Beren

Gordon too I think.

I said a while ago that the team goes as Joelinton does, and the first half performance typified that. He's such a boss Opposition just back the fuck off when he's in the area, it's great. And with good reason. I know he's not Zidane but he can really dictate games. Think he's in my favourite all time NUFC XI now, you know.

Credit to the players and Howe for turning up from minute one. Set the tone immediately. Surprising lack of resistance from the mackems but still a good professional job from Newcastle.

My unpopular, non-local view: play the second string vs the mackems. Have Bruno, Joelinton, Isak and Gordon on the bench to change the game if need be (for 30 minutes max) in the second half. The mackems are local rivals, but they shouldn't be rivals anymore really given the club's ambition. If the second string can beat them and the first team effectively get a fortnight off it could reset the squad for the second half of the season in the league. Even if we don't progress, it would still be more beneficial for NUFC long-term than a third-round win against a Championship opponent, followed by a fourth-round draw at the Nou Camp against a Guardiola-era Messi/Xavi/Iniesta Barca. If Newcastle's second XI lose, it's fewer games and the mackems beat a reserve side. So what. Nee chance, thankfully - so you can all unwrinkle your noses and get the looks of contempt from your local-faces

That's a cracking couple of bets tbf

I disagree with this (and maybe don't fully understand it). We finished where we finished last year, and deserved it I reckon. If you think that was an overachievement by the squad, fair enough. That doesn't really exculpate the team this year from underachieving. There have been injuries, but the performances and management of the squad have IMO been disproportionate to the severity of those injuries. I would like some reassurance Howe is learning before the season has finished. I'm not breaking out pitchforks if not, but I'd personally be a bit uneasy if we start next year without a refresh to the approach to squad management and an alternative style of play to outworking-the-opponent. I don't think we're on course to finish between 6th and 8th either FWIW.

That's pathetic Just grim. Forest are a naff side. Chris Wood is one of the very worst forwards I've ever seen play for Newcastle. It's beyond parody he'd scor a hattrick. I'm not sure I agree with the posts which say we need to shithouse more. If you need to shithouse more against Forest at home, I don't think you're where we want to be. This is just the bill coming due for not managing the squad/fitness properly (which you can control/influence) and some unlucky injuries (which you don't control). Painful, and hope Howe learns from it for next season. Need to put together a somewhat passable second half of the season to attract half decent players with something beyond money.

Assume Tino needs a rest. Can't imagine Trippier or Burn start ahead of him.

Just when Miggy has exhausted all the goodwill he's built up through his industry, pressing and effort - he'll score a peach of a goal. So expecting a second half goal from him now.

Almiron's one foot

Weight on the other foot I think.

That's sharn from Isak.

Lewis Miley is good but he lacks a bit of literal confidence and empowerment to make a final ball or shot. He tends to give someone else that responsibility when he's primed to make that incisive move. Hope someone tells him to take more chances in advanced areas.

Really peeved with Almiron for not taking the ball to the corner flag in the 90th minute too. Win a few BS corners and it's done. So daft shooting from that angle. Some fundamental misunderstandings around strategy. You're playing against the clock. You're playing against your own finite reserves. The more they are in your box the more scope there is for fuckery.

I'm not talking about the result. I'm talking about protecting the team and the season. It's only December, we're down to the bare bones, there's still five plus months of football to play. We were at least equal to Chelsea on the ball, but just went in vertical lines in possession for 70 minutes. Eddie Howe's "work 'em til they drop" mentality is working - they are dropping, and he isn't learning. I hope he re-evaluates his methods and approach in this respect over the summer. You can't keep playing this way when you don't have the tools, it becomes a vicious cycle of injuries and poor form.

Really, really poor from Howe (said it when we were winning also). So disappointing. Going into a game where you're knackered, they're not, the aim has to be to bring them down to your energy level - not increase the disparity by chasing shadows with eleven barely fit players. Absolute mad tactics.

Shay is a class guy but he was pretty bad with pens IIRC.

Gotta change some time.

Almiron shooting instead of taking it to the corner flag. So insanely idiotic. Learnt very little from the CL apparently.

1 up. Good result at the half, but I think Howe is doing a poor job here.

Incredible stamina from Bruno.

Almiron you one-footed daftie!

Gordon just needs a word in the ear to take the easy option this game. Don't try and do it all.

Literally no need to play this way. I don't understand it.

Don't mind Chelsea having a spell of possession. It's mostly harmless. The unrelenting insistence to repeatedly go back-to-front immediately when in possession is a recipe for disaster though. Just knackers the squad.