Heron

0 - 1 Lee Carsley: Football Genius.

Exactly. It's not rocket science like. Teams win matches not invidual players.

That's exactly what Southgate was doing that's the thing. Foden left of a 3 who spent more time inside than anywhere else. A RB at LB with no protection (or wide option) who kept cutting inside to play on his stronger foot (Trippier - now TAA). Cole Palmer on the right which many folk were screaming for (either him or Gordon) - I guess is fair enough. Kane no doubt dropping into the central number 10 position when he doesn't receive chances and Bellingham just being crowded out. Rice as a DM makes sense but Gomes? I mean you can only try. Systemically though, I just don't see it personally. Slight change of personnel and more of the same trudging through treacle bullshit.

Yep that's what Fotmob is saying. All whilst playing with arguably 3 number 10s and no wingers

It's 4231 according to Fotmob.

What a bizarre line up.

Love it. Toys oot the pram cause they lost.

Lush photo moment there at the end with the Toon end raising scarves and getting a photo. The mackems will be fewming

Lasses will be fleeing Durham and Sunderland to come to Newcastle too.

2 in a row marra

"You only come to see Newcastle" would appropriate today. Record attendance for this division and they couldn't even hit their 20k they'd been aiming for. Will likely be doubled at SJP - assuming the return leg is played there.

I don't foresee England or any given club wanting that to be honest. I kinda feel that managers are all in for one entity nowadays.

Mackems man.

I mean I didn't even see the incident but yeah. No pen. For sure.

I don't see Howe as being an international manager despite him being perfect for the England job. I think he enjoys the day to day too much...

It wasn't. 200%.

Very valid point.

Perhaps that was there intention? After the whole Super League debacle...

Always been cunts.

I've been saying for years that football will implode on itself but every year it seems to have been stretched and stretched and somehow the bubble hasn't burst. However, now feels like it may finally be the start of the end (in England). APT has to be a thing somewhat to prevent owners (such as our own) absolutely blowing competition out of the water. However, if the PL have a say over what is "reasonable" based on other transactions then the likelihood is that clubs below the cartel and trying to break into it will never be allowed deals that surpass those clubs' commercial deals until such a point they are of similar/same quality and historical value. So in other words, status quo is by and large maintained. The Premier League isn't fit for purpose anymore and trust of those leading it has sll but gone. There should be folk either at the FA or as part of a board at the PL making some very quick and drastic decisions re. Masters if they want to maintain any respect - however, that doesn't appear to be forthcoming. Therefore it will remain bent. Is the PL at risk of becoming financially broken and bankrupt? Is it at risk of member clubs saying they no longer want to be a part? Could we see two "top flights" with the cartel clubs essentially getting their super league wish and the rest in the actual top flight?

Shit is gonna go dooooown.

8s is fine on those pitches especially if folk are particularly unfit

I get the impression that were City to not win the league they'd be desperate for us to nowadays like Like a EPL game of Risk.

I don't believe it is wrong for Man City to get what they believe they are entitled to through the alleged governing body of the league's ineptitude. It is wrong that the alleged governing body has got themselves in this predicament in the first place. Re. The wider state of football. It's entirely shite that state owned clubs will in effect assert absolute dominance through the magnitude of their financial capability. However, that horse has also bolted and what happened with our takeover was that everyone except Man City and one or two others basically said "Ah no fuck that, they'll blow us out the water". I mean, they would. Of course they would. Who wouldn't? We would. However, we are entirely within our rights to say "why does it stop with us?" Just as Man City are allowed to say the same (and others). The rulings may have underlying best intentions (the PL will claim they do) but in reality, it is being proven that they didn't. They've sought to amend rules and adapt rules to prevent other clubs from blowing apart the cartel. Their ineptitude of creating fair and just practices to keep the competitive nature of the league in line has resulted in creating a closed shop with "happy-go-lucky" clubs filling up the spots behind, content with riding the gravy train and being the "best of the rest". How is that competitive? What needs to happen is that a fair and just method of untangling this mess needs to occur. Which, for me, means a different governing body taking control as all trust is lost in the PL. Once that is complete, new rules need to be put in place to enable the growth of said sporting institutions whereby they're protected for their communities (not businessmen or global empires) and can become or remain competitive without obscene financial input designed to remove competitivity. Many will disagree, I am sure. However, I think the Atheltic Bilbao model adapted worldwide would be a pretty awesome thing. Players from their own region representing their own area or team and the investment happens at grassroot level to ensure the foundations are always in place for children from said region to be able to make the biggest stage. That itself wouldn't be perfect with richer regions or countries having better facilities etc. But it'd be far more organic than the current model. Speaking purely as an NUFC fan in the current state though, we should have the attitude that everyone except maybe half a dozen sides are trying to illegally hold us back, so fuck them. Let's blow them apart.