Stuy_O

Regardless of various players ability to shoot, as a squad we barely attempt to shoot at all.

Are we trying to change style? Or have teams figured out press is virtually non existent if they let us have the ball and that if you limit space on transition we struggle immensely? We may be be tweaking for the sake of a heavy workload , but I’m not sure the change is deliberate.

Totally agree. He starts Gordon and Barnes vs Wolves, does this means one is being dropped on Wednesday given the workload? Elanga should have started this game. Same with Ramsey, be amazed if he started vs PSV yet doesn't get a look in today, to give players who will start that game much needed rest. The tactical inflexibility is beginning to irk me too. The time to gamble was when we brought Tonali off. Get Wissa on and drop Wolte a bit deeper. But Eddie seems totally reluctant to give that a decent trial. This was the game to do all of the above surely, yet we pranced about with the same players playing the same broken system, and as mentioned they looked like they just wanted it out the way. Another gripe was our total reluctance to have a shot at the keeper in the soaking wet rain, but as my dad said, they barely got into a position to shoot at all.

Do we even look at the loan market, or are going back to this debate about our scouting or how limited / rigid our shortlist list is?

We make very hard work of creating clear cut chances away from home, and everything is a bit rushed or predictable. How we really pushed for a goal was actually quite pleasing, but the lack of creativity is painful and clear for all to see.

Our best player for me tonight, a very good footballer. Lewis Hall was also excellent but seemed to tire last 10 mins.

He's petrified to do the one thing we bought him for which is burn into space and past defenders with his pace. He had a chance to do this with loads of grass in front of him and refused, a sign of how low he is on confidence.

Also if it’s a transition season, then that’s only because we didn’t have a clue what we were doing in the summer window. Alarm bells should have been going off as soon as Mitchell walked out because it was clear there was a total breakdown in transfer targets. We were told we couldn’t sign any duds because of psr but two of them don’t look up to it, we fannied on chasing Trafford only to not get him and now the goalkeeper situation is a concern. This is another factor in the Eddie criticism, he got full control, which is never a good idea. We went after players that the cartel were circling over and were left going down the list.

He’s been praised more than any Newcastle manager in our history and rightfully so, the fans love him. He’s gonna get criticised when his team serves up anything like that today.

This is often in the back of my mind with a critical match. Leave my phone at home and just go and sit in a field for 2 hours, listening to the countryside.

I get that Pope probably saves the 2nd but you could flip that by saying he could have cost somewhere else in this match like he has others with his decision making. Even if he wasn't injured, there could be little argument to him being dropped. Him and Ramsdale are now both under scrutiny which isn't ideal. I think we'll have a less nervous defence with Ramsdale playing, but time will tell who's the better option for rest of the season.

I look back over Eddie's tenure and I actually think we looked a much better team in the season we finished 7th over last season, and that was with additional games and a nightmare injury list. Some of stuff we played that season was immense, scoring 85 goals. The best example when we beat Man Utd 1-0 at home. We really did look like a top side then, albeit streaky. Last season was a bit all over the shop, Isak's goals and Tonali coming back sparked an incredible run over Christmas followed by an unbelievable cup win. We seem to be losing our edge as time goes.

Eddie has been the most loved and praised Newcastle manager probably since Keegan, maybe even more so. He’s not beyond criticism when results are poor and performances even poorer.

I agree with all that. But we’ve all seen how the build up to these games go. The whole ‘get into them’ is great but it’s becoming a constant over egged theme for these games. I’m not saying we shouldn’t use to atmosphere to our advantage but the really good teams are starting to wise up to it. I get it’s fine margins too, we should have beaten Liverpool and we should have been at least a goal up v Barca. But if we’re to evolve we need to calm things down when we clearly need to. Arsenal battered us yesterday in spite of the atmosphere. It’s something I think we need to work on.

Obviously a wonderful player for us but I think his current form can be linked to us generally. He and us seem to be more focused on making it a fight, rather than just playing football. Over emphasising the atmosphere in the ground and getting completely caught up in it.

I mean social media does dominate everyone's daily lives so when our own players are liking posts from a player who has disgraced Newcastle then its understandable fans would get worked up.

Good riddance to utter poison

He was unlucky not to score but he can’t lead the line to what we require at present. Should come as no shock that a player as raw as he is struggles a) in his early prem career and b) is shoehorned in a system we all found odd. Obviously a loan with constant games is what he needs.

Our reaction to Mbuemos wage demands would suggest our preparation was extremely poor. He looked our main RW target, did we even speak to him or sound him in the months and months prior?

I actually don't mind him. Looks a player who needs confidence and good surroundings. But given our deranged approach this summer, him being potentially an Isak replacement, and what Chelsea would charge, it needs to be swerved.

Likewise, would be so underwhelming.

John McGinn slagged off PSR lately. Get him in.

A day old and it’s going to develop into a ANOTHER saga.

If a DOF leaves so early it's pretty clear it's because he didn't get on or didn't align with the manager, and more often than not it's down to transfers. 100% what's happened at Newcastle. He's not without fault but this blaming him for everything going on needs to stop.

Well he's alleviated some psr pressure by selling a donkey for 20million, Almiron for 12? And probably tried to get a new strategy adopted that the manager didn't agree with, who knows? The last year wasn't being debated either, it was this window.