KaKa

Just now, Jack27 said:

Ghuirassy is off to Dortmund I think

Oh man ... confirmed?!

Would have been a great value signing both fee and wages wise.

Hope discussing possible striker options if Wilson leaves. Sesko is a pipe dream at this point I think, but Ghuirassy is a great shout, especially for the £15 million release clause. Apparently we have had him watched a number of times in Germany.

47 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

This follows the model at several Premier League clubs, where a performance director oversees the likes of science, medicine, psychology and performance analysis.

Newcastle are determined to improve an injury record that has disrupted their season and seen them record the most days missed of players in the top-flight.

 

From Hope’s piece 

Really like that we are doing this in an effort to address and prevent the kind of situation we faced with injuries this season. Excellent news.

56 minutes ago, Ikon said:

That particular move was in a bit of transition though, with the opposition not so deep. We are quite good at those bits, especially with our better players available. What I’m talking about is more when we more or less  play around the opposition box trying to find openings. Having a technically composed player there that calmly can keep hold of the ball and drag the opposition out of shape because of the opposition committing players, and also be able create something individually. Joelinton does things well, but assisting goals doesn’t happen too often from what I’ve seen. The final pass. Even if his link up play is decent from a deeper position at times. I also think it would allow us to control games better having that option in front of say Tonali and Bruno for example. 

 

 

 

Ah, I see. It's a fair point.

Against deeper set blocks, Bruno is really the one player with the qualities you are speaking of. Hopefully Tonali can show some of that too.

If we can bring in a right winger that has playmaking qualities that would be ideal too really.

2 minutes ago, Fezzle said:

Lost count how many times Murphy & Longstaff attempted a pass to his feet only to miss by some distance in the first half, he was getting in some decent positions too

There were also times he dropped into space and Murphy hesitated and didn't release the ball. 

On that transition chance that Longstaff played a terrible pass, he could have looked for Isak earlier when he first made his move, and Longstaff hesitated and held into the ball too long before playing an awful ball straight to the defender.

Painful stuff.

2 minutes ago, Ikon said:

I really feel like a more attacking midfielder with some flair would be great for us, and Isak in particular. A player that has the ability to draw attention and drag defenders out of shape to create more space for him in central areas. As it is now he becomes slightly isolated in line with the opposition CB’s which makes it difficult for him to get any space or chances really. Especially if the opposition sit quite deep and we try to create something by playing around their box. It usually ends up with Isak getting the ball and being forced to go backwards to play the ball out wide but then it’s quite easy for the opposition to cut him off from getting on the end of the balls played in. We mostly attack from the flanks or in between their CB and fullback with one twos and through balls but rarely centrally as it gets a bit too crowded there. It feels like most of his goals are scored when we are in transitions, or in semi transitions high up the pitch. I think having a more creative attacking option in there would give him more space and chances with the things happening centrally as well. It would also make us less predictable imo. Having that more attack minded midfielder would also work very very well with Bruno in a slightly deeper position as he is very progressive with his passing as well as very very capable when it comes to creativity if he has a technical option to play with that is central and closer to him in between the lines at times. Bruno could then go for one two’s with player X and we would be able create more from central positions without forcing Isak too deep and playing with his back to goal. Just having that one more attacking minded creative player really would make a difference I reckon. Would force the opposition to defend with two players at times. Not only that, it would give us more space out wide as the opposition would have to get more compact centrally at times. I don’t think we get the best out of Isak as it is. Having a very good option there that is great in possession would create more playing depth and the option of playing triangles more often as the distance wouldn’t be too far from Bruno who dictates the play and tempo. This post isn’t so much about last night, but just a general thought of mine. 

 

 

 

Joelinton is underrated in his ability to link up with forward players, and he also has a knack for playing them in. It's been one of things we've missed with him.

In the lead up to his through ball to Longstaff, I believe there was a slick one two he played with Isak.

I also think once Tonali returns and now he is fully settled and more familiar with the other players, we'll see more chance creation from him too, as he loves to play those first time passes forward.

It's exactly the news I was expecting to see come out regarding Man Utd's bid for him.

Reports are that he spoke directly with Howe who laid out the plans for him clearly, which he appreciated and was enthused about.

Man Utd don't even know who the manager will be yet, or which defenders will be staying or leaving, and where Tosin would then fit in.

