alexf

Really hard to call this. Last few times at home we have smashed them, so you would assume they will learn their lesson and approach it differently, but Emery might be stubborn and let's hope that high line plays into our favour again. Both teams look to be hitting some form, both have strikers on it, strong midfields with good balance. We really need to protect Burn and Schar from getting isolated against Rogers and Watkins/Duran as they will get rinsed for pace. Likewise we need to exploit the spaces and get our 3 in behind as much as possible.

I suspect they will look to get max value for Almiron, Trippier and possibly Longstaff and anyone else that has decent wages and are surplus like Targett in this window. If that happens and we free up some wages, I can see possibly one player coming in if someone they want is available.

Haven't seen the other posts but I'm sure it's still early days, in the same way we still struggled for a period when Howe first came in. Difference is our expectations are vastly different to Man United, especially also the media's expectations. So you know it's gonna be 10x harder for the new fella to ride out this difficult season before his ideas and own players get embedded. However with my Newcastle hat on, I hope to fuck it gets worse for you, including fingers crossed when we go to old trafford soon and also for the foreseeable. sorry.

I think he's doing fine. I'd like him to stride forward even more than he does if possible because when he opens up he is a sight to behold and not many can keep with him. However on the flip side he really could do with developing his passing and final decision making. He often looks like he doesn't quite know what to do when he strides out. However he's starting to combine and get a few give and goes now I noticed. But that side will come and I think people need to manage expectations. He probably will never reach Trippier/ Hall levels of passing and crossing etc. But he is no doubt our best 1v1 defender and a very important part of our defence being the only one with recovery pace.

Said it all the way through his career here. He had all the physical attributes to be a good PL player. Is faster than most, has a lovely right foot on him with great crossing and shooting. But for long spells, especially early career here, he's mentality was weak as fuck and played within himself a lot. Have to give credit to Howe for getting the most out of a player most had written off if we're honest. No one would have predicted 2/3 years on from the takeover Jacob Murphy would be our starting right winger and performing well. Now that might be also a negative on the failings of our transfers that we haven't upgraded that position in 2/3 years. But you have to try and get the maximum from your squad and he is definitely a player we are getting the most we can from and performs a role for the team that gives us better balance currently.

with his headers, like a lot of players, he seems to close his eyes and dip his head at the last second.

has he scored many with his left? I'm starting to rack my brain now and can't think of any? That 1v1 chance he had should really have been going with his left peg and trying to drill into the bottom corner but he tried to contort his body to get around it. Still though, just shows even if extremely one footed he is a pretty lethal player but even now you can see areas he can improve further and develop into the best striker in the world if he keeps pushing himself. *Edit* just remembered that left footer into the top corner vs Sunderland.

Only thing I'd say might be an issue for him making it to a high level would be his athleticism. Looked painfully slow at times last year, which unfortunately is a much needed attribute for the real top players at PL level. However he has the potential to develop everything else. Definitely has a good footballing brain and does the simple things very well. Could develop into a bit of a Michael Carrick type perhaps.

Needs a goal for confidence it feels. His all round play is still good and off the ball he works really hard, which is what keeps Barnes out the team. But his finishing this season has been so wasteful. Looked alot more composed and clinical last season.

Really dreading the idea of a Burn Kelly double left foot CB pairing for some reason. Is there many examples of two left foot CBs playing together in a back 4? I know it happens with right footers all the time so in theory it should be fine. But we are so reliant on Schar being the one to play out from the back that I can't even imagine Burn or Kelly playing RCB and trying to pass it around. Any chance Krafth might be back?

Couple of times today caught myself just being stunned at how quickly this lad has developed. Just the around composure and confidence in his game now compared to when he first got games. I was one of those perplexed why we weren't giving him a run during that injury crisis. I totally get in hindsight it looks like Eddie played a blinder, but perhaps he just needed a run to get up to speed like he eventually got later in the season. But even so, I didn't expect him to look this comfortable as our starting left back so quickly.

I know Isak got the hat trick but I thought Sandro's all round performance again was incredible. Lost count of the amount of times he nicked the ball off them. He's just everywhere. Got all the athleticism that Bruno lacks and has now made that role his own. It's such a shame that we lost a whole season, there's no doubt we would have had a much better season last year if he had been available for all of it. He would have needed time to settle ofcourse but even just to be an extra body last year amongst that injury crisis. He looks every bit the future captain to me, in terms of his onfield presence. Certainly added himself to the "purples" list now that's for damn sure.

Big game this Villa one. Feels like they are out closest rivals over the last and coming years. Howe has gotten the better of Emery a few times now and let's hope that continues. But should be a good game, as both teams look bang in form after today. We are definitely going to face a stronger challenge than the last 3 opponents, but likewise, Man city looked shocking again today, so we will prove a much stronger test for villa also.

Jesus Christ some of you are relentless at seeking out negativity. Sure he was probably the quietest of our players today, and it was surprising as I thought this sort of game would suit him, but give the lad a break he's not really started for awhile and it was only a few days ago he came in at halftime and looked bright.

That looks alot better. Although Forest need to slow the fuck down