TRon

Barnes should have smashed that across the goal.

It is. we look like we have come to win.

Howe's interview has given me a real shot in the arm, I am starting to feel this now.

Eddie saying exactly the right things, don't play up the occasion and just get the players to go to work.

Liking Eddie's new quiff

For the UHD tbh, although I'm not sure there's much difference.

Switched to Sky Sports. Fuck it.

Looks confident.

Yeah hard to dislike him but obviously today I would like him to fall off his dugout seat in anguish and crack his dome like Humpty Dumpty.

Slot is so measured and well spoken. Doesn't look like anything gets him overexcited.

I get the comfort blanket of having Barnes on the bench, but if we think he is one of our best chances of scoring a decisive goal, then he has to start.

I think both Sandro and Bruno will have the technique and temperament for the occasion if the supporting players can do their part.

Not really feeling any excitement so far, I would be looking more forward to a PL game if I'm honest. I just feel numb.

Depends who they are up against really. If Spurs and Man U were performing according to their status it would make our job a lot harder. I'm sure those clubs would be classifying their big money signings as D's as well.

It will be more about making the stadium a big earner from third party events I would think, like concerts, conferences, maybe even shopping and restaurants. I think that's what they are doing at Spurs and other new stadiums.

Agree. People tend to swing wildly in here from "Howe is NOT the man to take us forward!!" to "Fuck off you twat, how dare you question the messiah!" I think our CEO seems to have exactly the right attitude, all the noise from the top is that we have a top manager and he will continue to be backed. I don't see that changing until he's being outperformed by teams with less resources, and even then you have to account for one off seasons.

We can win, but we can't replicate what PSG did. They made Liverpool look like a kick and rush team, PSG's passing was super quick and really intricate. We just don't have that level of technique across the pitch to do it like that. But yeah we can definitely bring a higher intensity and get after them, so we'll have to play to our strengths more.

Fucking hell, just seen this now, so pleased for him. What a shot in the arm right before a cup final! Fair play Tuchel, that is truly out of the box thinking.

I think he's a great manager, and is destined to go on to be a top one, but he does have to prove it over more than one season. Plus, being a great manager doesn't necessarily mean he'd be the right manager for us. Would he stay if Man U came calling after one season of success at Newcastle? You know Howe isn't going anywhere unless he feels he's not being backed.

Salah's agreed a new three year deal hasn't he?

I think it's realistic, we probably have a smaller population to pull from than other cities. North of Newcastle is hardly densely populated.

You could argue that tactically Iraola has got the better of Howe this season, one of the games I thought we were comprehensively outplayed, and by a team with less resources. But that was one match, and despite them having a great season, we don't know how he will pan out long term. Regardless, tactics aren't everything either, Howe is also a great fit for Newcastle in that he feels the city in his bones. You won't get that with many managers, and probably why Rafa was so loved while he was here as well.

From what I read it's not going to be on the stadium itself, it will be on the surrounding areas. If they get funding for it, then surely we could apply for the same if we build a new stadium.

The question about how poor we are in possession can at least partly be put down to lack of quality in some areas. Until we get top tier performers in all areas of the pitch, you could argue it would be difficult to play possession football against the best teams. He can't really be judged properly until he's got a team where he can compete on a truly equal footing.