Tiresias

rubbish that straight from our own setpiece

Well in fairness howe may not have known that

Howe may have listened to me lol joelinton may be on left to harry TAA and ASM up front ;d

I'm in fucking love again

I remember the official confirmation came through sat in restaurant with best mate who is a toon fan and his toon supporting family, and I was like it's definitely gone through from all the journo talk but everyone was not sure till then was surreal. Then we all agreed we were still probably going to go down lol

In fairness that's what Howe said in press conference, that if they play it will be because they are ready same as any other player they aren't going to risk anything. It sounds like trippier will be back for last couple games maybe but doubt sooner for that reason.

That laugh when he is asked "what has changed for you in the last 12 months" haha

Any word on if he'll be back for end of season?

Next season I would like (and think probably fall a little short of) new centre back, new striker, new right winger and new midfielder who can control the game So we would look like Dubs Trippier Schar New CB Target New Mid Bruno Joelinton New Winger ASM New Striker This could shift to a 3 4 3 actually depending on new winger's defensive capabilities/awareness Dubs Trippier Schar New CB New Winger Bruno New Mid Target ASM New Striker Joelinton Which obviously pulls ASM other side, Trippier is defensively sound enough to go to wide Centre back but think with training ground work could be good I would also look at what Man City are doing with inverted wingbacks because both Trippier and Target are more defensively minded than most top modern full backs, this would mean in possession Target and Trippier coming in narrow and screening thew defense. This allows the centre backs to push higher with more security and the midfield to push further up so you would sort of end up with a formation (in possession) that looks like this Dubs Schar New CB Trippier Target Winger Bruno New Mid Joelinton New Striker ASM This means we have a big overload on a defense. I have given this way more thought than worth, will not happen and I am sure would not work lol

I agree, I would be tempted to leave Joelinton out wide again to try and stifle TAA.

I would agree but one of them was managed by a congealed blob of butter for a substantial amount of that (but yes he has not jumped up in level since so fair :/)

Should totally be one of the cycling events at the olympics

Probably has an assistant to do that

As much as this is being blamed on teh Abramovich situation for them, it was Lampard who didn't rate him and benched him. No way he wouldn't have been given a new contract and allowed to run his current one down if they'd been managed by someone with any clue about defending

Well there are now

Yeah it's very unlikely I agree just wanted to raise it as a slight risk. Largely I very much approve of new regulator, cos football can't regulate itself at all. (I mean it let Abramovich, Mansour and MBM buy football clubs :P)

Well I agree, but you know governments change etc.

If anyone wants to panic they want a new owners test that works on an ongoing basis not just at acquisition which feasibly is aimed at us one day.

At the end of every season there are a few that drop off and i guess it's understandable with players not wanting to go into transfer window injured, managers wanting to start preparing for transfers and next season but it means there always a team or two that suddenly leapfrogs everyone into a slightly underserved lofty position. Pretty sure it's basically how we got 5th that year which we weren't really threatening at any point prior in season

How old is jwp? Feels like he's been around forever so assumed he was 32 already and blimey he's only 27? I would take him as squad player but not as a guaranteed starter and no chance he would be happy with that in his prime years

Was one of those you get at home but not away sorry of pens

He's not alone in lack of effort in that side though it is difficult i guess when no-one else is trying either. He would be a risk but he had been outstanding previously so it's a gamble that could pay of and i wouldn't be unhappy. And yes saka is better

Dont want coutinho, too hot and cold not going to press high, unless he's directly replacing ASM (he would on form be an upgrade) theres no point having both of them in the squad. I would want a fairly direct winger who can play central as well hard working, not unlike Bowen at west ham (though we wont get him(

Would love Philips like, him Bruno and Joelinton would have it all

I dont think its too hard to get to 5-7th place spots, seeing wolves there, west ham whom have spent money but largely incompetently and have only recenlty been rustled into a competent team really, not a terrible comparison point for us. Leceister want to be there but are making very very hard work of it. Man U are there by being terrible. The top 4 are difficult, as liverpool and man city will be in the top 2 slots. If Chelsea get cleanly taken over and everything kept ticking over competently no way they will be displaced either. Which leaves Man U, Arsenal, Spurs (and yes West Ham) all seriously challenging for that last top 4 spot. Can't quite see us pinching the 4th spot from aaaall of those. Imo top half of table and a fun cup run would be a good season, maybe with decent challenge for europa league spot. I expect the serious challenges to take a little longer