Ellis H

Being on the lowest rung of the ladder will be good for Howe to learn how to deal with European football without the huge spotlight on him as it was this season.

Desperate to get into this now. For the first time in 20 years I actually like watching us and want as many games as possible.

2.4 goals a game in the league.

There's this quote from Keegan talking in 96 about signing Tino which implies Cole didn't have the best attitude even before we signed him. "I've seen what other people say about him. They think he's a good player and warn about his temperament. But if I had signed players on the basis of what I heard about them, David Ginola and Andy Cole wouldn't have come to this club and the fans would have missed some great players." "You've got to have the courage to look at what you need and get the very best available. That's what I did. What other people think of players has never worried me. You listen to the talk, but you've got to make your own decisions. It's on the field where it really matters." "The crowd will love him. He's a match-winner, he's a goalscorer and he's an entertainer. He's a real Newcastle player - quick, works hard and has flair. Faustino's the sort of player that Geordies love. The players they talk about are just like him. They should sit back and watch this fellow."

On another day we win that quite easily. Haven’t had the chance to say that about us at Old Trafford much in my lifetime so I’ll try to take tonight as something of a positive. Games like this just make me think about how good we could be with some key upgrades and fewer injuries. Even in defeat we’re usually scoring a few and could/should have scored even more. 100 goals in a season is a very real prospect.

Howe said in that Overlap interview that he'd rather go forward from the back in 1 or 2 passes instead of 5 or 6 and wants to progress up the pitch as quickly as possible. Doesn't want 10 passes in our own box etc. On Pope, It's hard to say what he's personally responsible for but his numbers for us are fantastic. Just in the league, he is averaging about 2.5 saves a game, which is low, and has conceded only 46 in 51 games with 20 clean sheets. If we can do that with him (and a fit defence) then he's probably not a priority upgrade just yet if money is tight.

Joselu > Kane. Took many, many years but now we know for sure.

Are you playing as Hall?

Plenty more of that on the way next season if Southgate is in charge.

Ohaha strikes again.

Sir Jimmy getting rattled about somebody’s desk not being tidy bodes well for some spectacular overreactions after games like this.

Looks like it's only really this season that Olise has struggled with injuries due to a bad hamstring injury last summer. He took part in 40 games last season.

Fernandes rumoured to be out tonight.

On the player of the year award, how utterly degrading have most of our winners been in the last 20 or so years? Only 2 attackers (one of which was on loan) since Shearer in 02/03 says it all. https://imgur.com/r7IT4qw

Shows how far we’ve come that this season and last has had a nervy run-in that involves Europe. It’s normally around about now that we’re drawing this game 1-1 to confirm our place in the league next year.

More goals and clean sheets than Liverpool now. In regards to the injury crisis, it's quickly becoming a "what if?" season.

Used to watch that Beardsley goal on repeat on the season review video. Very visually pleasing. Harsh penalty though!

He talked a few years ago about how he was struggling mentally and went to see a psychologist at Matt Ritchie‘s insistence. Now more than ever he needs our support, good performance or not.

Joint third in the league with Man City for clean sheets this season. One more than Liverpool.

Onana keeping our European dream alive here.

Until now, we haven't had a manager since Keegan where I'd be almost expecting us to score 2+ in most games. We might get 100 in all competitions this season, which would average at 2 a game.

At least they’ll not be doing that when Southgate is in charge next season.

Onana looks tiny in that net.

In all comps, 4 defeats in 16 since that mad game against Liverpool on 1st January. Man City x2, Arsenal and Chelsea. 3 goals behind Liverpool, 6 goals behind Arsenal and 7 behind Man City. With 6 very winnable games next, this could yet end up being a really good season on paper.