Chicken Dancer

Favourite Match: Has to be the final really, but since I donated my ticket to my Dad for that game I’ll say Palace 5-0. It just felt like we were unstoppable at that point. Shoutout to Leverkusen, what a few nights that was. Favourite Goal: Burn in the final (Miley in Germany for attended goal) Favourite Moment: Full time whistle in the final, but I absolutely loved the scenes on the Town Moor and parade. Favourite Player: Bruno G. Warrior and legend. Any other favourite memories: The performance against Liverpool with 10 men. Seeing the lads grab the ball when equalising, even with 10 men they wanted to push and win. It probably cost us the game in the end but was probably the most proud I’ve ever been of any Newcastle side in my years following.

They were definitely singing even at 4-1 down in April, I could even hear them from my seat in upper Gallowgate. That daft Amorim song that we’ve now ripped off.

People get far too low after a loss and far too high after a win with the Howe argument. Last night was pretty shit in the middle part of the game, don’t know how anyone can dress that up, but ultimately a win is a win. For large parts of that period Burnley had us on the ropes. Burnley btw. That said we managed the game pretty efficiently from about the 70 minute mark and ran our deserved (just) winners. Hopefully a kickstarter before some relatively favourable fixtures in the league. I’m not convinced but I’ve been wrong many, many times before. I do wish he would make changes a little sooner at times, though. It was crying out for some fresh legs and seemed to take an age to do anything about it.

We’d be absolutely fucked without him this season. Legend.

Wins a win I suppose. But didn’t see anything particularly different to 90% of our games this season. Onwards and upwards, hopefully the start of a run.

Yep. That’s what decent scouting does. Roefs + Sadiki for about £25m or Ramsey + (1 year of ) Ramsdale for about £45m Not saying them two would move he needle for us but they’d have definitely had a part to play in our squad this season.

I’d sooner sign 8 or 9 players for £150m like some data nonce team and hope 3 or 4 hit than £150m on the golden trio from last summer. Just fucking stupid in the PSR world football now operates.

He shouldn’t be sacked anytime soon but the fact there’s people who’ll start blaming the kit man before Howe is part of the problem imo. He’s the most incredible manager in (most of) our lives, but he has to shoulder a large chunk of the blame for this season. I can’t remember the last time he made a tactical sub - always like for like. The fact he’s starting to come out and talk shit after a game is a red flag to me that the end may be nigh. At the start and middle parts of his tenure he would admit when we were shit without digging out players, now it seems every week he was happy with something. Hate to say it but think last summer will go down as a huge sliding doors moment in his tenure.

We will probably drop points here and at Molinuex next month. It’ll be a rancid game this, as are most we play at the minute.

I think he’s decent Wissa. I don’t think he’s £55m decent though. We obviously were desperate at that point but we still massively overpaid imo.

Really want him to be good for us but I’ll say it again; Ramsey, Elanga and Wissa for £150m is a crime. To think someone signed off bidding £50m for Strand Larsen too. Fucking crazy.

He has enough credit in the bank to be given grace to navigate this but saying he was let down in the summer is crackers, like. He spent over £200m and we look as poor as we have in years. Totally get the Isak situation derailed things but we’re now in December and nothing is changing. The buck stops with the manager and the performances as well as recruitment have not been near good enough. 6 points from 27 on the road would be a poor showing for anyone, never mind a team that’s currently playing in the Champions League. It’s 2026 in a few days and we’ve got Jacob Murphy starting on the wing with a £55m right winger we coveted for 2 years on the bench. It’s a disgrace and not really much more to it than that. He’s got enough grace to be permitted a poor season but if this shitshow continues until May I’d part ways, albeit with a heavy heart. Love the bloke and always will but this isn’t good enough and there’s only so many times we can point to the past when the present is so shit. Villa (for 60% of the match) Liverpool, Man City and Everton. 4 times this season - in the league - we’ve actually played well imo. I may be forgetting a few, but even the home games against Wolves, Fulham and Burnley we were crap and fairly fortunate to win. We’ve not been near consistent or good enough all season and there’s been plenty time since the shit show that was the summer window. We can’t keep clean sheets, we can’t hold on to a lead, we can’t perform for a full 90 minutes and we definitely can’t win away from home. It’s not good enough and there’s only so many times we can say ‘but last season’ until it’s April, we’ve got nowt to play for and we’re out of all other competitions. We play Burnley next week and I’ve next to no confidence we can go there and win, and that’s mad for a club that’s spent £600m+ over the last 4 years.

Will take a lot for me to turn but wasted money on absolute dross in the summer and it’s set us back a couple of years (at least).

Absolutely tepid. All balls and no cock - plenty of the ball but Hall and a few scrambles in the box what did we create? Time and time again now. It’s looking very, very bleak and questions need to be asked given the money we spent in the summer. Not sure anyone can deny that now. EDIT: forgot about Gordon chance.

Somebody wanted to pay north of £50m for him. Crackers.

Enjoyed that as a spectacle though didn’t enjoy watching it on the box for the first time in an age. Really, really frustrating from us once again. Yes it should have been a penalty but we’re absolutely incapable of playing well for 90 minutes. Combine that with the fact we can’t hold on to a lead and it’s been an awful season so far (in the league). Howe’s in game management is fucking awful like, can’t remember the last time he’s tweaked something in game that’s led to something positive happening. Obviously I know we aren’t allowed to criticise him but plenty of our issues this season are his fault.

That Willock one is one of my favourite games post-takeover. Was a cracking atmosphere that night.

Still only seen him use his pace once (Barca). Also yet to see Woltemade through on goal, but that isn't his game really.

It's 2025 and Jacob Murphy is our most consistent winger. Mad really.

One thing I wished for years is that we could - as fans - collectively agree to stand in the Gallowgate in 'big' games. Naturally the club would never encourage it, but it's like an unwritten rule at some clubs. You see it at Villa, Man Utd, Liverpool, Leeds and probably a lot more, when there is a big game the fans are standing in their main stands (Kop/Stretford/Holte ends). Even back when I first got my ticket in the early 00s we never stood for derby games or anything like that. The only time I experienced it consistently (before I sit where I do now towards the back of the Gallowgate) was in the L7 corner. FWIW I've never been in the Strawberry Corner/safe standing areas of the stadium. Not sure why it is so, but standing improves atmosphere tenfold.

To be fair all the crack last summer when Man Utd didn't win the Europa League and qualify for CL was that they were fucked in the summer in terms of spending, then they go drop whatever it was on 3 players. Man Utd will always find a way to be able to spend due to their turnover and commercial income. They're not the ones that are able to plead poverty that's for sure.

Thought he had a good game me. Maybe a tad safe at times but a canny ball to Bruno before the Miley chance that led to the corner. Definitely his best game, albeit a low bar.

I think Man City have a separate pot/ballot for U25s? Not 100% on that but it would be a good start. Tele I guess. If it goes to pens it’s a very late night for kids.

I was home by about 6 on Sunday in a massive huff so probably in the good books for that! The deal was one European away, unless we get to the knockouts. Will cross that bridge if it comes… But aye, I agree. I’ve actually warmed to the idea of moving stadiums tbh, mainly because I don’t want an entire generation shut out. I’d hate for my boy and his mates to not be able to experience what I and many others did in our teens. Sadly moving stadiums doesn’t = more chance I fear, just more ££ for the club and higher prices for fans. Football ticketing in general needs massive reform, but the horse bolted a long time ago on that.