AJ9

Glad I didn’t get a ticket for this like. It’s pretty boring to watch them dick us like this.

The point is that people are far far too quick to call players shite after a handful of games. I remember one of the match threads being horrendous. I get that people can change their minds and be pleased but how about we try not to be so damning about players performances in the first instance? I said this a few weeks ago, but I’m trying to switch towards recognising good things players do and stating that, instead of joining in the criticism. It’s not always been my way, granted.

I might actually get my arse along to see them now. Mad to think he’ll be kicking about Inverness. Had a massive soft spot for him at NUFC even though he really wasn’t that great for us. That goal vs Man Utd though…

“Our fans”

Aye fair point.

The ball to Trippier for Wilson's goal man. Charges up to the box, everyone thinks it's a ping coming and then he puts in the full back with his wrong foot. Made it look effortless as well. Honestly man, you'd be happy if your 10 did that.

He's been consistently showing signs that he can put in PL level performances this season. He links the midfield with attack really well and is excellent at recycling the ball. Absolutely delighted for him.

Is this a joke?

Dare I say it, looked a wee bit of a threat going forward.

Gonna have a dram with this later. What a day.

Got such a soft spot for him, local lad, loves the toon and especially after his career looked done here. One of my favourite players in this team.

Watch out, he might chin ya

Hopefully some of the critics on here will shut up now like. Some ridiculous takes even this week. He’s class. I didn’t like the signing at the time (because I didn’t like his personality to be honest) but he’s always shown bags of talent.

Get in Eddie lad. Bossed a tough week.

Well fuck me. Serving the kids dinner at half time 3-0. Did the bath routine and it’s bloody 8. Where can I watch the full thing? Need to see the second half in full.

If he goes for that kind of coin, well it’ll be sad but I’m sure we will have profiled players like him. If he proves he’s worth that to someone then he will have done something right for us anyway. Would obviously be gutted if he went like, he’s been my favourite player of the new regime. Having said that, it also protects us from some lowballing cunts throwing in £60 mill next season if we don’t quite make the CL. Pay the release clause or fuck off.

I think we will focus on keeping it tight again. Can’t imagine we will go there and play particularly good football, but we should have enough to keep them out. Feels a bit weird saying that because that hasn’t been Howe’s style, but we built last season on a mean defence and I think we will try to go back to that.

Hernandez roamed quite a bit into central areas last night.

Played well vs Villa and set up Tonali for the goal, won us a pen vs Brentford and had a decent game off the top of my head. Nobody has particularly set the world on fire in an attacking sense, but the only other player that’s in the conversation is Barnes for his brief cameos.

100%

General consensus from people seems to be that so far: - Our press is less intense than last year - Trippier appears to be less advanced - Tonali doesn’t quite understand his position / tactical role - Bruno has been a bit off the boil - We lack an attacking threat from LB - Strikers are pretty isolated without a great deal of support from central areas - Pope has been out of form - We’ve played 5 out of six games against pretty high quality opposition and yet we’re still banging on about Maxi doing a dribble. I get it, he was exciting to watch and at times he could open up a defence in a counter, but I can’t see which of the issues above having him would really address. Edit - and even with all that above Gordon has looked our most threatening player.

Not the Maxi argument again…

Poor again? He’s been our best player so far this season! Edit - from an attacking perspective I mean

I think for this group of players it’s a bloody great experience to bank and to call back upon in future. Gone to an absolute cauldron and came out unscathed. It’s a big step in terms of mentality. Think we will fancy ourselves at home against them.