KaKa

28 minutes ago, Unbelievable said:

Yes please

Could you give us the breakdown as our resident Dutchman please?

50 minutes ago, BonesJones said:

 

PSV fan I know has just messaged me to say we've apparently agreed a fee for him, but the player hasn't decided yet.

Here's hoping.

Not seen him play, but when I checked his profile and age it looked bang on for what we'd want as an alternative option to Miggy. The defensive contribution numbers are very good, but also has exceptional attacking numbers too.

9 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

What’s funny is I missed the capitulation. Stopped watching at about 84 minutes.  Came back.  1-1. Came back. 1-2. 

So it was your fault! 

That is brutal.

3 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

No, and at no point have I advocated for that (i.e. repeat the formula against Aston Villa). Yet again, it's a conclusion you've drawn on my behalf to try and suit a flimsy and over-generalised argument. 

 

I'll try and explain again - essentially, I have two questions / criticisms: 

• If we have seen visual evidence that we are able to impose ourselves on and overwhelm bigger teams in some matches, why have we not been able to do the same, or do to so to the same extent, in other matches? 
• Leading on from question 1, might it be a flaw in how the manager approaches those games? 

The answer to the second question may very well be your answer: the better teams negated us on the day, worked us out etc. I just think, in all the circumstances, it's reasonable to ask whether there is room for improvement when it comes to his strategy / attitude etc against bigger teams and on playing in big occasions? In my view, there is now a big enough sample size (it's still a small sample size) to ask that question. Why does that entitle you to dismiss that opinion as legitimate or entitled? In my view you dismiss it because you are, for whatever reason, unable or reluctant to engage in the topic with any real nuance or detail. It comes across that everything must be A or B, black or white etc, for you (which, again, is childlike).

 

I haven't lost sight of where we are: we overachieved last year and don't have a top 4 squad on paper (and certainly didn't last year). Nonetheless, we have overachieved, and the product of said overachievement is that we are now in our present circumstances with a new context, or at least a developed context. Against that background, I ask again: might the manager have approached those games differently? Might he have been overawed by the occasion? My opinion is that, yes, there is a plausible argument in favour of both ideas. 

 

 

Why can't we just overwhelm them for periods in every game, because we managed it in a game before? Because that's not how football works. No teams in the league consistently overwhelms the top teams game to game. In my opinion we have had good moments in all of the games even if we didn't necessarily overwhelm at points in all of them. We had the better chances against Liverpool yesterday, and against Man City in the second half, with a bit more composure at key moments we could have punished them.

At this point in time I do not see it as some flaw in the manager, and think it is way too soon for this sort of talk. He hasn't been in the job long enough, is still putting his team together and does not have the depth of options available to him that these teams have. We've lost to two top teams back to back early in the season before we've really even had a chance to get going while integrating a number of new players into the team and squad.

I can't help but feel folks are getting ahead of themselves.

10 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

Genuinely - are you? It would explain so, so much.

Yes, I am.

2 hours ago, Theregulars said:

 

When you watch us regularly and in detail, you see a team with no fear who outrun, outmuscle, outduel etc others. My question is, therefore, why does that disappear (in whole or in part) in some high-pressure matches / matches against the better sides? Clearly, against squads which are more expensive than ours and longer in the tooth as established teams than ours, we can perform this way (Manchester United at home, Spurs home and away, Manchester City home last year) - so what I don't understand is twhy, in certain matches, that identity / culture / ethos etc goes missing. In my opinion, it went missing in the last two matches under instruction from the manager to some extent (we were so reserved and timid in both games). It went missing in the cup final because, in my view, the occasion was too big for the manage and squad. 

So you say you don't understand why we look different against better teams in big matches, because in your view we should just go out there with the same approach we had against Villa yeah? Is that realistic and reasonable to you?

In fact you then go as far as to say we actually look reserved and timid against these teams, and in the case of the final the occasion was too big for the manager and players (None of this is true by the way). Is that a fair reflection of our performances or an over reaction and over exaggeration?

In my opinion you have completely lost sight of where we actually are as a team in comparison to the teams you are referring to and have also lost sight of how well the team has performed under this manager, including periods in the very matches you are referring to.

