STM

Lascelles was always starting. Fernandes unlucky. Great to see Lewis and Almiron. Really like that line up.

Soccer Saturday is even worse than it was. That Kris Boyd is an absolute moron.

Newcastle shots 10, Southampton shots 22, Newcastle possession 36% Southampton 64% Against: Newcastle shots 23 Brentford shots 10 Newcastle possession 54% Brentford 46% Quite a contrast. Individual errors costing us.

On a separate note... I'm sick of being negative. I have no negativity left. Bruce is gone, Charnley, Ashley, the Steve's too. Yeah I get it, we aren't great. Massive gaps in our squad and an uphill relegation battle on our hands but, so fuck? Let's have a go, get behind Eddie and a relatively likable squad. See if we can create history and get out of this hole. Positivity is the order of the day. Let's get them.

You would have to be blind not to see the wholesale change in attitude, movement and creativity IMO. Brentford we were class going forward but made individual errors, Arsenal we were very good in the first half (should have had a pen) but in the end were beaten by a side miles above us, Norwich was a write off but we were a better side even with 10 men. Play like we did vs Brenford + cut out the errors = win.

He's either a genius or completely mental.

Lingard would be class.

What is your point? We have been miles better under Howe.

Burnley are shite. No stupid decisions and we beat them. Play like we did vs Brentford and cut out the mistakes.

Southampton won't sell JWP to us.

Dubravka Schar Lascelles Fernandes Murphy Willock Shelvey Richie Joelinton Wilson ASM Is what I think he will go with. I wouldn't have Murphy or Richie and would probably play with a back 4. Lascelles will start 100% and probably Richie too.

Finally have the 4 defenders we have all been wanting. Just took 3 suspensions. Get ASM off. He's playing for himself. Get Miggy on, who will run around like a dog.

Jamal Lewis to have an absolute stormer.

Might be able to shine some light on the Clark inclusion.... I think Howe is really keen on having a left footed centre half on the left and obviously a right footer on the right. It's the same with the full backs, I really can't see Howe ever doing what Rafa did and say putting Manquillo at left back. If you watch that Bournemouth training video, you can see him working specifically on people receiving the ball with their outside foot and playing it wide etc. Yal know Clark scores today right.

We have zero chance of signing Phillips. Be shocked if he doesn't end up at Liverpool or City.

Fog of war innit. If you are a credible journalist, you will struggle to work out fact from fiction with regards to our transfer targets, especially since every agent in Europe is using us to get their player in the shop window. Oddly, I'd trust the likes of Ryder and Hope on transfers, way before any national or foreign journalist.

I'd be all over Todd Cantwell. Especially if we are relegated.

Howe just needs to get them playing as they did against Brentford. Norwich aren't as good as Brentford and we won't have Lascelles, Ritchie and Darlow making constant mistakes. Reckon 2-0. Wilson both.

Would absolutely smash the championship to pieces, which we need to have one eye on.

I'd like to think the club are now smart enough to sign players from two different sets of criteria. 1. Sign players who are young, who have hunger, talent and have no qualms with spending a year in the championship if necessary. But top young players who seem themselves as a level above the championship. Signings for the future who will give us a good base. 2. A few hail mary swings, mercenaries who are ready for a big juicy pay cheque. Loan signings like Coutinho etc, who will come in for six months in the hope of keeping us up. So long as we don't tie ourselves up with these players, they have to be worth the gamble. There is a 3... players like Tarkowski, Lingard etc, who are in their prime and looking for a good move. These will be almost impossible to attract, if it looks as though we are going down. They will want long contracts and won't want to spend their best years in the championship.

ASM is a winger. You don't want a number 10 who dribbles every time. ASM doesn't have the vision or work rate to play in the middle. If Wilson was injured I'd play ASM up front for his pace though.

Lewis was fantastic at the start of last season. It's almost as if a young players confidence was shot after being coached by a buffoon.

My guess: Dubravka Krafth Schar Clark Fraser Shelvey Willock Lewis Joelinton Wilson ASM Possibly see Almiron play Wingback.

It's embarrassing. It's like some can't stop the emotion from clouding their brains. Arsenal are a very difficult side to beat and they keep the ball very well, it was always going to be tough. We could have very easily been 1-0 up at half time and that's without the pen. First goal was crucial. Second half was shite but hardly an indictment of Howe. Play like we did against Brentford and we beat Norwich and Burnley.

That's not what I meant. Getting beat off Arsenal barely changes the situation.