Heron

Thought oddly he put great balls into the right areas tonight and yet we had no one in the right areas to finish. Which means he should have got his head up and played to the right positions but also means the players expecting to receive the balls should have also ran to the right areas. I'd generally side with the former on that latter point.

For me the atmosphere seemed really, really poor tonight. However, the Strawberry Corner is a bit of an echo chamber. Curious about other people's takes from outside of there... I was a bit flat pre-match, I don't mind saying. I felt a bit like "What Newcastle will turn up tonight?" And that curse of the close but not close enough setting in. I'll be honest like, I just don't understand going to the match and not trying to make an atmosphere. Especially this day in age when you can watch almost every game at home in the warmth and with multiple camera angles. This thread and me-myself, are just like reverberating echoes of a bygone era I feel but even then I wonder if I just see things with rose tinted glasses... The 90s was the pinnacle of football essentially. The decline of football violence on the UK but enough aggro to at least muster up some encouragement. Now it's full of folk turning up to be entertained and shout "bravo".

Thing is he has always had the desire to fit in. Think that goes a long way in itself. Was actively showing himself learning English when he first came and was trying to converse with people and engage and I reckon that's probably benefitted him not only from a popularity point of view but also in terms of settling into the team and being able to focus on his football. It obviously helps he's a quality footballer, but I just love players like him, Rondon and a few others who just know how good life is to be doing what they love for a living like.

Eddie Howe man...absolutely class. It's almost desperation a comment like that. Everyone knows they're not gonna get a big controversial story so just trying to get a rise or make him lose his cool. Above all else he is being a role model to the players. Great man management as a result.

Murphy > Saka

Dubravka is a funny one like. I think he's enjoyed his time here but ultimately he only has loyalty to himself. Not what I like to see especially in football but equally nowt wrong with it to some degree. Gotta look after number one... Pun intended.

Caalin me blind like...eh...eh

Sean Longstaff is at least a 20m midfielder for me. In the modern age. Think people saying he isn't are doing him a disservice. You cannot replace him for that.

Everyone moans man. No one has one emotion. I'm the most positivist person on here.

@andycap smokes dope. It's official.

People just inherently hate Longstaff. He misplaced a few passes and was slow on the ball. Was also shite today. But was no worse than Targett. Who was out of position, slow, and also wasted possession. The one saving grace Targett had today was winning the pen.

You're wrong. You wrongin.

Agreed. Well done Ronnie. We don't usually agree.

Longstaff was nee worse than Targett like.

There was absolutely a spell where I considered whether he should be dropped for Gordon like. Gordon was nowhere near his best.

Hoo. Behave

Agreed. Lonfstaff isn't necessarily 5th choice either. He offers different characteristics to both Miley and Willock as our current second string. I reckon Howe looks at them in that regard too. Miley appears to be more akin to Bruno, then the other 4 are all more physically similar with their own unique capabilities. Undoubtedly though, Joelinton and Tonali are our key, consistent chappies.

Shut up. Just shut up.

He's not. Burn is. At least

A fully fit, well drilled Matt Target possibly aye. I'll give you that. But personally I thought Targett was poor against 4th division opponents today. Hey ho. I am happy to put that down to rustiness.

I think he'd get better tbf shaking the rustiness off.

That's a radge outlook imo. Targett played Bromley. In the last like 13months Miggy and Longstaff played and pretty much matched PSG and Milan.

I actually think people think Targett played better because he won the pen (I mean, I think he did but it was up the Leazes and I'm pure blind )

Yeah but Miley played alreet

Not sure if lenient is what you meant or if it was sarcasm