HawK

If we played a 4-2-3-1, it'd be Isak in the '10' hole, just behind Wilson imo. I think we've got the players for it but Howe only goes 4-3-3 so I don't think we're going to see a game where we start out like that. Something like L.staff/Tonali-Bruno Gordon--Isak--Joelinton/Barnes ---------Wilson-----------

I think most scepticism around him joining last January was more to do with us seemingly weak in other positions, notably left back, and us relatively stacked where he would be playing. I was supportive of the player when he joined and wanted him to do well, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that we hadn't gone out and signed a 40m left back instead. Discussions around budgets and FFP were absolutely rife and no-one really knew if we had any more money to spend, and if we did, it should go to filling the biggest holes in the team. Gordon signed when Almiron, Murphy, Maxi, Joelinton were on the wings with an argument at the time for Isak playing wide and possibly Anderson breaking into the team on the flanks rather than in the middle of the pitch. To me, Gordon signing didn't seem to make sense at the time, regardless of his undoubted potential. I also think it's fair to say that none of us believed he had the quality when he joined to instantly displace Maxi or Almiron (who'd just come off an insane purple patch) and Maxi was still living off that City performance. As we've now had another transfer window under belts, it's become abundantly clear that the club are creating a foundation to build a team from for the future, not just now, with the signings of Hall and Livramento. In hindsight, the Gordon signing makes a lot of sense. Players of a certain mindset, age and potential. Whilst most of us loved Maxi, he was never going to last long in Howe's Newcastle Utd, he's just not that type of player. I was so used to the club's approach of sell-before-we-buy that I hadn't even considered they'd be looking to sell someone on already at the club to make room for him after Gordon joined. Also, I think his move to us has made him as a player, I don't see him getting player of the tournament with the U21s if he was still with Everton. This club - from Stavely to Howe, the coaches and to the support he's received from the fans of the club has brought him on to a whole new level. After years, decades of mis-management and at best a scatter-gun approach to squad-building which wasn't exclusive to just Ashley's reign, it's quite disconcerting to slowly realise that the people running our club actually know what they're doing and they might be better at it than us fans. Part of my identity as a Newcastle fan has centred around following a club that sort of bumbled about as best it could, to one that resembled an Outlet-store masquerading as a football club. It's hard to start trusting something you've spent the best part of 30 years in my case distrusting. I guess I feel like one of them chimps kept in a cage for 30 years in a laboratory who finally gets released to a place where they can see the sky for the first time.

Has he had a testimonial yet? Thought you tend to get one off-season after 10 years

Yep he was a CB.

Imagine chasing this guy out of his boyhood club

That's insane

Longstaff - Miley - Anderson Keeping out Tonali and Bruno Is this real life .jpg

I just can't see a midfield without him starting, if we're playing 3 in the middle, it's Longstaff and Bruno plus one right now.

Deserves a call-up.

Always has both hands in the air demanding the ball. As teammates begin to trust him more he's going to become so important to us in retaining possession.

Is that yet another clean sheet in a row with him starting? He is absolutely vital to our defensive solidarity. Teams cut through us like butter down the middle when he's not there.

Won't get the headlines, but I think he's had a fantastic game.

I wouldn't say that Carver is even a manager tbh, he's a coach who's somehow landed the managerial post at both Toronto and a Cyrpriot team and walked into Newcastle because Ashley. Bruce our worst ever manager, Pardew my most hated and Carver for all intents and purposes is a good coach but just isn't cut out for management.

I don't see any harm in people speculating with the information available at the time. Having ideas and discussing opinions is healthy. As information becomes available, it really isn't healthy though to turn around and say 'hah, you were wrong' or 'see, i was right', when without that information no-one could be the wiser, it's just luck, at best educated luck. So in this instance, we now know he's had next to no training for a month which to me at least makes a lot of sense when analyzing his performances. Without that information, though, there's a relatively safe assumption to be made that the lad is training with the rest of the squad and for some reason wasn't following the tactical instructions - whether that's fitness, a language barrier, or just too much information (Gordon spoke of this when he came here). But I don't get the smugness some people get from calling out people who discuss possibilities like this after the fact when the real reasons are made available.

Hot take, would it be completely crazy to suggest trying Trippier as a 6? He played as a CM all his youth career and he can certainly receive a ball in tight spaces and retain it far better than Longstaff. He's got the engine and the durability... passing range... Livramento in and a 3 in the middle of Trips, Tonali, Bruno... /tinhat

Well my little river has run its course. Can't get nufc.co.uk commentary to load either.

---Bruno-Tonali--- Gordon-Isak-Barnes -------Wilson-------

He'll be living off that one for a while then

Aye we could really do with some variety.

Really hoping Anderson puts in a top performance. It's his moment now.

Extremely pleased with this lineup, as you say, so many questions can be answered this evening.

Ironing on that sleeve is criminal

3rd ep was my favourite tbh.

Literally the worst way to manage a squad in my opinion. What's the point in having squad depth then not dropping out of form players. Where's the motivation for the 'best XI' if they know they'll get picked no matter how badly they play. I'm Joelinton's biggest fan but he shouldn't have started Liverpool let alone Brighton. Anderson and Longstaff should have had way more minutes in the first 4 games imo.

So pumped, bring it on