Shays Given Tim Flowers

9 minutes ago, woody said:

Got up early and feels like Christmas Day, if Christmas Day also had the potential to kick you in the balls.

Id like to see that dynamic brought into Christmas. 

We’re Newcastle fans, I cannot begin to understand the entitlement of some. 

5 minutes ago, Matt1892 said:

I thought it was a good interview and he makes valid points, especially about what would happen if he failed to qualify for Europe for 2 seasons running, which is a point I have made on here a number of times.

 

I would go further and say he could be in trouble if we don’t qualify for the Champions League and miss out to Nottingham Forest, but maybe winning the cup will save him for a period, like it did for Ten Hag.

 

What doesn’t get mentioned, and what I think is the reason some sections of the fan base get on Howe’s back when we lose, is that we play some really unattractive football for the vast majority of our games and have since the start of last season, with a scattering of memorable performances here and there, or individual brilliance by Isak.

 

People will tolerate our style of football if we are winning, but will call out terrible displays and performances when we lose. 
 

You would think it would make it difficult for the club commercially too, as we are not going to attract foreign fans to support the club and buy merchandise with performances like against West Ham on Monday, even though we won.

 

Maybe they will bring someone in to try and freshen it up, if they do then you have to hope it is someone that plays attractive football.

 

We’re a billion miles away from being a horrible footballing team. The players turn in bad performances and it is unsightly.

i have never ever felt like I am tolerating Eddie Howes mags. 

So much of our attacking play was disjointed last night. Feels very much that the team is used to Gordon being there. Loads of passes underhit or played behind the player. Hard for anyone to shine particularly. 
 

If Barnes can find himself in a one-on-one like Gordon oftentimes does, other than isak, there’s not a player I’d rather it fall to. 

Sits alongside Isak and Tonali and probably Livramento as a player we don’t have to think about signing someone better. 
 

B with A on the horizon 

It’s deliberate shite people put on Facebook to get engagement. 

Bruno, Tonali, Botman, Isak. 4 out of our best starting 11 are European buys.

1 hour ago, jigen said:

 

To improve you must keep your best players and then you must be smart and target players abroad and avoid the inflated PL market. You can find several bargains. But does Howe agree? 

Like when Liverpool sold Coutinho you mean? 

Just now, jigen said:

And this should be a big downgrade. Delap is a good striker but Isak is word class. I hope you improve your team, not downgrade. 

If you’re going like for like it’s going to be hard to improve. 

A B who will be a lot better when there is attacking threat on the right flank. 

22 minutes ago, Novocastrian said:

Howe needs to tell the team to forget the LC final. They need to be giving 110% here or they won’t be playing on Sunday. No more gutless surrenders.

We will literally field no players in the final?

4 hours ago, Matt1892 said:

It was more a moan about us spending so much and still having Murphy as our best right winger.

I hate it when we sign quality players. 

I mean if the rule was if the part of your body that you scored the goal with was offside, you’re offside, that would be ok. 

Just now, Rich said:

There’s no way Tonali is a top 10 CM in the world, surely?

7 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

Yeah, Sandro is definitely not in the same bracket as Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona, Pele etc 

I mean mascherano wasn’t in the same bracket but would have played for any team. 

TonAli 

6 hours ago, et tu brute said:

Being in this position as failing on all three fronts, I'd still argue it would be. 

Souness and the quarter UEFA and FA Cup semi. 
 

also fuck me, a club competing for league cup (finalists) FA Cup, and champions league in near enough march. Christ alive.

2 hours ago, KaKa said:

 

I think in both games we've played them he hasn't had enough support in dealing with Salah, and he was put under pressure. 

 

Particularly when having to chase back when Salah spun and  got in behind, and being over exposed when he was being run at in transition.

 

He hung in there but I thought he wasn't protected enough. We were punished more for it in the first game, and last night I think if they had pushed more there was an air of inevitability IMO.

 

If people don't agree with that it's fine, but for me personally I'd like to see us do a better job doubling up on Salah.

 

And maybe also have Hall be a bit more conservative in when he goes forward as Liverpool tend to leave Salah up top as a quick outlet - on their second goal I thought Hall went forward a bit too early, the error was from Tonali who forced the pass to him, but that bit can also be looked at.

Salah’s the best player in the world and Hall kept his involvement in the game limited seems wasteful and unnecessary to have a second player double up when Hall was superb man marking.
 

It was clear as the game entered the final third Hall was told to push up more. Tonali makes a mistake that left Hall in a poor position. It’s not the approach that’s an issue it’s the execution by the players. Giving the ball away to Liverpool is pretty much the most dangerous thing you can do. Unfortunately giving the ball away is something our players have shown a real aptitude for. 

As well as anybody for 60 minutes really promising. 

Thought hall was superb against Salah for 60 minutes. Combination of fatigue and a clear instruction to attack more changed his performance in the last 30.

Also plenty of times we were in behind on the right hand side last night and nobody attacking the near post. 

14 hours ago, Jordan said:

What was the game plan though?! What was our plan to win that game? 

Keep the defensive line deep, look to transition their possession into a rapid counterattack in midfield by pressing centrally and then engineer a 3 on 4 with the first or second ball played in behind. 
 

Hall to man mark Salah which denied Gordon of the overlapping run which free allows him to cut inside. Feel like the first para is why Gordon was played centrally. 

15 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Also fully agree. But we aren’t rating signings or achievements overall, we’re rating current player. 

 

 

 

I mean the post above says c minus.

Would agree with @Fak. The best value signing in recent memory and would be in the conversation for best ever signing.

C minus and trending downwards.

I think Howe can set the team up to beat these. Problem is, was and will be the quality of our players.