Cronky

Cunha is a good player for sure, but what we ideally need is a left footed player to play on the right, who can also cover the striker position. Mbuemo ticks both boxes.

Eddie isn't a gun for hire, so maybe his eventual trophy haul won't be as big as the likes of Ferguson or Guardiola. But what he's achieved in his career so far is equally remarkable, and like Ferguson and Clough, it's been with two different clubs. It's no fluke. Whatever happens from hereon in, he's one of the greats already as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not sure that Pep's heart is really still in it. I wouldn't be surprised if he left at the end of the season. I also wonder whether Phil Foden would be better off elsewhere. He was one of the best players of his age group in the world, and perhaps the best, but his game doesn't seem to have developed in the way that it ought, over the last 2 years. City's style is quite regimented, and I think he needs more freedom. The post-match discussion was spoilt by Roy Keane and his usual rants about making more effort. Izzy and Micah were doing their best to raise the tone, but they were fighting a losing battle.

Is there an element of guilt about that? He did get the sack. The Board and what seemed to be most fans turned against him.

I think we've been interested in Quansah for a while now.

On the subject of KK and a return to the ground, there's something very 'all or nothing' about the guy. His career is full of sudden appearances, sudden departures, long absences and periods of apparent commitment. Being a bit player isn't his thing, and at the same time he's right in not wanting in any way to upstage Eddie.

Thank you. Should have gone to Specsavers.

Sorry, I don't get that. I'm old. What did he mean by 'Why don't I bring him out?'

Well posted. And Eddie was taking over a club with fewer resources in a far weaker position. I called this a while back. This guy is a rare talent.

I’d agree that he’s a very good player, but we’re not flush with money and there are more pressing needs. Someone will probably get lucky though and scoop this kid up for a fraction of what he’s worth. I suspect that one of the major problems that Amorim has brought on is that he seems to have pissed off two very promising youngsters in Mainoo and Garnacho.

Yeah, I was thinking of Leicester. Going from relegation certainties to the Champions League in 18 months was an incredible feeling.

We don't look any different from the Southgate era, so far at least. The build-up is a bit slow and deliberate. I've got a downer on the usual suspects. Rice doesn't pass with any daring or imagination, Walker doesn't want the ball, and Rashford struggles in confined spaces. But our big lad has done well.

Don't be such a miserable git.

I came across this from Pat Nevin, and I feel that it's worthy of its own thread. 'Unless you support a particular team involved, there are some cup finals that can soon be forgotten. The Carabao Cup final at the weekend will not be one of those. This was instant history that will endure. There was folklore being written and magic being created in front of our eyes. I wrote in my newsletter last week that this would be the most important week in Newcastle’s history for many decades. A win in the league, which was delivered on Monday at West Ham and the defeat of Liverpool at Wembley could lead to a statue of Eddie Howe outside St James’ Park one day. Well, go out and buy that chisel now. The story was special because of those long years when they had waited and suffered in that football-mad town. There was also the fact that they were huge underdogs against Liverpool and of course there was the local hero Dan Burn scoring an unforgettable header. This will forever be the iconic moment, even though it was not the winner. All this helped crystallise this into a unique occasion. In reality, it was something else less tangible that made this extra special. It is the Newcastle supporters past and present and how they follow their team. That Geordie army stayed passionate and dedicated to the club after all those years of desperate, unrequited longing for a trophy. Even when they heartbreakingly lost finals over the years, the fans stayed post-match to cheer the team on and share their sorrow. If you had a look at the other end of Wembley, seconds after the final whistle, the red sea had departed already. The vast majority of supporters for other ‘big’ teams supporters would have done the same. Newcastle fans are different. The club may have new wealthy Middle Eastern owners but the celebrations in the wider football world have been for Newcastle United’s true ‘owners’, the fans who have followed them and who represent the best of what supporting a football club should be.’

The player I'd really like to see us sign is Dean Huijsen. Everyone seems to be after him, including Real, PSG and Liverpool, but I'm hoping we have a chance. There's a £50m release clause about to kick in, we have a connection with Bournemouth, and I think he would get games with us right away, despite being 19 years old. And of course Sunday's events won't do us any harm.

It felt like Tino came of age. He was the player I was most worried about, because he often looks indecisive and reluctant to receive the ball. There was none of that yesterday.

There were so many classy moments yesterday - Eddie calmly doing the post-match courtesies to the Liverpool coaches before celebrating, Trippier and Bruno lifting the cup together, Yasir being invited to lift the cup, and the club photographer being urged by the players to join the celebration photo. Eddie has instilled such a good family atmosphere around the club, and I think that is one of the reasons why supporters of other clubs have been able to share the occasion with us. I don't think I'm being fanciful here.

I thought we were going to have to win by defending and sneaking a goal from somewhere. I should have known better. Just like when we were battling relegation, we took the game to the opposition in a positive manner and fully deserved our success. I don't know how Eddie does it, but I'm so glad he's ours.

I think I now feel differently about my club. It's like a nagging tinge of failure inside me has been lifted. It's only now it's gone that I've realised it was there.

Can anyone doubt now that this manager is our greatest ever?

Seeing that thread title has finally brought the tears flowing. It's taken a while to sink in. This is Eddie's triumph. He has pulled off many an unexpected result in his time here, but this was going to have to be the greatest, and so it was. He reduced the best team in the country to a shambles.

Yet again, our Eddie proves himself the master of the occasion. It would have been easier and safer to have rested or protected some players, but he went for it. Sunday will be a different matter, but at least we will now be entering the contest unafraid. Our guy has cojones as well as brains. The selection of Joelinton with his 9 yellow cards was particularly noteworthy. Big Joe does like to get stuck in, but Eddie showed faith in him.

I haven't seen the entire game, but on the basis of what I saw, I agree. He seemed to be trying to do too much on his own.

The two players that I've got my eyes on are Mbuemo and Huijsen, and they look like possibilities.

I don't think Eddie was playing his full hand, and Slot realises that. There's still some hope for Wembley, even though at the end it felt like men against boys. Isak makes a big difference. Bad sight of the night was Gordon insisting on taking that free kick in the second half instead of Schar. I hope Eddie has a word with him.