timeEd32

Disagree with both of you - Pope's command of the penalty area and his shot stopping is a bigger deal than Ramsdale's kicking upgrade. And I think even more important with the loss of Burn, which means we're downgrading in certain defensive aspects (clearances, tackles won, and aerial duels per 90) but gives us an upgrade in ball playing ability from the back.

Yeah, he almost never gets to cut in onto his right anymore. Had one opportunity today but it was blocked. That threat helps us too, but really need Hall to make the most of it.

Pope vs. Ramsdale all stats per 90 min; all comps (excluding tonight's game) First things first, the kicking: Live ball passes completed: 20.4 Pope vs. 26.7 Ramsdale Completion %: 69.9 vs. 77.2 Shot creating actions: 0.24 vs. 0.58 Passes received: 11.5 vs. 20.8 Progressive passing distance: 354.3 vs. 413.7 Passes into final third: 0.12 vs. 0.38 So as expected Ramsdale provides an upgrade with his feet - we use him more, he completes more passes, and he helps us get the ball forward. Goal prevention and defensive actions Defensive actions outside penalty area: 2.68 Pope vs. 1.40 Ramsdale Avg. distance of all defensive actions: 17 yards vs. 15 yards Crosses stopped %: 12.1 vs. 5.5 Goals against: 1.01 vs. 1.39 Save %: 77.6 vs. 71.4 Clean sheet %: 47.1 vs. 14.3 The most concerning thing in here to me, which I think is visible watching the games, is the crosses stopped %. And to make matters worse, with Pope in goal we were facing 12.8 crosses per game (equivalent to fourth fewest in the PL behind City, Arsenal, and Chelsea). With Ramsdale in goal we're facing 18.2 crosses per game, equivalent to third most in the PL behind Burnley and West Ham. Also Pope's crosses stopped % climbs to 15.5% in league games, which is best in the league (Ramsdale's remains the same). It's nice to have a keeper whose feet aren't a liability and that should remain high on the wishlist for 2026/27, but there should be no GK controversy this season when Pope is fit.

Clutching at straws that barely exist because they have two full teams… they have Man United following the first leg and the second leg is between Tottenham and Liverpool (all away).

Imagine traveling back 5 years to share that and then adding that 17% of the board want him sacked.

Joins the list of Geordie boys who have scored big League Cup goals.

Newcastle in the League Cup with Eddie Howe Tranmere (a) - W, 2-1 Palace (h) - D, 0-0 (win on pens) Bournemouth (h) - W, 1-0 Leicester (h) - W, 2-0 Southampton (a) - W, 1-0 Southampton (h) - W, 2-1 Man United (Wembley) - L, 2-0 Man City (h) - W, 1-0 Man United (a) - W, 3-0 Chelsea (a) - D, 1-1 (lose on pens) Forest (a) - D, 1-1 (win on pens) Wimbledon (h) - W, 1-0 Chelsea (h) - W, 2-0 Brentford (h) - W, 3-1 Arsenal (a) - W, 2-0 Arsenal (h) - W, 2-0 Liverpool (Wembley) - W, 2-1 Bradford (h) - W, 4-1 Tottenham (h) - W, 2-0 Fulham (h) - W, 2-1 20 games - 16 wins, 3 draws, and 1 defeat in normal time (2-1 in penalty shootouts) He's beaten Man City, Arsenal (twice), Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, and Tottenham.

It could change but it's looking very questionable whether he can effectively lead the line on his own. Needs a partner.

Yeah, that was a different player than the last few weeks.

League Cup legend

Should really be our fourth semifinal in a row. Unreal.

Wissa was central on ready run off the shoulder of a defender at every moment. Woltemade is basically another midfielder. Such a night and day difference.

Poor from Gordon

There's a lot of sloppiness mixed in which is ultimately the undoing, but this is one of the best responses to a goal we've had all season.

Has Tino forgotten where he's playing?

There's some fortune in that, but look at the run he made and then took a step left before coming back to the right. You can see the defender struggling to properly track. I don't think that's in Nick's arsenal at the moment.

There's some fortune in that, but look at the run he made and then took a step left before coming back to the right. You can see the defender struggling to properly track. I don't think that's in Nick's arsenal at the moment.

That makes me realize how little I pay attention to Fulham.

If this is what we're in the midst of I think it would be a lot easier for people to accept if we were playing a different formation. Not saying Eddie should do that to be clear, but as evidenced by many of the recent posts it's very hard to watch what looks like a worse version of the same thing.

The worst thing about this game is that they sat back for 30 minutes and we did almost nothing. You could almost take it if their keeper made a couple diving saves, we hit a post, and generally caused waves of panic. Sometimes the ball doesn’t go in. But today the ball was never going in. 0.25 expected goals, 0 big chances. Just a whole lot of embarrassing nothing.

If that was our spell of pressure then just kill me.

US broadcast said Burn likely broken rib.

Never thought I’d say this but I’d give anything for Osula right now.

Regardless of how the next 40 minutes go the decision to play Woltemade for all of the Leverkusen game makes little sense.

Nick has only won one header today and it’s the only one he shouldn’t have.