Lotus

This. It's not the result. Crazy things can happen in a game you can't legislate for and it gets away from you. Happens to everyone. It's the performance. That's the key indicator.

I think it depends on his philosophy. If it's always to 'run a bit further, jump a bit higher' then that has a ceiling. Even the great Simeone has banged his head against that. Coupled with EH's seeming reluctance to rotate (I'm talking about earlier in the season when it was possible) then I think the football heads above him at the club will think about alternatives. I love EH as much as everyone else so I hope this is all a moody fallow period and the EH and the team adjusts the approach and finds another way to be successful, to evolve.

Great going forward but, my god he left some gaps in behind him.

If he doesn't play the deeper role of the midfielders the others don't fill in for him. He's probably our most creative player so having him a bit further up makes a lot sense but ffs, Longstaff should have the wherewithal to drop in or at least cover a wee bit. Miley I can forgive.

It's very pleasing to be able to relate to the manager and EH is extremely personable. I want the club to continue succeeding though and I don't care who's in charge for that to happen. I certainly don't think it's time for a change by any means but EH has to change. I don't think PIF will stand for too much more of this. That's sad because I think someone who's delivered so an outstanding season (22-23) should be given the chance to correct things. Guess we see how things are by the end of the season.

I understand having to outrun the good and the bad Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Arsenal, etc. They have excellent players and we haven't the footballing ability throughout the team to compete with them. But against technically inferior players I would like to see us outplay them and the manager to outsmart them with the chosen tactics. But with us it seems to be run run run. I couldn't stand it with Pardew when he actually said it as it showed his obvious limitations. EH I want to be so much more. He's having a tough time adapting though. We're looking pretty one dimensional.

Terrible from Schar tbh.

i wasn’t responding to you…

JT makes it sound like Luton might be a week early for him.

Genuinely interested to see how he does. He looked decent in his previous loan but was struggling when back at Chelsea.

Is he fit? Think there’s an argument for him starting against Luton. They’re a bit more agricultural and Jamaal is excellent in the air.

If you have a player who is injury prone and completely exhausted, barely jogging let alone running. I’d think to throw on anyone, a youngster even to protect the 1st teamer, inject a bit of energy into the side and at least give a youngun a taste. I’ve made this same point a few times now, these are the circumstances it’s clearly justified in my mind. If you want to contort that point into something else so you can make a counter point to something I didn’t say, fill your boots ?

The fact he doesn’t get any minutes would lead me to feel we could use that money more effectively. It’s a lot to tie up in ‘a project’. Don’t think we’re financially at the level yet where we can do that given how thin the squad is in other areas. That’s not meant as a knock to his potential. I’ve the same level of an idea as to his potential as everyone else on the forum. None.

would be a good retort if it was to a point someone actually made…..

Was out with a group of blokes a couple of months ago and when one of them found out I was a Newcastle fan he showed me old photos of him and JT as kids playing for some East London (i think) Sunday league team. Said he knew him quite well back then.

They also don’t usually have squads as utterly rinsed as ours.

Personally think Tino is. Hall, I think it’s almost worth not talking about. Something seems to be going on so I wouldn’t want to put the blame at anyone’s door. As I said, the young forwards are most likely not good enough. But they can run. And when Isak or Wilson can’t and are injury prone, letting them chase the ball like a dog in the park for 10 -15 minutes wouldn’t surely be a detriment. I’ll also say, if we had a full squad to pick from then it would be obvious to say that Miley wouldn’t be good enough to get a look in ahead of Bruno, Tonali, JL and Willock. Necessity has forced the issue though the experience will have been great for his development. You can’t wait for a youngster to be good enough without exposing them to the experience of actually competing at that level.

I’ve mentioned him.

Hall hasn’t had plenty of chances. By any metric. How is giving Ritchie a few minutes here and there over Hall to anyone’s benefit? What the issue is, I don’t know. And I’ve said before I don’t know. Something is amiss with that one. Tino has had limited time given his very obvious talent and physicality . We can look at Trips and Burn’s recent performances and think they deserve to start but it wasn’t long ago at all they’ve both had problems. Significant problems. Result changing problems. As I said and firmly believe, Miley would have a fraction of the minutes he’s had if we were at full strength. Surely that’s obvious. Alex Murphy looked decent in preseason. Seen him since? He’s been on the bench. When games have been very clearly won or lost we don’t see them for 15, 10 or even 5 minutes. Anderson is pointless speculating about due to his very unfortunate injury. When Isak or Wilson have been absolutely dead on their feet and can barely jog let alone run are at a risk of muscle injury due to fatigue…..a youngster on the bench just couldn’t do any worse. Don’t see them though. So far this season, EH has not felt comfortable giving young players the experience.

Would be actually be surprised if we saw him this season tbh. EH doesn’t seem to be particularly trusting of youth imo. With Miley his hand has been well and truly forced. We’ve signed a number of promising youngsters so that’s clearly a club policy. Very curious to see which of them might start getting some 1st team minutes here and there next season. I’d like to see Tino get some regular meaningful playing time this season but I don’t see him getting starts in either FB spot soon unless injuries/suspensions force it. And, tbf both Burn and Trips have looked worthy of their places past couple of weeks.

Well, I hope he makes a real contribution.

Not sure….they pass, we run.

Tonali is not available....

Given the actual players available who would you play as the midfield 2 and who at 10?

It’s a message board, relax.