Rich

So Barnes, Charnley and Bishop were all at the game but none of them were sat in their seats at all? I could be wrong, but I'm sure that row of seats usually occupied by Fat Mike and the gang were empty throughout.

Still averaging 1.5 points per game this season, that'll do. Amazed we've got 9 given what we did this summer. As for the game itself I thought there was nothing to split them really, draw would've been fair enough. Gives Rafa some things to ponder for Liverpool. Long-term we have to be looking at introducing Shelvey for Hayden and thinking about a different combination up front.

Very solid last 15 minutes, starting to exert control and pass it around well. Would just like to see us service Joselu a bit more in the air, that's where his strength is and we've passed up a good few crossing positions. Merino is different gravy.

We look sharp as fuck.

Please use the match thread now lads and lass: http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,99837.0.html

BHAFC: Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Suttner; Knockaert (Murphy), Stephens, Propper, March; Gross; Hemed Subs: Krul, Rosenior, Huenemeier, Schelotto, Izquierdo, Murphy, Brown NUFC: Elliot; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba (Gamez); Hayden (Shelvey), Merino; Ritchie, Perez, Atsu; Joselu (Gayle) Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Manquillo, Diame, Shelvey, Murphy, Gayle Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands) Attendance: 30,486 Final score: 1-0 Hemed 51' Booked: Knockaert Duffy Lascelles Sent off: Television coverage: Sky Sports Main Event Radio coverage: BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Newcastle Online radio coverage: https://www.nufc.co.uk/liveaudio.html PLEASE DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DISCUSS, REQUEST OR PROVIDE LINKS TO ILLEGAL MATCH STREAMS. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BE BANNED. See www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php?topic=19161.0 for more information.

I’m well out of the loop, but always used to having two or three knocking about.

Where have all the mackems from on here gone?

Making bank betting on Hayden, Merino and Ritchie yellow cards this season.

It all comes down to definitions, of course, but according to Opta Manquillo played 4 from our half, Gamez 2 and Lascelles 1. https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1190229/Live/England-Premier-League-2017-2018-Swansea-Newcastle-United Maybe Clark taking some of the deep free kicks instead of Elliot skewed your perception a bit? I'm not saying he's great in possession but I definitely think he's tidy, he's played some smart passes up the flanks both on and off the ground.

Kept pumping it long today. Misses Paul it seems. It's totally different though, he seems to know where he's playing it as he does have a good passing range on him. Dummett absolutely does not. "Kept pumping it long" = three long balls from open play, one of which was effectively a clearance.

But a win would be pure wank material. We've put ourselves in a nice spot now, so can hopefully play without too much pressure. Obviously expect us to go for a win but a draw keeps us ticking along nicely.

There's absolutely no way you could shift Lascelles or Clark after two clean sheets in a row, but Lejeune will be on hand as soon as one of them has a slip. Clark was superb against West Ham and Lascelles the same against Swansea, so it's hard to say with any confidence that bringing in Lejeune would improve things at the moment.

I thought Ashley wasn't involved in the day-to-day?

Their three center backs all 6'2 or bigger and at least two of their midfielders around 6'2 and Tammy Abrahams 6'4. I've been reading they are really big on set pieces and practice them a lot. So expecting a threat from set plays from them. So I hope it's Yedlin, Lacelles LeJeune Clark ..... that would give us the perfect balance of letting Yedlin attack and cause the havoc he does and possibly Clark getting forward as well. Whilst having three CB's on the pitch who are all decent defensively and also good in the air particularly against set plays plus Merino, Hayden and Probably Joselu as well who are decent in the air as well. I just think he's probably not going to start Yedlin because he's not played a single minute for us thus far this season, so will probably bring him on later on. Of their starting midfielders only Fer is over 6', Ki doesn't really a look in these days (it'll be Fer, Carroll and Clucas most likely). I think if you look at the collective height of Lascelles, Clark, Merino, Hayden and Joselu you'll be pleasantly surprised and perhaps a bit less worried. We also work intensively on set pieces under Mikel Antia, so I think we'll be alright.

Never had Swansea down as a "big team" like, we can match them five-for-five with players who are comfortably over 6' even if Lejeune begins on the bench and we're not exactly stocked with "big lads". Still, think starting Lejeune could have merit for a bit of extra security if we're going to be more cautious, that's a decent point.

Perez coming in off the back of a good performance against West Ham, would be incredibly rough to drop him IMO (not his biggest fan by any stretch).

Based on the presser it seems this is the most likely team/squad: Starting XI: Elliot; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo; Hayden, Merino; Ritchie, Perez, Atsu; Joselu Bench: Darlow, Lejeune, Diame, Shelvey, Aarons, Murphy, Gayle Unavailable: Mbemba, Dummett, Mitrovic Unused: Woodman, Gamez, Sterry, Haidara, Colback, Saivet EDIT: Biggest question mark over Yedlin or Lejeune by the looks of it, some journos saying Lejeune is closest to starting but from Paco's comments it doesn't seem like there's much in it. Yedlin RB and Manquillo LB seems the most low-risk option to me, given that Clark did so well at CB last time out.

Your fault.