HaydnNUFC

I thought we were a complete nonentity in possession at Man City. Totally understand that as its probably the most difficult fixture in world football, Man City away, but on the ball we were really poor. Much worse than we were last season where we should've scored at least twice. Liverpool at home was a game in which we were 1 goal up and 1 man up within 25 minutes and ended up losing. That's garbage for me, like. Don't think it's totally unreasonable to think so. Today was utter wank as well. Brighton away was the only poor performance before the first international break last season.

The performances at the start of last season before the first international break weren't as poor as they have been this season, mind. We battered Forest, admittedly were lucky to get a point at Brighton but should've beat Man City in a breathless game, deservedly got a point at Wolves, incredibly unlucky to lose at Liverpool and were robbed by VAR against Palace.

It isn't wholly the signings themselves per se, but that only one of them is actually starting or getting a decent amount of minutes. And even he has been took off for no apparent reason, when his fellow midfield partners have looked no better or fitter.

West Ham are still unbeaten, are in 3rd after taking 10 points from their 4 games. Wouldn't say they were struggling at all when they went down there last week. They've shown under De Zerbi that they struggle against a low block and teams that break with pace in wide areas. We opted to press high with what currently seems an incredibly questionable midfield 3 offering next to no protection should Brighton have been able to play through the press, which they did.

Comparing fixtures' results from last season to this is as pointless as thinking because we finished 4th last season we can do it again. The last 3 fixtures have been difficult but the performances have been really poor for me. Something doesn't seem right. Have a couple questions about the transfer window now as well given its now shut. I have utmost faith in Howe to produce the answers, mind. Just as he did in February 2022. Did find it slightly baffling though that West Ham and Everton in May gave a blueprint of how to play Brighton at their place yet we chose to not follow one bit of it.

Hopefully Livramento and Hall develop into being world beaters as in the short term they're not signings that address more pressing issues. Howe made subs at 1-0 to try and get us back into the game, the team that we had on the pitch after those subs had zero summer signings on it. We've spent £140m, not counting Hall. Why is that? Why did we decide not to pursue Maddison or Diaby? (Athletic says we opted to go elsewhere for other positions) Why have we signed Tonali for £60m, substituted him and proceed to look worse in the last 2 matches? Why did we sign Barnes as our main attacking signing, selling ASM in order to fund his purchase, when he is yet to start a match? Why did we choose not to pursue CB cover, a RW, or DM? I understand that everything can't be done in 1 window, but the performances in the last 3 games admittedly in difficult fixtures have left a lot to be desired. The issues in the squad that we haven't addressed have played a large part in that.

The was a relentlessly wank performance. Something isn't right tactically with us at all. Also have a couple questions about thr transfer window now. Couple of issues in the squad have not been addressed whilst we've spent £70m on 2 fullbacks who have 1 appearance between them so far.

Exactly. Posting a rating of the window after the Villa game was not the best idea.

Transfer window maybe wasn't the 9/10 as I rated it. ~£140m this summer spent not counting the fee we will end up paying for Hall, not one penny of it is currently on the pitch.

This is utter shite, like.

Something just isn't clicking. We started well but haven't just faded rather disappeared since. Unsure about that midfield but also unsure on what the actual issue is; not getting a more DM kind of midfielder or missing Willock or something along those lines.

We don't have a defensive midfielder in a Rodri mould to stop them. We're playing Bruno and Tonali as 8s so we're really open after turnovers.

2 clean sheets in 22 now.

What a fucking shambles that was. Christ almighty.

Could've scored 2 already. COME ON MAN

HTL

3 points and Almiron to make me look like a fucking bell end and score. Please.

10 goals and 9 assists last season tbf, like.

"James Maddison, a player at relegated Leicester both coaching staff and directors loved, was not a priority as they sought to fill other positions; though they were prepared to pivot to him if the deal made financial sense and other options fell through." https://theathletic.com/4825644/2023/09/02/inside-newcastle-transfer-window-deals?source=user-shared-article

It wasn't that he didn't want to come, we didn't put an offer in for him this summer.

Topspur ruining the acca already. Heinous bell ends.

Fucking hell