HawK

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Pope Trippier Schar Botman Burn Bruno Joelinton Almiron Isak ASM Wilson

I noted the other week in the cup game match thread he looked visibly leaner when he came on. Hopefully it doesn't affect his explosiveness too much, but removing some of that extra bulk will help immensely with his off-the-ball pressing.

Just said' we'll dust ourselves down'.. f*ck I hope this isn't the start of a slippery slope lol

Longstaff has been poor in possession for a while now, almost at Murphy levels of wastefullness and ball retention. But out of possession, by god is he good. I don't think we'd have half the results we have this season from a defensive perspective without his off the ball work. I think he'd be more valued if he was explicitly drilled to just recover the ball and lay it off, and get rid as soon as he's passed it so he's not caught in possession.

Murphy in short shorts?

Maxi looks leaner

NOW THERES A GEORDIE THAT CAN FINISH WITH HIS FEET

Badly need some guile up front, come on Isak.

Off the ball : 20 Composure : 1

Don't forgett Dummett.

Isak's good, Isak's good, Alexander Isak's good. But there's only one of him fella.

Yep, he's amazing now. Even under the first few months of Howe he couldn't get a game. Then over the summer he evolved into his final form

He was

I've just realised, we'd moved into the parallel universe over the summer where Almiron becomes as good as Messi. You know, in the normal universe, he's still like he was in the Bruce days. I like this parallel universe.

His physique is not suited to the continual high-press strategy we play with, it's one for explosive pace and strength. He's built like a sprinter, not a marathon runner. Compare his build to Longstaff's or Almiron's. Joelinton is a freak of nature and isn't a fair comparison, but his long, gainly stride that comes with his height helps him cover more ground easily. I don't think he's an ideal player in the team that we're trying to be. I think we'd have to change him so much to play the way the team does that we'd lose his best attributes. Maxi was my favourite player since he joined the club, a beacon in the fog, a flicker of joy in an overwhelming fog of apathy. Not sure where this post is going, probably something along the lines of 'thank you for getting me through the Bruce years', but his time must be surely coming to an end with us at some point in the near future. And when he does move on, I'd wish him every success wherever he goes. Can see him ending up at a club like Everton if not abroad.

Any random first-choice striker in the championship/league 1 or Chris Wood... I know what I'd pick.

Mentioned in https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11606337/Man-United-Liverpool-Arsenal-Chelsea-kids-hoping-shine-FA-Cup.html

We're the shithouses of the Premier League. Love it

Atlético Newcastle

The league's meanest defence gets another clean sheet.

I think Howe's easing him back in, he's an explosive player who's all 100% pace and strength. Must be very susceptible to re-injuury.

You've done it twice in this thread alone.