Palestoon

Just now, Jaqen said:

Mad that West Ham are 5th. Feels like they've been fairly poor for over half the season. 

yea, league is shit this year beyond the top 3

Krafth is a liability 

19 hours ago, LRD said:

 

Missed that. Wtf was that about?

just found this in the latest athletic article about Fraser. Knew i hadn't imagined this 

Quote

Eventually, once Bruce was regularly deploying a 5-3-2 system, Fraser tried to “learn how to play” as a No 8 during pre-season last summer to “try and get into the team”. “I don’t really fit in the formation, in a way, but you can always fit yourself into it,” he said in August. “I’m asking the coaches, ‘Look, if you see me playing as an eight, I need to be taught it’.”

2 hours ago, LRD said:

 

Missed that. Wtf was that about?

Bit of an exaggeration  but Bruce mentioned in an interview that Fraser was working on being a number 8 to fit into the formation if he wanted to get minutes

Just now, 54 said:

Speaking of that gormless prick, remember how often he'd hark on that he wanted to play a back four, but "The players arnt suited to it and can only play in a back 5".

 

Anyone noticed what formation Howe has played in the last five games in which we've conceded only 3 goals and had 2 clean sheets?

He's from the same school of thought as that other brainless dunce Pardew. want to improve the defense? throw another CB on the pitch. Front foot attacking football? more strikers on the pitch for fret.

No actual thought to tactics, positioning, transitions, patterns of the play etc. 

Just now, nbthree3 said:

Has some nice quotes from the programme last week https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-captain-jamaal-lascelles-revealing-behind-the-scenes-insight-3572827

 

Jamaal Lascelles, in his programme column for last weekend’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa, said Howe was the “first one into the training ground, doesn't go home until late at night”.

“He puts absolutely everything into us doing well on a matchday,” said Newcastle’s captain. “You can see how much effort and passion and love he puts into the job.”

 

This is more a full-time job, and Howe has set the tone at the club with his work ethic. The club’s players and staff are working hard – and the team’s getting results.

 

Howe’s predecessor didn’t think that there was much that could be done while six of his players were away on international duty, and he angrily responded to a question about his time away from the training ground following a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Bruce said: "Do you think I really have to answer that to you? That's what the fans are asking, are they? We have trained all week, and we were in every day. The preparation was meticulous, let me tell you.

"There is nothing more in preparation (that could have been done). What was I supposed to do? We had six of them away. The preparation was fine, absolutely fine, and we’ve been in all week. You could see the game plan was, what we worked to.”

Of all of the Shit Bruce came out with in his time here, this was the most unforgivable for me. Going on holiday after a horrible, winless start start to the season... and giving his reason as "what am I supposed to do? we had six of them away" unbelievable, how about coach the fucking squad you fat prick. Its not even like our big hitters were away.

Jamal Lewis- glued to the bench

Schar- was benched for Clark....

Fraser- told he couldnt get into the side unless he learned to play a box to box midfielder role 

Hendrick- never used

Almiron and Krafth were the only ones in and around the first team. he tried to make it seem like it was just a few under 23 lads hanging around the training ground. God i hate that stupid cunt with a passion. still boils my blood.

Overseas fan, so not sure how much my opinion counts  but one of the reasons I fell in love with Newcastle, and English football in general is how much tradition, culture and community blend into the club and the football itself. Even though i haven't had the pleasure to visit, St James park in the city center on the hill is a glorious sight, and one that i associate closely with the soul of our club. everything about the area and the stadium itself creates such a special and unique atmosphere and I would be terrified to lose it.

 I just hope that all of the potential future success doesn't rip the heart out of the club, although that seems almost inevitable to a degree when big money gets involved.

I don't know anything about architecture or the geography of Tyneside, but I just hope the plan is to extend where possible, or worse case scenario, build a new venue nearby. And if we must build a new venue from scratch, they need to maintain some of the traditional aspects of the ground. Please none of these soulless modern bowls with the fans miles away from the pitch. 

