Solitude20

So a 3-3-4 with a single center back and four forwards. Eddie should try that out against City

LOL ASM

Yep, the ball wasn’t going in until Botman deflected it. So it isn’t a Rashford goal.

Casimiro showing Joe what it takes to be the main ball winning midfielder of the Brazilian national team.

Oh I agreed with your last paragraph in my post. We all have the right to speak up, and we should. My only issue is when our moral standards are called into question if we didn’t take an action (In this case it’s Eddie signing that letter).

There will never be a line. Let's face it, some people choose to ignore those lines for some issues and then choose to apply it rigorously on other issues claiming how they feel morally obligated to so do. I honestly don't get. If it's coming from a moral point of view, then we should apply it fairly and consistently to all countries, all companies, and all entities that are associated with wrongdoings. Otherwise, it doesn't mean anything. This isn't whataboutism, this is trying to stay consistent. If you accept it for some, then don't condemn those who accept it for others. This reminds of the current ongoing hype about the recent Harry Potter game. A lot of folks and major gaming communities started to condemn those who play the game because of Rowling view on transgenders, and they even started to call them bigots on social media and attack them merely for playing the game. It's funny because they are doing that on Twitter, a platform that happened to be owned by Elon Musk who also had similar views on transgenders. Why are you a bad person for playing the game but it's okay to use Twitter even though they did the same thing? Some folks are saying Howe has to sign that letter out of moral obligation and then continue with his job. Some might say this isn't enough, he shouldn't continue working with the PIF at all and get paid from them. They might even say you guys shouldn't support the club in the first place or else you would be supporting them. Why stop there, PIF owns stakes in Disney, Facebook, Nintendo, Uber, Blizzard Activision, Boeing, Electronic Arts, etc. Why don't they get the same treatment as Newcastle? Did they sign any letters? Almost every person on earth is associated one way or another with one of the companies listed above, but it's never been an issue. Why Single out Newcastle? Let's even go one step ahead and remind you that everything you own in your house must have at least some components that were made in China. For example, every iPhone you pay for will eventually give some cash to the CCP regime out of your pockets. Let's not even get started with the US argument and how we never hold them accountable for the invasions or the fucking torture they were responsible for. To summarize, we all should speak up of course against any wrongdoing, but I don't see a point demanding some actions out of moral obligation when we can't stay consistent and fair while demanding it. If you could live in a world where your personal purchases support the CCP regime financially, use Facebook or Uber, watch Disney movies, fly on a Boeing aircraft, or even play certain video games, then why complain when Howe could get his dream job from PIF?

I don’t think he had a choice. When Eddie talked about Targett’s injury at the end of 2022 he said that be had been in pain for a few months, and that even the few times when he came on as substitute he was actually on pain killers. Targett has never been fit for almost the entire season.

since he can’t play the final as he is cup tied, I am guessing he won’t start any league match before that final. Eddie might want to keep the starting XI fresh and sharp for that game, and Almiron and ASM will be the likely starters.

This was very obvious today when Gordon came on. As a left winger, there were times when Gordon was just waiting for Burn to make an overlap or a run, but Burn wouldn’t make such a thing. Since ASM has been injured, we haven’t had a real left winger play to feel this weakness. Most of our play was from Almiron/Trippier anyways. I know what some would say, our defense has been solid with him as a fullback, but so was our defense when Targett was available even before signing Pope and Botman. Targett coming back would definitely improve us.

LOL don’t you love the reaction from Murphy.

I think it’s just the concussion, it doesn’t look like it has has anything to do with a muscle injury.

So Eriksen is out until May after the injury he got against Reading. This would make our final against Man U a bit easier.

You forgot Almiron. He played a lot as an attacking midfielder for his national team.

Makes sense. It’s called Copa America, and so they should include North and Central Americas as well. I agree, this should be permanent.

I was looking at his heat maps at Sofascore. I was surprised that he has mostly played as a right winger, but he does play as a left inverted winger as well. It seems Eddie has a thing for versatile players who can play multiple roles, just like what he said about Isak.

Yep, I can see Eddie would want him.

In other words, Gordon for £50m over 5 years would hit our FFP requirements the same way it did with Wood when we got him for £25m over 2.5 years

Even though most of us didn’t wish for him to be our big transfer target in this window, I like how we accepted him just because we have this blind trust in the management of our club. That’s a fucking good thing.

Southhampton guy seems like a nice guy.

This guy needs a pay raise.

Looking at our wasted chances in the last few games, they have mostly been from our CMs: Willock, Longstaff, and Joe. And they have been really easy chances that we should have buried. Our system creates a lot of chances for our CMs, and them wasting it can really cost us. Even when we start playing Isak as a lone striker instead of Wilson, it would be more crucial for our CMs to be more clinical, as Isak drops deep and creates chances for others. I do think our top target this window should be a central midfielder who can score.

They look at transfer targets from a system point of view. Before they think of what players we want to bring in, they should be clear on what type of football they want to play and then find players that fit that system. Gordon perfectly fits a high pressing system. It’s like having another Almiron on the left flank, and I actually think his work rate is higher than Miggy’s This system matters to Howe so much that he’d rather drop ASM and play Willock as a winger just because that would allow the system to flourish better.

LMAO

Willock and Longstaff have really been frustrating this game.

Isn’t Gordon a left winger though (inverted winger)? It seems he would be taking ASM’s spot.