5 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

So let's agree that these two seasons cancel each other out, right? Then we need to look at more evidence/information. Bournemouth were consistently in the top 5 for goals conceded during their time in the Premier League under Eddie.

This man is talking about Bournemouth ...

2 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

The thing I like most about Howe is he does get the best out of most players.

 

Like Krafth. He's been decent man. Murphy was decent considering he's Jacob Murphy. Decent assist. Give him some proper talent.

This is the main thing for me.

I want to see what he can do with a more talented and well rounded squad before any talk of making a change.

He's shown a lot making use of some very ordinary players so far.

It's such a shame this FFP nonsense means we have to build so slowly.

29 minutes ago, captainhaircut said:

Well played Sean. 

So never mind actually winning any duels, he wasn't even involved in any?!

According to these numbers he was basically out there just to miss chances and give the ball to Man Utd.

He was essentially playing for the opposition for goodness sake.

5 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

You don’t have faith he can build a solid defence, despite the fact for most of last season and the back end of the one before we had close to the best defence in the league ? Even before the injuries this season we where rock solid (go back and watch the Arsenal home game).

Prisoners of the moment man.

Never mind the season we had the year before.

Despite the issues we've had this year, and what he has still managed, the manager needs replacing.

Zero perspective.

1 minute ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

 

There isn't one Premier League manager who isn't under pressure. You think if we lose the first 3 games there'll be no consequences? Yasir will be on the blower at the very least.

He is under no greater pressure than any other manager, based off of what has happened this season.

Happy?

5 minutes ago, et tu brute said:

Howay pretty obvious what I meant and I clarified that in other posts

If that's what you meant fair enough.

2 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

He said like it or not he’s under massive pressure next season, which pretty much is what you just accepted in this post.

Don't think he's under pressure going into next season at all.

The issue this season has been player availability, no matter how much people might want to overlook this. It won't be the same next season, and we won't be inconsistent in  the same way. 

If somehow this does end up being the case then I'm sure questions will start being asked at the end of the season.

This is not the same as saying he is under pressure going into next season.

This guy has really screwed us over these last two games. Actually really pissing me off.

Even that whole penalty incident was weird, which makes me think he is throwing a strop.

Absolute joke if so.

Just now, Whitley mag said:

With all respect don’t think I have, the discussion was started with @et tu brute suggesting he would be in trouble next season if things go in the same vein as this season.

 

I don’t think the is an unreasonable assertion as some have painted it out to be.

 

 

 

He didn't say if things go the same as this season though.

It goes without saying that if at the end of next season things are similar to this one despite the squad being improved and players coming back, that questions will start getting asked.

Just now, Decky said:

Im not suggesting anyone is better than Howe for us, far from it. He’s the man to take us into next season and beyond but I just think performances need to improve. We had 6th in the palm of our hand and we’ve blown it. There’s no other way to look at it for me. One point from Brighton and Man Utd is piss poor, we’re better than that, even with a midfield of Bruno Longstaff and Anderson. 

Performances don't need to improve, they absolutely WILL improve. There's no doubt about it for me. I cannot see a situation where we will be missing all of Joelinton, Tonali and Willock again, all at the same time, for such an extended period.

The last two games have been frustrating. We're already making the midfield work as best we can, then on top of that Isak has apparently been ill, and of course Wilson is then not available either. Even today here comes Trippier to directly affect two of Man United's goals.

Don't know what on Earth is going on with Wilson, but just having him available likely gets us at least 3 or 4 points from both games.

I'm already looking forward to next season. I know it's going to be very different and the joke is going to be on everyone else.

6 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Aye. Playing a lot of the season without 3 of our 4 best CMs has been a killer.  We’ve been so weak in there. 

It's why the team performances have been so inconsistent. The midfield as a unit has been poor.

This has affected the team both going forward and defensively at various points. 

We're not even seeing the Longstaff of last season in there as he is not even at those levels.

It hasn't been good.

1 minute ago, Decky said:

Longstaff has frustrated the life out of me this season but to suggest our midfield isn’t capable at this level is laughable. Again, we’ve 57 points after the worst injury hit season in our history. Bruno didn’t do all that by himself. Our midfield has been absolutely fine in plenty of games. Last night, Brighton, Palace, all those games was the whole team underperforming. Our midfield has had its problems all season but you don’t get this many points in the Premier League with players that aren’t capable of being good at this level. 

