alexf

Not that I'm excusing our performance in anyway. But both derbies this year we have played off the back of an away fixture in the champions league a few days before. I think that has a lot to do with it as most of our players looked shattered by 20 mins today.

What's equally galling is it was so predictable. My pessimism and dread before the game was proven justified because we have seen that same game play out so many times. Brentford, Everton, Sunderland just to name a few. But we simply can't seem to navigate these sort of teams. One big guy up front just dominates our slow weak cb's every time. Thiago, Beto and now most recently Brobbey. Rince and repeat. Add in our utter inability to break down sides unless they try to play out and we manage to nick the ball high up. Our set piece deliveries have been atrocious most of the season.

That's because Ramsey kicked it straight out for a goal kick. We can't even execute the tedious routine that was lifted off psg from the summer. Atleast they have the players to actually put the ball in the corner. It set the tone for me 2nd half.

The ownership does really concern me now. It's felt so vacant ever since Amanda left really. There's barely any communication, there has been next to no activity on any of the areas that would be helping us close the gap in terms of sponsorships, new stadiums and training grounds etc. Just feels exactly what people feared that they are very absentee owners. With the shit in the gulf and all that carnage going on etc, you can imagine that pif's priorities right now aren't a football team in England that are just one of a boat load of companies in their portfolio. It has the feeling of a failed experiment that has been defeated by the rules and regulations designed to protect the big boys and we're gonna settle back into being a mid table team once we are forced to sell our remaining jewels.

Just hurts so much more to think we won a cup and secured CL last season and hadn't signed a player for awhile so looked all set up to push on and grow with one of the best strikers in the world still with 3 years on his deal. The behind the scenes bullshit with Mitchell/the owners, Isak throwing a grenade into our summer, has just set off a horrible spiral of events that have contributed to season. We are now going into the summer with no trophy, no European football of any kind and possibly a bottom half finish. Thoroughly demoralised, fans and players all questioning the direction and trajectory of the club. Tonali, Tino, Gordon, Bruno, Hall may all be looking to jump off the train and get themselves a move like Isak now. No doubts we will be on the backfoot this window with all the Isak money already wasted on the wrong players unfortunately and now needing a massive rebuild before we even factor losing some of our better players and how difficult it will be to replace like for like. Howe for the first time really is losing the confidence of a number of fans it seems, which felt unthinkable 12 months ago. But there's just not enough things to cling to with positivity from this year to looking forward at the moment. Style of play as run stale, stats don't lie, unable to overcome losing positions and unable to hold on to winning ones. All the late goals conceded. Poor in-game subs and game management. A big reset is needed and I hope he can be the one to help do it. Just wonder if this season will have drained him too much aswell.

Wouldn't be surprised if those players going to the world cup begin to slack off even more to ensure they don't get injured or too tired towards end of season. Likes of Gordon, Tonali etc. Said it at the time but that Bruno injury away at spurs cost us far more than not getting that 3 points at the time would have. Missed him massively in these big games.

He really really needed the result today. I think majority of fans were totally understanding of the summer, the tough CL, league and Fa cup draws, leading to more games than any other team contributing to the really poor league form. But I think we had to get the win today to break the awful league derby record and to keep us ahead of them and in the hunt for Europe. Even if they comeback and won every game now til the end of the season (we won't) I still don't think fans will give a shit and will still be pissed off heading into a rough summer where we have to sell out better players yet again. Gonna be the darkest period of his reign and hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel with this squad at the moment. Far too many aren't good enough.

Least of our problems and took his goal really well..however the lack of composure 2nd half and to repeat blazing the ball over twice when he has so much time to execute the shot just shows again why there is something lacking.

Utter disgrace when he came on. Watch the goal. The pass then the walking to leave all the space in the middle and not even bother his arse to try and get back in. Supposed to bring us fresh legs off the bench fucking unforgivable in a derby.

Unacceptable that. Sure we have had CL away games twice before the derbies but there are still no excuses for that. Pathetic 2nd half yet again.

Poor effort on his left. Got to hit the target as minimum but also go across the goalie so any save might fall to our lads. However still a threat if he can give and go quickly and run into space. Just need to do it more and learn not to give him the ball when he has players Infront of him as he just gives it away every time.

