louistoon

When no top player's agent accepts these terms will you complain that we have no quality in the squad? It's always going to be a Catch 22 situation. I'd personally gamble on a smaller squad all round. depends on the signing. Some would go for it, players like Riviere and Colback were making a big step up joining newcastle, so they would likely be more willing to accept a deal like this. Riviere didn't think so if you do your research. Colback neither by forcing an extra £5k on his weekly when threatening to go to West Ham. Wind you're neck in mate, i'm only making a suggestion

Not seen the game but really glad he was apparently good tonight. He's one player we could really do with having a good season, we don't have any other dynamic players in the squad.

When no top player's agent accepts these terms will you complain that we have no quality in the squad? It's always going to be a Catch 22 situation. I'd personally gamble on a smaller squad all round. depends on the signing. Some would go for it, players like Riviere and Colback were making a big step up joining newcastle, so they would likely be more willing to accept a deal like this.

I really hope the club start offering a basic salary more dependent on whether the player is in the 25 man squad. Given the extra money in the PL, offloading surplus players is only going to get worse in time. The amount of money our out of squad players are on probably works out to 10-15 million a year.

True enough, but after Huddlesfield I think Joselu also deserves a chance. His link up play was decent. 45 minutes each way might be an idea.

I'm starting to think this could be a way forward. Yedlin and Kenedy if he signs seem like good options for wing backs.

There are some players we can't afford to get injured and they should be rested. That said I'm really not a fan of 11 changes, you need to use games like this to give fringe players a chance playing in the XI. I'd go with: Woodman Manquillo - Clark/Lascelles - Mbemba - Gamez Merino - Hayden/Saiviet Murphy - Diame/Joselu/Perez - Aarons Mitrovic/Joselu

Saying he had a bad game isn't writing someone off he just had a bad game. The whole team did. If the whole team did then why single out the 22 year old playing his first full season at this level? Mainly because a lot of other people were saying he was great and i disagreed with that assessment. The exact same could be said for Hayden, who is also young and in his first season at this level.

Bit of a long shot but Ipswich (4 wins in 4) are currently 9-1 to beat Palace tonight on ladbrokes (and assume its similar elsewhere). 18-1 to win both teams to score.

Thats some spot that

Hope this happens.

Saying he had a bad game isn't writing someone off he just had a bad game. The whole team did.

This, Hudderfield only produced 1 chance, we never took ours. Carragher saying they were clear winners - utter s*** - we were both poor but as you say they took their chance. They were much better than us. Their passes go to players on the same team. When their players controlled the ball it usually didn't bounce to a member of the opposing team. The basic technique of our midfield and strikers is appauling and I'm not sure what you can really do about that.

Lascelles and Ritchie were the best players on the pitch today, and Merino was probably the worst (alongside Atus and Manquillo I'll give you that). How many times did Merino give the ball away either by poor control or a poor pass (including times when his pass put another player under pressure, or was behind the player forcing them to check their run). I'm not saying he's s****, he clearly needs more time to settle and as a unit we were poor today. Oppositeland. Ritchie actually managed to beat his man on occasions and created our only chance of the game. Lascelles won pretty much all of his aerial dues with Moonie which were basically their main threat. Merino lost the ball countless times, almost costing us goals in the process.

Lascelles and Ritchie were the best players on the pitch today, and Merino was probably the worst (alongside Atus and Manquillo I'll give you that). How many times did Merino give the ball away either by poor control or a poor pass (including times when his pass put another player under pressure, or was behind the player forcing them to check their run). I'm not saying he's shite, he clearly needs more time to settle and as a unit we were poor today.

What nice passing he gave the ball away more than any other player today.

He was shite today like. Clearly needs more time to settle in.

'Newcastle fans are being realistic this season. No one's expecting top 6' - from a journo what the fuck

Considering this for my daft accumulator of the weekend: 20 trebles at 0.5 each Coventry To Win to Nil Coventry v Newport 11/5 Wigan Match Odds and Both Teams to Score Oldham v Wigan 21/5 Barnsley Match Odds and Both Teams to Score Sheff Utd v Barnsley 15/2 Adam Armstrong Player to Score and Team Win Bolton v Derby 11/2 Sheff Wed Match Odds and Both Teams to Score Fulham v Sheff Wed 6/1 Chelsea Match Odds and Both Teams to Score Tottenham v Chelsea 5/1

Celtic to win to Nil, Napoli to win under 3.5 goals, over 1.5 goals in Olympiacos and Alloa (because why the f*** not) games and BTTS Sevilla game

Hopefully back for Swansea then. I think we can survive then next couple without him.

He hasn't scored over 10 goals in a season in his entire career since Castilla, so there are reasons to be skeptical, especially as most of that was in the Bundesliga. He could be an astute purchase though. its positive that he's highly rated by stoke fans, and he does seem to strike the ball well, but given this its a puzzle why he hasn't scored more goals.

just been going through his deportivo stats, scored 5 goals for them last season, 4 of which were against either Barcelona or Real Madrid so at least he's not afraid to score against the big teams. Actually averaged one goal every 40 minutes against the El Clasico's last season. Uninspiring signing but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

How on earth can you judge Hayden and Ritiche after 1 game against a class Spurs side? Ritchie has already proven he is quality in the Premiership at Bournemouth. Total knee-jerk nonsense to doubt them in this division today. Reading comprehension ? Try it! Ritchie played the bulk of his career in the lower leagues, he's had one full season in the PL, in a Newcastle shirt he still has to prove he's got the quality. People are all too quick to write Shelvey off as not being able to make the step up, yet he's played a hell of a lot more games in the top flight than Ritchie. Ritchie today did nothing and should have been sent off for what was a shocking tackle, I think had Shelvey not gone moments before he would have been shown the red card himself. Ritchie is going to be one of our most important players this season. His drive is what we're going to need if we're in the bottom 6 come February. He got 4 goals and 6 assists with Bournmouth, he gets a similar return this season and its a respectable return. Football isn't just about ability, drive and determination is a large part of it, especially when you're at the bottom. If we'd had more players like him two years ago we wouldn't have got relegated. You can't judge a right winger after 90 minutes vs spurs, 40 of which were played with 10 men, when our game plan seemed obviously to be exploit their right back through atsu. Only thing he did wrong was not making a run into the box when atsu put it across. That would have made it 1-0.

Someone suggested him missing 3 games could decide whether go down or stay up. As if Shelvey is a match-winner or that crucial to the team. There's only a few lads that should even be guaranteed a first team berth - that's down to a lack of quality rather than their own and Shelvey isn't one of them. He was our best player by a country mile last season. If Merino can step up though thats all for the good.