Abacus

Ekitike looking injured

Goooal!

I'm not one to slate players and I still think Pope is a good keeper. They can always have a howler, it's the nature of it. However, I don't think he's been quite right since that shoulder injury and either way he's a weak link right now in a few ways. It can't give the rest of the team, or him, much confidence and his must be through the floor tonight. Give Ramsdale a run for a bit now.

He's literally just taken the post from that Man City fan the other day as a joke

I'm not sure Everton is the right game for Gordon, so on balance I'd play him tomorrow instead. I don't think he's been quite right since that disrupted summer with England not playing him and then the Liverpool speculation even though that's a long time ago now. Also then this season adjusting to a different style of play this season with a more withdrawn striker. On the other hand, with Barnes in form, you could make a case to play him against Marseille. 3 more points would presumably secure a play off spot, allowing us to then take the foot off the gas a bit in these last few interminable qualifying rounds and concentrate more on the league. So, basically, I haven't a clue, but I'd rather Gordon played tomorrow than against Everton.

He was injured. To say flop is therefore ridiculous and the context is different between the two. But back on topic, Isak remains an idiot and his failure is a daily delight.

That last ten minutes were stressful as hell. Looking forward to watching MOTD tonight when I get home. But I think it was well deserved and that Tonali was excellent.

I've binned my copy of Cool Runnings.

What's the aim of a football forum?

I'd love England to win it even though I care a bit less as international football passes me by a bit. One reason would be in assuming we have Newcastle players in the team. I tend to want players in every international team that plays for us to do well, so I'm happy when Bruno or Big Nick do well, and will be if Gordon or Burn do well, etc. The other reason is that you tend to get lots of non club football fans watching, who maybe only follow major tournaments. I'd be happy for them. I don't consider them "proper" football fans, but on the other hand, having said I view everything through a club lens, I'm a hypocrite. Because I'm exactly the same when it comes to say cricket - don't follow county games but will no doubt be glued to the Ashes, and rugby - don't follow club rugby either but will definitely watch the world cup. Horses for courses.

Just bring your osso bucco mate, and shout Malick Thiaw. Probably be a lot less hassle than having to buy a new belt.

Totally get this. I spent 3 days watching the sunset at Holy Island. And your friends, what are they after?

You could also head south from Edinburgh and visit Holy Island. That place also has some sort of otherworldly quality. This is the best thread on the forum right now. Don't you mods ever dare move it to general chat.

Well here's the thing (and by the way this is miles better than talking about football on an international break ), west coast of Scotland is sensational but food wise ... I probably went 10 -15 years ago but despite having access to some of the best seafood in the world that's normally exported and what's left isn't great. Best thing I ate there was in Oban, a little shack that sold fresh lobster tails, brown bread and chunks of lemon. No idea if it's still there. In Ireland it wasn't too much different but maybe a bit better. Mussels in Galway etc. But I think neither were gastronomic capitals or made the most of their local ingredients. Like I say, that might all have changed and a lot of it is personal opinion but a lot of it was tourist food. Each capital, though, will have brilliant restaurants. Think I'm biased towards Edinburgh for being surprised by how brilliant haggis can be. A proper Irish stew, though. And then you have the Guinness. But on the other hand you have the single malts in Scotland. Hmmm. The short of it is you won't go far wrong either way. Toss a coin and all agree to visit the other one next time. Or perhaps we should put a poll up?

For the Newcastle based posters we're mostly nearer to Edinburgh so will have more opinions on it. I agree with OpenC that you can't much go wrong either way. But to me Edinburgh is slightly better than Dublin as a base. Both are fantastic though. West coast of Scotland isn't too different to the West Coast of Ireland, though Ireland is a bit wilder. I'd go with Edinburgh too and explore a few islands. Actually Jimburst has set it out really well. It depends what you and your friends like to do, of course.

What, it's £2.49 to watch Italy Vs Norway on Amazon Prime? Get in the bin.

Nothing against Sweden or all except for one Swede, but having someone that was previously regarded as one of the best strikers in the world not make it to the World Cup would be pretty funny. And then waiting to see if FIFA try to change the rules for him to be able to get in somehow anyway, like with that Club World Cup abomination.

I'm not sure this Frankenstein footballer would be all that much cop. He'd have to pass to himself on the wing, speedily get there, cross to himself and then head or shoot, while the rest of the team is presumably smoking a tab.

This is not having a go as hopefully my last post didn't come across as. Just wondering what, to you, would make a realistically successful season as opposed to a flop one, across the four competitions that we're in?

In that no excuses season, we finished in the champions league spots and won a cup. That's despite our main and often only striker having patches in and out of form and his own injuries. Every manager can select the wrong players, use the wrong tactics or fail to manage a game properly from time to time. Likewise every team can have off days even if they are set up right, have individuals who don't perform or pick up injuries. We don't have the squad of some of the consistent managers - that's why they are consistent. Our own team has been massively disrupted over the summer and we are fighting on three fronts, two of which we're doing well in. Yes, if we continue not to perform in the league that's an issue. But the one thing that is consistent is that Howe tends to get things right. I personally disagree with anyone suggesting he should be on the way out or recruitment has been a mess due to a shaky start in the league that's not even half way through.

I don't think we can be a buy and sell club like that, otherwise you're never going to challenge. You need a mix of youth, smart buys and and experience. Personally I think all those players have paid back their fees and fit the experience category. Wilson - signed under Ashley, wouldn't have got a striker like that or who scored as much for £20m. Possibly could and should have been sold earlier under Howe though, if that's your point. Pope - Absolutely a key part of the team until injury Burn - Superb in the right position and won us a cup Trippier - Just apart from leadership, kept us up and then a CL charge. Whether we get nothing back for any of them is irrelevant. Wilson is more debatable. When you're starting from such a low base you need players like the rest though.

Yeah, I don't think Mbuemo was coming here anyway, though he would have been a great signing. Wissa is just dreadful luck. I'm really looking forward to the dynamic of him and Woltemade, whether it's playing together or rotation. Elanga - I'm giving him a lot more time but so far not great or at least in the way we're playing which brings me to; Ramsey - He's looked tidy enough without creating much in the brief time he's played. But you can say that for all of the team, it's a jigsaw puzzle that hasn't quite come together yet. I think it starts at the front including the wingers and then when teams realise we're not much threat that sends us backwards, with long throws etc by some teams bypassing midfield. A fit and firing Isak of old would have made a difference, but if we'd kept him in his current state he's no real loss. Plus he's an idiot.

I think a lot of this is driven by media / social media. Definitely think a few bad results bring out the vultures in the press looking for fan discontent. I'm not having it, nor should anyone that's seen what we've had before as some of our managers

Actually that's what they were saying on MOTD too. Not sure, personally. Though contradicting my own logic above, if so then it stands with the ref's decision as a pen.