Coffee_Johnny

😂 I can see that now. Tonali’s eyes, Paqueta’s mouth, Di Canio’s hair, drinks like Gazza. Sign the man on!

Sandro is a mad Athletic Bilbao fan 🤷‍♂️

Jealous of the walk! And, thankfully, now getting pumped-up for the game.

Legend. ‘We’ll have to keep going’ yes we do 💪

Feeling unusually flat about this game. Can’t believe I am not as excited as usual given it is a Champions League game and one we have a really good chance of winning. Suspect it a hangover from the woeful performance last game and league position (have I become one of the spoiled minority?). Howay lads, someone post something inspiring!

Ah! Stuart Boam. Struggled to remember his name but remembered his face. RIP Also totally missed the sad news last month about the death of William McFaul (Iam or Willie). Absolute Newcastle legend of my childhood and manager during my NUFC-obsessed late teens. Nice obituaries here: https://www.irishfa.com/news/2025/october/obituary-willie-iam-mcfaul https://www.themag.co.uk/2025/10/passing-of-a-newcastle-united-legend-willie-mcfaul/

I think coping with the stress of the ‘big show’ by trying to make sense of it in some way is better, yes. But take your point in a way. If he was less ‘buffered’ to other people’s opinions, and more anxious about it all, he might actually dig in even more.

Is this where I start calling you a coward, not sure of the RTG form.

Now you’re talking! I seem to recall a pre-war Man City side won a cup and finished top scorers in the league but got relegated (something like that anyway). Perhaps we can win Champions League and have a go at winning Championship for the fifth time next season (though apparently the last three have been airbrushed out of our trophy-free last 56 years or 70 years)

I’ll be disappointed if we don’t take 4-6 points off them. If they win I am keeping well away from this thread; some of you are getting far too invested and RTG-like.

Think it’s just his own illusion of control over what is basically outside of his control, I.e. outcomes like goals and assists. To be fair better than distracting himself with booze, women, and gambling. Just needs to keep doing what he has been asked to it’ll come good.

Like many, I’d like to see him get a few games to simply see what he can bring. Feel like he deserves a chance. Not that I am jumping on the Pope made a mistake or two get him dropped bandwagon.

Well you’ve as much chance of catching their car as you have of catching them running.

I think Brentford had recently beaten us when we played them at same stage last year. My last trip to the Mecca/SJP.

Bizarre isn’t it. We seemed so stacked there with Gordon unplayable at times and Barnes looking like he should be starting in his favoured position too. Cover from Joelinton and even Willock at a push. We tried to get similar threat from the right by signing Elanga, with many of us imaging Murphy’s renaissance, or more accurately his Indian summer of a career, couldn’t last. Now all of the above left sided options have question marks against them, Elanga is yet to find his niche and our best creative option is once again The Juice. Personally I think Gordon, kind of like Laurent Robert (without the rose tinted specs of time we can all have), can be spectacular but can also look a bit predicable and ineffective. But the fact that he can be so good means he will, it is just a matter of how often and how others are playing around him/sharing the creative burden.

So beyond playing Ramsdale you’re a bit short of solutions. We had three full backs unavailable yesterday and probably Wednesday coming. Who should he be playing instead of Burn? Who should play instead of Joelinton? Anyone come to mind who didn’t get a chance to claim the place yesterday? Presume you want Barnes to start instead of Gordon? At least until he has a mediocre game and then rinse and repeat the moan-fest?

Just wasn’t involved, ball bouncing off him a bit (for a change), and not putting himself in positions to make you think he would become more involved. Can’t have Murphy and Gordon (first half) always running beyond. Need to mix it up a bit. Closest he got to the goal in open play was closing down the keeper.

Thought he looked a bit flat pre match. Could be clinically depressed post match.

So far.

Murphy looks like most creative option.

Hard watch this like. Bruno and Tonali getting schooled by lesser players.

Disappointing overall, from Gordon, but plenty of effort, a couple of good crosses and a great shot which was well saved.

They’ve set-up well to nullify our centre mids. Fernandez. Potts and Paqueta often close together in a line when out of possession. Their full backs joining. We haven’t found a way to play through them.

For who?

Seems very quiet in the ground.