Optimistic Nut

Normally hate the camera cutting to the set-piece coach after one, but that was perfect zoning in on McPhee after that one.

When did they try passing off their Black Cats as panthers by the way? This is what they are.

He'll not be there in August. Think they've been worse since sacking Maresca.

If he's been that bad just take £50-60m and be done with it. Think he's been a 6 pre-Bruno injury, an 8 since.

He's not a typical centre-forward but he's definitely improving in the role. First-choice LW, second-choice striker would be my hope for the long term with him.

Fucking Arsenal man.

Think his season's been over-rated to fuck as well. Performances have barely changed since the derby as pre-derby, they're just not fluking half as many results. You'd have thought he was Pirlo the way people were going on about him.

Temu Jordan Pickford but it's the best we have available until the summer.

I think since the fuck up at the end of the Bournemouth cup game, we're seeing the keeper we thought we were signing. A bit erratic, good with his feet, decent shot-stopper. Wouldn't buy him still but he's serviceable at least.

They've fallen off a cliff since the derby, they'd lose anyway.

Same again on Wednesday and we'll win.

Spurs away under Keegan in his second spell just edges it for me in terms of a random 45 minutes of brilliance.

Even when we were on our knees a couple of years ago, it wasn't as bad as this. This is mental.

Honestly thought when he got that tap-in in the cup against Fulham in his first start that he was going to be what we'd been lacking up to that point. Just isn't working out for either Newcastle or Wissa.

Saturday is the perfect game for him to get 70 minutes like.

Get him back for the CL Quarters.

This has the feeling of one of those games where it's a bit of a stuck together XI, we surprisingly get off to a flier and look good for about 20-30 minutes, maybe even nick the lead, before losing 1-3.

Wilson's last few appearances for us end of last season were along the lines of Wissa this season. Would have been typical Newcastle for us to have kept Wilson, West Ham sign Wissa, and they have each others' seasons this year.

Wonder if he ever takes a moment to reflect on his rise from the very bottom of the league ladder, to building a team that doesn't just compete with teams like PSG and Barcelona, but actually has them on the ropes? If not, he should, it's fucking brilliant.

Can we just shake hands on a 2-1 loss and skip this one?

A "their best days were at Newcastle but pretty "meh" or shite elsewhere" XI. Krul Venison Bernard Howey Bassong Gillespie Dyer Guthrie Lee Isak Carroll (first spell)

Would be in most I bet if not for Shearer, and I'd have Beardsley. I don't like shoehorning Beardsley in a CM as it's lazy or AM as you couldn't have wingers. (I like it to be a realistic XI)

A "great career but not at Newcastle" XI. Forster (had to cheat there, otherwise Beasant) Carr Sansom Campbell Cacapa Thauvin Duff Wijnaldum Geremi Kluivert Owen Honourable mentions to Tomasson, Huckerby, Rush, Saha...

Name is on the trophy if the other English clubs get knocked out and we get through..