TRon

What?

Outstanding debut. Love his calm head when the heat is on.

One of our best players again today, absolutely dumbfounded people still find something to moan about.

His pressing was first class today, when you see it up close it does impact more. I've been quite critical of him so far, but he certainly made himself a nuisance today, won everything in the air, just nothing really dropped for anyone, same as usual. But he was decent enough and gives us a focal point up front.

FWIW I had no doubt in my mind he was going to put that away. He barely flinched in the five minutes or so he was stood with the ball waiting for the VAR decision to be given. Just stood there looming over the goal like a portent of doom for Villa.

We were well in control in the first half, but losing Trippier and then Manquillo really threw us off a bit footballing wise. Not only in losing two good right backs who can bring the ball out, but also restricted our use of subs as we couldn't afford to make any changes early in the second half as we were down to our last sub. It wasn't pretty, but these are the games which if you can win them, make the difference.

Agreed, but Targett isn't available. The alternatives are a right back and a centre back playing out of position. Both of them are capable of doing a job, but it's not ideal either.

We just need someone to defend well behind ASM, Dummett has always been a decent defender IMO.

Feels like the best fit for this club since Keegan and SBR, and that's no disrespect to Rafa, this is purely about football philosophy which fits the club.

Dummett would be fine as well tbf, assuming he's fit.

Massive.

Plus games at the end of the season are a lottery. Many sides with nothing to play for will rest players, or if they are one of the big six, it's not conceivable they could chuck games if they think it might get Newcastle relegated. You always get some strange results at the end of the season, so we need to make sure our fate isn't in anyone else's hands.

Tell you what's the real take away, we are arguing about which player to drop to make way for Bruno, when we'd have happily dropped any one of them a couple of months ago regardless of Guimarães (yes I copied and pasted) being here. Trippier, and even Targett's debut was quite eye opening in the difference a bit of quality can make to what we are used to watching. You hardly dare to dream what we might look like in a year's time.

That's it, just chuck a 3-4-3 formation into the mix to confuse us further.

Well if that's true it would make him more of a direct replacement for Joelinton from our current bunch. I just think if you put him instead of Willock, you lose some goal threat, and you still have a lumbering DM who's not really a DM in Shelvey, so I'd be worried someone like Coutinho would have a field day. Anyhow, will be interesting to see the line up on Sunday, you could make a case for either or Shelvey/Willock. Both have weak parts to their game, I suppose it just depends what Howe trusts will work better on the day.

Can't really see Shelvey getting anywhere near Coutinho either tbh, would be only Bruno who might be able to stifle him as he looks like he can keep pace without much trouble when dealing with quicker more agile forwards.

The reason is quite simply that most of us have assumed he was primarily a defensive midfielder who can bring the ball out. Watching highlights of his fantastic passing and carrying the ball doesn't necessarily change his primary role. It's great that he can do most everything, although notably doesn't offer much of a goal threat, so that would be why he's probably seen more of a disruptor and playmaker type. I assumed he would be replacing Shelvey based on that, but if he's actually more of an AM then I can see the logic of playing him further forward instead of Willock.

Spot on.

Especially after the win against Everton. Personally I was aiming for 5 points from the three games against Everton, Villa and West Ham. Not spectacular, but a steady accumulation against very decent teams. If we get more, great, but I doubt other teams at the bottom will match that.

Heard he had something of a calf niggle at the end, but presumably it was just an after effect of a gruelling game and shouldn't keep him out on Sunday, since we've heard nothing since.

I'd prefer a midfield of Bruno, JL and Willock. No Shelvey at all.

Went to register NUFC TV after watching that, and realised I'm already a member. Says everything about how we've been run that I never even bothered logging on for years.

Wow, I loved watching that.

The only logic I can see in starting Shelvey ahead of Willock is if we aren't looking to press too high early in the game, and are looking to just control the tempo. Then maybe bring Willock on as a sub when we need to ramp it up. But let's be clear, neither of them are undroppable, both have glaring weaknesses in their game. I think Willock can improve though, so at some point I think he'll be starting ahead of Shelvey in the not too distant future. Although both might be upgraded in the summer if the owners are as ambitious as we think they are.

He doesn't give the ball away much, I guess that's worth something.