Wolfcastle

I'd have hauled Lascelles off for Burn being ruthless because he's so suspect and in a critical condition. Not much can be done with the other dreck. Maybe Lewis with him but that risks a purple. So was I at Luton, car to Wolves, were pissers, but that wasn't my experience. Anyone questioning those managers or players at those times is a proven dick. Probably enjoyed the performance in the San Siro a few month later the fannies.

I'm a fan and I'd have made a raft of changes today and probably wouldn't have risked Isak. Was actually surprised Botman and Joelinton played.

Its disappointing. The last two times we were doing well, this was not the reaction at Luton with an infinitely better team under KK that was also 3rd or under Sir Bobby in his various losses to lower league teams (Wolves, West Brom, Norwich). Old school maybe but cant see how that's the wrong way to handle it. Arsenal, Blackburn, Leeds and ourselves were beaten by lower league sides (Arsenal at home by 3rd Division Bolton) that week at Luton. They won the cup Winners Cup four month later. We finished 3rd and Blackburn 2nd.

Lewis will probably never play again but were one injury/suspension/rotation away from seeing a lot of Murphy, Wood and Lascelles to the massive detriment of the overall. At the very least can we take our chances with a couple loans in their places. Its hard to imagine any wouldn't be an improvement. If we can get Kenedy levels (good season and bad) under the previous regime there's got to be something there for us.

Was frustrating to watch - both the game and how glaringly poor some of the players are. But already over it. We had to play a weakened team. This match was meaningless compared to Leicester. And we all know how poor the fringe players are (well Lewis actually reminded us, the others are well known) Cambridge but with TWO far bigger fish to fry. Also thanks to the powers that be for demeaning the cup, really helps at times like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ76ckSPSGE Its like the least important game we've played since Tranmere in August and you've played 100s of games in Sheffield Wednesday's league.

Some poor trolling going on there NUFC and Away Toon. No positive Newcastle comments ever in our best season since 03/04. You've got to slip a 50/50 comment in there man to break it up.

Lower league team away Televised game even weaker than expected starting XI dubious goal against out wondering why we bothered fulfilling the fixture and wasting everyone's time classic cup tie

Perfect and very rare opportunity to use his only talent his pace. Of course elects for a meandering wade instead.

Lascelles looked sluggish and a mistake waiting to happen all game, was shit on the goal, just not as blatantly culpable as expected

That's that probably. Got the traditional guilt edged chance/scramble that goes against the big team in the situations

Even more nervous about injuries now. There's a general guile that wouldn't have been there before, but that's the coaching. Some individuals remind me of McClen and Kerr playing in Sir Bobby's team. McClen was like someone had won a competition to play a game or two with their team. Kerr could get by but that's it.

Used to be my favourite time of the year right now. Christmas morning all over the place. Couldn't keep up with all the games.

That puts them up there with the greats like West Auckland.

I just don't know about this. Honestly don't know what I'd do. The difference Wednesday not Tuesday would make. Think the last time we had such a conundrum of being in both cups, the QF of the league cup and a chance of winning either was 1998 and back then we took the league campagin off.

Think being at Goodison is a benefit to Southampton judging by the sterility at their ground midweek, silence an empty seats everywhere. Look every bit relegation material and they probably don't have a mangerial change in them like Everton. Its too early for the desperation stakes and let bygones by bygones of end of season for Goodison not to be toxic.

If they and Shrewsbury came out the hat the other way around it'd be a result for them to get more that 15,000 tomorrow. Fill 55,000 easily though. Just so I'm up to date, attendances matter now? or does that only kick in after another extension and some pretendy attendees in the official gate?

Auboomerang

Geiger? He's alien to me.

Totally. Arteta saying 'scandalous' in several different interviews was like watching Salmond go on about a lion roaring in the glenn on every channel during one of the elections. Deliberate and disingenuous. Partly to get in heads to favour them and partly to do the opposite with us.

Murphy to score anytime. He cant score but former (loan) club, you know how it goes.

"amazing isn't it, Steven Gerrard departs and he starts scoring again" Danny Mills "sometimes as manager you just get unlucky" - yeah, that's it.

Everton v Southampton and West Ham next. Will either be the end of Lampard or the sort of scabby wins Everton always get to stay above water and repeat the cycle.

And to think I had a Spurs fan mate who asked four years ago "what's Ashley actually done wrong?"

I'd have started him against Sheffield Wed. Only partly to have a good look at him/minutes but mostly because of the fixtures at this time and the way we play, wouldn't mind resting a few.