2 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

You have no idea what my expectations are - you've never asked me about them and we've never had a conversation about them! You've literally decided what they are after extrapolating them from one comment or opinion. It's actually - sincerely, genuinely - how children view the world. 

 

My expectations for that game in the situation were that we would see a lead out with 15 minutes against 10 men. I don't see anything unreasonable in there. 

Right, of course. I'm just a child. Perfect.

1 minute ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

 

What a child you are. I bet your expectations are exactly the same as each other 

' Your expectations are exactly the same as each other ... '

Um, okay. Whatever you say spaceman.

1 minute ago, STM said:

Few views on this...

 

Firstly, of course it's OK to say "I think that sub was wrong", "I think he should have made changes sooner" or "I think he should have started x player". I don't think anyone thinks this isn't OK to discuss.

 

Last season, around the city away game I was open in saying I thought he waited two games too many to bring Maxi, Isak and Murphy into the side. I think loyalty to certain players cost us.... however I also "got it", sometimes you have to show loyalty. Its a fucking tough job.

 

However, I don't think any of this is what we are REALLY talking about. We are talking about the post defeat knee jerk apocalyptic types. The ones who jump straight into the thread by slating Miggy or Burn, despite neither having a bad game. Slating the manager for not doing what they wanted, despite it not being absolutely clear that what they wanted would have helped. Everyone is captain hindsight.

 

I'm sure Howe will look at the Liverpool game with regrets but he'd be mental to beat himself up.

 

The great thing about Howe and the reason I love him so much, is that he's not the finished article... he will never be the finished article. He's his own biggest critic. That's why I wouldn't change him for the world.

 

I guess my own thought is that I'm in dreamland with this manager and the mere insinuation of a world without Eddie Howe pisses me off. Its short-sighted, reactionary and just not the Newcastle United I want to be.

 

I've no doubt that with Howe at the helm we will continue to improve long term but there will be some bumps along the way, so just relax, take the defeats on the chin and get behind the lads.

Not to mention there are people even going as far as having a go at players directly on social media, for goodness sake. Because after three games we dared to lose to Man City and Liverpool.

Man, not gonna lie, I have a really bad feeling about all this. Think we're going to blow it by being so impatient as a fan base.

4 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

 

I am calm and have been reasoned and polite in the whole debate. In my opinion the hubris and lack of self-awareness on your behalf in continually telling people what they think and how they feel is genuinely staggering. 

 

 

 

Okay, fine. 

Your reactions and expectations are all perfectly fine and reasonable. Carry on.

2 minutes ago, gbandit said:

While I agree with anyone calling out people who are being critical of Howe generally, I think in-game specifics are obviously fine to highlight. I think Howe himself would set us up differently against ten men if we were to replay the game as we did get complacent. Is Howe an amazing manager, yes, has he improved every player in the squad, yes. Will we win something with him if he’s here in two years, yes.

 

Kaka, I think you have too much of a tendency to generalise, “you lot” doesn’t really capture the fact that most of us on here have the same opinion that he’s amazing 

To be honest I don't even care if people don't think he's amazing, but just be realistic with whatever you are saying to back it up. We are miles behind those teams in every way and are still playing catch-up.

I think there is an entitlement that has come with last year's success that is incredibly disappointing and it is really annoying.

Every one was so hype after we smashed Villa 5-1 just a few weeks ago and a couple of losses to Pep and Klopp, and now all this carrying on. It's ridiculous, honestly.

23 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

No, it's not bad, but to my mind there have now been enough poor / timid performances in matches of that nature that I think it's fair to ask the question. That is genuinely all.

How long have Pep and Klopp been in their jobs? And how long have they been building those teams and working with those players? Players and squads that are still significantly better than ours by the way.

Honestly, you really need to calm down. You like so many others cannot handle the success we had last season and it has completely made you lot loopy.

4 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I think there could well be an element of mentality or culture that needs to improve, and I believe it will. It's natural since we aren't historically a top team. 

