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You been following him at all? 1 goal in 10 seems to have fallen off a cliff or has he been injured?

Not players but saw lacelles kids and Mrs in smyths at the valley well I will assume it was them both wearing full blue kit toon kits with his name on. Wonder if a move away is on the cards in Jan for him to get some playing time or wait until the summer.

The defense has always needed major surgery not because what we have isn't good but how old the back line is kraft has had more than 1 year extension likewise schar last year. Come summer BDB is in his last year, Trips how long has he got at the club then targett will be officially released come the summer, has been repeated rumours around lascelles future too. Can't keep kicking the can down the road forever but we also cant spend all our money on that area. Disappointing that none of the youth setup hasn't pushed more so sounds like its purchases not promotion from within thats required. If we fail to lock down a deal with botman and dont keep ramsdale on thats more work again needed with the next 2 or 3 windows.

The lack of time with Howe and the team on the training pitch and him being a full international meaning he goes away when we do have a break definitely provides mitigation. The slow start hes had is just so frustrating based on the fee we paid. Plug and play upgrade hes not been but a work in progress which means 1. Its going to take longer to come off if it does and 2. Feels like to me at least a massive over pay.

Think the injury is behind him but not yet training with the team does that mean hes still not in full contact training? but think its been reported he is striking the ball. Needing a mini preseason still doesn't sound like his return is immediate but getting him named in the match day squad giving big nick a break for 10/15/20mins will help even if hes weeks away from a full 90. Putting elanga or gordon up there hasn't worked. Its not the same but remember how excited I was to see botman showing clips of him running on grass again only for him to still be miles away from returning. Coming to home games and supporting the team is the minimum I would expect him to do at this point.

Fit to train isn't always fit to do contact sport especially if they want to avoid a secondary injury. Although I am an over weight none athlete so what do I know 🤣

Agree with you here no one misses targett but was another body and Alex Murphy clearly hasn't kicked on or been fancied. Issue with older players like trips and BDB the issue is magnified by having to play week in week out if they were both our rotation options getting minutes for tired legs or some starts it wouldnt be as bad. Up until halls return it's been burn over and over regardless of how hes performed due to lack of options. Feels like on the other side kraft only fancied as a last resort. Having aging players at the back has been a ticking time bomb which does need sorting. Lack of goals are a greater concern right now unless wissa is transformational (no pressure)

Not sure if its been shared yet but great video https://youtu.be/1CKhWrfkz6Q?si=Uj4c4Zf3j_qFlFsb

I dont really get the new format and this play off stuff so other than more prize money from wins is there also some other form of upside finishing higher up the table? I assume we miss having to play those around us in the next round?

Spent alot of times chasing lost causes and became a frustrated fugure towards the end. Which won't help conserve his energy levels. We are putting too much on him but a bit like BDB playing every minute its out of lack of viable options wissa cant come back soon enough.

Hopefully just a precaution with wissa still awol and possibly Gordon (the Howe striker option not many supporters choice) potentially injured we need a player to give big nick some form of break as the games continue to come thick and fast.

Thought the goal impacted his performance a little negatively he was back off up the pitch and trying to attack leaving Sven to cover at the back. I love the bloke for wanting to do well and putting everything in to it but wish he understood his limitations in the role and sometimes leave that side of things to midfield and front 3. 2 goals in the champions league and an England International at this stage of his carear i bet he thinks hes dreaming sometimes.

Thought it was his hip he was feeling 2 or 3 mins before the shot then he came off. Think Howe mentioned that on Sunday carrying a knock sounds like the gamble to play him failed.

This if its the same thing that kept sandro and Trips out of the lineup bruno was able to shrug it off to an extent and give us some minutes. Certainly not as good to his usual standard but a heavy dose of mitigation you would say.

He looked shite but playing out on the other wing and then make shift centre forward doesn't help him build any momentum. He is in desperate need of a goal to try and build some self belief and to then "justify" him keeping his place in the side to get a run of games. Preferring Barnes to start over your shiny new 55m signing isn't a good look really but not like he's doing anything to change the managers thoughts.

Slotted right back in and looked great on the ball getting out of tight areas. Hopefully the 30mins does his fitness and confidence to push on again the world of good.

Wasn't a convincing confidence boosting performance by any means they caused us alot more problems first half. We were sloppy and they pressed well. Second half we had loads of the ball but kept giving the ball back to them which was very frustrating building momentum. Still very happy with the win and hopefully its something to build on. Hopefully BDB was precautionary and while he was awful Gordon's isn't too bad a knock/injury.

Was in town today with the wife loads of them out and about including club shop one young couple both got big joe newcastle tops. Very friendly bunch hope they have enjoyed the visit is great for the clubs wider image if fans have a positive experience.

I guess it comes down to the numbers in total to bring him to the club permanently as his loan was already 4m? Hes younger than pope but if we need to spend 25m total say to make it permanent its probably too much to invest in a good enough back up. Pope getting 2 or 3 more years but moved to backup with a new number one sounds a better idea.

Sorry should have said where Craig was quoting was in one of the last press conferences. Will all come down to if we are getting him up to speed to fuck off to afcon or not as assume he would only be at the back of that timelline before they would want the squad to meet up pre tournament.

Craig no hope said as much with a 6/8 week mini pre season to get back up to full speed.

Not disagreeing as tried both on in store but for 110 and 55 Respectively I would hope so.

Even if they are I guess its then a question of if your ok Tino being Halls back up or Dan burn being the hall back up assuming Trips played both sides for England but needs to stay on the right when playing. While it was right for targett to go we really should have bought a player to replace him. BDB does and will do a job but even his biggest admirers would admit him playing there is less than ideal. Depending how we are doing in the season and what other needs the side has it may have to wait till the summer and we see if trips, kraft, schar all extend another year or not.

Most definitely the eye test is much better than just reading a list and passing judgement. I watched the game and didn't see anything amazing but you have loads of mitigation like coming back from injury and getting used to the howe way and new team etc. His passing stats look excellent while his duals not so much that may simply be trying to avoid being drawn into a foul and giving away a free kick again no context in a number. He is better than both longstaff and willock in terms of someone who you can hopefully rotate in without a massive drop off in quality.

I would say speculative than weird like the kid we signed from man city who was meant to be training with their first team. His age and lack of first team action should have been a red a flag. Had decent loans so cant say we haven't given him a chance to excel. Wonder how long he has left on his deal?