Yorkie

So much for fighting on four fronts.

Haven't heard the term, what's it supposed to mean?

'Know ball'?

He's really doubled down on it this season as well. However - N-O bubble klaxon - I was chatting to a friend of a friend the other day, who ended up being a Newcastle fan. I asked him if he ever frequented this place; he said no but he loved Pod on the Tyne. So it's probably just us curmudgeons again, isn't it?

I enjoy the sims; gives you an idea of the possibilities. Plus it's fun to pretend. Thursday really can't get here soon enough. Very grateful for the old Worthington draw tonight to tide me over.

Canarydia

Darren Moore would be an insane appointment.

Jammy as fuck, Galatasaray. Molde looked handy over the two legs, will keep an eye on them in the Europa.

Molde level it. Edit, no they don't.

Game on in Istanbul as Molde level it on the night.

Echo everyone's desperation that there's no serious issues. One of the many heartbreaking aspects from the weekend was that he was having an absolutely brilliant game until the end. Honestly thought it might have been his best for us.

https://youtu.be/SvOAwM4Z_B0?si=CxVfLHUheJsFOUFs 22:24 for an explanation as to how the groups are drawn.

@Minhosa great post, some really interesting observations there like!

It's not the Twitter knackers I'm worried about when it comes to Howe's longevity, it's that we don't know how trigger happy our board is. We need to prepare ourselves for momentum to slow down this season - I'm absolutely convinced that we'll see sequences of poorer results because the squad was at its absolute limits last season and we've only recruited one more experienced PL player; meanwhile there's a European campaign to navigate. I just pray that the decision-makers aren't too hasty whenever the first sticky patch arrives. It will happen at some point, it happens to absolutely everyone. Just some teams have much longer gaps between them.

Don't think there's any actual evidence that the subs are 'pre-planned' no matter what. I find that a bit of a weird accusation given everything Howe does is based on very sound reason and logic, not cos it's what he wrote in his notepad the night before. Barnes and Wilson coming on when they did the other day was in response to the actions on the pitch at the time, he says as much in his quotes. Anyway, I'll take a point and a decent performance all day here. A win and we're all feeling a lot better but tbh I don't think we will; not cos we've lost the plot, just cos Brighton are a good side and need a response themselves.

Buzzing! Luton 1-2 West Ham Sheff United 1-1 Everton Brentford 2-0 Bournemouth Burnley 1-2 Spurs Chelsea 3-1 Forest Man City 3-0 Fulham Brighton 1-1 Newcastle Palace 1-1 Wolves Liverpool 2-1 Villa Arsenal 1-2 Man United

Detoxing from NUFC with a little help from my very shite second team. The pain this time provided by a dispiriting 3-1 defeat at home to Rochdale. Their third was supplied by a defence-splitting pass by former Newcastle academy product Paddy McLaughlin (... who plays for York). The manager was sacked before I'd even got home. Cracking weekend all in all, really.

Turning our minds to better, happier things - Thursday eve is going to be a fantastic occasion. A real thrill to have our name in European hats again. Would I be correct in assuming that, because we're pot 4, teams 1-3 in all of the groups will be fully populated by the time our ball is drawn?

into the hall of comedy bans you go.

Still don't think the subs were that mad and the logic was perfectly sound. Yesterday was a bottle issue, for which Howe still takes some responsibility. We didn't look comfortable against ten men in terms of the mentality and tactical approach, that absolutely has to be addressed on the training ground and manager's office.

Didn't feel overly frustrated with Miggy yesterday; only a worldie save and the post denied him two absolute bangers. Poor execution on the one that he skied but I think it looked worse than it was cos it came at him high and wasn't an easy finish. That old cliche of how things would be worse if he wasn't getting chances. Hence me being far more irritated by Isak and Wilson's respective no-shows, Barnes' lack of composure, and frankly zero attacking that from any of the middle three.

Echo everyone's thoughts about still feeling incredibly sick about what happened yesterday. The events of the last ten is absolute nightmare fuel but it was the grim inevitability of it which adds to the frustration. I never felt confident at any point and as soon as Allison pulled off that worldie I had a sinking feeling. The second half in-particular just felt like waiting for them to steal a moment and capitalise. On the one hand I feel a bit dramatic and have a sickly sense of this being a potentially pivotal moment in the Howe era. He and we really demonstrated our fallibility there. On the other hand I think, Champions League draw on Thursday and a winnable game at the weekend, at a ground where we've stolen plenty of points in the past. It's crucial but we can get a result and but yesterday behind us.

Just a reminder that these cunts aren't in the Champions League and we are.

Just seemed like an attacking sub to kill the game off. Fresh legs against a vulnerable opponent. Nearly worked but didn't.

Alisson's unbelievable save in the first half absolutely pivotal, as it turns out.