Kid Icarus

I like Sturridge like. So long as he doesn't become affected, he'll be sound.

You'll have to excuse me because I've had a few drinks, but I'm trying to rein myself in a bit. When we were on it yesterday that's probably the most excited I've been about what we're going to be this side of Keegan. I had the same feeling that I had at the start of 94/95, when we were electric. Pre-season was okay, but that match felt like the big reveal of the team we are. The coherence between the players, the urgency, the crispness, and the quality each player showed was an absolute pleasure to watch. Tonali was outstanding and something about him felt transformational, Isak is even better than I thought he was, and Barnes looks fantastic, but thinking back (and I can't believe I'm saying this considering how much I disliked him before we signed him) but I was probably most excited about how good Gordon can be. He was fantastic, so much enthusiasm and direct, incisive play. In a team with plenty of exciting players, when he was on the ball he probably excited me the most in terms of his unpredictability.

Me watching the matchcam like...

There were lulls in play where I might not have been paying attention, but when I was I thought he was his usual neat and tidy self on the ball. Regularly linking up with Gordon, Joelinton and Barnes. Fair on Botman but it was a set piece. FWIW I think teams have a 'let him have it' approach with Burn (similar to what we had with Williamson) which isn't exactly wise. He's not an attacking threat in himself but he's very good at getting the ball out of his feet and getting it quickly into his winger.

I was surprised it wasn't ruled out tbh

Really? I thought he was very good and regularly more involved in forward play than Botman and Schär. We basically play as a 343 in possession, so I judge him as one of that 3 rather than in comparison to Trippier

Chabuddy G is loving it https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJp634kU/

Winning that well without Joelinton needing to unleash hell is a good sign. He coasted through that match, in a good way.

First match on MOTD. Fucking get in

Love you Edward

Reminder that Wilson is absolutely fucking class. Walking that tightrope of pissing him off enough to make himself undroppable, making him feel like the main man, while not effecting our set up and taking away from Isak is going to be key. From the sounds of it he'll never settle for being a rotation player, which is a shame but also what makes him the player he is.

I can't tell you how much I love that finish for his goal like. Dunno what it is about it, but I love it. Proper all action

Ordered a pizza in his honour. It's the right thing to do.

Excellent reference

Thought he was solid tbh, drove forward and great positioning and raking passes. A couple of wayward balls, buy overall very good

Absolutely fantastic. Imagine if him and Barnes can learn from each other. Incredible potential pairing

Wew

Stress test: do you remember Lauren Robert?

You can tell that he's mastered that topspin-and-pace-so-it-doesn't-matter-if-you-get-a-touch-on-it-it's-still-going-in finish like.

We're really good. I'll never stop being surprise

Just before my time.

Honestly the best Newcastle debut in my memory. Not just faultless, sublime.

Oh my. I do declare

Pope: 7 Trippier: 7.5 Schär: 7 Botman: 7.5 Burn: 7.5 Tonali: 10 Bruno: 8 Joelinton: 7.5 Gordon: 10 Isak: 10 Almiron: 7.5 Wilson: 8 Barnes: 9 Murphy: 8 Wow

Fucking hell I love how I'm always somehow surprised by how good we are. I never want to expect this like, it's so good.