Mazzy

In the Championship they were for sure. Scoring 4 and conceding 13 in 5 games doesn't suggest they are quite as horrible this season. Admittedly they've probably had the hardest start of any team in the league other than ourselves.

Or both. It'll probably be tight and horrible right up until we score and that'll change the game entirely. All just depends on when we can get the goal.

Thank fuck Gordon is doing as well as he is this season that's all I can say about this news.

Getting this dude a new contract is a no brainer. He's an international player now, as well as continuing to be one of the most important players in the squad and alot would say first/second name on the team sheet every week.

I reckon all this "late tests for player X" stuff is total bollocks and its just an easy way out for Howe to not have to talk about team selection.

If both were fully fit I'd agree with you. I think whoever starts against Burnley out of the two will just be whoever is physically ready for it. Then you can give the other a few more days to be absolutely ready for PSG.

If the Milan game proved anything it's how important Trippier is going to be in our UCL games. He should be starting every single one of them if he is fit and able to. It doesn't matter if he's against Mbappe or not, he kept a clean sheet against Leao and Hernandez, two of the quickest players in Europe.

Don't see that happening. Tino has just played his first 90mins in over a year. He'll be back on the bench. I can imagine Tripps being back in for these next 2 and then MAYBE we'll see Livramento in for the West Ham game.

I think of all the newly promoted teams, Burnley are perhaps the one who I would expect to come to us play a bit more openly. They definitely went for it against Man U and Spurs. They'd have the worse defensive record so far had we not just scored 8 against Sheff Utd.

Not just keep a clean sheet either but that back 4 limited that City team to just 2 shots on target and an XG of 0.58. That would be impressive for any team to do this season.

Insane really. Both that the stat is even real and the fact Dummett has been involved in both 11 years apart.

Seems like Botman is a very slight doubt for Burnley. Could see Lascelles again sooner than we all think.

First game of the season not on TV, if I'm remembering right.

Keep Pep away from Bruno.

Pope's kicking has gotten worse since last season.

Seems like we've paid the price for that fantastic 15 minutes with 2 big injury blows.

Tonali has had a very heavy touch in these first 15 minutes.

Had no idea Maxwel Cornet was at West Ham. Thought he'd disappeared off the face of the earth.

Real shame about this. Hopefully Joelinton can get back to full fitness soon and he'll cover LW when needed/when Gordon is suspended.

Recalling Minteh (if possible) would surely be the most appropriate thing to do if we suffer anymore injuries in the wide potions. Townsend is done in the Premier League, he'd be better off sticking to the punditry, he's alright at that.

Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal will all likely finish in the top 3 spots I would say. So it's a race between 5 other clubs for the 4th and 5th spot. Brighton, Villa, Spurs, Man Utd and Newcastle. Obviously Spurs have an advantage over the other 4 by not having European football so that could well swing it their way for 4th spot.

Always wondered why football shirts haven't been designed like rugby shirts in more recent times. Seems like our tops this season are super susceptible to being grabbed, that's 4 times so far already this seaon I've seen one of our players with a ripped shirt from being pulled.

No ofcourse not, nor did they with Targett, albeit for less than Hall will eventually cost. There is a plan no doubt, but as Howe says every week, he'll pick a team he thinks gives Newcastle the best chance to win the game, and right now 99% of the time that team involves Burn.

That is pretty much how we spend alot of time lined up on the pitch in-game anyway with whatever players we have on at any given moment. It might be 433 on the team sheet but it's 343 alot of the time. It's the reason Burn is basically undroppable, as there isn't any better way to replicate it without him in the team or without Howe changing his gameplan (the one that got us into UCL) to fit Targett or Hall into that team.

As long as its not another Prem club I'd be content with him leaving for £100M minimum. That's fair enough for his age and form etc over the last year. Just really don't want to see him playing for Liverpool or Man Utd, it would genuinely disgust me.