Theregulars

5 minutes ago, nufcnick said:

It’s honestly like some fans have all of a sudden forgotten the last 14 years, if we were told we would at the start of the season we would finish top10 and get to a cup final, 99% on here would have snatched your hand off and if someone suggested we would be 4th and got to a final at this stage of the season he would have been committed. We are punching well above our weight and going through a lull due to being such a high intensity team. If we somehow managed to pull off a win in the cup final, I have no doubt some on here would still be bitching and whinging about a so called missed opportunity to finish top4

Nobody has forgotten the last 14 years, we’re just debating the depth of the squad and discussing what we’re seeing with our own eyes: a team not performing particularly well over the last 5-6 weeks. It’s completely feasible to be both ecstatic with the season from a broader perspective, but concerned with the immediate moment from a narrow perspective (unless you’re not capable of weighing up conflicting arguments and concluding that both have some merit in different ways). 
 

What is not boring on the forum is people discussing concern. What is boring is being told you’re ungrateful or somehow dismissive of the pain under Ashley for expressing criticism or a concern. Literally everybody on here is very happy that Ashley is gone and very happy that we’re no longer shit. 
 

For comparison’s sake, I love the band Death Cab For Cutie. If they make one album I don’t like and I express disappointment, am I to be dismissed as somehow less of a fan for somehow not appreciating their previous bodies of work from the preceding 14 years? There’s just no need to limit yourself to such binary thinking. 

Just now, The Prophet said:

 

He also isn't match fit and played his first 30 minutes after a long term lay off this weekend.

I mean firstly your point is wrong - he played a match of football yesterday, meaning he is match fit, surely? I guess I’m arguing the toss if you mean “fit to start”. The point we’re making is that we might need the squad depth to sustain the wonderful season you’re (and we’re) correctly enjoying, so some of us have an eyebrow raised at the decision to let him go and not replace him. It seems about as complicated as the 2x table to me.

20 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Im not to bothered about the wood one as I think Gordon is his replacement (Howe said himself we wouldn’t replace wood like for like). Im also not on about the last couple of games where Shelvey wouldn’t have played. Im talking about over the next few weeks/months, having Shelvey (or a Shelvey replacement) as an option would have made the squad stronger considering how short of options we already are in the middle.

Staggering how difficult this appears to be for some to comprehend. All we’re saying is that we lack depth and an option. It might not be fatal; it likely won’t be, but why take the risk?

22 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

Shelvey isn't match fit and Wood wouldn't be playing, so I don't think it'd make a huge amount of difference.

But Shelvey is match fit, he played in PL match yesterday. 

38 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said:

Wilson has just picked up his 4-5th injury of the season though. We have no youth strikers so will have to rely on wingers who we're also now short on.

 

Shelvey's role isn't redundant if we have no other midfielders who are anywhere near as smart in possession. I feel like I'm having to make incredibly obvious points here, like both Shelvey and Wood would fairly obviously be good to have at this moment in time? How is this even debateable?

Because you’re being critical, which isn’t allowed in some people’s minds. Everything can only be “good” or “bad”, and any nuance in between means you must think it’s “bad”. Social media age and its accompanying assault on curiosity and discussion coming to the fore in my view. 

47 minutes ago, Choppy Chop Chop said:

The comment's here remind me why I steered clear of NUFC forums for a few years, except I'm now on the `HappyClappers` side now.  Just be happy even if its just for this season, we are not getting sucked into a relegation fight 

I understand the sentiment but I think this is such a basic outlook. It’s completely legitimate and reasonable to debate what’s going on now that our reality has changed. It doesn’t make us miserable, deluded, entitled or whatever meaningless trope you want to throw at us. We’re just analysing the football team we support and admitting that we haven’t looked great since the turn of the year, punctuated by our worst performance of the season yesterday and the squad coming out of the transfer window shallower and arguably weaker (TBC, depending on Gordon). 

1 hour ago, The Prophet said:

I'm not sure why selling Shelvey has become an issue after drawing with West Ham and Bournemouth when he was only declared fit this weekend and played all of half an hour.

I’d imagine it was because we lost 3 players to injury, one of whom plays in his position and looks to be out for a few matches. I’d also imagine it’s because he was the only other player in that position we had aside from Bruno who is known for being able to play a decent through-ball and reliable for a 5-10 assists a year. 

This news certainly helps us in the quest for the top 4, and eases my concerns about our squad depth a little bit.

1 minute ago, SteV said:

They took a massive risk not signing a CM in the window….

I’d not say massive risk given they only play 2CMs and have Højbjerg, Bissouma, Skipp and Sarr; but given how guff Bissouma has been for them it may have been an idea to loan a CM instead of another winger/forward. 

