Ruddy Marveauxlous

Suggesting the starting XI Howe will start with and the starting XI Howe should start with are two different things. The 3-1 prediction on beating West Ham was as much a reflection of how woeful they have been - they hadn't won at home since February - as it was a reflection on our qualities. Though I naturally thought the XI Howe would pick to have been much better than they proved to be.

I agree that this is the likely outcome, and with David Hopkinson in as CEO, Ross Wilson as Sporting Director and Suds developing our own data infrastructure, Howe may naturally have less of an influence in future transfer policy. Still have every hope Howe can turn our league form around, and for us to do good things in the cups and in the CL. Current signs are pointing towards another topsy turvy league season though. The positive thing is that many other sides are woefully inconsistent this season too, so we're not too far adrift of European places.

Dan Burn's performances at left-back have been sub-par for some time, Hall being on the bench but playing zero minutes was pointless. We perhaps should have started Ramsey, or even Miley ahead of Joelinton as the midfield battle was more about ball retention than physicality, and Gordon has been well off it in the league all season.

Yes, deliberately so. "There are no words" is designed to express disbelief, while proceeding to then use a series of words to express disgust at the performance.

What specifically do you disagree with?

Sure thing, keen on being an active contributor 👍

Never been more certain of a 3-0 home win under the lights. It really has been such an erratic season.

Dan Burn player of the season? Have you not been watching his performances at LB?

Krafth at RB looks like Cafu when compared to how Burn looks at LB.

Whether we like it or not, if we continue to struggle in the league, Howe will be under pressure. That's not opinion, it's a pretty self-evident fact. He will also be held accountable for the success of certain signings, Elanga for example, given he personally targeted him for several seasons. We as fans can question whether that is fair or not, but that's modern football.

In that the owners will be expecting better results following £250m investment over the summer. If we miss out on Europe, don't go deep in the cups or make progress to the latter stages of the CL then it would be naïve to think the owners won't be asking questions of Howe.

Do what you like, it's a free country.

Not sure what you're on about mate, I'm no PIF fanboy, as this article we'd written back in July shows 😅 https://ketsbaias.co.uk/longreads/what-is-the-point-of-pif/

I agree that he should, and will, be given time to turn it around. He's a club legend and forever will be. He may even be given credit to have even one bad season (saving an absolute disaster of course) without facing proper pressure from the owners. What I am saying is that this season, more than any previous season, he will be facing greater scrutiny and pressure from the owners than he has done before now.

Not sure what your point is?

I've read suggestions that the problems stem from trying to move from a high-intensity counter attacking side to one that is more comfortable retaining possession and unlocking low-block defences. If that is the case, then why did we waste £100m on Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga, neither of whom are well-suited to possession based sides as both lack the guile and technical capabilities of unlocking organised defences. These were players personally pursued by Howe, so of course there has to be accountability.

Play the ball, not the man. Engage in the discussion. It is naïve to think Howe will not be facing greater scrutiny and pressure from PIF after a summer where we have spent £250m only to see our league form decline considerably. It is not a call for Howe to be replaced, nor is it suggesting that he is at risk of being sacked, but he will be under pressure if our league form does not turn around soon.

Is Howe under pressure? Maybe he should be. https://ketsbaias.co.uk/longreads/match-report-west-ham-3-newcastle-united-1-howe-under-pressure-maybe-he-should-be/

Scathing match report on yesterday's loss to West Ham. https://ketsbaias.co.uk/longreads/match-report-west-ham-3-newcastle-united-1-howe-under-pressure-maybe-he-should-be/