Ashley17

Probably a daft question but to register Trippier and Wood we presumably have to lose two. Seeing as we had 4 keepers in there you’d think one will be binned, if Darlow and Woodman are isolating maybe that’s why Langley is here for cover?

I don’t see what’s wrong with signing players to keep us up. Sure, try and get some long term talent in from abroad but they will likely take time to adapt and we don’t have much of it

It’s 7am on Tuesday…

This 13 outfielders (of 25 man squad) needs fucking off now we are in a registration window. Leicester have about 4 at the AFCON, Vardy and Evans have had ops plus a few other injuries. If you have a standard squad of 25, 3 are probably keepers so you just need 9 unavailable. Add in suspensions to the mix and it’s hardly a surprise

All the puns aside, Chris Wood is exactly what we need (assuming there’s little chance of getting an absolute superstar) He would be a great focal point, knows the league, is tremendously consistent (double figures for the past 4 seasons), weakens a rival and could play alongside Wilson as well as on his own. He can leave in a year, longevity is not our concern right now.

It's a squad entirely built and designed to work on the counter attack. When teams sit deep against us like today we have absolutely nothing to offer, just try to get wide and cross it to nobody, or get it to a winger to cut in and shoot regardless of whether it's his correct foot or not. Joelinton has looked reasonable in CM on the counter attack when there's space to run into but he offered nothing in that role today, we might as well have put him back up front. I respect Howe for trying to play it his way but it's going to take more than 9 games to change the mentality but also get the right players in for that style of football, as this lot and have mostly got by from being coached within an inch of their life by Rafa and individual moments of brilliance during the Bruce reign of terror.

We tried that but he had crisp packet hands too

Awful day and if stings a bit more because it’s the first cup game in years where we can’t blame the owner, apathy towards cup or any other non-footballing matter. We played more or less our strongest team and lost to a league one side. We made enough chances to progress but some bad luck/poor finishing has cost us. Dubravka - had little to do but looked weak on the goal. Would need to see it back Trippier - Does everything with a conviction and a few intelligent passes. Got wound up in the last 10 and played into their hands. Tried to stop some of the wasters going down the tunnel without thanking the fans. Captain material Ritchie - His time is up. Will always be targeted if he’s at left back Schar - Fine really, haven’t picked the bones out of the goal but nothing obviously his fault Krafth - Just a very average footballer Shelvey - Spreads the ball about all day under little pressure. That’s his job but it’s nothing Schar couldn’t do imo Longstaff - Hopeless. Heavy touches, bad finishing Fraser - Did nothing of note all game Joelinton - Looked good against Man Utd winning the ball back and driving us on but none of that today. Never looked likely to create anything when it’s not a counter attack Murphy - Seemed our most likely scorer (and had one disallowed) so was surprised he was subbed. Obviously not great but better than others who stayed on ASM - Lost interest as the game went on, too many touches as is becoming usual. Still our most likely outlet but poor today. Subs: Almiron - Horrendous. We need to stop putting him on the right wing Willock - Absolutely hopeless. No idea what he’s doing. Manquillo - Why not put Anderson on and move Fraser to full back? Howe - Went big today hoping for confidence and it’s had the opposite effect. I felt we had made progress against Man Utd but this was a step back. Cambridge fans were good to be fair, huge turnout and I’m sure a great night ahead. Their keeper made some top saves but 9 shots on target from 23 says a lot. Hats off to Almiron, Schar and Willock for some truly horrendous shots in added time

I’d be amazed if he doesn’t. I don’t think he’ll be in the 11 for Watford unless there’s a massive crisis

I’d assume if ASM is fit he will play as the furthest forward

Even something like this should have enough: Darlow, Manquillo, Dummett, Krafth, Clark, Matty Longstaff, Hendrick, Anderson, Murphy, Willock, Gayle. Manquillo is banned for Watford and hopefully Trippier will have signed so Krafth can be risked here rather than Lascelles or Schar if Fede is still out. There’s various others who could probably do with having some minutes, even Sean Longstaff has only played once or twice under Howe.

Yeah he did as the graphic on the screen had already moved on from him. The half time screeching summed it all up.

Pre-game we got Nightboat to Cairo twice and Rockin all over the World 1.5 times. Kept missing announcing our team in time with the graphics on the screen so they had to restart. Guessing Rob was unavailable at short notice or something.

Broadhead out for 3 months

Yeah it seems some journalists have back pedalled to “likely to be off” and Palace doing more tests in the morning. A shit situation for pretty much everyone

There goes Tottenham vs Palace

Our game with them is 6 days away so you would expect some of those who already had it before today to be back by then, especially if they are double jabbed.

I didn’t see the point in wasting a chip for games that might have been cancelled after the deadline. My 7 players got me 51, so could have been worse. The two postponements today have cost me 6 players already so might have to revise that strategy

Just the best. Everything about it is just fantastic including my favourite line of commentary (cheap plug: https://true-faith.co.uk/the-great-lines-of-newcastle-united-commentary/)

I'd agree with that. I like Howe a lot, he talks a good game and he wants to get us playing but he's being hamstrung by what he's inherited. Rafa took over a team in a similar state, easy to forget we went to Southampton and got well beaten, shipped 3 at Norwich etc during his early games. It takes time to turn things around and we always knew this run of games was going to be bleak. Hopefully we have at least learned something out of them, such as Joelinton being useful in midfield compared to his colleagues. That Everton game looks huge, especially if they are still depleted (and we somehow avoid that). As it stands we're only 3 points from safety, obviously games in hands and goal difference means it's probably more than that but the bottom half of the league is really quite poor. You've got to think if we can get a few players in we're capable of staying up. We're looking desperate for centre backs, full backs and a proper holding midfielder. That's at the very least. An extra striker to help Wilson out would also be nice. Teams are going to play silly buggers with us in January, I've no doubt. They know we've got the money and we're desperate for quick purchases. I'll be surprised if other PL clubs deal with us, maybe towards the end of the month when another 5 or 6 games have slipped away. I know there'll be people who want us to fuck off the FA Cup but I think any opportunity to build confidence should be taken. I seem to remember the mackems doing it years ago under Poyet where they looked doomed but some decent cup wins seemed to ignite their league form and they stayed up comfortably in the end, if I'm remembering properly. He also shit on the floor and got sacked so maybe don't do that. Anyway, the optimist in me says we could take 6 points from Everton & Southampton and the world will look a different place. Make it happen Eddie.

Attributes wise, yes but I think the point is he will be no use to us if he is behind bars.

They are a bit like us really. Some obviously good players going forwards offset by some of the daftest cunts in the league in the other half of the pitch

Looks like Norwich are going for the Bodo/Glimt manager

Sadly as bad as he is that doesn’t change that he is our best passer of the ball. In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king. To be honest Schar runs him close and could play in the back three anyway so hopefully some fresh ideas will change things