TRon

I think if we don't get CL, then he would probably be looking at going to a club where he can achieve that every season. Newcastle are still not at that stage so I can understand that he might start getting itchy feet. But he has a long contract so we hold the whip hand. Eales has already set the club's stall out that we are keeping him, so unless we get a really big offer, then he stays here, even if he would prefer to move on.

My gameplan there would be forget about possession, don't worry about playing it out, just get everyone defending 100% then smash them on the counter.

Think that would be a mistake. We aren't going to win the possession battle so we should just go with raw end product. We could set out a plan to concede possession over the 90 mins - which will happen anyway - but just beat them with sheer end product. Barnes-Isak-Murphy might not give you flowing football, but there's a potential winning goal or two if we can keep it tight at the back.

Since they use their defenders to link up with their midfield, we don't really win that battle either IMO. Otherwise we'd dominate possession, and I don't remember the last time we did that against them. We win it on paper only.

We don't have the money to look for two centre halves. I would imagine we'd just keep using Dan Burn assuming we expect Botman to be fit for next season.

I think they would have been fucked if it wasn't for our injuries. That gives them a better chance of overhauling us, if they don't qualify some of their loan signings are not exactly prudent from a PSR perspective.

At least Eales is putting out positive noises. If we take what he says at face value, just means we'll have to keep building steadily and put our CL aspirations back a couple of years. He's said all the right things about keeping our best players (although if we get a big offer we would still sell I would imagine) and he's said the owners are in it for the long term, with Howe as manager. Qualifying for Europe in some form is about as high as we can realistically aim for right now.

I don't really have any expectations from this now, so fairly relaxed about it. Don't think we have much chance, but never thought our chances were great even before the injuries. Would like to see us just play a carefree game and try to execute whatever the gameplan is without worrying about winning or losing.

If it means saving Isak for the final, then I would be prepared to take my chances against West Ham with a Wilson combo. If Isak aggravates any niggles then we could be having to face the rest of the season with Osula/Wilson. Not that Wilson would see out the season.

We also have the option to throw Osula in the mix as well. A combo of him and Wilson should offer some threat against a team like West Ham who aren't exactly tearing up the league this year.

Fuck me, I wish I hadn't logged in.

Feels like the season is teetering a bit.

Yeah I was talking about recent games and I made that pretty clear. I also am a big fan of his general play, and I did say that in that post. But feels like we are relying on Isak for goals in the last few games and that was what I was getting at.

He was a good signing just from that perspective. No brainer really.

To be clear, Isak is my favourite player and I do NOT want to lose him. I still think we will keep him for one more year, hopefully more if we can get CL. But if we don't, and we are going to sell him, I would rather do it on our terms with a good chunk of his contract still to run, where we can get what he is worth.

We need to come to terms with selling our best players if we don't make CL basically. That's how you operate under PSR restrictions, so I'm just assuming that's how we are setting out our stall these days until someone tells me that the APT restrictions are not enforcable.

I think games like this where we really do need a win to stay in touch with the top 5, we tend to win, especially coming off a disappointing loss. The players will be that much focused and on it I reckon. That makes a big difference.

Bournemouth fans and Howe rated him. I would put that above what I saw in a few games here.

That means a lot. Howe is not perfect, he will get things wrong. But Keegan is spot on in getting to the heart of it, and it's the same as Keegan's own time here. He didn't get everything right, but he got most of it. He was Mr Newcastle, and Howe is similar. He just gets what the city is all about.

Not really a massive surprise.

100%

Honestly, I think we got a lot wrong on the day, I'm hoping this time Eddie will have the team well prepared and with a good gameplan which they can feel confident in executing. The rest will look after itself.

I think the team gives the fans energy. If they are confident and playing their game it will filter through to the fans. If they are flat and fearful, then the crowd will reflect it. I think that's the same for any fans tbh.

We'll find a way to win, no question about it.