Lush Vlad

Yes and no. His touch and some of his anticipation, being a bit flat footed, head down and not seeing a pass. Have all been noticeable in his brief cameos. Not sure it has anything to do with being used to Isak, IMO. Of course he hasn't really had any meaningful minutes and I don't think he has played in the U21's either? So he could just be trying a bit too hard with his limited minutes and also have some rustiness to shake off. Especially with him already having a chant and being popular amongst fans. Despite barely kicking a ball for us. I certainly agree there is something to work with and he has some great attributes. He looked decent against Wimbledon, I thought. Considering the way the game went would not have suited a player like him at all. Against a similar level of opposition on Sunday. I am hoping he gets off the mark and puts in a decent showing.

Haha

Fucking hell. I've stuumbled onto Pedants-Online by mistake.

PL XI, though? So can't count Cole's goals in Division 1, can you? Or is it just the PL era? Bit before my time of watching and following football in a bit more detail. But I don't see him ahead of Isak if we are talking Premier League only.

Agree on Tonali. But Isak's numbers are below and I think they are more than worthy of putting him in the conversation, or in my case, a no brainer straight into the team: 10 in 27 25 in 40 15 in 22 and still going I also think his insane ability just put him above any other striker we've had in the prem bar Shearer (for different reasons).

I always find these tough. As I didn't have Sky as a kid and I didn't go to many games until I was 16 onwards. So a lot of the prime years when we were great I am picking favourites and players I either have fond memories of or I have been influenced by others on how good they were (born in 89). I think I did my favourite XI pretty easily on another thread. But the best XI I find really tough. It's also hard if you're going for pure ability, what they achieved before/after, longevity etc. Like Woodgate seems a bit daft being in mine as he wasn't here long enough and barely played. I just can't think of many quality CB's we've had over my time supporting NUFC There is recency bias in the below and also a lot of it is due to what I've mentioned above: Pope Trippier Schar Woodgate Enrique Solano Rob Lee Bruno Robert Shearer Isak My favourite XI didn't even have Shearer in it

A lot of games would be utter shit and all. Imagine how deep a Dyche team would defend

Sort of related. So this made me think of it and start chuckling. I have some great football chat with people on the morning dog walk. A Chelsea fan was telling me earlier in the week that Maresca needs to start bringing one or even two CB's on to play centre mid and help see the game out There's also a sunderland fan who was saying the game would massively improve if they got rid of offside

That's fine and I agree with some of this FWIW. But if we are going to surrender possession like we have in the last 2.5 games, which I'm sure isn't all by design. I would not be comfortable with Dubravka playing in nets at all. He gets lost under high balls far more than Pope and still shows his reluctance to come off his line. It's all a bit of a moot point. As I think this only applies to the remainder of this season. I do think they will try and find a middle ground and go for a keeper in the summer that is somewhere between the two and more of an all rounder. Won't be cheap, of course. But I do think this stint of Dubs playing in goal has highlighted that we need a keeper who can pass the ball a lot better than Pope can.

They really do. Admittedly I don't think Pope has hit the heights of his first season for a few reasons. But I remember when he came in some were a bit skeptical. Then it didn't take long for so many to realise what a big upgrade he was on Dubravka. Now we have had 7 games where the team as a whole have played better, we've stumbled on a formula (Dubs has been a part of that TBF) that works and made some slight tweaks here and there. We're conceding fuck all chances and suddenly Dubravka is great and Pope shouldn't even come back in ? Based on the last 2.5 games. I'm not convinced this upturn in form has been as much to do with Dubravka's kicking/passing as people have been making out, either. We've hardly tried to play like that and have more control from basically the second half of the Man U game onwards. We have just sat in and defended a lead for the most part. Not like he's been spraying it about and constantly playing round a press. I'm also surprised more hasn't been made of the Havertz and Timber sitters that were missed. That's criminally bad goalkeeping (along with the defending for the Havertz one) and luckily, we weren't punished. The offside one where he was scambling about trying to kick it. WTF was that all about? He was back to being rooted to his line or stuck under the ball all the while. Albeit against a team that love set pieces and crosses. It's all hard to quantify, as others have said. But I do think this place and fans in general have fairly short memories when it comes to their opinions on players. It also goes to show the fine margins in football, as I think if some of the errors from the Arsenal game resulted in goals. Would fans be so positive about how great he has been and so mad keen on him keeping his place?

