greydos

On reflection I think Howe is perfect for where we are right now. He seems to like forging an "us against them" mentality which is what he had at Bournemouth, with outside perceptions saying they had a ceiling of League One or Championship and the points deduction. He also feels it is important to have a club where the fans will be patient and still support the team through a run of bad results where the team continue to try and take the attack to the opposition. You couldn't ask for a more "us verses them" club at the moment than us. Everyone hates us or wants us to fail or wants us to stay a small club and go down. Plus, the stadium will always support the team, particularly if they're trying to play football in the right way. I think he's got real room to grow as a manager. He needs to learn to delegate a bit more so he doesn't get burnt out. I think my 2 biggest concerns are around tactics and signings. Re tactics, his coaches voice video was not as impressive as that of Xavi. Xavi's was full of detailed patterns of play in each third of the pitch. Howe's was more generalised, more basic. Still a million times better than what Bruce would do (anything is better than nothing), but lacking compared with Xavi or even Fonseca on patterns of play. The thing about Xavi and Fonseca in particular was their patterns of play worked irrespective of formation. They both talked about a philosophy of football that worked no matter what the formation. Howe seems a little stuck in needing a back 4 with full backs and wingers to create side of the pitch overlaps to retain possession. Regarding transfers, i don't think he's going to be the kind of manager that players abroad will sign because they want to play for him. Maybe in 2-3 years that perception will change when he's taken us into Europe and had a bit of premier league success. So in January we're basically signing players who are convinced by the "project", which really means can we show players we will spend sufficient money to get other good players to come to us, and then be coached into a coherent package by Howe? I hope so. Hopefully my observations on his tactical acumen are incorrect. I'll be firmly behind Howe. If he is a success, i can realistically see him being as goods Rogers, if not better. Exciting times!

I want to see if he gets Schar, Fernandez and Almiron in the team, with Maxi and Wilson obviously. Hope he has the stones to bin Lascelles. If we still have Ritchie LB, Krafth in the team, I’ll be well glum!

yes, please! Oh the tears of joy watching a newcastle midfielder on the ball not have a fit when an opposition player is within 5m of him. Actually stay calm, emerge with the ball having dropped a shoulder and played it into the half spaces? Too lush I just want this. I don’t need to win the league. Just mature possession and a cup run and I’m satisfied. ... well actually I want to win everything. But still, I’d be overjoyed before winning anything if we played properly

Thanks so much for this I’ve just signed up for the £1 per month for 6 months subscription. They’re long articles on there but seem great so far.

I’m all in for Fonseca. Improving ball retention can take the pressure off of our defence for long periods in games. Buy him a new spine of the team in January and he keeps us up no problem.

What the fuck I agree with the rest of the post. As a black man I can tell you College Dropout is right: Saint Maximan is black!

Great work! And Bruce is always talking about “having a crack.” Is he trying to send a message??

‘M’lud I refer the court to exhibit A - the floated set penis chart. The defense also calls Mike Williamson to the stand...’ No successful Defence ever calls on Mike Williamson!

Lascelles doing his “ghost of Steven Taylor past” impression was what killed us. Shocking defending. Step out and block the man. At least show him the outside and make him dribble towards touch.

“The Magpie Group” needs to go back in the title of this thread, for those causal visitors/guests who wander along and don’t know what “TMG” means. The group needs awareness and publication at all times in all mediums

I was at the game on that side of the pitch. This is right

My intake of breath was so sharp reading those first 2 paragraphs I nearly choked to death!

Ritchie for me. Best composure when given a clear sight of goal in the box.

In the 13 games he was here Townsend recorded 4 goals and 2 assists. Across a season that's just under 12 goals and 6 assists. Ritchie this year in the PL with 35 games recorded 3 goals and 5 assists. Admittedly, he probably would've had more of each with the bad luck of the few times he's hit the frame of the goal and our strikers being donkeys when the ball is presented on a plate. Still, I'd probably go with the view that under Rafa, Townsend is probably a bit of an upgrade. Or, in Townsend’s purple patch for the season he managed 1 more goal than Ritchie and 3 fewer assists. Just saying Townsend may have an unproductive 2/3 of a year and his numbers might turn out similar.

Love your use of “that” I agree wholeheartedly. Keep Ritchie. In an ideal world sell Atsu, get Kennedy and one more in

The big problem for me in swapping Ritchie for Townsend is that Ritchie’s a decent and reliable finisher in the box. Man U and Arsenal at home 2 important examples. Townsend seems to be more like Kieron Dyer with his inside the box finishing, not composed and very hit and miss. Outside the box he can dig like but still we need to guarantee the few clear cut openings we create in the box are buried and Ritchie does that better in my view.

After years of criminal under-investment in our squad Ashley’s trying to get out of jail with a Plea bargain!

Never a penalty. Poor decision. Even worse analysis from commentators. If England went out of the World Cup to a similar decision there would be hell to pay in the media.

I’m at my first game of the season. Woop woop!!! 3-1

Aren’t you meant to be “Optimistic”, Nut?

He just needs what the Tour de France riders use

So childish. Fine all is well carry on nothing to see here.

As if improving your core strength makes you bigger. Fact is in many on the floor challenges our players are weak - go in for the tackle and come off second best so often. Our players are always getting “eased” off the ball. Lascelles times tackles well but very rarely does he out-strength a forward with his body before winning a header. It’s the core and leg strength for positioning much of our team lacks. Shielding the ball, which relies on leg and core strength, our team is weak. Watching Watford v Arsenal at the start of the season showed me how much stronger premier league players are in core strength compared with championship; watford’s Team has dtronger players than ours. And is it hell a criticism of Lascelles and lejeune, just an area they can improve. Same goes for Merino and Hayden. It’s a bit of strength in on the floor challenges that is making Diame seem a bit of a revelation in the last few weeks. Almost an old school strength all Midfielder’s used to have, which Viera, Keane, Petit, Ince etc used to have in spades.

He’s not strong enough yet for a cb - shouldn’t be getting pushed over by Lukaku I don’t care how big Lukaku is. It’s a problem for me in midfield as well; so often we’re physically weaker than the opposition: Hayden, Lejeune even Lascelles needs to improve their core and leg strength then grow some shoulders.