West Ham is a great example of the damage that can be done to a club behind the guise of "progress". The Boleyn ground in Upton park had a great atmosphere along with Green street and all of the other local aspects that made it famous. Pay attention this weekend to what a new stadium can do to a fan base. they're close to becoming another plastic London Football club, and any West Ham fan i've seen speak about it regrets the day they left. I just don't want us to make an irreversible mistake amongst all of the euphoria and pounds of cash swirling about. 

To be fair to him, everytime i've heard him speak, he seems genuine, honest and self-aware. I think his biggest issue is that he doesnt seem much of a self-starter and gets way too comfortable. I dont think its a coincidence that his best spells at the club have been under managers who have demanded more from (Benitez and Howe).

Regardless, he will probably still play some part in the clubs future in the short term, lets hope he can continue putting in solid performances 

brillant save from de gea there

New interview on the official website. good read.

https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/features/i-dont-want-it-to-end-jonjo-shelvey-interview/

Bruce on the touchline hoying it up to big Andy. Great memories 

I know their were rumors of us being in for Brereton-Diaz for 30 mil. I'll be disappointed if we passed on him for Wood due to "Premiership experience. I've been really impressed with him.

1 hour ago, HTT II said:

Very Rafa like off the ball in terms of defending, shape, compactness, keeping our discipline and seeing a game out. He was criticised for being too gung ho at Bournemouth and lacking defensive nous, but our last 3 games is as good as I’ve seen off the ball defensively in many a year, you’d think Rafa was back in the dugout… bodes so well!

for sure, even better is the pressing higher up the field while not looking completely exposed at the back. after years of pulling my hair out during the bruce and pardew eras where one or two players press with no plan while the rest of the team dropped off leaving loads of space in between... they really were a pair of charlatans. no plan or team cohesion, got away with it for so long. so much better now, and Howe deserves a lot of credit

49 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

He’s very elegant on the ground as well, covers a lot of distance very smoothly. 

was the biggest thing for me. hard to believe he's 6'7. looked easily our most athletic CB, can understand now why hes been used as an auxiliary LB at times in his career.

50th senior goal for craig dawson?? is that right?  

very impressive for a CB

cant fault him from an attacking stand point today, whenever he touches the ball, there are 3 opposition players surrounding him. Cant expect him to beat all three every time. We really need another attacking threat to take the attention off him.

defensively i usally give him a pass. I Dont think a lot of people realize how much those explosive runs take out of him, but today his work rate off the ball was especially bad. Seems to be a problem late in games when we're ahead when teams push their fullbacks forward. their were a couple of situations today in the second half where cash ghosted into the final third completely umarked, with ASM standing at the halfway line with no interest in getting back.

their have been situations where i hoped howe would take him off for miggy/murphy to see out games but it seems like Howe prefers to keep him on as a counter threat when the game gets stretched which is understandable. If we want to maintain that threat, i think a better alternative would be to take wood off, move ASM up front and bring on a wide player to maintain our shape down the left

Just now, Fantail Breeze said:

 

Breaks in your foot are easy to not know you’ve broken them at all, from experience.

yup, especially when you have all that adrenaline coursing through you

Just now, andyc35i said:

Agreed. He’s actually brilliant at shielding the ball too and getting out of a tight situation when it doesn’t look like he can. He needs to improve his concentration at times because that’s when he lays off a shit pass or falls on his arse 

 

 

 

agreed. as I mentioned in my post, i think playing as a forward, you kind of switch on and off during the game as the action comes and goes. In midfield, you need 100% concentration. But just watch him closely, he shows glimpses of every top attribute you want in a box to box midfielder. He really has a natural understanding and feel for the game in the middle. Howe even mentioned it when he first came to the club that he was one of the most intelligent players on the pitch in the entire squad. I think he just needs to continue gaining experience and getting comfortable in his new role. 

