TK-421

Don't worry, at least we have a rousing half time team talk to come.

Yes, and arguably that drop off in form started when Wissa came back and Woltemade was then rotated with Wissa. Literally tried starting them alongside each other, once I think... ironically, against Bournemouth in the cup up here.

The last time he got a start up front, was 8 games ago at home to Everton. Since then, when started it was in the midfield role, with Gordon or Osula up top. Not his fault if the head coach is playing him in a different role.

Lucky they had him scanned to make sure, you know, so it didn't just look like he doesn't fancy risking an injury before the summer.

'Slight injury' to his hip

'Slight'... any little niggle or twinge, this kid aint risking his WC place.

https://archive.ph/W5MIq

Yeah thats right. Think the 'Green Zone' is you can spend up 85% of your revenue (70% if in Europe) as standard, then there is a 30% uplift to 115% which is the red zone, but still allowed. Only thing is, if you spend the extra 30% one season, it comes off your standard 85% allowance for the following season. Guess you could say its a bit like an overdraft thats paid back the following season.

On their latest video he says when EH asked him clarify, he really meant to say changing to a 'possession based' team.

I've said it before, but I respect him more for being a bit more open about his future... not making soundbites and empty nicities, which is what Isak did. Its just his agent seemingly hawking him around to the highest bidder comes across very distasteful. As/when Tonali leaves, hopefully he'll do it in the right way, but I will be disappointed if he ends up at one of the PL clubs, as initial noises suggested he wanted to go back to Italy, which would be understandable with a new family.

Only problem this summer is the World Cup. Transfer Window doesn't open till 15th June, so Gordon and/or anyone else being linked away will already be away for it (providing they're selected). Of course, we won't be the only ones affected with the situation.

Heres the question as asked and answered..

I mean, one way to build a bridge with the player would be to actually give him some meaningful minutes. But over the last few months, he's generally been thrown on when we're either chasing a game, or the games already gone, for around 15mins at most. Not making excuses for Wissa, if his attitude is questionable in training/behind the scenes (no evidence of this, other than EH not using him), but its always going to be difficult to make much of an impact in those circumstances, never mind with the added pressure when your supposedly the main centre forward at the club. Hope him and Wolte get more opportunity to the end of the season.

I guess it just depends how the players approach it, especially based on recent results. Last season, we were on a 9 match winning run, this was the 10th, at home, against an Injury hit side down to their last 11-12 players, and they blitzed us pretty much from minute 1. And Bruno played and scored. But, hopefully we can see a reaction from Newcastle at some point this season. Can't we?

I was more thinking 'we' as the club, and from an SCR point of view where the allowance is reduced to 70% in any European Competition, so its not like your making up the difference in competition revenue. Though this first SCR season we may be allowed to overspend without penalty. Then theres the added fixtures again, which Eddie has proven he can't deal with, without it affecting the league form. Unless we can have a fantastic summer transfer window to boost the squad sufficiently. As for giving youngsters a chance early on vs playing strongest team - see Carrierbag 2nd leg. 6-1 up and only Alex Murphy got a proper run out.

From my point of view though, I have a Spurs supporting cousin who's a proper gobshite, so its gotta be that for me. The Arsenal bottle job is just standard now anyway.

Problem with these last 6 games, and expecting the players to give 100% (as they rightly should) is that a number of them will have an eye on the World Cup, and some others an eye on the exit door. They'll have seen what happened to Ekitike this week, and as much as it was a freak incident, I reckon it'll play on some of their minds.... Mr Gordon, I'm looking at you. Thats why part of me would see the last 6 games as a bunch of dead rubbers (do we really want conference league?), and we use them to try new things, different formations, play Wolte and/or Wissa again, give some youth a chance, etc. Or maybe we just use them to try and reivigorate/reinforce 'Plan A' and we get some half arsed performances from some players who want to avoid potential injury.

MORE INTENSITY!!!!!!!

In fairness, he's never gonna come out publicly and say he doesn't see himself being capable of taking us forward. Clearly his position will be reviewed by both him and the club in the summer, and may depend how the season finishes. The managers who've come out and said they are leaving already, have been out of contract anyway.

"Intensity" still to be "our Identity"?

Aye, and the PL likes American Owners.

This match, man!