Any decent side would score at will against us still at the moment unfortunately hence the nerves still. Need to limit any counter attacks with the lack of pace we have. Confident Burn and Botman can deal with the aerial threat. Ramsey is the most important in that midfield. Needs to be the conductor of our game like Bruno but also break up attacks. He's done alright so far. But we do still look bit soft and vacant in the middle.

Lads look abit tired. Think they are trying to manage their energy so don't think they can go too gung ho non stop. However it's abit nervy every time we gift them some corners and throw ins. Need to play those little give and goes to unlock Elanga, Gordon and Barnes more. Learn from Barca how they did it and open up the space. Need a couple more to be comfortable.

Other than Willock potentially starting for Wolte there isn't too much I'm surprised about. Tino still easing back so was 50/50 him or Trips with Howe usually preferring leadership and experience. Thiaw was probably always likely to be the one to sit out after Barca. Elanga generally has been better when he starts games over coming on as a sub. The only really call with Tonali out was Wolte or Willock and he has opted for something that potentially gives us something different than just fast runners everywhere if we don't have space to run into.

Think we might miss Tonali for this. Gonna need Ramsey and Joelinton to cover for him from a defensive perspective. But hopefully Nick can play like we know he has the potential to do and unlock some space for our runners.

Ah forgot that one but yeah can almost discount the bigger sides as they come to play. But yeah can see him struggling for any space tomorrow and will likely get dominated physically. Be interesting how Howe decides to set up. Just dreading a repeat of that Everton game really where everything we tried just didn't seem to work.

Dreading it to some degree. Mainly due to how long it's been since we beat them in the league. Seen far too many games where we "should" have won but failed to turn up. The same can be said of this Newcastle team many times this season. They are everything we seem to struggle against really. Every time a team sits in and makes us have to create something against a low block we look creatively impotent, particularly without Bruno's passing. Having said all that, really hope the lads can use the disappointment of earlier in the season, the embarrassment of Barcelona 2nd half and channel it into a real performance to be proud of tomorrow. Win it and we are right in the mix for a European place, 3 weeks off to train and recuperate for those not on internationals and key players back for our run in. Lose and it doesn't bear thinking about.

Has Gordon had any good games upfront at home recently? Struggling to remember any really, seems to struggle when teams sit deep. Like that Everton game where he ended up getting put out wide instead.

Win tomorrow and we have a decent chance of finishing 7th. At a stretch 6th if Chelsea lose. But it will be tight now between us Brentford, Everton and Brighton. Lose tomorrow and I think bottom half finish unfortunately.

And yet there has been none of that in his Chelsea appearances.

Nothing shows the divide between them and the rest of us more than the fact they signed Mudryk for £90m and probably quite sizeable wages to secure him ahead of Arsenal at the time. Turned out to be a massive flop and then he got suspended for Drugs for the past year. The fact no one even mentions it or cares that such an asset will have depreciated to such extremes shows the extent to which it doesn't impact them in the slightest. If we had done that we would be financially fucked. As we will if Wissa or Woltemade don't come good and make the grade or don't bring in decent money if we decide to sell in summer.

You'll be fine. Morale boosting performance and win mid-week, decent result against Liverpool last week and important players coming back. Forrest played 120+ mins midweek and had to travel away aswell. More importantly players seem to have woken up to their circumstance a little bit and are putting in the effort now. Beat Forrest and you will stay up comfortably. If you somehow conspire to lose however then all the positivity I just mentioned could evaporate in a flash. But can't see it happening this weekend.

I agree. Just with Burn's boyhood connection to this fixture, coupled with Howe's love of his leadership. I just think based on everything we have seen so far from Howe, there is zero chance he benches Burn for this fixture. Same probably applies to Trippier, however I'd be less shocked if he opts for Tino.

Not a chance he won't start Burn for this. But agreed Botman probably should come in. Imagine he might go Burn & Botman possibly and give Thiaw a rest after a rough night the other day. But really it should be same back 4 that kept a clean sheet against Chelsea if we want the best chance of winning. Probably be Trippier starting aswell.

Fucking Bentaleb in the Lille team. He wasn't good enough even when we were really shit. Shows the level of teams in Europa these days. Honestly Villa could win this tournament even with their B team i'd suspect. Not a single team I can see left that could give them trouble. Probably be an all English final again. Once we lost Isak and lost our true wildcard to compete with the best teams in the CL this season I'd probably have preferred a run in the Europa. Easier games, another chance to win something and also qualification for CL for the following season.