TheInfiniteOdyssey

One of our worst results in recent history so big questions will be asked regardless.

Against bottom-half League One opposition?

Howe is going to have to be ruthless with this squad, sounds like they’re totally taking the piss. Although quite why he’s still deciding to start certain players after being here for months is something I can’t understand.

If we lose, this has to be breaking point moment for this squad. If we can’t sell them, let them rot in the reserves. Most of them are a total waste of space.

Everton will probably be forced to accept an offer from Chelsea on far worse terms later in the window. Don’t blame Digne for holding out for that move however, or us for trying regardless.

10 This team just don’t have what it takes.

2 points from Palace away, Chelsea home and Brighton away is a decent return in isolation, but fear we'll be cut adrift with the December run of fixtures. Let's hope we can take advantage of the home games before then.

Barely noticed Almiron was on the pitch. The Clark - Ritchie partnership on the left side of the defence is just horrific.

Appreciate the rapid turnaround on the takeover, but a sporting director really should be in place now.

Hope he does manage to bring all his backroom staff with him, we need a clean sweep of the existing setup, Jones included.

Wenger would be class. There is a (slight) connection in that he's currently leading FIFA's proposals to establish a biennial World Cup. The concept of which, was first suggested to FIFA by Saudi Arabia. I would be surprised if PIF intermediaries haven't at least sounded out the admittedly remote possibility.

7 Today was a valuable point, if you look at it in isolation. If we can get something away at Brighton and hopefully take maximum points at home to Brentford, Norwich and Burnley, we'll be in an okay position going into January.

I don't really understand the short-term thinking from the majority of the clubs in the league, surely it makes your clubs less attractive to sell on when you implement regulation like this?

I think Fonesca would be an exciting appointment, but then reality hits when I remember the dreadful squad we have.

Yeah I mean, it's not like he's managed Aston Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland for significant periods of time. Some of the most illustrious football clubs in England.

They've handled this so badly, there's no redeeming benefit of him staying a moment longer when you look at it. We haven't won a game all season, there's no risk to making the change even if an academy coach has to step in for a game.

Would have been wonderful to see such vested interest in our sponsorship opportunities any time in the last 14 years where we got fuck all from Sports Direct, making us inherently uncompetitive.

No top-level manager is going to go near this job with this group of players. As much as I want the likes of Conte, it's just not going to happen. I think we'll end up appointing Lampard.

Imagine if Villa never sacked him years back, he'd still have them mid-table in the Championship declaring he's 'battling on' after a 1-1 draw at home with Bristol City or whoever.

His attitude since the day he arrived has been utter shit Shelvey has always stood out in our squads for being an unprofessional idiot who couldn't give a fuck, as well as being a worthless player. At least the rest of them, even if they're largely shit, have more often than not, been willing triers.

I'm at an 8. At the end of last year, we managed to get a total of 19 points. I can't see us getting anywhere close to that this year. The squad looks so threadbare in terms of quality and with each passing season, the same personnel in defense seem to get weaker and weaker. Bruce will go obviously, probably tomorrow. But this is a hugely difficult job and season for anyone to come in and salvage. How to motivate a squad that likely know they're not part of the club's future? What system can we play with such a poor group of players? It's concerning how unfit they seem to be too, we don't look ready for a scrap. The conditioning will take time to implement and get them up to speed. It's ironic in a way, that the time where we have the unlimited amount of resource to spend, we may run out of time to actually wield it in a way that will make an actual difference. The next managerial appoint is absolutely critical, they have to get it right and honestly I don't know who that figure would be.

There's a few immediate priorities: Resolve the manager situation - If Bruce is going, the decision needs to be made tomorrow. I dislike the guy, but it would be poor and amateurish if we replicated the treatment McClaren experienced when he took training sessions for about a week, even when we were searching around for a replacement. Install a proper football governance structure - I can't recall if Newcastle has ever really had a proper football operation in place, but under Ashley it was clearly skeletal. It's reassuring that the Reubens and Staveley have positions on the board, but the club needs figures with significant experience of footballing affairs. A director of football is essential, especially when the club is going to be experiencing absolutely intense scrutiny on and off the pitch for the foreseeable. Stadium refurbishment - The concourses may take a bit of time to refurb, but the Sports Direct signs and exterior of the stadium can all be handled immediately. Fan engagement - Outline a communications strategy, engagement with NUST and other representative fan bodies, ensure flags and other stadium displays are welcomed. Engage with the Food Bank and Newcastle United Foundation. Reconnect with legends - Keegan, Shearer immediately spring to mind. Iconic figures that should be embraced as lifelong ambassadors to the club. A presentation before the Spurs game would also be great and would elevate the atmosphere up an extra notch. Also invite Rob Lee, Given, Sir Les, Ginola, Jonas etc.

Give Conte absolutely anything he wants, if he still says no, then at least we did all we could. A part of me would still love Mourinho, he may be out-of-touch in the modern English game and his teams can be very negative, but the connection with Sir Bobby and his on-record enthusiasm for the club provokes some strong romanticism. Gerrard and Lampard far too risky I think.

Those Sancho quotes make no sense at all, he's been playing in some of the biggest European games through the Champions League, not to mention challenging for domestic titles, so why would a major tournament be any different for a player of that talent? Plus, it's an inconsistent argument when players like Foden, Mount, James, Rice, Phillips and whoever else have all participated so far.