Thumbheed

Really hope Howe sticks with this formation

15 minutes ago, 1964 said:

Why don't we get the best of both worlds and employ Phil Mitchell

As well? Sure, if its an option but if I had to choose one it'd be Giles.

Phil Giles is the best option from people I've seen linked to us. 

10 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

Yes, 7th is the bottom end of what I would have considered a successful season and therefore would be happy with.

 

Being lower than that at some point in the season is one thing, but being a number of places lower than that is not something that I am happy with, no. Chelsea win their game in hand and we are 11th. A long way back from 7th. 

 

I'm not entirely sure what's so outrageous about that position but clearly it's bothering you so no problem if you'd rather leave it there.

Surely surely you can see the gaping wide contradiction between thinking that at the beginning of the season 7th was the minimum we should be achieving whilst also thinking we wouldnt be good enough to make up a 3 point gap to get to 7th with a quarter of the season left?? 

Both of those things can't be true ffs 

Anyway 

5 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

No I wouldn't. We are three points off but there are also three teams we need to overtake. 

 

Before the season I'd have 7th as the lower end of what I'd be happy with, I'm not going to be happy at having to play catch-up on that target with 10 games to go. 

You'd have taken 7th and nothing less.

So the difference between the season being a relative success is (objectively speaking) 1 more win and 1 less loss, and furthermore you would not be happy being lower than that position at any point of the season, irrespective of whether we still have over 25% of the season still left to play. 

I know I said I'd end it with my previous post but I think I definitely will now seeing as though that's your actual position ?

54 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

Right. But "7th" and "not 7th" are not the same thing though are they?

 

Regardless of how close you are, if your position was "I'd be happy with 7th" and what's on offer is "not finishing 7th" then its fair to say you aren't happy with how things have gone?

What's on offer is not "not finishing 7th" it's objectively speaking being '3 points off 7th with 10 games to go'.  (Plus 2 QF's)

Put another way, if you were told at the beginning of the season that after 28 games you'd be 3 points off 7th, then would you put significant money on us finishing 7th from that position?

Will leave it here though as I think we'll probably be going round in circles for a good while. Don't want to derail the thread. 

15 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

6th - 7th is probably about par for the season and would be a decent finish, especially given how it's panned out. But given the position the club was in coming into the season I wouldn't have taken it.

What position was the club coming into the season? And what realistically would you have taken out of interest?

Quote

 

13 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

Yeah but how far do you go? Two wins the other way and we're 14th?

 

You must see how "two wins off sixth" and "you said you'd be happy with seventh" are not the same thing? 

I think it's pretty clear you go with how far away we are from what you'd have taken (6th/7th) vs where we actually are, no? Unless I've misread your post?

So the difference between what you'd have taken and where we actually are is literally 2 wins.  

10 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

Yes but we aren't 7th are we? Even in your scenario we're "two wins off sixth" 

So the difference is just 2 extra wins? That's it, that's the key and significant difference, right?

Madness.

4 minutes ago, Miercoles said:

 

4-1 PSG has to be one of the legendary results for the club too, seeing that was pretty fucking magical.

It's up there with Barca 3-2, if not better.

Core memory game, that. 

11 minutes ago, Shak said:

 

Why would anyone?

 

"We'll get horrendous draws in all the cup competitions and consequently win nowt. Also we'll be 10th with ten games to go. Deal?"

"2 QF's and 6 points off 6th with 10 games to go"

"No thanks"

I'm struggling to comprehend how the difference between taking the above and something I assume you'd have taken (6th/7th) is just 2 extra wins this season?

5 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Why would anyone have taken that at the start of the season ?

Crikey. I thought Newcastle fans were realistic. 

There's literally never been a team outside the established top 6 to requalify for the CL and we haven't had 1 QF for nearly a decade. 

What we're people expecting?! I swear everyone said they'd be happy with a top 7?

11 minutes ago, Displayname said:

Ofcourse i wouldnt have taken that. Thats doesnt necessarily mean Howe has done a bad job this season considering the circumstances(if we are looking strictly at the results).

You wouldn't have taken all that?

- 2 wins off 6th with 10 games to go and a favourable fixture list

- 2 cup competition QF's with the cuntiest fixture run I've ever seen To get there. (1 minute away from a semi)

-10 minutes away from knockout stages of the CL in the group of death

Who's brave enough to admit that they wouldnt have taken that at the beginning of the season and why? 

Mad what a few losses can do to a person

Eddie's exactly right with how he's handling Miley.

You can't overload a 17 years old week in week out in a team that is çonsistently inconsistent and expect him to bare any pressure that that might bring.

There's a pretty vocal crowd that's already turning on Howe, turned on Longstaff and Burn and after 3-4 poor games from Miley will turn on him too. 

Joelinton, Bruno and Onana would be some midfield to have to play against - wouldn't get 2 seconds to yourself

Onana has the feel of a target we're long touted to sign whilst actually being interested in someone else.

3 hours ago, janpawel said:

People who want back up to Schar, any particular names in mind? 

 

Leny Yoro looks a talent, but may be on the Radar of PSG, Madrid etc so we may have no chance 

 

 

Tosin Adarabioyo

The centre midfield was the cornerstone of our success last year so I'd invest there first and foremost. 

Followed very closely by a RW and in light of Howes comments about Hall a right sided CB whis good on the ball.

I am once again asking for us to sign a random young South American

34 minutes ago, Tiresias said:

If Bruno is off (please don't let it be so) still need a really high quality CM in to replace as much as Tonali will be here. 

Think another CM is needed as a priority irrespective of whether Bruno goes or not. 

Imagine how good we're gonna be when we have a team and bench full of top quality players. 

INAKI WILLIAMS IS SHIT

Aye just the mere half a billion pounds spent since 2021.