Smal

he's so humble

Spurs have had a fairly easy start, like. There’s only really Arsenal away where they picked up a point that I wouldn’t have expected them too. Potentially you can argue beating Liverpool at home was two points more than you’d expect too. Got knocked out of the cup a the first opportunity too I think. 1 game a week helps massively.

it's not even slightly funny

yeah definitely. I think you can sometimes just assume those kind of guys are jobs for the boys proper football men, but that age might actually be over now. You seem to get found out very quickly if you can't do tactics ie Stevie Me and Frank Lampard.

yeah, it was a bit on the too much side of "they are shit so we took advantage" wasn't it . Too honest.

Gary O'Neil has been unreasonably interesting on MNF

I think Miggy’s energy and running in behind will be really valuable for this. Murph can also do that like, as we saw on Saturday. Tough choice.

Andersen was so half-arsed for that goal.

you’d be fucked if he left right now but also I don’t think he’d be anywhere near as effective in a better team that doesn’t depend almost entirely on him.

unfortunately Bruno Fernansh is a cheat code in a shit side

I'm kinda looking forward to us going up against a Bundesliga defence. Have a feeling we're made for it.

I've noticed we've been playing with a bit more control this season. Saturday was the most obvious game where we deliberately played out from the back and having a look at the data, Pope had 100% pass accuracy from his 27 passes. Across the squad as a whole, last season's average pass completion in the PL was 78.1% and this season's is 83.6%. Most notable improvements have come from the back. Last season to this season: Pope: 69% to 82.9% Schar: 77.1% to 86.2% Botman: 86.5% to 92% Burn: 79.4% to 82% Trippier: 71.6% to 80.9% Lascelles is also on 87.5% this season. We are much more secure this season so far despite already playing 4 of the best pressing sides in the league in Villa, City, Liverpool and Brighton.

Villa are definitely a top 5 contender but I do look at them play and wonder when everyone's going to work their ridiculously aggressive high line out. I mean we did but we are ideally suited to playing against a high line like that; especially at home. West Ham were really sloppy yesterday and should've exposed it numerous times.

agreed but yeah, I'm not sure I want to see him crossing to be honest He seems to get himself into the box for crosses a bit which makes sense and is impressive since he's usually involved in the first bit of build up too. Even when not in the box he's camped on the edge of it (usually in the centre) to help sustain pressure. Been enjoying watching him a lot. It speaks to how Howe keeps introducing new things to stop us from being predictable.

and it's no fluke either:

He's certainly changed my mind on him now, like. I think him and Burn have a very good relationship on the field too. I don't think it's a coincidence that Burn has looked better overall this season; both with and without the ball. Gordon always seems to find space for Burn to pass to him in a way Joelinton or ASM couldn't in that position..

tbh seeing the poster who STM was talking to butcher an NUFC crest with the colours of a murderous dictatorship for their avatar is pretty revolting.

He was very good in the October run last season too though

I believe obligation to buy will mean that contracts have already be signed. Otherwise it's not an obligation to buy.

It’s not a fluke that the late half space run he makes into the box always looks extremely dangerous. He just instinctively knows when to make that run. Really good tactical player.

Was a few of ours wearing sparkly new blue ones today.

5 goals in what I make to be 334 minutes in the league this season. Goal every 67 minutes

Think he's top 5 Newcastle players I've seen