Worth attempting it just to see what Chemical Jim and Captain Black have to say when asked about it

Absolutely mental if this is genuinely the case. No issue with him staying until the end of the season if there are doubts around Pope's fitness and we don't get any PSR benefit. EDIT - it does read a bit differently below. The usual Howe smoke and mirrors:

I think I’ve told the story on here before. But when he was coming through at Bury Town. A few mates played in the same team as him. James Scowcroft (ex Ipswich/Leicester and others) was player-coach at the time. They said he had to basically spend all pre-season with Popey trying to get him to kick it properly from goal kicks, clearances, passes etc believe it or not. He used to be far worse! He’s obviously always been supremely talented as a ‘keeper’. I think Charlton signed him not long after that. I suppose it shows how much the position has changed. As you probably would have got away with it back when he was younger. Weirdly, his brother Josh, who is also a keeper but playing at a lower level. Looks pretty good with his feet by comparison. He was always regarded as the better player growing up. But he’s not even 6ft.

Eh? He’d used all 5 subs and it was only 2-0 after 98 minutes? Isn’t Tyler Young only a teenager and has rarely been in first team squads? It would have been nice to see history made. But seeing as it was only 1-0. You’d go with your best chance of getting a result and bringing senior players/forwards on? That’s what I’d expect from a manager as a fan.

Derek Chisora is a big fan of the Toon.

Not quite as far out the box as usual this season. But he is still in the 90th percentile for defensive actions outside the penalty area based on his FBref. 92nd percentile across the top 5 leagues over the last year.

It seemed like some people thought the £6m rumour was possibly true that always sounded outrageous. Most seemed to be reporting a nominal fee or just basically buying out the rest of his contract. Now no fee and no PSR benefit at all? I don't pretend to keep up with the FFP/PSR nonsense as it bores me to tears. But if the reports were correct about some sort of fee, we would then see some sort of PSR benefit, no? If we're just letting him swan off and we don't gain anything from it at all. Then what is the point? He'll be off the books in the summer anyway.

Played against Arsenal as well. We lost 4-1, I think. Great record he has.

Captain Black from Captain Scarlett is the one from further up the page.

So pay his wages until the summer, he carries on being a capable backup for Pope (based on these last 7-8 games) and everyone is a bit less paranoid about another injury to our number 1. Then he goes for free when his contract runs out. Or we let him leave for free now? Why the fuck would we just let him leave for free this month if there is no PSR benefit? That makes no sense.

The Joselu chant will be making a comeback then.

Joelinton stands out like a sore thumb. Bleached hair, big old unit, passionate, does love a foul and a big challenge plus he is always arguing with, well..... everyone On the subject of Spurs. Kulusevski has a bit of a nasty streak in him I reckon. The elbow against Chelsea that he somehow got away with. When you see that and then the Gordon incident. It makes you wonder how accidental that fully tensed shoulder to the face really was. Romero is an absolute mentalist and then Bergvall should have been sent off last night and for his age loves putting it about. Looks a great player already, TBF. Son got 3 reds in a season once. But of course 'HE IS NOT THAT SORT OF PLAYER.' Perhaps the moaning twat should look a bit closer to home.

I know it doesn't mean it isn't a foul. But I thought it telling for both Isak's goal on Tuesday and THAT goal against Arsenal. Neither Odegaard or Gabriel complained about a foul.

Anthony Taylor is taking the news well, I see.