WilliamPS

Saudis are trying to get the World Cup in 2030 by doing financial deals with other federations they are up against Spain/Portugal/Morocco and Argentina/Uruguay (+ one other) so with a level playing field Saudi has no chance. After Qatar I’d prefer if it didn’t go to Saudi

Midfielders depends on where Joelinton ends up, this season he’s been counted twice - LW and in midfield If the plan is for him to mainly play at LW it’s 3 CMs needed, one probably for development, as there’s only 3 at the club If he’s viewed as a CM then it depends on Howes view of Gordon and ASM as options for LW whether a LW is needed. Really don’t want to see Isak shunted out wide next season

Hadnt realised how ridiculous the cash split was It will take years to build up the revenue streams at the club but the important thing is it’s started - and going straight into the CL is the fastest way to grow

He is such a fanny, whoever he is

Both teams have roughly the same number of points this season, they are roughly equal

This buy to sell model has worked for short periods for various clubs - problem is it gets harder every year. the clubs they sign from demand bigger fees, your scouts get poached, and if you make a few cock ups youre lumbered with players you can’t shift and you miss out on the massive transfer fees that fund the club. It’s very very difficult to find a Mac Allister every year; Leicester never found another Kante, Southampton never found another VDV Brightons challenge is to do what Leicester and Southampton failed to do and transition to a EL team that can keep good players permanently and just occasionally lose a star.

With ASM unfit, the two Joes needed in midfield and Gordon not firing he didn’t have much choice. I don’t think it was an experiment as much as working with the squad available. Today it was really a choice of Isak or Gordon starting left. Hopefully by Thursday the options look different

Almiron and Wilson were probably just knackered. Almiron is still on his way back from injury

A whole generation have missed out on what’s it’s like to be in the CL and watch your team take on the best teams in Europe. I was lucky enough to go to a fair few of the games in both the previous stints and it’s pretty amazing to watch Newcastle play the very best teams from Europe. The PL wasn’t as dominant in those days so I guess the balance of quality is a bit different but still - it would be class.

I think it was Danny Finkelstein who did an analysis of this and the ‘on the beach’ effect and got the same results- teams tend to lose against the teams above them as they just aren’t as good, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the first, tenth or last game of the season

Oh come on! Imagine how bad it will be for them, scrapping against relegation whilst their rivals are in Europe and (hopefully) fighting for silverware. Imagine their feelings going into games against top 6 teams desperate to win to stay up but wanting to lose to spite Newcastle - tremendous stuff

I’d like to see them back, good for the region. And the Newcastle hotels and restaurants will get to enjoy some bigger away crowds! The derby would be a bit of fun but it won’t feel as important as it did in the Ashley days, more like in the Robson era when you want to win but the big games are the European nights and the CL rivals. No interest in Boro though

No Holding starting for Arsenal, disappointing Is Partey injured or just dropped? Play with the right intensity and there’s a result here

Now Allardyce is involved I’m all in for Leeds going down. Nowt against the club but it’s Allardyce

Allardyce is the bottom of the barrel, only hired as pretty much every other manager has already been hired/fired this year

Hiring Lampard might even be Chelsea’s worst decision this season, an impressive achievement. And this little tenure has probably finished off Lampards career. Everton could have been blamed on the club, but making Chelsea worse takes real skill

Looking at the two teams tonight on paper it’s pretty wild they are both in the relegation zone and been so hopeless this year. Not saying they are good sides, just that they shouldn’t be this bad

What the confident lot don’t realise is that us worriers get double from each win - we get to enjoy the victory and the relief that it’s another game without the teams below closing in.

I like them now they’ve been beaten. Will like Arsenal, Leicester, Leeds and Brighton if they get beaten too

Funny, I remember the Cissé run of goals, the Enrique winds ups etc but that season didn’t ‘feel’ as good as this one - either as everyone knew it wouldn’t last or as it was too close to the years and years of regular European football

There’s only a handful a clubs that could tempt players the club want to keep - as opposed to players the club would be happy to sell at the right price (E.g. Shelvey wasn’t for sale but at the right price for him and the club he left). Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City and maybe Bayern/PSG and that’s about it. If Newcastle are in the CL why would anyone go to Liverpool?!?

Gordon needs a goal, will help him get his decisions right

How bad can Lampard get away with being and still make it to the end of the season as manager?

One of Liverpool, Villa, Spurs or Brighton will pull a really strong finish together - not all of them will but at least one. So Newcastle need to get the 4 wins to do it, but in the 7 games it’s achievable

Not been watching them play recently but Chelsea playing such a defensive line up it looks crazy. 5 defenders plus kante, Fernandez and Kovacic, against Brentford at home?