KaKa

You guys are still stuck on last season, just like the manager is presumably. We are now over halfway into a new season of this dysfunctional midfield. The original change last season was made to improve the teams ability to recover defensively in transition, not because Bruno was not initiating our play well. At this point Tonali is hampering the teams ability to build up play or have any kind of control or momentum that any defensive upside is completely pointless. Still this midfield keeps getting wheeled out as it is, and inviting pressure on the team. No problem. We'll end up outside of the European places, in a season that was wide open for Newcastle to take advantage of.

That's funny because everytime Tonali gets hauled off and Bruno drops in there, there is a clear improvement. Please pay closer attention.

Doesn't have to be a style change or any kind of revolution right now. Just putting Bruno or Miley in the deep position to initiate play would make a significant difference. Tonali has been horrible there.

The midfield doesn't keep enough control or move the ball around well enough to generate any kind of momentum for any of the attack minded players to find themselves in dangerous positions anywhere near enough. The threat mostly always comes from fleeting moments in transition or the wingers running past their full backs. Once that midfield mix is right, so many things will start to fall into place. The way things are looking though, I'm not even sure any change there is being considered. Ramsey was far more dangerous and threatening in forward areas at Villa. He has so far been unable to show any of that at Newcastle, mostly due to how poorly the team has been working the ball through midfield and finding gaps to exploit against the opposition.

It's funny you mention this because I thought Trippier hampered Barnes down the right yesterday too. In fact I recall complaining on here that Trippier was not great with Elanga earlier on down that right side, and was making things more difficult for him. Trippier cannot carry the ball forward at all anymore, and doesn't really provide an option on the overlap anymore either. To top it all off, he now gives the ball away a lot with really poor passes, and continuously turns down chances to play the winger in front of him in behind. If Miley isn't going to be used in the deeper midfield position and Tonali is going to keep being put there, then yesterday Ramsey should have started, so Miley could go at right back. Trippier is not adding anything there anymore. Even his crossing is no longer reliable.

I do find it laughable anyone is now trying to claim Howe hasn't been given the players he needs. That is truly incredible Howe has insisted on getting in the players he wants, from the small pool of players he has said will improve the team. Let's not rewrite history. Paul Mitchell was run out of town because of it. Howe has been great and I don't think there should be any rush to make a change with him, but he has his flaws. I think next summer is going to be very telling, with the kind of business that is done. He will have now had his preferred DOF in place for a year, and so let's see how that impacts things. If we're still seeing the same rigid and inflexible approach to signings then we're in big trouble.

Osimhen to Newcastle is never happening. When we were after two strikers towards the end of the window I really thought they'd push for Samu at Porto as one of them, as he seemed to make a lot of sense for Howe's setup, and still has a ton of upside. That would have been the more realistic and achievable transfer.

I find it terrifying he can't seem to see the issues in midfield, primarily with Tonali, and keeps wheeling him out as the sole deep midfielder. It's particularly alarming because both Bruno and Miley improve things so much when they slot in there after subs have been made when Tonali goes off. Just making that change and giving Tonali another run as one of the 8s would be refreshing, and at least worth a try by now?! Don't understand what's going on, but just doing the same over and over is no good at all.

He's good tracking back when teams are running at us in transition and that's it. Positional discipline when defending in any other moment is poor, as it is with Bruno too. Both love leaving their position to press aggressively and leaving spaces behind them. One day maybe we'll have a DM that protects the defence.

Can already see Arteta has sucked the joy out of Eze with his dull side to side football.

Would be the smart move. Will be very interesting to see how this plays out. I think there's a strong chance they'll bottle it even if he gets Champions League. We'll find out soon enough.

I'm always right and you're always wrong. Dummy. Wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they find a way to balls this up even if he continues doing well. Probably overlook him and bring in that hot head Tuchel after the World Cup.

Carrick at it again. His two big calls since he came in delivering once more. Mbeumo up front and Dorgu further forward. Cunha off the bench to win it too. Oh well ...

Just look how simple minded you are. Falling to pieces already. Ill tell you what it's like, it's being infinitely more intelligent than you are, you simpleton.

I can name numerous that have scored that aren't good enough. Your whole premise is absurd.

Was just kidding man. I thought he looked brighter than the rest of the dross. The bar was very very low though. Awful showing from the team, particularly in the forward areas. Just so clumsy and ineffective.

Yes, because of course every other winger never gets a cross wrong. So shameless some of you.

A dull performance, from a poor team, with many far worse players today. Dummy.

Wonderful player. Might well be the second best player on this team after Bruno. Top footballing IQ, incredible composure, touch, technique, decision making, vision, passing, awareness ... An absolute diamond.

Good showing today. The team stinks though, so it's all just a bit pointless.

This guy should be played as an 8 until he fully settles there. At the very least we'll see a few bursts forward like he had for the early shot. He is shocking dictating play from a deep midfield position. If that's where he has to play, he should be sold and replaced with someone else.

Got down the line numerous times and had the beating of Cash. Also put in some good crosses, one of which should have been a goal bar a great save from Martinez. No threat down the left once he went off. Can't remember a single thing any other forward player did this game, but apparently it's all his fault.

Looks way off it fitness wise. Dare I say he may even have a bit of a belly on him at the moment. Played like an uncle that has had too much fufu prior to the match. Embarrassing.

The singular decision to start games with Tonali in the 6 position ahead of Bruno and Miley, has probably cost us at least 9 points this season. No sign of it stopping anytime soon either. Hate it so much.

That is fucking disgusting from Trippier