nbthree3

Also for that "winless run" (assuming they're on about start of 18/19) - 7 defeats, 3 draws. 6 defeats with a goal margin of -1 (all including 5 of the season earlier's top 6), 1 game -2. I'd much rather lose 2-1 than say 4-1

https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/team-news-darlow-returns-woodman-injured/ Karl Darlow makes his first Newcastle United appearance since February as the Magpies take on Leeds at St. James’ Park, with fellow ‘keeper Freddie Woodman sidelined with a hip injury. 24-year-old Woodman has started each of United’s five games in league and cup so far this season but, after picking up the injury in training, misses out completely this evening, with Mark Gillespie on the bench. Woodman aside, Newcastle’s starting XI is unchanged from that which started Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Goalscorer Javier Manquillo continues at right wing back, with Matt Ritchie on the left. Isaac Hayden, Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark make up a three-man central defence. Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock start together in the engine room, while Miguel Almirón, Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton will look to cause problems for a Leeds defence who shipped three goals themselves at the weekend. Returning to the Magpies’ bench, meanwhile, is Ryan Fraser, who sat out last week’s trip to Manchester after hurting his foot while on international duty with Scotland.

So the journalists were right on Darlow, the rest I could've probably said player to player. Hayden CB again!

Words ahead of tonight https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-vs-leeds-united-live-21601174?gs= We have scored four times in our two home league matches this season so there is certainly encouragement going forward, but to only pick up one point in those games underlines the importance of being solid first and foremost and getting the balance right. If we can strike that balance and we can continue to offer a threat and create opportunities as we have, I am convinced we can put results together so we must seize the key moments at both ends of the pitch when they come along. There is no better time or place to do that than in front of our supporters tonight. St James' Park under the floodlights is always special for everyone connected with this club, but it can be a big, loud and intimidating place for visiting players. Thank you, as always, for backing our lads so passionately. I hope we can reward that tonight and get the weekend off to a great start. - same as always?

Here's some team collective running stats as of March 2021 https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-uniteds-running-stats-season-20098401 - notice the Leeds games (that's their style) We'll ignore this bit of the article... "They have been outrun 11 times but covering more ground doesn't necessarily mean you're in better shape: playing without possession can mean clocking up more miles. Former boss Rafa Benitez was not a big fan of running stats - pointing out that it was what you did with the ball that mattered most. But Leeds have outrun opponents in every game this season, favouring a high press."

Ryder didn't even ask a question yesterday - the article should set it up nicely for tonight especially if we lose

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9999233/Toon-turns-TOXIC-Graeme-Jones-Dwight-Gayle-clash-Bruce-slams-Hayden-players-p-ed-off.html Mess top to bottom. A source said: ‘The players, as a group, are tight. They have been together a lot of years. ‘They are good professionals and are determined to turn things around, despite issues with the manager. That could end up keeping him in a job.’ Just this week, the squad turned up expecting to train on Tuesday morning, only for Bruce to call a meeting during which he addressed running statistics. However, some players were not impressed when he cited other teams in the bottom half of the table as good examples. A source said: ‘The lads couldn’t believe it. They were like, “What is he talking about?” It did not go down well with some.’ For balance, some players felt Bruce spoke the truth. A feisty training session followed — two senior stars were told to calm down by Bruce — and there was a bad-tempered showdown between assistant manager Graeme Jones and striker Dwight Gayle, with captain Jamaal Lascelles forced to step in. A source said: ‘There was a head-to-head after a disagreement. Jones said, “It’s always about you, Gayley”. Dwight wasn’t having it and said, “It’s been all about you since you’ve been with England”. ‘This can happen between players, but when management are involved it’s never a good sign. There are some p***ed off players.’ Jones was a popular and much-needed addition last season, but some are now wondering why he has not intervened and changed a 3-5-2 system they feel uses too many players out of position. There was also a heated inquest in the dressing room following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester United, with Bruce telling midfielder Isaac Hayden — playing at centre back — that he should have done more to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo running off him to score his second goal. A source said: ‘Isaac was like, “He’s the fastest player in the country”. He also made the point he’s not a defender. The lads thought the manager’s comments were unfair.’ On top of that, Sportsmail has been told there is resentment at the lack of structure in the training schedule, much like the concerns raised last season over what some felt were excessive days off, leading to an internal investigation. Bruce spent four nights in Portugal during the international break and returned last Monday. Sportsmail understands some players reported for training that day expecting a morning session, only to be told Bruce was not arriving back from holiday until the afternoon. The club say this was always the plan. But a source said: ‘You’ve got players waiting hours at the training ground and some staff didn’t even know what was going on. They also turned up at training the previous Thursday only to be told Bruce had gone on holiday. They just did a gym session. They weren’t impressed. ‘Then on Monday of this week they did not train until tea-time. Players like structure, routine. But they feel like the team’s schedule is designed to suit the manager, not them.’ Some also noted a press report this week that goalkeeper Freddie Woodman would be dropped for Friday’s game. The players know which journalists are close to Bruce and some suspected this had come from the manager before he had told them, much like they did last season when a report stating Karl Darlow would be dropped caused huge irritation behind the scenes.

