WilliamPS

it is time

?FIFA are just the worst, see a campaign on a specific issue so attempt to drown it with meaningless platitudes #beactive How did a sports governing body get so fucked up

I hadn’t realised what a curse being the short sponsor is; Newcastle Breweries - gone Ntl - gone Northern Rock - gone Wonga - gone Dont tell Saudi airlines….

I’m sure the FIFA execs had all these issues on their minds as they trousered the Qatari cash i bet they can’t believe they got away with it

I’ve sympathy for (and share) the view that the club and PIF are separate and people can hold that distinction so support one and not the other. Zero sympathy with the nonsense that because “it’s Saudi culture” the Saudis can’t be criticised for their abysmal human rights approach. Not sure the people being bombed / executed see it as their culture. The regime oppresses the citizens to stay in power - that’s how dictatorships work.

Behave

The players had lost the euros at Wembley in a penalty shootout in the final - mentally brutal for them - I’m not surprised they couldn’t get up for the Nations League. World Cup should be different

Think there’s very little case for Sancho to go, apart from his reputation from two years ago The two or three who start behind Kane will be from Sterling Saka Foden and Mount anyway

Yeah, Wilson really has a big opportunity as behind Kane he’s the only true striker. I think it’s a big risk by Southgate not taking Abraham. Maybe he thinks Rashford is good enough as another central striker option but have my doubts about that

Can’t bear Chappers, have to switch the radio off when he’s presenting, he’s desperate to become some sort of celebrity character presenter and has utterly shit ‘banter’

Bit annoying so many games are 10am/1pm/3pm on a weekday. advantage of European/Americas/African tournaments is all the games are late afternoon or evenings. Workplaces tend to be flexible for England games, but a bit harder to explain why you’ve done no work for 2 hours whilst Croatia vs Morocco is on.

Still at a tournament with a match day squad every 4 days vs. on holidays

A lot of the squad are about to get a month long break, so any rotation needs to consider that. No reason to rest Almiron or Willock for example as they’re quite capable of playing 2 games a week as a one off and will be on the beach this time next week. Joelinton has just had a week off. Trippier, Wilson and Bruno are the only players I’d consider resting as they are going to have hard schedules from now until May.

On England; Rashford will go as Abraham and Wilson haven’t much England experience and he gives an extra option out wide. Understand views on Coady and Henderson (I’d add ward prowse) but realistically what are the options? CB is a big weakness and there just aren’t many alternatives and you need cover for Bellingham and Rice both off the bench and if one gets injured or suspended. Things haven’t exactly fallen into place for England, with James, Chilwell and Philips all looking like players who’d be crucial to the squad unavailable. That said, in 2018 everyone thought It would be a disaster and look what happened. If the stalwarts do well (Kane, Sterling, Trippier, Rice) and Saka and Bellingham have the tournament of their lives maybe just maybe…

Need an extra GK who can serve as an adequate backup to Pope. Letting Dubs go was a big risk and it still needs resolving. If on course for Europe can maybe get someone in with the promise of cup and some European games, which might raise the bar on what is possible. Not sure I’d wait until summer on this one.

It has taken other teams years to get the consistency needed to finish top six. The squad is not deep so if there’s a loss of form for some players or they just need a rest there’s not much behind. Under Robson in the CL challenger years there was a tale off in March or so as the squad didn’t have the depth and some players were simply knackered. Enjoy the wins and hope they keep coming

It’s been made clear the January transfers were about staying up and acting quickly, it wasn’t about long term planning. Pope came in over the summer but as a GK it’s a bit different. I’d expect new signings to be more like Botman and Isak in age profile - and you see that in the bids over the summer, Maddison (25), Joao Pedro (21), Diaby (23), Ekitike (20). Doubt the plan is to buy players who are at their peak now, instead it’ll be to bring in younger players who can have long careers at the club

Trossard will be 28 in December, I don’t think he fits the profile I don’t expect a move for anyone over 25

Let’s see where we are at the break. Finishing 6th requires one of the top 6 to under perform as well as Newcastle to keep the pace up for 38 games, and the squad is much thinner than the top 6 clubs squads - we’ve seen the bench at times. In previous years when it’s just been avoiding relegation you only need to play well for 10-15 games a year, 38 games requires new levels of consistency. However would be class to vault the Conference League and go into the Europa League

Er…no he won’t be sold. Trying to build a squad here! You going into any player thread and whoever it is someone is suggesting they get sold next summer, it’s crazy He’ll probably get plenty of games this season due to injuries or form, and next season if there’s Europe there’ll be a lot of chances for everyone on the squad.

Had his card marked since 2001 when his matches sport for the away win at arsenal was so biased and petty the Times did another more balanced report in Newcastle’s match preview at the weekend. He’s an unimaginative hack

Wilson should not be dropped for a winnable game at home to save him for a likely defeat away at the weekend. Of the 3 games this week this is the one to prioritise. This is the game to go for all 3 points so I think Targett in for Burn and Willock in for Longstaff, which makes the team a little bit more attacking in midfield. Be nice to see a substitute cameo from Shelvey too.

If the manager has lost the dressing room, the captain and senior players talking to the owners/CEO is fair enough IMO. Up to the owners to then decide who to back

Bruno will leave at some point in the next two years, it’s inevitable as he’s good enough to play for a team competing to win the CL in that timeframe. Fergie couldn’t keep hold of Ronaldo, Liverpool couldn’t keep Coutinho, Newcastle won’t keep Bruno. Real, Barca and now City and PSG get who they want. Just enjoy watching a top player in the meantime and be confident the owners will invest over the seasons to make the club more and more attractive to top players so the pool of teams who can pick off the squad will get steadily smaller. As it’s been so poor over the last few seasons people have forgotten what it’s like to have coveted players - Cabaye probably the last one (excluding players sold on relegation, which is a bit of a fire sale). I hope we get two more seasons and also hope the fans don’t go loopy at the owners when they make the decision.

Be toughest game since city, a point would be a good result. No way Murphy starts if ASM is fully fit, Murphy has done well but they are different levels. Joelinton provides the cover on the left so ASM can stay up the pitch. Starting Murphy over a fit ASM is absolutely crackers