HawK

Why does Tyrick Mitchell look so much like an extra out of The Wire?

Oh, god Gordon up front again. We're fked

Tonali in again to try to break it up

I'm up for it but only to accommodate Barnes, our join top scorer this season.

Burn at full stride like a galloping giraffe, love it

Hopefully Barnes for Willock if there's a sub to be made

At the risk of spam, so good from Tonali defensively there

Tonali rescuing Tino after a good read of the game by Hall

With players like Isak, Hall, Tonali, Bruno, Schar we certainly have enough players to make a good fist of playing a more possession-based system.

Aye, Almiron is the epitome of what I call a 'head-down' player, Ritchie and Maxi the most recent players before him. These are players that only have their head up when they are about to receive the ball, then cannot operate unless they're looking at the ball at their feet. If they get space with the ball, they'll then look up for options - a pass, a cross or a shot. Unless something is very close and obvious, it's very limiting for a team as it doesn't really matter what options teammates give them. PL-level players should be able to retain the ball whilst looking for options imo.

Really, really hoping for a good performance from Tonali & Bruno together. I almost don't care about the result in the short term, we need to get these 2 dovetailed properly so that we can begin to see the benefits for the rest of the season.

He needs to get to Tonali and Bruno playing together. They are mainstays of Italy and Brazil. If that means changing the shape of the team, it needs to happen. We're not married to 4-3-3.

Aye, we've the second best defensive record in the league but only Everton, Palace and Southampton have scored less than us. Now we've got Willock back and have some strength off the bench pushing the first team I think this is the game it'll click. Let alone it's a long old trip on a Monday night for West Ham and their fans, and I've heard they're all going to have to leave the game early to get a train back as the last train to London leaves before the match ends.

I'm going for a legit 6-0 here. I reckon Barnes is going to come on and get 2.

Aye then Osula can take the pressure off Wilson for the last 15 too.

Funny to think that if he ever ended up here, and there was a couple of keeper injuries, 4 of the England back 5 could legitimately be Newcastle players.

I think he might conserve his energy and wait for a summer move

Could do a job for Palace I think

Not sure I agree with this - I believe he is a top player, but he's not got as much about him defensively as others who would play in his position at our club. I believe one of the reasons Leicester went down with him, Maddison, Tielemans, Vardy etc. is that team had no defensive backbone and too many offensive players. There's definitely room for a Harvey Barnes in most sides in the league I think, as long as there's other players who can carry him defensively. I believe Howe just wants to drill that defensive mentality into him as well so he becomes part of our machine.

BDB is always on the edge. Schar I think is even further towards absolute red mist. Wouldn't change them one bit. Very intimdating pair tbh.

That's a good stat tbh - I'd like to see the results tho, who we were vs etc.

I was one of his biggest fans whilst he was here, but It hought he looked lost out there yesterday. Good ball retention but seemed disconnected from their play in both directions.

That highlight does Anderson no favours at all tbh. Doesn't spot the danger, until too late until the play has gone past him. He was worse just before it starts too, he was turned around facing the bench and gesticulating as well.