Monters

Looks very low on confidence to me and seemed to have of those nights where the more he tried the less that came off. He over hit one cross field pass in the second half just looked like fuck me how did that happen! Shame Murphy missed the chance from his layoff in the first half as that could’ve boosted him a bit. It was nice turn and lay off.

Wow! You could argue every achievement is earned that way but hey ho. Of course we did nothing over the course of the season to put ourselves in to that position. Given there are 8 teams setup to challenge for Champions League and at least 5 can comfortably outspend us any regular qualification would be a fantastic achievement. Personally I’d be over the moon with qualifying via a Europa League win, another pot in the cabinet and shit ton of fun for the supporters which is for me what being a supporter is all about.

Alongside the shit optics, saying it in front of his son and at NUFC where Beardsley is one of the best players ever. Its absolute bollocks, Beardsley could play a myriad of positions in the modern game! Anywhere where pace, touch, vision, dribbling, passing and shooting are needed he could play!

Fair argument and well made as usual! Barnes missed a big chunk of if I remember correctly Burn too along with Botman and Trips was knackered quite often too. Apologies if I’m misremembering… I think the other feature of that season was the cup draws, every time we seemed to overturn the odds the next game was harder. I do take your point about the relentlessness of season after season with big injuries as a supporter that does fuck you off and like you say it gets glossed over in the main.

Enlighten me... what is progressive football? Do you not run, challenge etc.? Every successful side has a deep squad - even more so nowadays but even going back to Fergie's Man U teams they always had options up front and in midfield and could rest when needed or replace an injured player. Last season's PSG team were a joy to watch probably some of the best football played in years but they are not a patch on that this year due to their exertions last. Each to their own and if Howe is not for you then fair do's but some form of athleticism is required in the Premier League across the whole season and in my view the club needs to keep progressing to hopefully \ eventually give him a big enough squad to cope with playing every 3 days or so. If we struggle after this then yep it would be time to reconsider but at the moment I don't see a candidate who could do a better job with the existing squad, no worries if you or others do though

Not asking you to name names although if you have any in mind... What type of coach, level of experience, age profile etc. is the long term solution?

Fairly ridiculous to suggest anyone is expecting the board to be looking a forum for inspiration... But I think it's fair when you post Eddie Howe is not the right manager to take us forward that another member can ask who you think is that person. The bold also seems a little harsh to lay at Eddie's feet in my opinion. As for is it good enough to be behind X clubs - I'm happy to wait until the season finishes to see who are behind and even it is clubs we should be above I still think sometimes you need to plateau before kicking on again, we have made some seriously fast progression and it was always going to catch-up at some point. Again only my 2 pence as it were

OK your word is law lol Is elite 1 season only or a purple patch à la Miggy? Like I said mainly teasing as he is a very good player who I would rather keep but for me Declan Rice is better, KDB was better etc. Elite is being where not many others can get too, again in my humble opinion

Being pedantic and mainly teasing what has Arsenal won in the years Tonali has been in England? He’s a good player no doubt but not sure about elite… Arsenal have a premium of power over precision at the minute and he does fit that but for me elite means more. I admit I am old fashioned though, probs why I don’t watch as much football as I used to.

Brilliant! I was brought in hook, line & sinker until that line... very good

It's pretty close to what he who can't be named but owns a sports shop wanted to do! and got it badly wrong but he wanted premier league football on a she string and that's all Brentford and Brighton really want! I want more for Newcastle United... The budget stuff is understandable but it's artificially limited and those with the biggest budgets got them through means that have been disallowed. You can over perform a few years in the lower reaches of the table but not higher as we are finding out. How are the moneyball baseball team these days?

Yes he probably did but not necessarily by choice! The lazy fat fuck walked out when it was time do some work so others had to roll their sleeves up. Questions just coz I seem to want to scream a void today. Did Mitchell have any targets line up? Why didn't he have a team in place where everyone knew their jobs and responsibilities? How was their such a void in transfers because he left? He'd a year to put all stuff like that in place, my office doesn't go into meltdown when a director leaves... yes people may have to pitch in a bit more but their is still an existing structure. The more I think about it as an outsider the bigger the fraud Mitchell seems to have been.

I have no knowledge either way but it appeared to me that Mitchell dropped a massive bollock in his opening interview... His main relationships had to be with his boss and the first team coach and basically trashed the second in an instant! He also appeared to me to fuck off at the exact time he needed to do some work, he was like a degree student promising his thesis all year then disappearing on hand in day. Howe may prefer players with premier league experience but there's no way in my opinion that he turns down good players that will fit the club philosophy when presented with them and the metrics behind signing them. There should have been very regular discussions regarding budget, squad shape, future recruitment and they appear not to have happened and for me that is on Mitchell trying to play I'm your boss card instead of managing a very talented colleague. Hope there's enough caveats there to cover this is as an opinion It does annoy me the semi constant narrative that Howe falls out with DoFs

Yep! I read a lot about how they are the model club, except they never win anything, never trouble the main Euro places and sell anyone and everyone they can... Each to their own but personally I don't like it and if people are being honest I don't think many would for Newcastle United.

Exactly! He says Howe needs to deliver Europa League qualification as minimum that’s public pressure every game and a clamour to sack Howe if we finish outside. It would be a ridiculous way of managing, privately that maybe the target and that’s up to him but never share it in public.

Point still stands though, no way would put targets on Howe publicly and nor should he.

Probably will come back and kick me the bollix but not a fan of his... Pleased we missed out in the summer despite the issues with our current front line, still think both will come good but maybe just blind faith!

Not sure I would see Forest a step down from Brighton to be honest

You'd lose

Totally agree! I was surprised just how poor he looked everytime I saw him for Arsenal

Fair! Although I would like to witness a couple more trophy parades before I become an even older man haha. I’d probs feel a lot different if I thought we had decent shot at winning even the earlier rounds with a young team so glad read the great posts about the under 15s etc. Thanks for sharing, Minhosa et al.

I understand your reasoning and genuinely like most of your posts despite some occasional frustration but every fibre of me as a supporter would hate this!! Never liked it when Arsenal & Man U used to do it so it’s definitely a me quirk

Yeah lucky bastards simply being given a career! Nothing do with, application, desire, training everyday in way that forces the manager to take notice and put you in the team! This young centre forward, what’s his attributes, pace, trickery, strength etc? Or is it just not being Wissa? Personally I haven’t seen him play so don’t know but surely the people demanding he be given a chance know what he’ll bring? Bad example given the opposition but suppose he plays next league game doesn’t get a sniff and we lose heavily, is that good management of him or the team?

Yep, amazing what a bit of patience and support can do for a player.

Simply put we are a bigger club than Brighton and should be striving for bigger and better things than simply mid table mediocrity. Ultimately I’d back the club to buy and sell any player but I’d hate the thought that we were marketing ourselves as a stepping stone to bigger clubs like Chelsea do… Reshape the squad definitely, simply recycle players not for me