Infinitely Content

To little surprise, a lack of a centre forward cost us today. In the final 20 minutes we had all of our attacking players stood in a line on the edge of their area, nobody was coming short for the ball to feet, nor running in behind and trying to drag their defenders around to open up space. Trippier and Shelvey who were tasked with creating in the final third simply had no options. Fraser and in particularly Murphy should have viewed today as a big opportunity and should have gone out to kill, but it was so poor in the final third. I'm willing to excuse Eddie Howe for this one, it's difficult to teach wingers striker's instinct. That said, their goalkeeper was absolutely magnificent, what a feeling that must have been for him today. The save from Joelinton's late header in particular was outstanding. We move on. Well done to Cambridge and their travelling support.

We still need something to the tune of this for Eddie Howe. Too fitting melodically and too beautiful to turn down.

About to be announced I think, hero banner has been taken down from the homepage of nufc.co.uk... about to be replaced with the Trippier reveal most likely.

I wonder if we would have any chance with the signing of Patrik Schick. Admittedly I have only watched him for 5-6 games at Euro 2020, but he was one of the outstanding players at the tournament. If we're to be forced into throwing big money to lure a top striker, it would be him for me. Tall, quick, versatile, presses well, good with his back to goal as well as running in behind. Seemed a complete striker to me and is still just 25 years old.

https://12ft.io/ Paywalls no more.

It was 2011 when the bold, italicised and tightly kerned letters were put up. Around the time of the Sports Direct logos being added either side. Ashley probably got a three-for-one deal. As far as I'm aware the previous roman letters with proper kerning had been up and remained the same for decades prior before being auctioned on ebay.

That's reassuring, I think we all hoped Eddie Howe and his approach to the game would favour Schar; and it looks that way thus far. Far too gifted a player to be left out on the sidelines for so long. Delighted to see him featuring.

The fans were magnificent throughout I felt. No way should we be criticising the supporters for the sake of a couple of boos from the Strawberry Corner at full time. I was sat upper Gallowgate and the energy and noise didn't diminish for the full 90. Wonderful effort from all.

Aye, I don't see them as seahorses at all really, but mythological creatures. Horses with dragon tails. They don't really possess many qualities or characteristics of a seahorse, namely they have legs & hooves, a clearly defined horses head that doesn't resemble a seahorse in the slightest and a coiled dragon's tail rather different in form than a seahorse's. I feel like it symbolises nobility and fierceness.

Yes without a doubt. Indeed it's not an option for us or any team anymore, it simply becomes a choice of is the desire to buy a kit to exhibit my support for the team I love greater than the unease and aversion to wearing an often rather large corporate logo front & centre. No right or wrong, but a personal decision each person makes whether consciously or unconsciously.

Well, they buy the kits so there's a level of consent and endorsement, no?

I still find it all a little absurd, that so many are happy to be a walking, living advertisement for some company, betting firm or project. I think in the 90s with the likes of Sharp and Brown Ale, the respective kits and players became synonymous with one another and thus it served as a powerful symbol, but I just feel it's all a bit tacky these days. I can't tell if it's just due to becoming less impressionable with age or that the handling of it these days it just more grotesque and discordant.

A little rudimentary but perhaps something like this would be its simplest form, without needing to place the type & mark upon a coloured rectangle for contrast.

Would love that. I spent a lot of time in Georgia recently and during a cross-country drive into the Greater Caucasus I got onto football with the driver which inevitably led to discussing Temuri. I was expressing how much fondness towards him remains in Newcastle and made a passing comment of how I'd love another Georgian in the side. He then raved about Kvaratskhelia being the best prospect in Georgia for some time, whilst lamenting his move to Russia. Bring him home.

Too injury prone. Missed 2 of the last 3 seasons with a repeat ACL.

Essentially a replica of his Bournemouth 4-4-2 formation and structure. Instil some confidence into that team, have them go out believing they will win rather than hoping they can draw and we have a solid base there to begin gathering some points - even prior to January. The wide midfielders offer decent defensive protection to the full backs and Hayden drops deep to help the defence. Build patiently from the back for the most part, Schar and Fernandez primarily looking for short, safe passes to the full backs to advance up the wings. Occasionally use Schar's passing range and Wilson's ability to hold up the ball and get Saint-Maximin, Willock, Almiron & Joelinton finding space behind him and making runs beyond. Will take some time to remind the players they can actually play, and there will certainly be some mistakes and crooked places to make straight along the way, but we have 6-7 players there who are more than capable, and possess a level of ability way beyond what they're currently displaying. I truly believe that.

It's always darkest before the dawn.

Rather bizarre decision to drop Manquillo. I think he's been playing well and is one of the only players to come away with any credit for us recently. Harsh.

BBC Radio Newcastle presenter just said 2 changes in personnel for us.

We don't know anything about the finer details of the deal being negotiated. It's easy for us to look at the Emery situation and now this potential issue with the Howe deal and draw ill-informed and worrisome conclusions; but what is being requested/demanded from them may be wholly unreasonable and not conducive to other plans and deals also being worked on by Staveley and her team. Perhaps other roles and positions are already lined up to filled and the demands of the prospective managers aren't compatible with them. Anything could be the case, or the recent speculation may be complete lacking any substance and all may be well with this particular target. Patience. What will be will be.

Perhaps 'Bella Ciao', the 19th century Italian protest hymn of freedom, hope and unity would be fitting. "Oh Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao Ciao Ciao" = "Oh Eddie Howe, Eddie Howe, Eddie Howe Howe Howe".

As a counterpoint to that, it could be said the job is potentially very rewarding; any manager who arrives and begins to show even minimal improvement in the short term will find a fanbase full of praise and admiration - much like Rafa received. It wouldn't take much for a new manager to find himself in a position where he's backed by the supporters unwaveringly due to the downtrodden, apathetic feeling in the stands and beyond during the last few seasons. That's without mentioning the inevitable and substantial financial backing. For a manager, unwavering support from the fans and financial backing from the owner is about as much as could be wished for. Both would be absolutely achievable here with even minimal success on the pitch.

What's he really going to say in a post-match press conference when his duty there is represent his club, which is at present still Villarreal? He's pretty much just said there's been contact, there's no offer yet and I have to remain respectful to Villarreal. He's hardly going to show up with the Gallowgate pigeon on his shoulder, a bottle of Brown singing Big River!

I'd be delighted with this appointment, outside of Benitez, I deemed him the most suitable choice in our circumstances. Emery was the manager to give Willock his debut for Arsenal at St James Park, and Willock seemed very fond of him and his passionate involvement in the game from the touchline. Emery, much like Rafa, is not the spectator type who sits back arms folded and observes the game, he's right there on the touchline with the players, involved in the spirit and intensity of the match. Something I feel will serve us well in our current predicament. Great work from Staveley and her team if this goes through.