HaydnNUFC

3 trips to NG2, 8 goals and 3 wins. Them beautiful black and white bastards, man. Huge thanks to @Dr.Spaceman for putting up with me pestering him about my ticket.

Well, that depends on how Forest set up, really. If they allow us the lion's share of possession and counterattack on us, Longstaff in CM will be pointless as has been seen already this season in an away game where we had most of the ball (initially, anyway), where he was substituted and we went on to win the game at Wolves. Longstaff is useful in the games like last week but not in games where we need to break opposition who are sat deep down imo.

I'm ambivalent towards Jose, really. I really like the affinity he has for us through how he loved and admired SBR. I totally get that sentiment but if we're ever looking for a successor to Howe, Jose is not an appointment that progresses the club.

I don't for once really, but I do remember that handball and Cisse missing a glorious chance at Norwich. The mackem game I've probably blocked out the performance due to the nerves. The worst performances in that run were Southampton and Villa rather than those two imo.

Probably, yeah. But a big result of us going down was Benitez restructuring that squad with the Sissoko, Wijnaldum and Townsend money. His policy was affordable players or players with low release clauses that had played regular Championship football within the previous 3-4 years (as per Douglas' book). Hence many of those signings particularly the likes of Hayden, Hanley, Diame etc and the bids for Forestieri and Knockaert. But what it meant was we had a squad good for the Championship. And we've been lumbered with at least 3 players from that squad still in 25 man squads up until this season. We needed an overhaul which was obvious upon promotion which Ashley was never going to provide which was clear from the January 2017 window. But the squad that went down was a decent side as shown in those last 6 or so games and in patches under McClaren. If Benitez was messed around in his first transfer window after that mess of 2015-16 season then the pro Benitez-anti Ashley malaise sets in earlier. Where would that have left us? As if Benitez even just kept those better players we wouldn't have been fighting relegation under him like we were due to the squad not being added to/upgraded. That's Ashley's doing ofc, not Benitez'. Ah whey, the FCB is gone. Thank god.

We only lost at Norwich due to a handball in the build up to their stoppage time winner tbf. Quite a few refereeing decisions went against us all season that year, the Aguero offside goal at SJP probably being the pick of the bunch. That handball goal at Norwich doesn't get given and the Aguero goal given offside and we stay up with 4 points from those games rather than 1. I kna football doesn't work like that but y'kna.

Should've went after losing 5-1 at an average Chelsea. Had 2 and a half weeks until the next 2 games which were Stoke and Bournemouth. Often think about that as a bit of a sliding doors moment; had Benitez come in then, got us another 3 or 4 points (3 would've kept us up assuming we also still drew to the mackems) and kept us up, what would the years after had looked like? Would Wijnaldum, Townsend et al stayed? What money would've Benitez been able to spend? What kind of players could a Benitez managed Newcastle in the PL in 2016 be able to attract? Would Ashley have reverted to type as soon as we stayed up? Where would we be now? Interesting to think about imo.

Fuck sake. Only just found Disco's "big win for the Danish nonce" post to quote as that floated into the net.

My naive, young self went into that game optimistic about the season ahead.

They just don't convert enough chances. Similar story for them at Everton last week.

Schar's had a poor season so far but didn't think he looked shaky on Saturday. Just imo.

Thought he was class on Saturday personally, daft yellow aside. Defensively sound and picked out some great passes to get us on transition.

We were very good in the Isak last minute penalty game. Willock missed a gaping chance early doors, hit the bar twice, had a goal incorrectly chalked off by VAR. Unreal away end as well. Last season was a bit more nip and tuck as we were incredibly slack defensively. We look to have ironed out that issue at SJP, need to sort it away.

That's reinvigorated a fire in me, that. Have some faith you fucking miserable cunt. @HaydnNUFC

HTL. Big for us, today imo.

Don't get dropping Tonali. Honestly don't. Can't put it down to "3 games in 6 days" because he's started Isak in all 3 who's just come back from an injury himself.

Despite it being a 12:30 kick off, SJP should impose a minimum of 5 pints drank per fan for entry imo. Joelinton or Bruno to smash into one of their odious players early doors and get them into a game that sends that Captain Black lookalike cunt into tears once again.

Regarding Calvert-Lewin, Howe must be a fan if both us trying to get him in the summer and the below (from the Athletic article breaking down us signing Isak from summer 2022) is true.

First time ever I celebrated us getting drawn first to be at home like a goal. What a cock end.

Would give up my salary to beat these in incredibly controversial circumstances.

Mate, if we perform like shite on Saturday and/or the Sunday after I'm right back to square one. Don't get your hopes up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3557 https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11332353/newcastle-2-1-arsenal-matt-ritchie-completes-comeback-as-hosts-all-but-ensure-survival

Restored a bit faith in me, that. Lush feeling.

Please win. Go into those horrid bastards on Saturday with some positivity. Prove me wrong, Edward.