Novocastrian

Willock’s on the bench, arguably only missing Joelinton and Tonali from the first 11.

Defending this season has been shocking. We are letting in at least 2 goals a game. We are this bad defensively.

Maybe some confusion around the definition of terms. If rushing off your line to blast a ball into Row Z makes you a ‘Sweeper Keeper’ then Pope maybe deserves that monicker. He’s more decisive than Dubs who generally misses the window for action and then has to stay on his line and narrow the angle. Pope’s forays out of the box, or anytime he has the ball at his feet, aren’t contributing to any attacking endeavour though. I’m generally peering through my fingers when he attempts to kick the ball.

Dubs hasn’t had an easy ride and he’s suffering a bit from the structural issues in the midfield and the knock on effect to the defence. We’ve conceded a load of goals recently but not that many can be pinned solely on him. One thing I’m not having is Pope as a ‘sweeper keeper’. Are we sure? He’s probably the least equipped GK I’ve seen for a sweeper keeper role.

Didn’t they court Rafa for a while?

Can’t stand Arsenal but I’ve got Saka and Saliba in my team.

Fuck both of them, hope they get hammered.

We won’t finish top 7 if we keep conceding at our current rate.

Now get Tino on.

Lovely placement.

What on earth is the defence doing?

We’re there for the taking.

I honestly wouldn’t put Pope in the sweeper keeper category. Only two players I worry about on the ball are Burn and Pope. Pope outside of the box is the stuff of nightmares.

We are too fragile at the back, I’m confident we’ll score again but not confident they won’t score too.

We’re going to need 5 to guarantee a win here.

Wilson looks dead.

If he wants 3 x CBs just play 5 at the back.

Only player I’d back Burn to win in a foot race at the moment is Wilson.

We didn’t need to push up so high, it’s fucking infuriating this.

Burn started running as soon as Gibbs-White got the ball. Was still too slow.

Oh dear…

First warning for Burn/Howe.

Yes and they learn from them. Let’s see what happens next.

He needs to eradicate this blind spot he has very quickly. Elite managers don’t continually make mistakes like that.

I certainly didn’t enjoy that. I feel sick.