Heron

He's good but he's nee Longstaff.

A win away at Newcastle is a jewel in the champions crown nowadays. Not many get owt here.

It'll all be fine. Howay The Lads.

That became evident yesterday for me, unless Bruno and Tonali are the deep lyers but generally think that's a waste of their respective abilities. Even despite that error, 3 (4?) Big moments came through player error, Schar once defensively- for the first goal, once for the potential equaliser and then Bruno's ridiculous pass for the third and Pope's clanger for the second.

We payed 4 2 3 1 it seemed yesterday to me, first half anyways and it didn't work...

I get why the question is being asked and I get that ultimately it is upto those at the club to decide what they feel is the best direction is what will be taken. I'd imagine that the hope is that they'd co-exist and 'click' as realistically I don't believe anyone is now at the club to simply 'sponge' or see their days out. There appears to be a desire for all to be the best. However, as there are different personalities there are different methods being used to perhaps shake things up and keep people on their toes and pushing forward. As we are always reminded on here, it's a football forum and it's for discussion, debate and and understanding of collective perception. So there's nothing really wrong with the thread, it's what many folk will be asking in pubs next week, dare I say it. However, it's a little concerning that this is the effect two or three journalists have over not just our fans but society as a whole. Ironically, sensationalist as it may seem, journalists are seemingly there to create a story that sells rather than to journal the facts and truths of what is happening. The more sensationalist language that is used, the better as it adds to the juiciness of a story. I could be wrong, but Hope is a Toon fan, if I remember correctly - and his use of it being a 'civil war' and constantly asking Howe is nothing but sensationalist wank designed to sell his version of a story over others. People can say he's doing is his job, he may be, but is there a need to exacerbate or simply generate something like this from nothing to his team, that he follows? What's he really gaining from it? The drum has been banged for 3 or 4 weeks now and it's clear Eddie isn't going to let up. So Hope needs to fuck off, as does that SMB. However, fans are starting to give credence to it's validity and it's clearly seeping in. I genuinely think we're one of the worst fan bases for it too. Probably because we're passionate and all have a desire to end this baron spell. However, I like to think that for the wonderful job that Eddie Howe has done, particularly in those first 18months but also carrying a decimated, injury-struck side through the 'group of death' and almost out the other side and then onto the brink of European qualification again, after our greatest start to a season in decades (despite performances) and just one loss in 5 games, we'd collectively (as a fanbase) be rallying behind him and fencing him off to tell everyone out there - back off, he's our man. He has called for unity, he has claimed there is unity, we (the fans) need give him unity and I can guarantee the players will follow, and to some degree are demonstrating they're still with the manager by beating a team with 10men and coming back from a losing position versus Bournemouth, Wolves and almost Fulham. We have issues which Howe can iron out, of that I am certain, but we need to block out this sensationalist wank and unite on all fronts. Newcastle UNITED will never be defeated.

This is an important point I think. Ultimately, we had a chance to go top today and be unbeaten heading into City (h) which would have been a free hit and if we got both today right and something versus City it would have us with a real sense of belief that we could rode throughout the season. Instead, we're in this moment of self doubt again a bit like after Liverpool (h) last season or after the CL exit. I'd have taken two points from these last two and actually, we're a point ahead of where I'd expect after these 5 games. Next week is a big game for the performance not the result, but if we get both, it's time to bury the negativity and start really hunting the top 4 slots down and/or a cup.

Aye was better for us today and made a difference going forward, gave them something to think about

He's not far from being dropped I reckon.

FWIW I think he'd be excellent for that role. Want to keep him though, he's wors.

I could see the arguments for why it was done but I did think to myself today what negative impact this may have had. For me Bruno leads through his ability and quality of performance but if he isn't playing well what does he lead with. Trippier was quite clearly organising and talking lots at full back. I generally think it's better to have deeper lying players as captain anyways such as defenders (but I am biased).

He cannot carry the can as the root cause but he absolutely could be a contributory factor. I think even from Howes interviews where he has played it perfect politically, players that have been signed may have been put out by that, as the scouring and coaching team may have done too. Mind, my hope would be that this would give them all fire in their belly to disprove that statement.

I think the club have made mistkaes from the top down more than the other way around and hence why the root cause of my concern lies less with Eddie Howe and more with the way the club has operated. None of the performances have been good to date this season though for a whole host of reasons, it seems. Individual mistakes, wrong formation (1st half today), players being touted about pre season.

It's all about perspective. We have come sk far in such a short spell of time albeit in an unusual fashion by finishing higher then lower again. Presently we're higher than we finished last season. I won't apologise for being positive.

Which we are and have already been in too. I think (happy to be corrected too) that was before all the FFP and PSR restrictions being really heavily implemented too...

And it's where we currently are.

100% behind him as it stands still to be honest. Why wouldn't I be... we're ahead of where I expected us to be.

Directors direct, if they're criticising direction but haven't yet given their own then rightfully those who believe and statistically have done well under said previous direction will rightly question and be put out by being publicly questioned - I say this without viewing his interview mind...

Murphy was probably our MotM today

TBH mate, I thought the team we went with at the start was strong and likely to give them a hard time / us a comfortable win. I'm saying he got it wrong in retrospect. Which is obviously easy. Tonali should be starting versus City it seems to me. I'd probably have something like the below (based on them all being fit). Burn free and coordinating at the back, sweeping and clearing the lines (or potentially Schar as he has more mobility and could step into CDM with Burn slotting at CB to prevent them playing through the lines). Livramento and Trippier playing as part of a back 5 without possession and as wing backs with possession. Similarly 4 across midfield with Gordon dropping in without possession and a low block to give us the chance to break out on the counter. Joelinton to follow Rodri everywhere and muscle him and hopefully free up Tonali and Bruno to coordinate play. Isak as always the threat up top. Wouldn't be pretty but versus Man City and away from home I think this makes us more compact and less likely to concede, witht the ability to control the game more versus lesser teams. Probably not for this thread, I know. I think Tonali will be huge for us in time but he needs given game time now and we need to stop leaking goals and controlling games. I'm not sure intensity is our correct identity at the moment, not unless the players hearts and heads are in it. Whatever has happened at the top, has rocked the boat all the way to the bows in my opinion. It's the fans', players' and Eddie's job to steady the ship...and we can.

I do think issues have stemmed from the top down rather than bottom up like.

I also thought Howe went like for like and that back fired. Playing our usual 3 in a similar vein would have stifled Fulham a bit and they'd have had less going forward. We'd have had the quality to control midfield but instead we were over run.

Thought he should have been on sooner once we got the goal personally and rode the wave as it turned.