HawK

That Schar to Joelinton switch over the top has got teams absolutely flummoxed at the moment. With most of our build-up play this season coming down the right, they're just not thinking about it, and then it happens.

So this is what it's like to have a team that can 'go through the gears'.

I bet they have someone on their media time on this forum. If so, I'd like to take full credit for highlighting that catchphrase first Seriously though, he comes across well. Reminds me of Targett in some ways, in that the way he speaks doesn't make me think 'footballer'. Probably more going on between the ears than some might think. Hope his form and confidence continues into the last few games of the season, he's peaking just at the right time.

Bruno: "The best thing that happened in my life was to join to Newcastle. I'm so happy here, I think I'm living my dreams here. I have been playing very, very well since I signed for the club. The job of the guys, the job of the manager making me happy here, making my family happy, making me dream because since I signed, on my debut I said I'd like to play Champions League in this shirt and people said I was crazy because we were fighting for relegation. These guys are so ambitious, and I will keep the ambition because my life is like that, and I'm proud of what I'm doing here".

What happened?

Yep, not sure where you're coming from @The College Dropout, I think Lascelles is fine backup for Schar atm, with Burn for Botman and Targett for whomever we hopefully sign. The priority has to be a top tier left back before any other further cover imo.

Agree on eventually - but I think the more immediate solution is a top-tier left back so Burn can move in the middle to provide cover there. I know being left-footed on the right isn't ideal, especially with Trippier up the pitch, so runners will go down the outside of him on his wrong foot, but I think this does more for the team in the short term.

Trippier doesn't have the output he does without Schar. Schar is to the defence what Longstaff is to the midfield in that you'll definitely notice him when he's not there. For me, he's brilliant and I personally don't agree with any of the paper talk about 'buying a replacement for Schar who's getting old', he's got years left in him, he's never been about pace and I think he can be a maintstay at the back for us for a few more years yet.

Finishing above Man Utd for the first time in the PL era would be nice though.

If I have one immediate observation, it's that I think he can work on is his pass-and-move mentality. He gets the ball, holds it up well, lays it off, and his head goes down and he trots off towards the middle of the pitch. I wouldn't normally pick faults so early into a player' s career here, but he could really do with shadowing Almiron a bit in training - give-and-go is all he does. Maybe it's a fitness thing, but he doesn't seem to do much off the ball when we're in possession right now. I'm used to players like Joelinton, Willock, Murphy and Almiron making runs for Bruno but Gordon doesn't do this (yet).

Joelinton is not far off 10 either.

The point is, though, that each of those is good enough to play for England, but there should only be one spot for a player like that, and imo it should be Rice at the moment. Putting more than one reduces the dynamicism and stops off-the-ball runs into the final third as the player's natural instinct is to sit deeper and be the pivot when off the ball.

I'm 39 and I've been supporting Newcastle all my life. I think he's my favourite ever player.

Longstaff and Burn Bruno and Joelinton Isak and Willock Whole squad is full of bromances Seriously though, Isak and Willock's friendship and trust in each other's play is evident. The team spirit amongst our squad is the best I've ever seen at the club.

Please let that put to bed any notion that Longstaff is not an integral part in the engine of our midfield three. He let Bruno and Joelinton run riot. He might not be the most composed of finishers, and yes he seems to get caught in possession every couple of games, but off the ball he's absolutely vital.

They interviewed him after the game and Lloris was struggling to remember which muscle or body part was the problem that he was taken off for..

'Feelin' juicy' @Heron, you know what to do

I don't normally watch these, but that was very enjoyable. The fifth goal completely broke him, the character he was portraying was gone and the real silence of the deepest sadness had taken him over.

Wow I want French commentary on all our games now, sounds so passionate

I think he's come on a bit just throughout this post game coverage. The exchange with Trippier was so wholesome. More eye contact with the Sky host too. Keep at it Danny.

Considering they've got the ex France captain at the back, and the current England captain up top and the interviewer asks 'was there a lack of leadership today' to Lloris is damning.

No, just unwell.

That lass running the stands with the flag, that's an image that's going to be on highlight reels for years to come. Iconic.

Danny Rose has had well documented mental health issues, leave him alone. Brave man coming out with the honesty he has today.

Great performance, well done lad. What a goal.