1 hour ago, Lush Vlad said:

Yep. He’s quality and with Bissouma also out for a bit. Leaves them short in midfield. 

Should have signed Shelvey.

44 minutes ago, STM said:

 

You are absolutely correct. What was our squad like circa December 2021? Should have kept Isaac Hayden and Jeff Hendrick around for squad depth IMO.

But that isn’t his point, is it? 

8 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

A lot of “bairns” his age get regular PL minutes, because they’re good enough. Howe’s as good as admitted in the summer that the ideal scenario was to loan him out, but lack of squad depth meant he stays. 
 

I repeat that I very much hope I’m wrong, but the times I’ve seen him in person and on the telly I’ve not thought that there’s anything there.

Including Gordon, I might add.

15 minutes ago, The Butcher said:

 

I’d not make that move if it were my money, Ajax were awful under him. Gets some leeway as the club currently isn’t run as well as it usually is but he did nothing other than contribute to a majorly sub-par season thus far. My friend is an Ajax fan and I just asked him about this. He said “well, they must want relegated”.

32 minutes ago, STM said:

 He's a bairn man. Spurs fans had Harry Kane written off too. 

 

Thank fuck Ashworth and Howe are making these decisions and not reactive fans.

Also, I take umbridge at being called “reactive”. All I’ve said is that yesterday’s performance was poor against a poor team and that I don’t think selling Shelvey was sensible with no replacement. I don’t think there’s anything unreasonable about either argument.

1 minute ago, relámpago blanco said:

I personally think Man United will struggle against our midfield when Bruno is back without Erikson and Casemiro.  Their midfield is bang average without those 2.

 

 

 

Casemiro will be playing, so that’s half your argument dead in the water.

26 minutes ago, STM said:

 He's a bairn man. Spurs fans had Harry Kane written off too. 

 

Thank fuck Ashworth and Howe are making these decisions and not reactive fans.

A lot of “bairns” his age get regular PL minutes, because they’re good enough. Howe’s as good as admitted in the summer that the ideal scenario was to loan him out, but lack of squad depth meant he stays. 
 

I repeat that I very much hope I’m wrong, but the times I’ve seen him in person and on the telly I’ve not thought that there’s anything there.

Just now, Conjo said:

 

Easily Anderson. Excellent opportunity for him to get an extended run in the team to show that he belongs here.

I think if he belonged here we’d know already, but I hope I’m wrong.

1 minute ago, KaKa said:

 

Wilson has had a number of games where he has been really ineffective as well, and you just don't see much of him during the match, as it's not his game to look to get as involved in general play. 

 

The real issue with the team at the minute is getting the right mix of players in the wide areas and the number 8 positions to improve our support play for either striker. Yesterday's mix of ASM, Willock, Longstaff and Almiron should never feature together again in my opinion, they were a bumbling mess. That foursome has to have both Gordon and Joelinton in there with Bruno out.

I agree. This is a really difficult moment for Howe I think, because he’s having to change system on the fly. I reckon we might see Wilson up top, Isak behind as 10, Miggy right and Gordon left. However, it means sacrificing some defensive solidity which has been the bedrock of our season. It really makes you appreciate Bruno, because without him our midfield looks very league average.

That’s the kind of result we need to grind out against spirited but limited opposition. 

26 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Is this the same Theregulars from the podcast with Yorkie?

Yes; don’t let that put you off. I’m probably just stressed from a long and very difficult week at work, but sometimes I find that people won’t acknowledge facts or reality and it gets to me, because I think it’s a huge problem in our society.

Last post on it because clearly it’s just annoying people, but as a general comment I do think people won’t accept any criticism, even where criticism is due. 

5 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

Isak is a completely different type of striker that gets more involved in play and so it's going to be far more noticeable when things aren't quite coming off foe him. Wilson tends to just stay high up the pitch.

 

Because of his play style Isak will need a bit more game time to really get used to the higher tempo in the premier league as well as the physicality, especially having come in from La Liga. Not at all concerned with him. Continue to see enough glimpses of his ability, and it is just a matter of time before it consistently comes together.

I’m not concerned but it’s undeniable that he had a shitter yesterday. Hopefully a one-off as you suggest, but if Wilson is fit next week he starts for me.

10 minutes ago, Groundhog63 said:

Ok Jonjo 

I mean this level of drivel suggests that you know that you’re wrong. So, second chance - what does Anderson bring now that Shelvey wouldn’t have?

14 minutes ago, RUHRLYASLEEVESUP said:

I think your getting yourself in a bit of a palaver about nothing but who cares really

You’re.

12 minutes ago, Groundhog63 said:

Anderson all day. 

What do you think Anderson has done / has to offer that Shelvey hasn’t / doesn’t? Anderson has done literally nothing of note in a Newcastle shirt.