King HTT III

I’ve met him off the field and he has bags of charisma, but he is very diplomatic and always always tries to say the correct and perfect thing regarding everything. He’s easily our most articulate and intelligent manager when it comes to speaking. KK was sheer emotion, charisma and enthusiasm as was Bobby. Hughton was more like Howe and Rafa was very analytical, deep thinking and I got the sense he was trying to educate pundits, the media and fans alike whenever he spoke. Love them all me.

Tielemans no thanks, he’s a decent player but lacks that intensity and physical up and down the pitch type of game which is now our forte.

I’m not against anyone gambling, it’s a free world, I smoke, I’ve taken drugs in the past etc. but it’s being massively promoted and forced on people in many ways and that’s not right IMO. Gamble aware? Fucking bullshit, it’s a token little get out clause. When, say I go to the shop with my boys, they have a few times now asked if they can get a scratch card and I’m like how the hell do you even know what such a thing is, oh, my school pal’s dad won x amount and shared it with his kid. No you can’t, when you’re 18 do what you like. but what message does it send to my boys when their football club’s top advertises gambling and to other kids? Sadly a lot of kids get into gambling, and it’s easier now by doing it online or using someone else’s account set up for them. Chopra and Gillespie and Merson for example said they started gambling as teenagers. Again as a none gambler I’ve never saw the fascination or could ever consider why anyone would just give their hard earned money away, but it can be an addiction, like alcohol, drugs and other things and can escalate to dangerous levels, costing people their lives, family and of course their homes and jobs and other things. Just ban it from all sports in terms of advertising like they did with smoking, same with alcohol really. That needs addressed too!

Old cunt

Ashworth is not the one who identifies players let’s not forget. I’m sure he’s said that himself since his appointment, it’s down to the scouts, Howe and his staff, he’s mainly a facilitator to get deals done, communicate with other clubs and knit every operation together from scouting to actual recruitment, player development, the academy, the ladies team and so on and so on.

Under KK we had a mean defence, it’s a cliche and a myth that we were vulnerable and shipped in goals galore because we were so attacking, which is false, when we ‘conceded’ the title to Man Utd we let in what 4 or more goals than they did? And they racked up lots of 1-0 wins. Defensively as a whole team on and off the ball this is the best I’ve seen from us, however, and with a few more quality attacking players, imagine how much better we will be in attack too which we are already decent at.

Pickford for all his faults has been easily one of the top 5-6 consistent ‘keepers in the league for a good few years now, often playing with poor defenders and in an inconsistent and at times awful Everton side. For England he’s been one of the top international ‘keepers during his career with them too.

Future players for the Toon to follow in their dad’s footsteps!

Breath of fresh air!

All forms of gambling advertising and sponsorship seriously needs banned from sport. I don’t gamble, but I know how destructive it can be. My mate lost 24k net in one year and that’s on top of some big wins. My sis who we recently found after years of trying to find her ended up in care homes and with foster parents because her dad (my dad) and her mum were addicted to slot machines, among other thing that contributed to her being placed in care! We’ve banned smoking advertisements and it’s about time we did with gambling. It will never happen though. It’s a mugs game.

He’s had a decent season, but for me it’s like how Shelvey performed last season once Howe was appointed. Better than previous form, contributed, but still not of the required higher standard needed (eventually). I’m happy for him though and off the ball he seems relentless in his pressing and work rate, but in attacking positions when passes get played into space or to run onto he just lacks the pace or final touch to make things happen. I do like, and it is now noticeable, how he like many of our players interchange positions and roles.

Given is comfortably the best ‘keeper I’ve seen for us!

Some footage I’ve not seen before, news outlets unveiling KK as manager/player and some interviews.

Xhaka has improved to be fair playing a bit further forward and with runners around him, but Bruno is a level or two above easily.

We definitely need another able quality striker who perhaps can play other roles or positions and a midfielder who can maybe do likewise, that and some young development players. I think we’ll spend money on one or two. I’d love for us to sign Maddison as he can play central midfield, as a 10 and wide right in a tight midfield 3 or four. Plus he can play much deeper too like Shelvey does for us. As for a striker, I wouldn’t have a clue as to who we may get or could be available/attainable. He’s a big name I know, but I wouldn’t say no to Depay, rumours are he will be made available. I can see us looking at spending some money and loan deals rather than going and spending another 100m + mind.

He’s such a clever intelligent player with a great first touch and that way of his where he’s constantly looking to play a forward pass is brilliant, he could play as a winger or a wide right forward. Defensively he does enough, but because he’s so attacking it can leave him exposed, but with Schar, Botman next to him and Miggy so protective longside Bruno coming back, we don’t get left for dead. I love his cute shithousery too and the fact he is constantly on at our players in a constructive way. He’s basically Howe on the pitch for us.

This and hopefully he’ll notch against his former team!

They kind of have a decent record against us overall at SJP it seems… https://www.nufc.co.uk/matches/first-team/2022-23/newcastle-united-v-leeds-united/

I’d still be happy with top 7, but I’m sure Howe, his staff and the players are aiming to finish in the top 4 now that we are actually in those places. January will be big in terms of who leaves and goes, a transformative player like Bruno could make all the difference. Some mates of mine are talking of looking to win the league, there is zero chance of that Top 4 would be dreamy though. Out of interest say we finished 4th, would we have a CL qualifier to make the groups?

I was at this game a few years back under Sir Bobby, I’m sure we lost 0-2 and that coward and god awful ‘footballer’ Smith scored for them, we were terrible. Leeds can create problems in attack, but defensively they seem so suspect. We should be beating these comfortably really, but I expect a tough game still.

I’m sure he’s still got a gaff up here in Newcastle, some of my family members run a cleaning company and cleaned for Krul who rents his gaff out to Willock who they clean for and they said he was lush and sends them gifts even to this day. We’ve had some good guys in goal for us over the years for sure. From Pav to Shaka who recently was awarded something for his efforts against racism here in our fair city, to Harper, Shay, Krul and Dubs and now Pope.

Defence or conceding goals was always his weak point at Bournemouth, now it’s his strength and he’s stitching that together with attack which was always his greatest strength to great effect and the results show that, the goals scored, the clean sheets, the solidity on and off the ball.

I think it’s now or never, depending on where we finish, we may see other priorities in the summer. Again, I’d love him here. He’s a top top player, scores, creates, seems a good egg and despite what others say, he can press and does work hard off the ball.