Yorkie

The game pretty much pivoted on the decision to do this, which surely was deliberate and presumably done so to manage the load on the players. We sat back immediately, but because we were so poor on the ball, we dug ourselves into a hole and couldn't get any control whatsoever, and they capitalised. One of the most joyful things about Howe's Newcastle, at it's best, is that ability to step on necks - like you say. Scoring twice quickly. But it ain't happening when the goal is to passively defend a lead. Just feels like we're saving ourselves for the cup ties at the expense of playing with any intensity at all in the league, and it's really harming us. Managing the four competition season pretty poorly so far.

I thought Ramsey was decent today tbh. I like the way he carries the ball and definitely want to see him in the team ahead of Joelinton. I'm not sure Joe's physicality is even that much of an asset at this point.

At least we got Ramsdale and not Donnarumma.

I'm absolutely certain we won't qualify for the CL but I did say that last season around this time too. I think we'll be among the teams competing for the Europa spots but we don't have the goals in the side for a CL push, assuming Wissa isn't the second coming of Isak.

Oh not this bloody "after we've lost" trope again. He's been absolutely brilliant this season, barely put a foot wrong.

Being glass-half-full (or, at least, trying to diagnose it), we're clearly trying to change the way we build attacks this season - that being one of the identifiers of the whole 'team in transition' thing. There's far more short, quick passing in central areas than previous seasons. It's not our only tactic, but the added emphasis on that sort of gameplan points to the shake-up. Hopefully the team will settle in time because, if it doesn't, a 9th-13th place finish probably beckons.

It doesn't excuse today's performance at all but having our three first, second and third choice full-backs all missing is definitely going to have a severe effect on both our attacking and defensive play. The whole dependable Krafthy thing definitely seems to be a distant memory at this point, he's been rubbish every time I've seen him this year. Burn is a strange one. Sometimes he surprises you; sometimes he doesn't.

Think I'm there with the Ramsdale shouts too. If he's at least as effective at shot-stopping, at least we'll have some decent distribution.

It was genuinely dire, like, absolutely zero sugar-coating. We took the lead and made a poor tactical choice to sit back very early on, but couldn't counter because of poor passing from the likes of Bruno and feeble hold-up play from Gordon and Woltemade. That gave them momentum which they capitalised on with the equaliser. Own goal was a shade unfortunate but ultimately it killed the game because they put 11 behind the ball from minute 46 and we couldn't do a thing to break it down. Individual shockers all over the shop. Thiaw was good and, for all he's getting pelters, I thought Ramsey was the best of a bad bunch in the second half.

Agreed (more-or-less). What's that got to do with Bruce?

I mean the league season clearly isn't a write-off; there's 28 games still to play. But it's looking and feeling weirdly similar to this time last year, and we don't have the fixture relief or the world class striker to drag us into a season-defining winning run. So it's looking a bit hairy, admittedly. We can obviously still be competitive in the top half but it goes without saying that today has to be the nadir.

His point is that Howe won’t be ... yeah? Obviously. Howe's one of the best we've ever had, Bruce is utter slime. Again, what's the point?

Difficult to break down but easy to sum up: the worst performance I've ever seen us deliver under Howe. Probably the most alarmed I've felt since we lost to this same team at home last season.

What's your point?

Bad goalkeeping but the punt forward was so hopelessly challenged by everyone.

We haven't had a clue how to break down their low block, like. Might as well be a ten foot wall across the pitch from the 18-yard-line. Absolutely desperate performance; really difficult to watch and difficult to explain. Just cannot get our groove in the league at all.

Played like strangers all afternoon

I just can't believe we're this bad. Even Barnes came on and lost it immediately. The fucks going on?

It's incredible how bad we are today.

What a hideous watch this is

Barnes for Joe pls

If we keep having this much of the ball we should find a way. Come on, lads

Thiaw Schar Botman Burn Bruno Sandro Ramsey Murphy Osula Joelinton I think?

Fair shout. We appeared to sit in the moment we took the lead today and it's looking like a really bad tactical choice, but again I assume that's in trying to manage the load.

Yeah, Krafth in particular gives us absolutely nowt these days and we really miss Trippier.