We have been achieving what we have despite the midfield combinations we've had to manage with this season.

That is credit to Bruno  and to the manager for finding a way to make it work.

That is why it is comical when people moan about the manager so much.

I need to know which manager is going to have us controlling games with Longstaff, Miley/Anderson and Bruno.

Please let me know.

4 minutes ago, Mikky said:

Look I am not saying get rid of Howe and there’s reasons for why we haven’t been as strong this season, of course there is.
 

My stance has always been let’s learn from this season regardless - EH has effectively been on a seasons secondment where everything has been thrown at him  - search deep into what hasn’t worked, what we need to improve on - box clever in the market with clever signings (Tosin/Kelly)

 

If it is to be the Europa Conference then I am more than happy with it - it’s a chance to win something 

This season is the aberration. I fully expect us to return to what we showed last season come August.

The reality is that we have been missing Tonali, Joelinton and Willock for large chunks of the season. It is very unlikely this will be the case again.

Just by virtue of that alone, we are going to be back to business. Especially with a right winger coming in too.

5 minutes ago, Decky said:

Our midfield has proven itself to be more than capable. We’ve 57 points, we’re not just about scrapping survival here. The fact is that performances haven’t been good enough. This team as a whole needs to be more clinical. We should have beaten Brighton and Man Utd but we’ve walked away with just a point.
 

Man Utd had a makeshift defence, does their injuries not factor into this? The entire country has been laughing at them for weeks now and they’ve beaten us when Europe was on the table. The players have to do better, that seems clear to me. I can guarantee you we’ll be poor again this weekend too. It’s been happening for weeks now. 

Our midfield has absolutely not proven to be more than capable.

The story of the season has been Bruno having to carry the whole unit, while Gordon and Isak have had standout performances higher up the pitch to win us games.

6 minutes ago, Mikky said:

What’s wrong with saying 11 defeats in 18 is a poor return? It’s a fact - got nothing to do with us finishing 4th - in those 11 defeats, which matches can we say we were unlucky not to get anything?

 

And yet at home we look a totally different team - EH has had the same tools home and away or is it just away from home where we suffer more with injuries?

 

 

 

Players, particularly the ones that aren't as good, absolutely tend to play with much more confidence at home, yes!

1 minute ago, Jack27 said:

Hard to control games with no consistency and a third string back five

If there's one thing I know for certain, it's that we are not controlling any games with Longstaff playing the way he has been in midfield. Especially when we also have had to use the inexperienced Anderson/Miley in there so much too.

Apparently this is surprising to some people though. And they think some revolutionary tactic should sort it out.

The truth is though, most other managers would most likely have us looking far worse than we have with these options.

1 minute ago, Mikky said:

 

We have lost 11 out of 18 away games - that’s unacceptable in my view - yes you can point at injuries, but tactically we’ve been ordinary and at times been a soft touch 

It's unacceptable in your view because of your arrogance.

You think we have a right to get a result in these games just because we came 4th last season.

This isn't a video game. You can keep dismissing the injury situation all you want, but at the end of the day, most of this season we've ended up playing Bruno in midfield (the most impactful part of the pitch) with some combination from Longstaff, Anderson and Miley.

And you really think this is no big deal and 'tactics' can simply sort this out, so we can go to these away games and just beat these teams, because it's just that easy, and everyone else is doing it.

It's this kind of thinking that means I cannot take you guys that 'keep it real' seriously.

30 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

Don’t see why it’s so unreasonable to think Howe would be under pressure if we missed out on Europe and had another disappointing season next year.
 

A few on here go way over the top after he beats Burnley and Sheff Utd, the truth lies somewhere in between and though overall he’s got a lot of credit in the bank, next season with Tonali and new signings on board there will be targets set internally by PIF, that unless there is serious mitigation such as Isak being crocked all season he will need to hit.

 

The recent interview with Neville clearly confirms he has veto over transfers, so this summer is on him and he needs to get it right.

 

 

 

 

 

From the outset of your comment you have already got the premise of the whole discussion wrong, which is typical.

You've added on if he has a poor season next season, which was never what we were talking about.

Regarding his transfers they have mostly been excellent, and with another summer to continue to build the squad and with Tonali also coming back in, and the right wing finally getting addressed, I'm betting on Howe making all the nagging naysayers look impossibly dumb.

I'm really really looking forward to it.