There's no correlation between pressing intensity and results but it's telling that the teams you'd expect to be more passive (PPDA defines style and not a lot more tbh) are in our cluster. In fact our pressing intensity has always been around the 18 mark since he came in, it was 13 both seasons before he arrived. Negativity breeds negativity... expect that Leeds figure to surge tomorrow from their average as they had a PPDA of 4.21 and 5.31 against us last season. Meaning we have around 4, 5 passes of the ball before they make a defensive action like a press or tackle

That's 1 way to kill the affinity we have from his first spell

Can't say it wasn't coming

Tomorrow, game Friday

Bruce's press conferences are more a highlight to me than the games, least we know we're getting entertained for the former

As for other interest, no chance while PIF are "at the table" privately or otherwise... what's the point in legal action with CAT and with PL next year if the point isn't to push a takeover through by testing PIF not KSA?

Just Twitter conjecture really. Can't imagine anything big happens before the CAT jurisdiction hearing on the 29th and even that I imagine is not very flavoured

I think it's because he was on the yacht MBS had when Staveley, di Bello etc were invited on which setup the PIF part of the takeover. Tenuous link with his brother Anil from 2008 who claims to be bankrupt now "In February 2020, Anil Ambani was locked in a legal battle with 3 Chinese banks. He was asked to set aside US$100 million by the court which led him to make the statement that his net worth is currently zero after considering his liabilities"

He's retired so he can join the 3 Steves and Graeme on the coaching staff. He can be the defensive coach as he played defence, but like his father it hasn't helped with his management of the defence

So long as Ashley's here what use is it having a manager we like or a manager we don't like, beyond it papers the cracks for a little longer? Criticising Ashley doesn't work and praising him doesn't when he's so stuck to the self-sustaining policy. Rafa was never going to work out with Ashley, Bruce was never going to work out with any owner and whoever's next will face the same problems as before sadly

Club claim in their statement Bruce has been backed with £120m to finish exactly where we have been before, it's a shame 'a good job' means standing still these days

Definitely, in the positive for net spend over 3 years. Brought a relegated side (with the 11th best form I think in the league from appointment before the end of the season) back up as champions despite obvious hurdles and finished top 10 first season. Every year since then we've slipped further behind the top 10

'The previous manager' had an identical record in the Premier League on points over 2 full seasons*, but he didn't upset the local media and he appreciated the fans. The atmosphere with Wor Flags and all was overwhelmingly positive... little things like honesty and respecting the traditions of the club (at Everton Rafa was given a car recently, he made sure it was royal blue to appeal to the fans. Koeman the other year had red baubles on his Christmas tree and fans were upset with that) go far for keeping people onboard *doesn't tell the whole story obviously but national media look only at the league table or points record to justify their opinions not the finer details