et tu brute

Against the better teams in the league (if you can actually really class Arsenal as one), you cannot have your two central midfielders basically sitting right in front of your central defence, as that just invites wave upon wave of pressure and makes it very difficult to exert any forward movement and momentum. This was noticeably demonstrated by St Max time and time again coming deep into his own half to try and receive the ball. The warning signs were there against a ten men West Ham, who dominated the second half until the arrival of Willock. It’s blatantly obvious the central midfield of Shelvey (especially) and Longstaff are too slow with not enough forward movement to make any positive impact on a game. Football has changed so much in the last two years never mind five or ten, however we have a dinosaur and totally inadequate manager, who is unable to see obvious problems with the personnel and set up of the team. I still can’t believe we are sitting 9 points clear with 4 games to go. He is lucky we have two players in St Max and Wilson who are better than players within the teams below us, and have been able to make some point winning contributions with the ability they have. We are and always will be under Ashley a club struggling to keep afloat before we eventually fail and disappear down the plug hole.

The only time we have given them a real game within the Ashley period was the 2 - 1 win under Rafa. I know we beat them under Hughton, but that was a bit of smash and grab. Yet, it’s been years since they were a really top team and the last few years distinctly average. We just roll over with them for some reason.

Agree, anyone who doesn’t want this is not a Newcastle fan, unless they are genuinely in their beliefs against Saudi ownership and can’t set those beliefs aside. Don’t necessarily agree, but I can understand the reasons. The scale of how this will play out is certainly open to opinion and I can understand for and against points of view on the likelihood of this coming to fruition and the takeover proceeding. Myself, I’m at 50/50 as I don’t really know what the legal process will involve and how it will play out. I am also not (as nobody is except those involved) privilege to the data and information the legal team (or should I say teams now after today’s news) holds to push ahead their legal arguments. We will just have to wait and see how it plays out, but today’s developments were certainly very interesting.

Bruce will be boiling a gasket at that mind.

Looks like fat Mike is lining up his 'pistol'

https://twitter.com/SkySports_Keith/status/1390340077469974536?s=20

You can see every game with the way he goes on with managers before and after games that he loves to be liked. No surprise any manager comes out with anything but nice words, as I bet he rings all of them several times during a season, just for friendly mate chats.

He’s went from one of the most exciting in the world to total shit in two years, got to be attitude surety as he had delivered the goods year after year previously.

Agree, but to think if Ashley had even a smidge of any ambition, he may well have been here a few year ago.

I pray you’re right.

Unfortunately also he is probably right to think that way also.

Not so sure, he so pompous that he probably thinks he has a job here as long as he keeps us up and Ashley is here.

Still barred according to Liam Kennedy last night.

It’s not going to happen until this arbitration is sorted I would presume, however long it takes. I’m giving it to the start of next season and if him and Bruce are still here, then it’s total switch off time for me until they’re gone.

Canny, but I thought it was a bit short to cover the 3 seasons I would class as the entertainers period

Yeah agree both should have been saved, as he got a good hand to the ball and not just his finger tips. Mind the number of errors by goaslkeepers in general the last couple of seasons, seem to have increased quite a bit from previous years in the games I have watched. Still (as I know you will probably agree), our first choice number 1 and a very good quality keeper for a lower table side.

Leicester's pace and movement in midfield and up front will tear us a new one. They will walk through our midfield like butter (as Willock will be benched again no doubt) and our slow back three will not cope with the pace and movement of Vardy and Iheanacho. Rafa down at their ground especially, used his nous to cope with the threat pretty well, but with Bruce in charge, they have had out number big time and totally dominated the three games under his 'leadership'. I honestly fancy Leicester to score 4, 5 or even 6 on Friday. Can't wait to see St Max coming deep into his own half to try and get some of the ball for the second game in a row.

Shame that we can't see into the future; as I don't think many (on here anyway) would give two fucks if Ashley and Bruce are still runnng the show next season.

I agree with you 100% for the first year or so, my main issue was his inconsistancy and his overall shooting ability in the first couple of seasons. Agree also, that over the last season and a half (he had a period in the first half of last season when he did ok/average/reasonably well - depending on opinion), where his influence in games over this period is virtually ziltch; and his hollywood balls; 95% (if not more) of the time; go straight to the opposition and nowhere near their actual target. He also looks like he is not bothered or trying throughout the games, which in unforgiveable, especially as he is the current captain of the team.

I tell you what as much as some try to pick faults with Rafa (not on here mind), there is no way he would have allowed the players to put in that performance. Mind, one of the main culprits, probably wouldn't even be at the club if Rafa was still here.

He won't be if he has to keep going deep into his own half to try and receive the ball like he did today.

He was for that period of time, as most teams had players like him (not as good mind), he kept the ball and supplied the more creative players in the team. Mind, he used to get forward at times and scored a few very good goals for a player in his position. You're right though I don't think he would be as appreciated or as effective in today's game, though on thinking, I do see some similarities between him and Fernadinho in how they play their roles (before anyone pipes up, I did not say Batty was as good a player).

Aye thanks, I totally forgot about Willock, with him not playing today

Very rarely more than five metres from the central defenders I would imagine, in fact for most of the game we were playing with a back 5 (this excluding the full/wing backs) as Longstaff wasn't that much further forward either most of the time.

He is so fucking lucky that he has two very decent players in Wilson and St Maximin, who have done enough with their individual strengths and ability to have a hand in very important and needed goals when available; thus getting the key results to keep the team up. Even then, with both available and playing, there is no structure and it's only odd moments of isolated opportunities/brilliance. Any decent manager would strive to get the best out of his key players, by ensuring they are utilised to their potential and the rest of the team is structured to allow this to happen. The sight of St Maximin time and time again having to come into his OWN half to receive the ball was absolutely scandoaous. Fuck you Bruce you absolute useless cunt.