AyeDubbleYoo

I guess everything apart from Shearer is up for debate, depending on age etc.

He’s almost like a vortex that shapes the game around him. When he has space he gets the ball and kills the defenders, when they push up high he runs in behind. If they aren’t strong on crosses he gets in the box and gets tap-ins and headers. Lad is ridiculous.

It’ll be a rough and scrappy game if we play the reserves, because they just don’t have the ability to dominate any match. But we should still do enough to win. Osula has a real chance on show what he can do here. And we’ll have Barnes.

Maybe he will when he’s near retirement and he’s already won the title with Newcastle. But agree generally, it’s not a job for a manager like Howe.

They showed that on Sky

Yeah I guess, but they were good at stopping goals. That's what I meant really, they were effective at being defensive but not the kind of thing a really good team would implement.

Said it before, the management of the ban was impeccable and said so many good thanks about the club, the manager, the squad and the player.

And after the fact with Tonali, since he got banned and all.

I think it was more that we spent money on them instead of a RW.

Yeah, same with CMs I would say. Having the players now is how I know that we're a proper club again. I was never worried about him long-term but it's so pleasing that he got the breakthrough this season and he's taken the chance so well. To see him and Gordon lining up for England regularly will be class.

I don't like being smug but they were all clearly brilliant signings.

Never doubted him either and couldn't believe the signing, but TBH I never thought he would this good this quickly. It's borderline unbelievable for someone his age.

Him and Hall are similar in that they both look like footballers that were laboratory engineered to be absolutely brilliant in their given position in modern football.

The PL ball would've gone straight in the net off Havertz's shoulder.

Well not sure if you've checked the trophy cabinet, but....

The good defences under Rafa were a bit different because they were more designed to mask the deficiencies of the players than anything else. Necessary at the time but not what a top team would do.

I didn't expect this but he did look class IMO, just the kind of young player we should've been snapping up when a club with more big signings neglects them.

Finally I was right about something in football

Who partners Burn, probably.

Need to be careful we don't put a team out that's incapable of passing the ball to each other or creating a goal. I guess just try and attack always down the left and Willock and Barnes will do the business. Looking forward to seeing Osula for a full game as well.

Can't imagine anything more chaotic than Osula and Miggy trying to link up with Longstaff trying to play balls to them

Miley brings top technique and control of possession, which is the opposite of Longstaff. We might need Longstaff's mythical hidden great teamwork at times, but hopefully less and less as we get better.

Makes you wonder if wingers playing on the right side could make a comeback.

I'm not sure we've had an elite CM in living memory until Bruno arrived really. Although obviously I don't remember the details of the games of all the Keegan players. At least in recent years it's always been a really neglected and underrated area of the team. When they made Tonali a priority signing I knew the club was finally in good hands.

Sandra is a nice name TBF.