Novocastrian

I’m sure we are going to go with a back 5 here.

Everything pointing towards another beating on the road. For that very reason I’ll go 3-1 to the Toon.

We need to keep winning so job done but worrying performance ahead of another tough PL away game.

This is dog shit.

Even that geezer from Star Trek with the Adidas Predator heed couldn’t have bent a header like that.

Thank fuck for the back 4 because that was mince.

Gordon reprising Ali Dia here.

We should be pumping these senseless.

WTF is Gordon doing?

If you can get two fists on it surely you can catch it? I know he’s been a top shot stopper but a professional footballer 20 years into his career that can’t trap or pass a ball. Sorry man but no.

Used to love running down there. I live in Somerset now.

It’s elite!! I’m in Fuerteventura though…

Fucking Blackpool, sound pricy. I’m in Seaton Sluice.

I know we aren’t currently troubling the big boys for trophies (and are still getting sneered at by their media shills and plastic fans) but honestly we are an elite sporting institution on almost any metric. Anyway I’m on holiday so definitely chilled (for one more day 🥲)!!!

Ah ok, I’ll get back in my box then. Will Hughes is available I think. We spent more than Real Madrid, Barca, Man Utd, Juve, Milan etc. last season. Thought we were competing with the top teams…

Zero goals and one assist this season. Take the black and white specs off, he’s a decent player and I like him but we are an ‘elite’ team and should be looking much higher.

I agree but I was I largely happy with Elanga because of his pace (we’ve not seen much of it in any practical sense). I thought Mbeumo slowed the play down and was too ‘technical’. Kudus and Semenyo were my choices.

Wide players being ineffective were hugely responsible for me . Gordon invisible, Elanga and Barnes ineffective . Murphy scored but constantly showed too much of the ball and was dispossessed, passing was awful.

Only game that was a major issue was Barcelona. It’s letting Gordon off the hook to say he’s constantly required to track back for Burn. He’s not, beyond what a normal LW would do to support a LB.

All of the attacking players bought this season (apart from Woltemade) are ‘running onto the ball’ players. We’ve been desperate for someone to keep possession but bought Ramsey and Elanga for circa £100m.

I don’t email the council when my bins have been emptied. It’s not that deep. Howe has rock solid support but we’re allowed to question poor performances. Howe normally ‘coaches’ a win but the players, occasionally, let us down but today we were abject.

Anyone want him out now?

Can Ramsdale catch a ball under little pressure?

He’s only worth keeping as No 1 if his catching, shot stopping, sweeping etc is 100% because we know of his ball playing deficiencies. He was flapping at crosses and punching easy catches last season before his injury but was better after his return. He’s regressed and time for Ramsdale IMO.

The Champions’ League’s Anthony Gordon TM