 

That said, it's all very well saying we should press and go all-out against Man City, when doing that could actually be worse for your chances. 

 

Against Liverpool though, I would've liked to have seen a Spurs-style blitzkrieg. We weren't far off it initially TBF, we just had a lot of possession after the red card and struggled when they sat deep.

 

 

 

I think a lot of fans are completely delusional, thinking we should just all out press Man City and Liverpool like we did Spurs last year. It's an embarrassing take.

Their forward lines would annihilate us completely with their pace and ability on the ball. Especially as we don't have a ton of speed in our back line.

Howe is clearly trying to come up with a plan to combat these types of teams, and I wish people would just let him do so, because he is infinitely more capable than these dummies.

16 hours ago, relámpago blanco said:

Ridiculous some of the nonsense in here. We would have been relegated without him and the squad last season had no business qualifying for the CL.

Sickening how quickly this has been dismissed.

Some fans genuinely deserved Mike Ashley.

1 hour ago, KingArthur said:

He was very good. Will be helped a lot when there is Hall playing behind him and attacking the space Gordon creates when he comes inside.

Love when he cuts in and plays that reverse through ball.

Yeah, an overlapping full back would open up even more opportunities for combinations with him.

2 hours ago, jack j said:

Stuff like this makes me laugh thesedays

Used to get so angry at twitter and the likes then you realise people are just fucking idiots

 

 

 

I genuinely think it's far more serious than that, and is actually a form of some type of mental illness.

54 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

He was class today. Mistake to take him off because he retains possession and moves the ball as well as threatening in attack. 

His general use of the ball is so good for our possession, such an underated aspect of his game.

Was a huge loss for us when he went off, but he does play with so much intensity that he was definitely flagging and probably did need replacing.

In fact just watching that last goal back ... it's such a high risk pass to make from that position and at that moment.

We really could do with a DM that doesn't take so many risks from that position. Great when it comes off but so dangerous and often costly when it doesn't.

Really difficult to be too mad at Bruno because he has stated a preference to play further up, but it seems it's not something we're looking to do anymore.

3 minutes ago, dcmk said:

They have vastly superior squads too.

 

It's not exactly a fair comparison.

It's painful how lazy the thought process is.

2 hours ago, Sempiternal said:

He’s repeatedly caught in posession in the exact same places, the exact same way at the minute. He was good at avoiding pressure, not sure what’s happened 

Teams are keying in on him big time in those deep areas.

I miss him playing as a number 8 without having to do so much in those deeper areas. 

Still maintain when he was further up and Shelvey was deep, was when he was at his best.

Wish we'd have got a more athletic rugged DM that could pass a bit, so that Bruno could just be further up not having to battle so much.

9 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

His profile looks great and checks out with what we'd expect as an alternative to Miggy.

Incredible defensive numbers for the position too.

14 minutes ago, FLUMPO235 said:

Jesus, on another site I’ve seen someone saying Howe is now under pressure to keep

his job. 
 

I hope bruno has had his social media locked. 

Everyone just wants to be Man City now.

If they don't have the kinds of players they have or play the same way, it's endless complaining and dissatisfaction with every little hiccup.

Incredibly toxic. No patience or room allowed for any manager that is not Pep to develop their team, try different things and grow.

'You have to win something' now culture. With no respect for the arduous painstaking process.

5 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

To be fair, the gameplan was working until they went down to 10 and were forced to sit back. It's not so much the calibre of opposition that was the problem, it was breaking down a low block - an issue carried over from last season.

 

Even if you take away their sucker-punch goals and the game had finished 1-0, it would've been evident that the issues with breaking teams down are still there. Howe needs to suss this out quickly, as there'll be plenty of teams that'll employee these tactics this season. 

Even early on I never really thought we looked that convincing trying to open them up.

I think against better teams that press well we struggle to play and we then also can struggle against teams that setup in a low block that have decent defenders.

I think dropping off some gives us more opportunities to create space in behind to attack, especially as we have a lot of dangerous transition players.

Ah, back to having a go at players on social media.

We're not going to handle any kind of setback well now we've only just had a small sniff of success huh?

Sure this is all going to end really well.