LionOfGosforth

Wow, a lot to unpack here. Re: that cup final, yeah it was stupid and he got what he deserved that day. To roll that into him being "overrated" is kind of incredible. He made poor career choices no doubt but claiming there's not much to show, is a bit weird, there's loads of Spurs and England footage. His best Newcastle performances came in an era when footage isn't the easiest to find. Anyway, you seem to have an odd dislike of a player most would have in their top 3 NE-born players, despite leaving. "Never became a great footballer" is absolute bollocks actually. Never realized his full potential would be fair. As for Beardsley, he was probably my favorite all-time player but he left just the same like they all did.

Gives you a good idea of what he was about. Some of the stuff he did for Newcastle, the footage is almost impossible to find and that's a big shame. A lot of his Spurs and later stuff is out there, real shame he felt the need to go there but Newcastle just didn't care about competing really back then. Pretty sure all he won there was the FA cup in 91 and got badly injured in that game. That era Spurs side weren't even that good but they at least were a club who tried to win things.

I'd have a very hard time comparing him to anyone in the modern era, he was quite unique. He shares the spirit, desire and passion of Bruno no doubt though.

Good question. This is based off memories from 35-40 years ago. He wasn't "pacy", it was more his strength on the ball and the way he moved, he slalomed like he had skates on and everyone else was running without them. He was predominantly right-footed but he could dribble like a madman off either foot and his strength while moving with the ball was like nothing i've seen, you literally had to kick him over, you weren't getting the ball otherwise. Amazing vision. Could score with either foot, though mainly was right-footed. Could shoot and score from distance, saw him score from 30 yards several times., brilliant at distance FKs as well. Link-up play, incredible. Constantly moving, looking for 1-2s, everything on the deck and aimed constantly at the net, KK would have loved having him as a player post-Lazio. Absolutely limitless desire, passion and energy. Won us games single-handedly at times, didn't care who the opponent was, he was motivated against everyone. Goals. Rarely scored an ordinary goal. Saw him score from distance home and away. Watched him dribble past 3 or 4 defenders in about 15 feet of space and lash it into the top corner against Chelsea in 88. Best goal I ever saw live. He did all of this no matter the opponent, league games for Newcastle, did it at international level 88ish to 98ish no bother as well.

Waddle left summer of 85 yeah. Don't think the 3 ever played together in the senior side but stand to be corrected. Waddle, Beardsley and Keegan in 83/84 was something to behold and the early days of 84/85 with Beardsley and Waddle weren't bad either, spoiled by Jack Charlton wanting to play long ball rubbish to a big CF. Crying shame we were a selling team in that era 85-88, and lost all 3 to clubs who wanted to try and win things.

It's an interesting debate. I'd always have Gazza in because he's probably the most talented footballer the North East has ever produced, brilliant for us and England for years. Yeah, he only played for us for around 3 years (he didn't play more games for anyone else, 92 in total, same amount as Spurs) but I saw a ton of those games live in my teens and he was utterly incredible. In many ways, Bruno is his current era version. Almost unlimited passion and desire, allied to fantastic ability and will to win. Peas in a pod from entirely different eras and backgrounds.

Definitely in the tier just below the top 5. Brilliant servants and players alongside Burn

Beardsley, Gazza, Shearer, Bruno, Bobby Lee in some order. Burn right behind them.

The ultimate selfish bastard. Fucked us over with his shenanigans, fucked over his country by not being fit, playing shit and costing them a WC place and now fucking over his current club paying him 15m a year to be shit and injured. Guy should be a pariah in the league and ridiculed and shunned everywhere.

Teams need to get a clue and stop giving away these soft FKs near their own box against Arse. Their players go down like they've been shot, refs buy it every time and it's one of their main source of goals.

I've no doubt it looked that way and yet, who was there to pounce on Osula's parried shot in the 90th minute, gambling again and being in a critical position to win us 2 extra points. Maybe he got a second/third wind or something

Trying to think of another CM we've had that had this quality. Gazza is the other one I recall playing like this, just pure desire all the time, allied to amazing ability. They're not really directly comparable but in terms of just wanting to win at all costs, they are peas in a pod from a different era.

Running in treacle according to someone in the match thread

One of the biggest bonuses of this season so far is how well all of the CBs partner together. Schar with Thiaw or Burn, Botman with any of them. They all just fit together no matter what the combination. Doesn't always work so seamlessly.

To think this lad nearly ended up at Como for next to nowt

Only ourselves to blame (leaving to one side an utterly terrible ref) if we don't win this, more than enough chances

Motherfucker looks like The Thing

Probably only watched it once, too disappointed in losing to fully appreciate it

Could watch that third goal all day long, simply beautiful link-up and incisive pass with a brutal finish. Best goal we've scored in ages given the competition it was scored in.

Thinking of all the imagery in this thread after this news, George Lucas having a quick pull wasn't in my top 10

Like an even better version of his 2023 self, direct, fast going inside and outside, epic link-up with Wolte as well. Class

Worked with a German lad for years over in the US. He is probably the funniest person i've ever met, humor is dry as sticks

All for the price of one rat. Delicious.

3-3

They've played ok, the score is a bit harsh (third goal was ridiculous) but there's a chasm in terms of speed, technique and general build-up play.