TheBrownBottle

Literally no-one has done that

Some of them aren’t household names in their own houses

Haha, yep, I’ve corrected the autocorrect

We never replaced his defensive headers in the midfield especially from opposition GKs - his goals from headers understandably get the plaudits but he won loads of challenges in the air around the halfway line

It’s a write-off as per. There’s always a smidgeon of a chance, but this is a massive game for them with Arsenal dropping points so they’ll be up for it. If we can avoid a hammering with no injuries or suspensions picked up it won’t be the worst thing to happen.

I very much think that Howe has built a side (and is a coach) well-equipped for cup football - it’s what Spurs had a reputation for when I was a kid. Howe thrives in these one-off matches when everything is on the line and we see far more innovation in the cups than in the league (I’m not saying he’s a bad league coach before anyone has a go). I’ll sound delusional here but I really think NUFC can go deep into any cup competition including the old European Cup (though no-one should be upset if we go out in the next round). There’s no-one in our side of the draw to the SF that we couldn’t beat over two legs.

He comes across as a top bloke tbh - very likeable. I think he is a very gifted footballer. But I expect a forward to be hungry for goals - he’s shot shy and doesn’t move well enough at the moment. It’s not a strength or size thing - he’s not that kind of player - but I expect a Newcastle forward to be busting a gut to make space for himself. I’m not advocating for him to be sold, and I don’t think he’s a bad player or bad person - I just want to see more from him. Doesn’t feel unreasonable given the price tag and salary.

It’s the standard of opposition we’ve played in that competition which makes his record in it really impressive for me - the cup draws have been ridiculously loaded with PL sides. To have that record is pretty incredible.

We had as hard a set of group fixtures as we could pretty much get and did very well to accumulate the tally we did. Marseille (a) was the only ‘dud’ performance out of eight - pretty good going. Howe also seems to have Enrique’s number. I think the ‘first ever knockout qualifying’ thing is a load of bollocks mind, given that we’d have qualified in 02/03 if they hadn’t changed the format to a second group stage. Can’t agree re Qarabag mind - this isn’t being wise after the event, plenty of us thought they were shite and would be steamrolled easily. Non league Macclesfield have beaten Palace and narrowly lost to Brentford by an own goal in the space of a month - does that mean that Macclesfield are a really good side now? Of course it doesn’t. Football gives everyone a puncher’s chance, but Qarabag would struggle in the top two tiers of English football. They’re pap.

Agreed! I hope the lad does. There’d be no-one happier than me Doesn’t seem too much to ask to me I don’t care if everyone already at the club is there or gone - whatever is best for the club. I don’t want a team without them.

Tbf the question is oddly put - ‘best away stadium’ could well be Ashburton Grove. It’s an excellent ground. But ‘best atmosphere’ is something different.

It’s not hate like. I don’t hate the lad - I want him to do well. But we didn’t spend that money to get a neat and tidy midfielder, especially when we’re well stocked in that department. It’s pretty straightforward to work out when a centre forward is hiding - they aren’t finding space and don’t take shots

It’s not a particularly big deal, and the problem with writing online is that it reads like I’m angrier than I am. I’m not angry at all - I’m just perplexed at the defence of the lad and criticism of Gordon. My view would be the same if agreed penalty taker was Woltemade and Gordon came up and did this. I do also think that Woltemade hasn’t been fulfilling even the most basic of requirements of being a forward for a while and now I’m meant to be impressed that he doesn’t give the ball away against one of the worst teams I’ve seen us play this decade.

He’s just played midfield against a team which would struggle in the English second tier and he looked neat and tidy

It’s not a case of matching Isak’s output - but the lack of hunger he shows in attacking the ball is unbelievable. I’d just like to see him do the basics. We didn’t buy him to be a sideways passing midfielder. It’s a matter of time before he’s suddenly the ball-playing centre half we always needed.

I don’t hate the lad, but the excuse-making is tiresome. He’s been pap for some time and is hiding - then he wants to take a low-pressure penalty and does a wee strop when not given it? Nah, bollocks to that.

If the his next four months look like the last four, that average will continue to sink

He’s dropping deeper because he wasn’t making the grade as a forward, not because of a genius move.

I desperately want to be, but the lad isn’t helping himself for me. He’s dropping deeper and deeper and then whining when his teammates won’t help him pad his stats with a zero-pressure penalty. Folks are talking about him like he’s a kid from the youth set up foisted into the side due to an injury crisis, rather than the second most expensive signing in our history and Germany’s centre forward.

There wasn’t any argy-bargy - I think Woltemade would lose a physical battle against Gandhi.

Yeah, he was chatting to him before it - he then had a pet lip on during the celebration. I’ve criticised Gordon plenty, but Woltemade acted like a right fanny here Wants to start acting like one - I’ve never seen a star striker more shit scared of getting into the box. It’s like he’s immune to taking a shot.

Woltemade was asking first; Trippier had a go at HT because Gordon said ‘no’.

Why wasn’t he clambering for the first penalty if he needed a ‘confidence boost’. Because there was still an element of pressure on it. It was poor from Woltemade

I can - it’s Woltemade who caused the issue, not Gordon. By acting like a complete child he could’ve caused Gordon to miss. The lad should focus on getting into the area and showing a bit more aggression against the opposition rather than his own teammates.

He should’ve been hungrier for goals as a centre forward in the first place. Gordon was right to tell him to do one on this occasion.