Checko

Frustrating and a bit of an underwhelming performance, particularly at home vs a Brighton team with loads of injuries. Thought a draw was a fair result overall. We were a bit sloppy at times and lots of bad final passes. They were ok - can see how they suck you in and then play it up to their strikers. They're clearly better at possessioning than we are. Was one of those games where our set up means we can't play the ball at all though the middle and so Isak basically never got a kick. In posession I though we looked a bit better with Joe on as he roams around a bit and drops deep and makes himself available compared to Longstaff, who's effective linking play in the final third but never shows any urgency to show for the ball in the middle third- though Joe was on against tiring players to be fair. Some positives - Hall did some nice passes and looked solid again. Thought Anderson did some good things. Big Jow back and generally looks ok. Krafth and Burn did well for a makeshift CB pairing who were up against a few counter attacks. Also going to disagree with Miggy being chod - his dive was frustrating but I thought he added a lot of impetus, I trust him to take the ball in tight spaces more than Murphy (who was having one of his old-skool Murphy days) and he was a fraction away from making a goal.

2nd half not quite so good

Agreed, his dribbling's definitely got a lot better. Not just reliant on burning people for pace. Looks to combine well with Anderson and Hall. Showing why he was player of the year.

Yeah, but I love the irony that it's written to whinge about how much whingers whinge about things, and then admits no-one's actually whinged about the thing the whingeing article whinges whingers are going to whinge about, so the only whinger there is actually the whingeing author whingeing about whingeing.

Last year we switched scheme a little & played Big Jow as a pressing No 10, wonder if we'll do anything like that - I guess Jow won't start due to injury comeback but could have something like Barnes, Gordon, Murphy behond Isak, or maybe even Anderson pushed up to press more.

Could apply to us as well as Man U though tbh.

Though I might have given Tino U21 player of the year if i hadn't thought he was 22 tbh.

Yeah, we must be right then. /Topic

Newcastle Specific Player of the Season: Gordon Young player of the season (21 or lower): Miley Season to forget: Targett Most Improved: Gordon Unsung Hero: Lascelles Signing of the Season: Tino Goal of the season: Barnes' winner vs West Ham Moment of the season: That roar during the champions league anthem vs PSG. Low point of the season: Chris Wood's 15 minute hat trick. Fucking hell that was the diarrhea icing on the turd cake that was most of December. Manager rating (Out of 10): 8.36 (Eddie would want decimal places) Edit: Don't watch other teams so can't really comment on the others, but I'd probably say Emery for manager of the year. He's done an outstanding job so far.

Isak Barnes Gordon Murphy? Or would you have Wilson and Isak up top again and Barnes left, Gordon right?

Still think Pope is actually world class at keeping. Obviously it's absolutely terrifying when anyone passes to him, hell I can barely watch when he's taking a goal kick, but for the most part he recognises his limitations and doesn't try what he can't do. Assuming his durability's ok I think it'll be hard to upgrade him directly without spending a lot of money, which is then money that can't be spent on buying another lovely, lovely footballer in a different position.

Wherever you draw the line you're going to have the exact same issue: you're either in an offside position or you're not. It's a binary thing. Just like the ball has either completely crossed the line or it hasn't. There's always going to be this infintessimally small boundary line where a player moves from an onside position to offside and officials have to make a call on it where: 1. The offside line (defender) will generally be moving because players are rarely standing still 2. The attacker will also be moving 3. You need to look at something else (the ball) to judge when is the exact right moment to compare 1 and 2 Judging where two moving points are in relation to each other at an exact split second of time determined by looking at a third thing is insanely difficult, and changing where the actual offside line is again (i.e. the Wenger law) will do diddly dick to change any of that.

No idea if Will Still's any good, but gotta say, I do like the fact his names rhyme.

If Hall was to get a mohawk, would that help?

Writing's been on the wall for Moyes for a while now, looked like they'd move on last year until he inconveniently won a trophy Still, he kept them in the premier leagues both times he was brought in, got Wham back to back top 7s for the first time in the Premier league and then won a European trophy. He should be able to look back and say he did a good job.

I think it's obviously helpful to have a number of tall players in the team to defend set pieces. I'll be honest though, I don't quite get why it's essential that at least one of those tall players must be one of the fullbacks.

Bit diappointed he wasn't able to stop their goal when he was back near the line. Think we need to sign someone taller.

Camel racing is mint tbf

Fucking going for it at least. Think Isak and Wilson work together well as a pair in the middle - Wilson likes to be the focal point & Isak likes to drift around, find space and get on the ball. At least if we can't pass out the back we can play more direct and have a chance of coming up with it than Isak on his todd. Be interesting to see where they play defensively as WIlson went into the AM role in defence vs Sheff U, but that might have been due to him being fresh and Isak looking for a hattrick.

Sports Possession-based

What if PIF just were to just buy Sunderland FC and wind the club down? Then there'd be a free stadium for us to use.

Given the only team in the bottom half I'd say we've comfortably beaten away this season is Sheffield United not feeling confident about this one. Feel like we need to go back to last year's model of playing it long to the flank and putting the squeeze on in their half, rather than trying to pass out of the back, which we can't do. Play more of a territory game. Either way we need to show up and stop playing like a bunch of fucking pussies letting everyone overpower us in the middle, like we have done away most of the year.

I mean points for trying something different, but it does make it look like a bad photoshop job.

Burge applied to be manager at Port Vale after his playing career ended as well: https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cheltenham-footballer-apply-port-vale-488802 Little bit of the blagger about him.