HawK

Glad to hear he did well, I see he didn't start the first two Swiss games. I think he's very underrated, even by our own support, and even now that we're flying high. There are moments you see from players sometimes that makes you realise they really fucking care. Shay Given when he left under a cloud to join City due to his dismay at the direction we were taking. José Enrique left to go to a club with 'more ambition'. I remember Fabian Schar absolutely seething in an interview once after a game on the pitch (found a transcript below) : [quote="https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/read-fabian-schars-explosive-interview-after-newcastle-united-defeat-3028910]“Everybody had a **** game, to be honest,” said the defender. “And we can't continue like this. We had a good game (in the 2-1 home win against) Everton, then we start a game like this. All the players need to come together more. It's what we need to think about – everybody needs to look at themselves and do a better job. I don't think we can keep going like that. If we keep playing like that, it's not enough.” [/quote] I knew then that he was one of those players that cared a lot about his job. His demeanor was beyond his words, I can't find the video, but he was fucking angry. From that moment I knew we had a proper player, skillful beyond what he was allowed to show from what I could see, and an absolute bang-on attitude. He's not fast, he doesn't have to be, he's so good with the ball at his feet and the way he strikes a ball doesn't need any mention on here. I've been watching Newcastle since 94, and I think that collectively him and Botman are the best central defence partnership we've had in all my time supporting the club. We've had outstanding individuals before - Albert and Woodgate spring to mind, and Woodgate for me is still the best I've seen, but he had Andy O'Brien or Titus Bramble for teammates and was also injured a lot. Don't know what point I'm making now, just a brain fart on our defenders over the years, but Schar is up there in my top 4 with Woodgate, Albert, Botman and himself.

How did he do today? Didn't get to see the matches. Saw he got top ratings on bbc sport.

Hopefully fulfils more of his potential than Vuckic did

It would be interesting from a footballing aspect if Spain devolved Pais Vasco to the point where they'd be recognised by FIFA and they formed a football federation that just elected Athletic as the defacto national team. Might help Bilbao keep their players if it's a route to their new 'national team', and they compete domestically and internationally.

I think a lot comes from the player, if he wants to go he'll be off

The closest you'd get to this is Athletic Bilbao, they have a few exceptions where some players went to play for France, and now Inaki is playing for Ghana. They'd probably do more than alright in the WC as 'Spain'. Better? Not sure, Spain have been exceptional for over a decade now.

Newcastle would win the world cup easily, but so would half the teams in the PL tbh. It's down to tactical familiarity and player familiarity mostly.

Strikers fouled after the shot's away and not even discussed as a foul/penalty.

Asking for a friend....

You know what I mean :P https://kawa-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/saudi-arab.jpg Even Princess Diana wore headscarves to Mosques and to Muslim countries iirc

Can't even tie his own laces, get rid

I'd imagine it all comes under the NUFC umbrella now, they'll be getting a hell of a lot more funding regardless of the gate. The real question is, will they ever go on tour to Saudi, and will they be asked to wear clothes appropriate to Saudi culture, or will Saudi just pretend internally that the team doesn't exist... interested to see how it plays out. Bit like a car crash in slow motion I can't see any good outcome but can't help keep watching.

Migoalito Almiron

I can't say that's how I recall him playing, he's anonymous for extended periods in games where we're not streamrolling teams. Edit - I worked it out, OK they're both about the same

I think you might have them backwards, tbh. Wilson is a poacher, he offers little to nothing in build-up or link-up play imo. I recall Isak being the fulcrum up front at Anfield who we played through.

Regardless of the (lack of) impact he's made, this 6 months being around the first team players and Eddie will be absolutely invaluable in providing a platform for him to work from for whichever club he goes on loan to in the second half of the season. He'll have clear goals, objectives and be sent to a club and manager that will know how he needs to be used to develop. There's no way Eddie and Dan Ashworth won't be involved in selecting where his top prospect plays. I have no idea about Shola as a staff member so I have no opinion of him in this regard, but it did really work out well on the last loan he arranged, so wherever he ends up, I have faith in the process.

SCENES

The subtitles a very good interpretation, he speaks very simply but the interpretator has conveyed the equivalent English-isms rather than just translate word-for-word. Spanish does tend to be a simple language, mind.

Always ends up at Man Utd in my FM saves

Not sure I agree - power over accuracy works well a lot of the time, because you don't know exactly where it's going to go. As you just have a general area, you become harder to read, and if the keeper does get it right, the power can help ensure he won't get to it in time. All of Pope's saves were from really timid penalties with no power.

You don't get it from the cropping, but he's so good at reading the player. No coincidence in a subsequent interview he said he'd 'picked up a few things' from being in a few shoot-outs before. Players get told, pick a spot and don't change your mind. But when you got a keeper that can seemingly read as well as Pope can, that's a recipe for disaster. Won't work against the ones that wait for you to commit to a side before taking the shot (Sampras-style serving to use a tennis analogy), or the ones that just power through and don't really aim, mind. Still, he's so good it's ridiculous.

Exactly the same as my thoughts on all counts, Wallsendmag.

The player that is Bruno, that plays with an almost unfathomable amount of confidence to marry up with his tremendous skill, is also going to be a player that won't do the simple things at times. I don't want him to change, I love him for who he is, faults and all. Carry on taking penalties (if you're allowed after last night!) in any way you bloody like, mate.