Just now, Khalidao said:

I'll probably going to get a lot of hate for saying it, but I think Joelinton is a terrible footballer. Apart from the physical strength and determination he shows, he's technically and tactically inept. I don't think he'll be part of the club's future starting 11 beyond this season if relegation is avoided. He's not a finisher to become a striker, has no enough pace to play as a winger, his passing ability is average at best and won't cut it as part of a long-term midfield.

 

I find it hilarious that some here give shit to Maximin when he performs a 6/10 and then hail Joelinton as the next big thing even after he struggles to control a simple ball or scuffs a shot inside the penalty area.

 

 

completely disagree. Tactically hes one of the best players in the squad... you cant lead the league in tackles won and interceptions every week and not know where to be tactically. And some of the forward passes hes played this year have been fantastic. using his strength and patience and waiting to slip players in. technically he can be a bit loose at times, but i think that comes from playing as a forward most of his career. he'll adjust to that with experience.

think hes the first name on the team sheet after trips and maxi personally

Credit to the 3 in the middle today, i questioned if the result on tuesday was down to facing a weak Everton midfield, but they dominated villa especially in the first half. If you needed any confirmation, that our full backs were a major part of how terrible we looked earlier in the year, just watch the difference in the 1st and 2nd half after trips and manky went off. night and day. lets hope they're both not out long, and we get Targett back as well.

Today also outlined our weakness in creativity up front. When Maxi is not on his game, its hard to see where the goals and chances are going to come from. Only worry for the rest of the year. Otherwise great result to win that in an ugly manner. Credit to Howe again for his preparation, you can tell he actually plans for the opposition, and tries to nullify their strengths and pick at their weaknesses. What a fucking breath of fresh air after Bruce ball.

Dubravka-7- not much to do, but handled everything that came into the box comfortably today.

Schar-8- really good today again. looked like he'd been in a warzone at the full time whistle.

Burn-9- MOTM. so calm and composed in all aspects. moves so elegantly for a man his size. 

Trippier-8- another day at the office for trips. best player in our squad. shame he got injured, hope hes back in the side soon.

Manquillo-7- great squad player, shame he had to go off. did well going both directions

Dummett-6- still looks off the pace. did his job, but should be targett straight back in next week.

Krafth-6- worked hard, but seems so panicky when he places, charging all over the place. seems to unsettle our backline.

Shelvey- 8- was excellent especially in the first hour of the game. tracked runners well, and played the ball simply and quickly.

Joelinton- 8- absolute monster, getting better and better every week. cant believe this guy was a 40 million pound waste of a forward. 

Willock- 7- never stopped running, finally seems to be picking up some consistent form.

ASM-6- Not at it today. really need another creative threat to give him some breathing space

Fraser-7- works tirelessly and put a few good crosses into the box

Wood- 6- effort is there but thats about it... won some headers today that found our players which was an improvement on Tuesday. But he is terrible technically, and the sooner Wilson is back the better.

fuck... hoped id seen the last Krafth appearance

This game will be much tougher than Everton on Tuesday. the midfield battle in particular will be night and day. Villas midfielders are everything Evertons arent; dynamic, athletic and combative. I'm worried we might come crashing back down to earth with the shelvey/willock/joe combination. pressing Villa high up the pitch will be much riskier with this group, they have the capability to break a press and get their players running directly at our defense. Allan and Gomes were weak plodders and i think Howe specifically game planned for that to perfection. I think howe sticks with the trio that have won back to back games, lets hope he has the tactics worked out. He deserves the benefit of the doubt.

goals flying in everywhere

what about moving willock out wide as part of the front 3 with wood and st max. harsh on Fraser, but if howe doesnt want to sit Shelvey, this might be the only way to get Bruno into the line up. might also give us some flexibility with willock and Big joe interchanging

Just now, xLiaaamx said:

Coutihno is going to destroy us 

Shelvey chasing coutinho around in our half on sunday