Yorkie

I think we're playing pretty well tbh.

Brilliant, Ramsey

Cool great decision ref

I wonder if they'll have a spell in the game where they're not fucking mint?

Why do they all have 99 pace?

So whose fk is it

I wouldn't back Woltemade to trap a medicine ball.

Loving the comms, like.

Relieved to see something different and excited by the energy we could see from the likes of Elanga and Willock. The former could be finding his groove and the latter was good against Marseille.

What I'd give for that, good God.

Rock and a hard place really. I'm not going to over-defend whatever our rotation policy is because the injuries and fatigue speak for themselves, but every game is so crucial and he's been brilliant recently, and provides something no one else in the squad does, so I get why he's played. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we basically collect an injury a game for the foreseeable. The schedule is absolute lunacy and this ridiculous CL format is more than accountable. Two absolutely stinking cup draws too. Clearly the manager and staff share some accountability as well.

It won't end here.

What's the evidence of a power struggle atm?

I'm sure Man City have managed to sell youngsters without them having ever kicked a ball competitively for them. Promising youngsters would sign for us because it's an absolutely incredible opportunity and there's a pathway into the first team if you're good enough. I know everything is on the table at the moment but I really don't see why this can't just be a case of trusting the manager's judgement. I think he's probably got a handle on how to develop players.

Literally can't think of a single reason why it matters. If they're never gonna make it then who gives a monkeys if they get a five minute run-out or not? Miley is proof that young players do get a chance if they're good enough.

Let it go man, Butcher. the kids aren't up to it, that's all there is to it. Would love to know what strides we're making at the academy like, if any. Would be ideal if we could peddle a few lads in the £10m range rather than have to sell Miley.

Well he's got a six year contract; if he's shite for two but brilliant for four then there's a fair argument that he's been a good signing. Jacob Murphy looked like a competition winner when he first arrived and contributed next to nothing until about three years ago... he'll go down in Newcastle folklore as a bit of an icon, let alone a good deal. It depends what you're measuring it against. If you're rating his ability to make an immediate impact then it's a 1/10 transfer. Pick another indicator in due course and the rating could be different.

We've had three pops at the Champions League in our history prior to this, and so far this is the only one devoid of anything truly memorable. If we win here, vanquishing the memory of that disgraceful robbery two years ago, then it's four out of four. HTL.

I must've imagined the cumulative 572 Premier League appearances racked up by our summer signings. Proven my arse!!

Bruno x3 (Forest, Burnley, Burnley). Was Barnes just outside the box for his first against Man City?

I think it's more tactical/a trend; fewer teams are doing it now because it's high-risk and also there are fewer opportunities with so many behind the ball. Barnes, Murphy and Tonali can all unleash a shitpinger; Hall, Miley, Joelinton, Bruno and Gordon have all and scored from range too. Dunno if Wissa can but I wouldn't back Woltemade to reach the six yard box if he had a dig from 25 yards.

This will go down like a lead balloon I'm sure but with Burn back in contention then that problem will be seen as solved. He's been ahead of Targett at LB for years now. Bringing Targett back did seem like low hanging fruit and maybe it will still happen, but for whatever reason it doesn't look like it right now. Maybe the wages contribution Boro are making offsets the benefit of having a player we don't rate sat there doing nothing unless there's an emergency. Wouldn't expect many to agree with that and I'm not necessarily saying I do either, but that would be my theory.

It's not that we have nothing to spend but (I assume) they don't believe there's value this month and investing now for what they consider to be marginal gains could impact what we do in the summer. I'm just parroting the manager here really. This is what he says in pressers. That's not to say you can't disbelieve him or think it's the right approach, but personally I'll forever cut them some slack because of the rules. Incidentally we won't be the only fanbase thinking we're desperate for a signing and as far as I can see no one is really making moves. Everyone (bar the obvious few) is in the same boat.

Don't buy that, personally (of course I wouldn't). By that logic you'd be extending the red flag to Wilson as well; it's not just Howe making recruitment decisions now. It's just PSR. Yeah we can buy now but we can maximise our resources by waiting until the summer to spend.

Won't be a popular view among his detractors but I adored Ben Arfa from the first moment... then he was sensational... then he was a symbol. There's probably only him in my adult life who I've loved to that extent, but Bruno is magical. He's the epitome of everything we could want a Newcastle player to be: brilliant and fucking loves it. He'd be my number three. The Howe era is just full of them with, isn't it? Bruno, Joelinton, Burn, Schär, Trippier... so many players you tell your grandkids about.