alexf

Remember seeing Cornet early on last season and thinking he looked a really good player. Seemed to fade as the season went on but that could be down to being surrounded by the shit he was playing with at Burnley. Think he would be a really good squad addition and covers alot of positions.

"proper football person" ?

Why make the effort to Google something in a few seconds when someone on here will do it for you ?

I made that statement with zero knowledge and zero research. ?

Am I wrong to think Maddison has been pretty injury prone the last few years?

That's a really well worked goal. That defender for Germany did class there whoever she is.

I guess I seem to be in the minority on here regarding ASM. But I really think people are undervaluing him. He's still a remarkable talent and has fantastic ability. I hope he can prove people wrong but I feel it's gonna be a never ending..."well what have u done for me lately" which is often the case with flair players who have up and down form.

I didn't see the full game only these highlights so Longstaff may have had a great game for all I am aware. But 2mins in, is a perfect example of what I've seen him do time and time again and why I'm not sure he's suited to premier League level. He takes too long on the ball and reguarly gets dispossessed like that in dangerous positions.

Yeah I don't think anyone has done 90 mins in any of the friendlies so far so u might think 2 line ups would likely be give a full game each. Then a sprinkling of youngsters on the bench incase of any injuries.

Would love him to out perform Grealish and shove his disrespectful comment up his arse but it's only pre-season. However like all our players..he has every opportunity now for this to be his best season so far for us. There's no real excuses for any of them not to perform at their best anymore.

Priority signing but also possibly 12th summer signing ?

It's only a preseason friendly so you can't put too much stock in it ..but based on what I gathered from the Portuguese commentator..their right side of defense was strong and their left side weak so he was suggesting that we were always likely to get my joy attacking down almirons side. That being said ASM still had a few moments where he can create something out of nothing and did very little "wrong" other than looking poor defensively but that's nothing new. it's weird that he keeps getting singled out for criticism when you see how poor some of the other players in the squad are. Regarding his going down easily, I don't think people appreciate how much he does get kicked. There was one moment shown on reply where the fucker took out his one leg then smashed his other leg aswell for good measure. There is probably also the element of making the ref aware of it so that it doesn't keep happening or better you get them carded early. He also does milk it possibly to get out of some defensive work ?

Wood does run around getting nowhere near anyone or the ball. Looks bit like a competition winner. Not that Wilson did much first half mind and it's only pre-season but I can't wait for us to get another striker in hopefully.

He has struggled with injuries and illness in recent seasons also. Aswell as no other tactics than go out and play under Bruce. It looks for the first time our squad are going into a season with the correct physical fitness needed since the Rafa days. I think we will see far more performances like the Everton game where everyone was praising him this year. However he's human like everyone else and also still learning and will still have games where people are pulling their hair out.

I have a feeling he might be in the starting line up against Forrest with Willock used as the impact player. I guess the final pre-season games may give more of a clue.

https://www.kickest.it/en/premier-league/stats/players/successful-dribbles Abit more data here. What's clear to my eye, even without the stats l, is we have one of, if not the best, dribbler in the league. Get him doing it higher up the pitch 1v1 will result in more goals and assists. We have a great talent in our squad and it's really annoying this theme on here lately that he's some sort of problem. Hopefully now that the club is moving in the right direction he will perform even better and his output will increase.

I don't think that's right. I swear I'd seen stats where he is way out Infront as the best dribbler in the league. A quick Google gave me this... "His completion stats make even better reading. Of his 225 dribbles, 139 of them have been successful" 4 May 2022

Unfortunately Longstaff doesn't quite have the athleticism for the top level. However this weakness can be nullified if he was abit sharper. But the amount of times he takes an eternity on the ball and then loses it before Howe came along was embarrassing. I think he will be improved this year but he never quite seems to recover from the injury he got after first bursting on the scene. But the poison of Bruce being manager also set in. So willing to give everyone a chance now that he's gone. Willock was really poor first half of the season (possible foot injury that was bothering him alot?) but just looked a shadow of the dynamic player we had on loan. But a few of us said in january, let's give this lad a chance under Howe and he can play that Lingard position after we failed to sign him, which I was glad about. He was much better once Howe came in and I think he will be even better this year with a proper fitness and coaching to support.

Barely any...I've seen plenty of times where he laid it off to wood, almiron, Murphy, Joelinton etc and they all fucked up a goalscoring chance. Whenever I saw it I understood more why he sometimes feels the need to go it alone because the likelihood of one of the others doing anything was slim to none. When he plays with Wilson he gives him good assists and if we get a player of equal quality on the right then he will have more space to work in.

"Interesting #nufc link w/ Benjamin Sesko, 19-year-old RB Salzburg striker, this morning - sparked partly by agent posting he's in Newcastle on Instagram." ? You mean completely Mark? None of the journalists have a clue at the moment. Prefer it that way to be fair.

About the size of dressing room they will be getting used to this season ?

Really hope we don't see Ritchie getting any game time, especially at left back this season. No offence to the lad, just his legs are shot and cost us countless goals early on last season

Astounds me someone like Dummett who plays football almost every day of his life has never improved his ability on the ball.

He can do things that very few players can. He has a higher ceiling than pretty much any of the players we have been linked with in my opinion. It just waits to be seen whether or not a solid pre-season, improved coaching and injury free run can lead to him maximising his potential. If he fails to develop this season surrounded by better players and with all the other advantages I already mentioned, then would be the time to maybe consider replacing him. But not yet, he is a unique enigma, and if nurtured properly becomes a high value asset.

He reminds me of Steven Taylor or who Taylor would have been if he wasn't a footballer.