Coffee_Johnny

Every fecker seems to break their bad runs against us—gives me the hee-bee-jee-bees whenever it is mentioned prematch—maybe it is our turn.

Didn’t spring immediately to my mind either! How soon we forget.

I have a sneaky suspicion he’ll up up with us at some point. Maybe he’ll reach his potential then.

Should be above Spurs (on points per game). Actually, we’d still be behind Brighton.

Rolando Aarons. Thought he had it all. Saw him against Bradford away (preseason maybe?) and he looked unplayable. Kevin Mbabu after seeing him pop Sterling in his pocket at The City of Manchester Stadium (think it was still called that at the time).

Last two games against these, not great results but some great football, by both teams. I feel like we owe them one and winning there against the odds denting their pole position title aspirations would be a hell of a way to pay back in kind.

Cha-cha-cha charming! Waltzing to our new normal will be slow-slow-quick-quick-slow… (other dance metaphors are available ?).

Happy New Year to you too, Ikon. All the most enjoyable ‘dances’ have a bit of backwards as well as forward momentum.

73 points is the PL average for third. 68 points the average total for fourth. Thus far this season, it looks like being pretty close to an average points accumulation, i. e. Liverpool (1st) on 42 when the average would be around 43/44 at half way, Man City (3rd) on 40 when the average would be 37. I reckon 68/69 should be enough for 4th, if I had to guess. Still a long way off of course, but 62 should secure 6th.

Nice! Today, for no apparent reason I am channelling quotes from one of Newcastle’s finest Admiral ‘Cuddy’ Collingwood (born and raised on The Side) and his mate Nelson: “Tomorrow, Newcastle expects that every man will do his duty… . See how that noble fellow Howe takes his side into action!” “Now, my Tyneside Tars, let us do something today which the world may talk of hereafter… Liverpool will knaa which cuddy kicked ‘em!” (Ok, not as visually appealing as an Aniston talisman).

Could be worse I sold him and opted for, to add insult to injury, Bernado rather than Foden.

You’ve more restraint than me, I hope they buckle like an aluminium anvil hit with a ten pound hammer!

How many points do you think will be needed to finish 4th?

?

It can happen and has, recently, to us. Check out the 2022 bit of 2021-22 season vs the earlier debacle. We surely have a better squad now (or certainly will have with bods coming back).

Take your point, in that both look like they could be improved upon and can frustrate at times. To be fair, they both have also changed games, helped us to good victories, against top sides. I suppose it is just about finding someone who is likely to be consistently better. Not that easy a task. However, having an option there (other than playing Barnes and Gordon on either wing—or add Willock to the mix) is an important gap to fill. How much it is seen as a priority is obviously determined by those with the say so.

Ah man… I’ve something else to worry about now.

If Phillips is ‘forced’ to stay there and play bit parts (though, dawns on me, willingness to take a massive pay cut might be the only thing creating the force) I wonder whether, in time, the shiny medals will seem more mocking than satisfying to him. Players have such a short time in the sun and such talent. Seems a shame to not ever be really relied upon and a fully active participant in whatever challenge your team faces.

Very fair omission.

Young Miley has a funny run

Jealousy can unsettle a team.

That’s the ticket!

Prefer if he doesn’t, tbh.

Me too. I think we wanted him and Szoboszlai (probably got Barnes and Tonali instead… how different things might have been).Wouldn’t be surprised if we’d scoped Ward Prowse too. We certainly should have used his craft.

? that really is an article in two halves. Vile negatively skewed spouting followed by more balanced realistic overview. His coffee must have kicked-in half way through.