TRon

We won't pass our way there for sure. Get the ball up there to Wood, and then have another forward sniffing close by to pick up the knockdowns or lay-offs. The only one capable of doing it for me is Willock. Not ASM Not Fraser Not Miggy Just Willock.

I get the feeling it's one of those made up rumours though, nothing at all to suggest there's been serious feelers put out.

I just saw Pep's press conference where a journalist announced that Newcastle are going to Saudi Arabia, and would he be doing the same, and he said no. To me the question reeked of jealousy and resentment constant with the general disillusionment that we are challenging the big boys now. But I must stress, this is just my interpretation.

He plays like he's 59.

He'll be 31 in April, that would mean 3 strikers at the club around 30yrs in age, for a combined fee of about £70m. Actually it doesn't sound that bad when you look at it like that.

It's also showing little connection with our fans, who have been incredibly supportive of Howe to this point. Only the social media incel types are talking in such weird terms.

Which is why I think we should just bypass the midfield, and go 5-2-3 or 3-5-1-1 or some shit like that. The midfielders we've got are non-existent anyway to all extents and purposes.

He talks such a good game it's impossible to not be impressed.

Maybe Shelvey will go through a purple patch and score 7 goals in the remainder of the season. Here's hoping.

Don't remember the exact specifics (as usual) but I do recall backing KK publicly, but in private getting more and more worried as the games ran down. But what will always stick in my mind is Keegan telling the players to keep passing, to keep playing and not worry about results, he would take complete responsibility for them. That was him to a tee though, he always knew how to get the best out of even the shittest bunch of players.

I mean it's just a dumb comment, we saw from last season Willock can score goals, he knows how to find space in the area. What he can't do is play a CM role where's doing the dirty work. Neither can Shelvey, and I'm not sure what else he offers.

He might score a goal, Shelvey won't. If you are playing a 3 man midfield, I'd go with Longstaff and Joelinton to provide the backbone, and let Willock have a bit of freedom as an attacking midfielder.

No you couldn't, it was absolutely horrific for the first 8 games, and there were plenty of knee jerk wankers saying we should never have brought him back, bring back Allardyce etc.

We don't actually know that though. Could be Fernandez himself has been crying off for a lot of games. It's all speculation at this point one way or the other.

This. He's playing the right way, just look at all the successful teams these days. But short term he should be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep us up, even if that means parking the bus in the odd game.

He should have shown more flexibility IMO, and yes results do matter, but long term I think he would be more of an answer than someone like Rafa or Mourinho. Tbh, I'm getting fed up with this harking back to Rafa, he's shown nothing since he left here, he flopped in China, now he's made an even bigger mess at Everton. I really don't want to rag on the bloke, but it's disrespectful to Howe to be talking about him after 11 games.

I still think he'll turn it around fwiw. He deserves the chance to show what he can do with players he brings in to play his own way.

Agree. I like him immensely, but you have to make the best of what you've got. I know this squad has serious failings, but I think shoe-horning players into his preferred formations rather than picking one that suits the players he's got has backfired. Let's see what he can do when he brings in players to do his own style, he's still got 18 games left. It's stay up or bust basically.

It's clear he wants to go to a London club, West Ham or A.N.Other, but seems like he'd be happy enough to come here until the summer when he could move wherever he likes. Once here, I think he'd put in 100% for sure, never seen him as the lazy type, just not quite been good enough to challenge Chelsea, City or Liverpool class strikers. Yes we are getting our eyes pulled out, but he probably would be the type of player who would make a difference. Who gives a shit if he won't be here after the summer? If we stay up we'd probably be looking to buy better anyway.

Still don't understand the Tarkowski link, he doesn't look particularly quick, and he's no spring chicken, so not sure he's going to provide much different to what we've already got. Agree, he might be a bit better, but enough to make a difference? can't see it. We'll just end up with another depreciating asset we've taken from Burnley for big money.

I'm getting the feeling we might end up going with secondary targets, seems like we are being asked for king's ransoms for our primary ones, with relegation clauses or ridiculous loan fees for the likes of Lingard. I'm ok with that tbh, I think we need players who are in 100% come what may.

Not really bothered about a permanent deal tbh, only need him for this season.

Yeah, nothing to offer other than boatloads of cash. Can see why they wouldn't be interested at all.

Which is why you would have thought we were favourites for a loan, who else would want to pay a stupidly high loan fee?

As long as it's to us.