Lush Vlad

Better feet than Michael Flatley.

Echo others saying he deserves a start the next game or 5. But another example of the result influencing how we see the performance. No better or worse than Pope v City. Had fuck all to do really and was just ‘ok’ based on not needing to do much. Way better on the ball. Which we already knew. Nice to have an option to pass back to when we’re under pressure. But he was rooted to his line and scared of crosses. Which TBF isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Based on some of Pope’s recent howlers

I’m going hard and going early. Best centre back NUFC have had in my time supporting the club (born in 89).

Wow. Just, WOW. Forgot what it was like to win a league game away. Never mind so easily when we weren’t expecting it. What a fucking performance. Can’t pick a MOTM. As they were all great to a man. So I’ll go for @Paully‘s cucumber.

Decent team and bench, that. Only really Tonali to come in that improves it. Along with Murphy, due to Elanga’s form, of course. I like the look of the side and the balance. Just need to actually put a performance in now.

Bit OTT that. Burn isn’t much of an issue on the ball at CB. Especially if he has Thiaw one side, Hall the other and Ramsdale behind him. His sloppy play on the ball and inability to play well at LB consistently seems to be clouding people’s judgement. He has been mostly brilliant for us at centre back.

Is Guendozi still a basket case or has he chilled out a bit these days?

Was a lot easier with Trippier and Burn at full back, mind. Teams just funnelled the ball to our left hand side. Or ignored Trippier when it was near halfway. As he doesn’t have the legs anymore. If Ramsdale is in nets, that is another passing option to help beat a press and all.

Errrrm. Have you got poppers AND a cucumber?!

Well I do know, actually. Feel free to DM me if you’re that arsed. If you don’t think every goalkeeping coach and team he has been apart of. Won’t have looked to improve his kicking. Well, I don’t know what to say In a data driven era, of marginal gains, analytics, sports science and whatever else. You think they just let him crack on and he doesn’t realise his kicking is naff and they don’t work on it?! I never said you can’t improve through practice and repetition, did I? I mentioned that he has obviously reached a point where he can’t get any ‘better’ ( ). As someone else alluded to. It’s then the game situations, pressure, panic, mental block or whatever. That means it gets even worse. Along with the fact it is highlighted more as the game has evolved and keepers are expected to join in with passing moves.

Why would his technique all of a sudden improve? He obviously got as far as he could a long while ago. His kicking has and always will be crap, like I said before. Why can’t Joelinton learn not to blast it over the bar when he is outside the box? Why can’t Gordon hit a shot off the deck? Why can’t Bruno kick a ball harder witj a different technique? Why can’t Murphy improve his first touch under pressure? Like it’s that simple at the top level through the logic of ‘just practice more.’ Basically he has the ability of a semi-pro keeper when it comes to kicking and his other skills have got him this far. Although even that’s possibly generous. As his brother is actually alright on the ball

Pope was like 29-30 when he signed for us and his kicking has always been atrocious. How are people thinking an injury or half an hour here or there are going to suddenly make him ok on the ball

Fucking hell. Bored of repeating myself on this. But his kicking has and always will be atrocious. At Bury Town when he came into the first team. He had to practice goal kicks for ages and ages. As he couldn’t even take one properly. It got slightly better and has actually improved a lot since he got to the Prem, believe it or not. It says a lot that someone so bad on the ball. Has made it to the top level as a keeper. It’s just a shame that his strengths in other areas are waning or in some cases, becoming weaknesses. Do people honestly think coaches and Pope himself haven’t tried to improve his shit kicking over the years? It’s not as if they’ve just thought “yeah. It’s crap. No point trying to improve it at all.” He just has a horrible technique and that gets even worse when under pressure.

Eh? What’s that got to do with Everton and their height, set pieces and the change in the league to a more direct approach?! Marseille and Barca don’t play like that, no.

I think it is more about how direct and set piece heavy the game has become. I understand it, but I don't fully agree with it. If Howe does even think like that when selecting the team.

Like going for a piss in a ‘Spoons.

Brit football fans abroad love chucking chairs in the general direction of who they’re rowing with. Very rarely hit the target or do any damage.

This. Are we only allowed to play in our away kits when not at SJP or something? Then we’ll wear the home shirt for the derby. When you can easily argue we should be changing.

I think he had 2 games of the 3 to go. So he was missing the first two? But certainly the first. It was mentioned that there are for some reason, parts of the laws that say they can do this and reduce or suspend part of a ban. But there seems no basis to do this here. Other than it is that twat Ronaldo and he is a cash cow for them.

This was a genuine one. Me mate was having a pop at his Dad who lives just out of Tynemouth and in Shields. But apparently once told someone he lives in “Tynemouth West”

Just heard Guillem Balague defending FIFA on the Ronaldo ban being reduced. His reasoning seemed to be that the World Cup needs him for promotion and the money. Like that’s ok?! The fact it’s almost like giving him ‘an award’ for his great achievements and disciplinary record with Portugal. Which is better than a trophy, apparently. Oh and that it was in retaliation to being provoked. Again, how does that make it ok?! He wouldn’t have it that it is clearly favouritism and clear corruption. Due to the fact it’s Ronaldo and not some nobody in comparison. Also reminded me of the time he said PSG deserved their dodgy penalty against us. As they had dominated the game and xG My God he is a bootlicking creep.

North Shields = West Tynemouth.

Sounds class, Joey. Glad you had a decent time of it. I did Brugge away back when Pardew was manager and it was great fun. I’ll be honest, I read about events like what happened on Tuesday, Milan, PSG and to a lesser degree, Dortmund. It just sounds like a pain in the arse and a load of hassle and waiting around. I could have gone to Leverkusen and we were planning on it. But I just didn’t have that buzz to go. Then work got in the way, regardless. Maybe I’m just getting old. But it all sounds like a load of grief with how you get bussed and marched in. Then standing around for hours after.

I know Howe is accused of having his favourites, not being ruthless enough and sticking by those he trusts. The latter isn't necessarily always a bad thing. But I just can't have it that he is worrying about any of the above. How it is perceived, his England chances, him being in the leadership group, his reputation. It's elite level sport and Pope has been making mistakes that are costing us goals and results on a regular basis of late. He won't just be in the side so Howe doesn't hurt his feelings. Also, I didn't realise that the option on Ramsdale was £25m! We better start playing him to see if he is worth it or not. If he can't get a game and a chance over Pope now. Then he may as well go back to Southampton early.

The frustrating thing with him is, it has quite often seemed like he is turning a corner and getting back to the Pope of old when he first signed. Only to then start making howlers he never used to or repeating previous fuck ups. I think this is the third time in the last couple of seasons. Where it has seemed like he has got through a rough patch, some poor decisions or goals conceded after returning from injury. Only to then fall apart again. The injuries and uncertainty in his decision making because of said injuries and previous howlers. Seem to be massively impacting how he plays. There must be some underlying data somewhere as the reason to keep playing him?! Not just 'Eddie loves him'. I don't even think Ramsdale is necessarily the solution, but it can't hurt giving him a go. I know it's not the biggest sample size, but he looked fine in the two cup games. Similar to when Dubravka came in. Maybe just a slight change in our build up and how we retain the ball or build from the back. Might just make us harder to play against and less predictable.