TheBrownBottle

I really do think he’ll be the hardest member of the squad to replace. A guaranteed goal scorer, who is also ‘happy’ (well, accepting of the need) to be rotated, and isn’t on insane money. Absolutely love the bloke - I’m not sure you can actually be a Geordie and not love a proper no.9.

I think his ability to buy a foul is a real talent, and speaks of his ball control and vision - though I do think you’ll get refs like the one at the weekend who’ll stop blowing for FKs after a while, particularly if they may have made a controversial decision against the other team earlier in the game. When that starts happening, he needs to knock it on the head and start releasing the ball.

It’s nowt to get too wound up about, of course - but it’s such an odd thing to commemorate. Leeds’ title win in 1992 holds no less cache than Man Utd’s title win in 1993

It’s not about what it is called tbf - it’s the chopping away of over a century of history (incl records) to make daft new ones. Shearer is the 5th highest goal scorer in top flight history - and 2nd highest post-war (and being second to Jimmy Greaves isn’t bad). Which is an incredible record. The ‘Premier League record scorer’ thing is absolutely meaningless - it’s just when a cadre of clubs broke away administratively from the rest of the league due to pure, unadulterated greed. It has no stock or value.

It’s not even November tbf - I wouldn’t worry for a second re points ahead / behind. Don’t forget - a League Cup win = European football next year, too

Yep, and it doesn’t stand up to any scrutiny.

Aye, I think you’re right, though I do think that a great keeper is worth more points per season than a great centre half etc

Fair enough - if I could pick one game to win, it’s this one. We’re not winning the European Cup or league title this season. This - along with the one I’d really love to win in May - is our chance of finally winning something. The league gives lots of chances to catch back up - and top 5 likely finishes in the European Cup next season.

A goalkeeper is the second most important position to get right after a centre forward, for me. Spending £50m+ to get the right one wouldn’t be a worry.

We’ve never been particularly well served in that department, as far as I’m concerned - but he’s the equal of Given, for me, as a keeper. Given’s distribution with his feet was also shaky, as was his handling of crossed. Great shot-stopped.

He’s a back up centre half - I think he’s done bloody well considering the time out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him swapped out next summer, but I hope he’s loving every second of playing at the minute. Other than a single blip (being positive about Ashley in an interview), the lad has been professional and committed to the club since the day he joined. Next season would be his traditional testimonial year, but if he does leave in the summer I’d still like to see the club give him one. He’s one of our longest serving club captains, after all.

I’d rather see us win a trophy than finish top 6/7. I’ve seen us finish top 6/7 a dozen times - would much rather see us with a bit of silverware. Also, I don’t think it is either / or. edit: also, I understand winning things does actually lead to European football

The CL draw was a highlight of the season for me. Loved it

The only ones I’d be happy seeing rotated are the full backs - the one area where we have good cover, and where the first teamers are clearly knackered. Last I checked we haven’t won enough trophies recently to start sacking off cup competitions

Still much better than Dubravka, for me

I don’t want anyone but Howe managing this club of course - and he’s done an incredible job. But I don’t see the harm in what feels like constructive criticism - every manager can be, ultimately.

It’s not that we didn’t spend it elsewhere - I wrote £85m worth of full backs. As in their value in the market was £85m. Irrespective of the intricacies of FFP

The players already look like they are burning out - a situation not likely to improve without rotation. If a manager doesn’t utilise the squad, then questions have to be asked about the squad - and when you’ve signed £85m worth of full backs in 12 months and none of them get rotated in when your first choice fullbacks are cabbaged, then questions can be asked.

You’re right, but we’re also playing more games per week than we’re likely to at the end of it. The players are dropping like flies with injuries, and those who aren’t look absolutely burned out.

It doesn’t if those lads don’t get minutes, though. They won’t develop getting spelks up their arse

I think people can grasp it - the issue is whether this was the correct strategy or not. At the moment, the window isn’t looking like a successful one. I was one of those who rated the window highly - but at this moment, it doesn’t look like the right strategy. Hopefully, a different tune will be sung by the time we get to May

We can’t have, given the transfer signings in the summer. They’re beginning to look questionable.

Steve Bruce would be telling how big the German lads are, how accurate their guns are and how pointy their bayonets are - before telling you to stand behind your own barbed wire to get shot at

Weirdly, it feels both like two points dropped and like we couldn’t complain if we’d lost …

10 games in. Wouldn’t worry about other teams’ fixtures for now.