ponsaelius

My biggest criticism of Howe is how he is basically allergic to changing systems. Generally I prefer a manager like that who is commited to his Plan A philosophy and imposing it on the opposition, but he takes it to the extremes. We barely ever even make minor adjustments.

Imagine if somebody told you two years ago that in October 2023 Jamaal Lascelles would be leading us out in the CL against PSG with a giant floating drone display above the stadium. Fucking hell sportswashing is a hell of a drug

Anybody know if Whitley Park is cash/card on the door for U23s?

You say that but he has pretty consistently looked better at LB than CB. Both here and at Brighton. His rise up to PL performer has come playing on the left side (even as a wing back) not as a CB. He looked all over the place in the middle the other week.

Paully D, man

Yasss

I'll upgrade on this. I'd rather watch Tony Pulis' Stoke side play Otto Rehhagel's Greece.

He's been wank in both so far, unfortunately. I like the lad and am desperate for him to do well but fuck me the last two games he has been brutal. Just play a pass to a team mate ffs.

I'm genuinely not sure he's done a single thing right.

I'd rather watch Tony Pulis' Stoke side than Guardiola's Man City.

Tonali for fucks sake

Suck the life out of every single game they play. Haven't watched them play outside of games against us in years. Undoubtedly best team in the world by a distance but not for me unless I'm obliged.

Both

Tonali has been absolutely shite outside of the Villa game I'm afraid to say

Fuck me this is dull

Been watching the second half on the dodgy box. I know the matchday experience at the GIS isn't the best but if people are missing out on Toon tickets then this Heed side are a deserving alternative for your attention. Absolutely superb football at the moment.

Tried for PSG home tickets on their general sale and already gone. We think our ticketing system is bad, theirs is borderline criminal. General sale and then unlimited touting of tickets at whatever price you want to set it at, which then PSG take a cut again on the secondary market. Going to have to chance it close to the day on the marketplace when prices inevitably come down.

He attempted 10 passes tonight, completing 7 of them. Bruno had 36/39. Longstaff 38/45. Now obviously he only played 72 minutes, but I think those stats fairly reflects my viewing of the game that he was basically completely uninvolved beyond defensive covering. There's obviously going to be language issues, adaption to the team and his teammates, and accepting we've had a tough start in terms of settling in. But I'm worried that we've bought him with no idea how to use him in this system that Howe will not change from. It's like the 2023 version of buying Hugo Viana to play in a 4-4-2.

Think other than Villa game he's basically been poor tbh. I say that as somebody who rates him as a player. But I just don't see why we've decided to buy him and then play him as a hardworking #8 in this system - where tbh he just seems to spend most of the game forlornly chasing runners. It seems a big waste of resources up to this point imo.

Aye fair point.

Between Trippier and Longstaff for MOTM for me.

Been that way since he joined tbh. Good player but don't think he's suited to either the way we play nor those roles as a high energy #8. Just a weird signing for me if that's the way we intend to play him tbh.

Matt Smith speaks Italian? Fair play.

Murphy and Longstaff in the CL man fever dream stuff

It's a while off but is anybody else looking at home end for PSG away? Depending on ID checks etc it's likely to be me and the old man's only option. They appear to have their own official version of a StubHub system where fans (both ST holders and those with individual tickets) can sell tickets for hugely inflated prices - which PSG then again takes commission. Pretty shitty and some of the prices are insane. However I've noted by following their website that tickets do tend to come down in price dramatically closer to the games - as is the case with most touting. Still looking like £100 a ticket for Dortmund tomorrow but nowhere near as bad as some of the prices in advance. It is likely to be best to hold your nerve and buy tickets on the day. Alternative option is to try and get them when they first go on sale prior to any reselling. They have a membership system which is about £20 a year and they appear to get first dibs on CL tickets for sale. I've bit the bullet and got that - as it might help pick them up during the initial sale.