himself up.

There are huge question marks about Joelinton being a player good enough for the next step tbf. I’d have him in my starting 11 at the moment, but he’s hardly irreplaceable. He’s not had a good start to the season and was running around like a headless chicken yesterday. It’s hardly outrageous that a DoF may have thought we needed someone with more technical ability in there.

He was unbelievable for Bournemouth, but it still went stale at the end. We slapped them about and won 4-1 down there with Bruce as manager. I don’t want him to go, but what is happening at the time and the form is still pretty important when decisions are made on any manager.

True to a certain extent, but Tonali was on the bench and the front three were all recent signings and expensive. The performance should have been far better. Just accepting we will have some atrocious performances doesn’t cut it.

We’ve got numerous players we bought for £40m plus. We shouldnt be having many atrocious days.

Where’d you read this? Loony Toons Twitter?

He’s good too when fit. A goal every other game at PL level which is very good so don’t think the smiling comes into it. I agree he needs to be replaced, but let’s not go overboard. I’m pretty sure the ‘Newcastle faithful’ think we need someone in who plays more.

I don’t really like it either. Always thought our ground looked classy with the grey seating (granted it’s looking dated). Don’t generally like sponsors logos on seats in terms of how it looks, though quite happy if it’s bringing money in.

Of course it wasn’t fit for purpose. I’m amazed anyone is arguing it was. We were scrambling around embarrassing ourselves trying to offload players before the PSR deadline and ended up with a dud keeper nobody seems to want. I don’t even see that as a criticism of Howe, and it’s a pretty tame criticism of Ashworth too. It’s pointless going back to the survival season. It was ages ago now. You just need to look at last summer where we spent £80m on two players who weren’t starters at the time, and committed another £28m to another. It’s no criticism of those players either, I think all three are great, but that’s not point. There was clearly a plan to offload a big player, but little foresight on how the window would play out with everyone seemingly hamstrung and not able to spend the money we needed in on one player. There was even talk of disagreement between Ashworth and others in the club regarding the need to sell one of the big players. Some seem to be looking for an enemy here. There doesn’t need to be one. What I would say though, we’re going down the Sporting Director route, like it or not. The Saudis aren’t going to just give a manager the reigns to everything on the football side. It’s not the way most top clubs work and it was reported that it was the chairman who met with Mitchell and persuaded him himself. Losing two respected ones in a year would be farcical and would probably put off anyone decent being interested in it while Howe is there.

This was the team when we drew with Hull in the March. Harper, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Smith (Ryan Taylor 75), Butt, Geremi, Gutierrez, Owen (Ameobi 73), Martins. Horrendous tbf.