STM

I've been back and forth over this but I think now is the right time to give Tino a rest. Burn has looked good when he's stepped in and he's about as reliable as you can get. Trippier has made horrific mistakes but I think he needs to get back on the saddle, rather than being dropped. We are weaker without him. Livramento is the future and will almost certainly have an impact from the bench.

I'm the opposite. I've seen half a dozen pre and post match pressers where Howe has said something along the lines of "we didn't have any attacking options to bring on from the bench". He's not normally brazen with comments, its clearly something of a frustration. Yes I think we will have to take into account returning absentees but I'd be shocked if we didn't try and sign an attacking player. I also think the constant injuries with Wilson and Isak may come to a head. We can't keep hoping that one day both players are going to be available on a consistent basis. We need a plan B and Gordon isn't it.

Oh goodie, pens.

Someone go down with an "injury" please.

You know when people talk about pointless possession. This is when you need pointless possession. Stop taking any risks. Kill the game.

Just can't keep the ball.

Some players just aren't suited to certain sides. Phillips would have suited Klopp better.

Dubravka Krafth Lascelles Burn Livramento Miley Bruno Longstaff Miggy Wilson Gordon I think will be the team. Trippier might force himself onto the pitch.

Interesting that Shay said he was "Scholes like" in the analysis, I remember thinking that exact thing in the first half and since Paul Scholes is (in my opinion) the best midfielder the PL has had, its quite the compliment.

We got Tonali for similar. Hardly pie in the sky.

Protecting their asset? Maybe not. Its the type we should be after though.

Let's see. If they want more, then only City/Chelsea might do that but unlikely.

He was fine when he came on yesterday. Just looked like a young kid who was enthusiastic about getting on the ball.

I'd put in 50m bids for both Eze and Bowen. Bowen would be an exact upgrade on Miggy on that side and he screams of Eddie Howe. I'm a huge fan. Eze is an outrageous talent, he could play on the right for us or as a more attacking minded number 8. The key being that both are PL proven, will take no time to settle and will instantly improve our ability to break teams down. (I'm sure there are cheaper options abroad, but I won't pretend to know the market).

Have such a soft spot for Krafth and he's actually a really competent player.

I've been back and forth over what I'd want and what I think would benefit us the most. I can't accept that we need a centre midfielder, we've actually coped quite well in midfield considering injuries, discovered a star in Miley and are likely to have bloated midfield when players return. A loan, perhaps but it certainly isn't a priority IMO. Centre back I'm 50/50, of course long term we need another top quality centre back, the same with CM but Lascelles has done really well, Botman is returning, hopefully Schar is OK and the form of Livramento means that Burn is also an option back there. So again, I'm not saying I'd turn my nose up but... IMO, an attacking RW is what I think is the most important. Both Murphy and Miggy have their charm but also have their limitations. We need a door opener in that position. Someone in the mould of Kudus (not him, just an example), someone who gets the fans off their feet a bit. Sometimes you need Miggy and his pressing abilities to get hold of a game but sometimes, once possession is yours, you need someone who has a bit of power, pace, trickery, confidence on the ball. I think a big signing like this would lift the place a touch and ignite our top 4/6 push. We rely too much on the same characters to get us through games, namely Trippier and Bruno.

Was in the gods for this. Ratings, for what they are worth: Dubravka 6 Could have had a kip. Krafth 7 Really good at both ends. Forgot how solid he can be. Lascelles 7 Bullied their striker/s but wasn't needed for the most part. Burn 8 Good game back for the big man. Livramento 7 Looked comfortable on both sides. Miley 8 Another accomplished performance, lush that he got a goal. Bruno 9 Perfect scenario for Bruno, with the opposition down to 10, 2 assists (kind of). Longstaff 7 Usual steady Eddie performance. Wilson 6 Hustled but Fulham dealt with him well. Other subs: Botman- Great to have him back. Showed his class. Hall- Was trying really hard to make an impact.

Just write the fucking season off.

I think we might find an element of relief or a weight lifted. Not to say they didn't want to qualify but more from the workload. Even with Trippier and Gordon out, we could still field. Dubravka Tino Lascelles Schar Burn Longstaff Bruno Joelinton Miggy Wilson Isak

Eddie's philosophy is to attack games we are winning. It works 9/10 and is the reason why we batter so many sides. We are the most ruthless Newcastle side I've seen in this regard. Yesterday was a day it didn't work. Get a fucking grip of yourselves man. The reason it doesn't work has nowt to do with naivety but because 1 We are playing elite level sides, with ruthless attackers 2 The current 11 are absolutely knackered 3 We've got very little on the bench to tweak things tactically Going forwards, we will put sides to the sword in Europe but it won't have anything to do with our manager changing his philosophy but because we will continue to grow our squad and because we wont have this level of injuries.

Imagine coming in here today to whinge about anything.... Tells you alot about someone's personality. Be disappointed sure. But replace it with pride.

So proud of them. Proud of the club and Proud of the fans. We will be back and we will be class.

Tell ya what. I'm totally enjoying this.