Shak

Thought so initially, on replay it looked a bit more like Di Maria bought it to some extent but there's contact and Dembele was very clumsy. Dembele also looked incredibly guilty, which maybe gives the game away a bit?

Fucking come on!

De Paul used to be class, right?

I'm unreasonably proud of 'Coxinha Mackem' tbh

Think the mask has just slipped as the years have gone by, to be honest.

Which would people prefer? - Win the League Cup and fall away in the league and finish 7th. - Win nothing but keep pace all the way in the league and finish 2nd.

Flip the old Coxinha Mackem spewing his anti-Newcastle agenda again.

Amazed that there's no club shop on Saudi yet tbh

Hope we nickname him Ben Kvarfa if he signs.

As exciting as a link like that is I do feel the whole point of getting Ashworth in is that we're going to look to sign players like Kvaradonna at the stage Napoli did rather than paying massive transfer fees for them once they've got all the top clubs after them. We have shown with Isak we'll pay big money for what we think is the right player though. From my Dennis Wise scouting he looks well suited to the Premier League, quite a physical style he plays with. And this... https://themastermindsite.com/2022/09/24/khvicha-kvaratskhelia-player-analysis/ ... sounds like exactly what Eddie Howe would want from a winger in terms of his defensive workrate.

Morocco have done better since the goal than I expected tbh. France are probably more likely to nick a second on the break but Morocco have been decent in possession IMO and look like they could create something.

Will it make easier on Morocco That they've got someone to blame?

What continent do you associate them with?

Well that's probably that. Huge mistake from the defender going for the interception. Keeper should have attacked the ball before it dropped too, I thought.

It's our average athleticism, Kanji. Only thing holding us back.

Aye and Di Maria is exactly the kind of player you'd want off the bench if you're chasing a game too.

Argentina manager deserves a lot of credit. Built a system that allows Messi to just walk around when they don't have the ball, the fact that a 35 year old man doesn't look at all jaded after 6 full games in three weeks is quite impressive.

Can't expect these guys to have your footballing brain and savvy, Kanji.

Wish Ireland could produce a player like Messi.

Think it would have been a red under the old rules, really good change. Jammiest goal ever

I didn't think Isak looked massively comfortable leading the line in the Palace or Bournemouth home games. Obviously he was still bedding into the team and both games we had Fraser on the left so hardly ideal in terms of creating chances but I can see an argument for him playing just off a main striker in some games. For a while, at least. The Liverpool game was the opposite because Liverpool were trying to take the game to us and Isak was able to find space and looked dangerous. Wouldn't be shocked if we saw him playing out wide with Wilson up top in games we're expecting teams to sit back a bit more, then Wilson going to the bench in away games.

Depends on what Howe's plans are for Isak, to some extent. Seems like he'll be the main man at CF eventually but from what we've seen of him so far I expect he'd be very useful in either of the wide roles too. Obviously off the left cutting inside on his preferred foot you'd expect him to be comfortable but given how advanced Trippier plays at RB the RW role could work too? Was a lot of talk that he'd take Almiron's place when he signed so I think they might have confidence he can pick up the slack if Almiron's form dips. Really do hope we get one first team player in quickly in January. Could be huge for the push for a CL spot. Happy to add youngsters as the depth for the most part but one player to be an immediate impact would be huge IMO. Personally think the ideal signing for us is a left footed striker who can also play out right if needed. Isak's injury lingering is a worry and obviously we know Wilson is always going to have us holding out breath so another player who isn't Chris Wood would be huge. A young Robin Van Persie type, ideally. If that's not too much to ask

My enduring memory of Luque will always be the debate on here about what exactly he was trying to express with the way he celebrated after scoring away to Sunderland.

Tempting fate a bit there, like

Aye, could see Howe turning Pulisic into an absolute force. Our system and style of play should really suit what he does best.