Chicken Dancer

That Caroll game was class, week after the 5-1 IIRC. Hughton in a suit looking proper cute. 15.5 years ago man. Time flies.

The amount of people disrespecting o downplaying his achievements is only a few (from what I’ve seen). Even the most staunch in favour of change seem to be hugely appreciative of what he’s done - how could you not be? We owe him so much, blokes a legend here and you’ll never be able to tell our story without his name. Doesn’t mean there’s not very reasonable concerns and I think across the forum both sides of the argument have been articulated pretty well. Some people may seem blind in their backing, some people may be too harsh with criticism. It’s only their opinion, I wouldn’t get too fussed about it. It’s a forum, much like life it would be pretty boring if we all agreed.

Agree with that. Also need to fill the squad with younger players from cheaper markets to give us more variance and fresher legs. I hate to say it but the mackems are a pretty decent example. Would Sadiki or Taibi have had us licking our lips? I doubt it. Would they have contributed as much (it’s more) than Ramsey and Elanga have for us at a fraction of the cost? Yes.

Do you genuinely believe this? Not a pop but say we have a cracking season next year and qualify for Europe for 27/28, would we be wise to fuck the cups off and expect a shit season in the league because we’re in Europe? I’m not sure that would be the best approach at all. We need to be able to manage Europe without it resulting in a season like this in the future. Being more savvy in the transfer market is the ticket.

Be interesting to see if they stick if we end the season with 8 defeats on the spin, which would also be 7 out of 8 at home (I think). It's as unlikely as it is likely imo, could genuinely see it happening. I've said all along I personally believe it's time for change, whilst understanding that the realistic option is that he's more than earned another shot at it. I do think the entire thing is completely stale and if next season starts slowly and we're performing like we have for 95% of this season, it will turn nasty for him - I've no doubt about that. Above all, that's always been my biggest fear when I've watched us lose and play shit week after week. He should have always been able to call it a day when he himself decided and it should never have been possible to turn nasty. But the truth is, it's bubbling now at St James'. Once you lose the home crowd it would take a hell of a lot to turn that back round. Tepid displays and defeats against Brighton + West Ham would really be pushing it I reckon.

Another weird thing is in the away table, we’re 4th 1st half and 19th second half

80 + definitely should be counted as late but I take your point. I’ll be worried from 80 minutes as well as 85 onwards then

I was actually interested to know that myself but can't find the data. I still think 16 goals after 85 minutes is a frequent amount mind I know it's not a majority but it's a canny chunk of our total goals conceded in the league.

You're probably right there and I'd certainly not be accepting it on FM that's for sure, but I think most successful clubs now operate with a transfer hierarchy of some sort. I doubt there's many with the manager at the very top of the tree. Pretty sure Klopp chased Edwards out of Liverpool because they didn't always agree, though I suppose that's always going to happen. I think the manager/head coach should have a big say, but not the say.

Yes by definition you are correct I won't argue there. We'll meet in the middle and I'll say given the recent games and what seems to have become a common pattern over the season, I think there's a very decent chance we will concede a late goal to lose/draw a game in the next 5. I also reckon there's a *very decent* chance we go a goal up and lose in the last 5 games at some point.

There you have it @SteV, it isn't about the last 3 games, it's been happening consistently all season. It isn't inevitable but I'd argue it's quite likely for sure. That goes for any of the 5 games left, it's got to the point where a 1 goal cushion just isn't enough for us, whether there's 80, 45 or 3 minutes left.

Still think Howe will be the the one to have the say, based on nothing but my own hunch. He doesn't strike me as the type of manager who'd accept players he didn't want, think he's far too proud for that. What he needs to do this summer is just be absolutely ruthless and understand for the first time in his tenure, he is under a lot of pressure. Last summer was a fuck up so we should be entertaining any bids for the likes of Willock et al and starting fresh. Dan Burn is a living legend and a Newcastle hero but he should be slowly phased into being a very capable backup, alongside others. Murphy shouldn't be anywhere near the XI next season.

I can't find any stats for after 85+, but we've conceded 19 after 76 minutes, which as you can imagine is (comfortably) a league high. You're right we've played more games without conceding late than we have, but we're still awful at it.

Fair play, he's definitely earned the right to have another pop at it but I do worry if this season lingers into next and we're forced to make a change, a new manager might be stuck with a bunch of players that don't suit/he didn't want. Obviously you can say that about every team in history who's been in a position like this, but the most recent example I can think of is Man United keeping Ten Hag after they won the FA Cup only to bin him off before Christmas after letting him spend a bomb in the summer.

I take your point but when you concede so many late goals over a season as well as chuck away draws/wins over a huge sample size of games it isn't a coincidence or bad luck - it's a pattern. If it's 0-0 on Saturday on 85 minutes you'll be able to see what's coming a mile off.

This is true. The question is where will that result come from?

Christ that's grim as fuck that.

Yea I really like him and think he’s got a lovely touch and turn, but we’d be lying if we said he’d contributed much. He’s just a little bit meh - he was never going to move the needle and just seems a very, very expensive squad player. Because of PSR, we’re not quite in the position where we can drop £43m on a squad player that offers not really much different to what we already have. I did think it was a shame that we had a 3 week break for Palace (A) where he didn’t have any international football and he barely got a kick, especially given he’d probably been one of our better players in the prior month. Low bar like.

It’s definitely more than 3. There’s 4 I can remember off the top of my head alone. (Barca, Sunderland, Liverpool + Chelsea)

He’s definitely trying but he’s not trying anything different or fresh, that’s the problem. Same everything every week, including nigh on identical performances. Trying but failing miserably.

Harvey Barnes is a cracking finisher - comfortably the best at the club imo - but he’s crap as a modern winger. Got a knack for scoring goals but offers little else. If he doesn’t score he’s nearly always anonymous - like a Kevin Nolan on the wing (probably harsh ). Decent player to have in the squad though given he knows where the net is, but I do think his goals mask how limited he really is.

I think this was the turning point for a few mind. I think most of us expected a reaction from the shitshow in December and what was served up last month was unacceptable. I’m late 30s so I’ve seen my fair share of wins, draws and losses to that lot for it to define anything, but for most it’s still the most important and first fixture they look for in June. Tinpot? Probably. But having your very expensive team played off the park on your own patch by your recently promoted rivals is never going to sit well with the masses. The two games since haven’t exactly done much to say he’s laced into them either. Roll on 6pm on the 24th May…

Howe’s a fucking legend but I’d be hard pressed to be believe Bruno had a clue who he was before he signed mind Not to say he didn’t have any impact on the signings btw, but I do think agents would’ve been licking their lips in the early days post-takeover and able to sell us pretty easily as a stepping stone or for big wages. Think that’s changed now.

Hell a move for him if he goes there mind. They’re probably the best team in Europe at the minute.

I don’t think it’s in question he has favourites mind, but he won’t be the only one to go for trust over risk. I do think what separates the great from the elite when it comes to management is someone’s appetite to risk. That doesn’t just apply to football either.