Rich

It’s also freezing cold and the TVs are shite. Hardly an inviting prospect versus having an extra one in the Beehive.

Lovely jubbly

Turns out he was ill, then, as was Bruno. (Howe in the post-match on NUFC TV: https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/video/748800)

Villa potentially dropping into the playoffs is delightful.

Aye. Think they couldn't wait to get Maxi out of the dressing room, regardless of what was said publicly.

Definitely not, nah. It was after everything had settled a bit from there.

Some cunts were booing at HT near me an' all Shot them me best hacky, obvs.

We were 4-2-3-1 with Joelinton in behind Isak in possession first half, too, which exposed him even more. He’s remarkably consistent for his age, but it did feel like Bournemouth targeted that side of our back four yesterday and got rewarded.

Individually, he's had about five really good games this season out of 27, and almost as many stinkers, though I do appreciate he's often doing a load tactically for the team that negates his direct output. Still, I'd argue that across the season he's been average compared to the heights he's reached previously since the positional switch.

Aside from that, I felt a touch of the Wembleys around me yesterday. Feels like as a collective we’re too easily muted as soon as the stakes are high and we’re not immediately doing it on the pitch. The winning record seemed to be playing on people’s minds. I’m already dreading potentially being at Wembley again in March because I know exactly what it’ll be like if we don’t score early and go on to win.

It’s getting close to the point where Miley should be given a shot there, for me. Joe does clearly have talismanic qualities and is held in the highest regard by his teammates, but Miley looks like he can offer what he does and more in terms of output.

I think staying until the end and clapping them off after the run we’ve just had is the least people could have done yesterday, like. Woeful craic scurrying off because you can’t take losing a game against a very decent side.

Disappointed in you both.

Pope Trippier Schär Coloccini Enrique Ben Arfa Guimarães Lee Ginola Shearer Isak M: Keegan Fairly confident this team would get 114 points. Given Beye Woodgate Albert Hall Solano Cabaye Tioté Robert Cole Beardsley M: Howe Think this one might only manage 102 points or so.

Vlachodimos Trippier Schär Kelly Targett Longstaff Miley Guimarães Almirón Osula Barnes 17-0

One of the best results in my lifetime that. Fucking hell. Lions.

It's not been pretty but that's an excellent half in the circumstances. Smells a bit PSG to me so far, albeit with a much stronger XI against a much poorer side/crowd.

Haven't won a duel yet pal. Keep giving the ball away an' all.

Can you play better second half please big man? You've been shocking.

Anyway, height aside there does seem to have been too much smoke around this one for too long. A loan-to-buy would be ideal.

We did this back in June.