Eddie Howe Returns!

[Shak]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:39, Thumbheed said:

 

You wouldn't have taken all that?

Expand  

 

Why would anyone?

 

"We'll get horrendous draws in all the cup competitions and consequently win nowt. Also we'll be 10th with ten games to go. Deal?"

[Thumbheed]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:39, SUPERTOON said:

Why would anyone have taken that at the start of the season ?

Expand  

 

Crikey. I thought Newcastle fans were realistic. 

 

There's literally never been a team outside the established top 6 to requalify for the CL and we haven't had 1 QF for nearly a decade. 

 

What we're people expecting?! I swear everyone said they'd be happy with a top 7?

[Ikon]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:42, pubteam said:

TBF to Howe, we've seen the team he wants to play maybe once this season against Aston villa on the opening day, that turned out quite well. I don't think any manager could have done much better with the available resources.

Expand  

We’ve had lots of injuries and whatever, but there has been many more occasions where we could/should have been able to do better. 

[SUPERTOON]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:44, Thumbheed said:

 

Crikey. I thought Newcastle fans were realistic. 

 

There's literally never been a team outside the established top 6 to requalify for the CL and we haven't had 1 QF for nearly a decade. 

 

What we're people expecting?! I swear everyone said they'd be happy with a top 7?

Expand  

I’m not saying it’s terrible, but at the start of a season coming of 4th and adding Tonali, I wouldn’t have snapped your hand off at two cup exits and being tenth.

[SUPERTOON]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:40, et tu brute said:

This is the first time there has been this run of form since he was appointed, so don't know where the previous comes in. If form improves, I've no doubt he will be in place next season, if not, then I personally think he may well be gone. We will see though, hopefully we will finish the season well.

 

 

 

Expand  

Agreed, I was talking more generally in all aspects of running the club. Have they made one ruthless move ? Even in terms of FFP etc, we have seemingly accepted everything.

[Beth]

He deserves to get at least the first dozen games next season, but he is going to have to learn to stop picking his favourites if they're playing shite and develop a plan B if we go behind in games.

[Keegans Export]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:44, Thumbheed said:

 

Crikey. I thought Newcastle fans were realistic. 

 

There's literally never been a team outside the established top 6 to requalify for the CL and we haven't had 1 QF for nearly a decade. 

 

What we're people expecting?! I swear everyone said they'd be happy with a top 7?

Expand  

Yes but we aren't 7th are we? Even in your scenario we're "two wins off sixth" 

[Ronaldo]

  On 16/03/2024 at 19:43, Keegans Export said:

This is 100% my position. 

 

The season is absolutely not f**king over. With players returning to fitness, no other competitions to distract us, a favourable run of fixtures and European football still within our grasp I don't want to see any evidence that the squad as a whole are thinking "season is over".

Expand  

 

 

[Miercoles]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:24, Thumbheed said:

- 2 wins off 6th with 10 games to go and a favourable fixture list

 

- 2 cup competition QF's with the cuntiest fixture run I've ever seen To get there. (1 minute away from a semi)

 

-10 minutes away from knockout stages of the CL in the group of death

 

Who's brave enough to admit that they wouldnt have taken that at the beginning of the season and why? 

 

 

 

Expand  

 

4-1 PSG has to be one of the legendary results for the club too, seeing that was pretty fucking magical.

[Thumbheed]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:44, Shak said:

 

Why would anyone?

 

"We'll get horrendous draws in all the cup competitions and consequently win nowt. Also we'll be 10th with ten games to go. Deal?"

Expand  

 

"2 QF's and 6 points off 6th with 10 games to go"

 

"No thanks"

 

I'm struggling to comprehend how the difference between taking the above and something I assume you'd have taken (6th/7th) is just 2 extra wins this season?

[Elliottman]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:46, SUPERTOON said:

I’m not saying it’s terrible, but at the start of a season coming of 4th and adding Tonali, I wouldn’t have snapped your hand off at two cup exits and being tenth.

Expand  

But then you’ve completed neglected the fact that last year was a massive over achievement and that this year we’ve had our worst injury crisis in recent memory. Not a great season, finish it, move on to the next. 

[greydos]

I think this season will be the absolute making of Eddie Howe and of us. He’ll have gone into the season believing in his methods but with question marks about whether they would work actually at the top level. He’s now been fully tested and will have learnt loss about  where he needs to improve and what the team needs to succeed. I’ve no doubt he’ll learn his lessons and implement them over the summer. I expect next year we’ll be comfortably top 6, the style will have developed a little, as will his use of the squad, and our squad composition will be almost bomb proof.

 

i just feel sorry for his wife and kids who absolutely won’t see him for the holidays!

[Thumbheed]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:53, Miercoles said:

 

4-1 PSG has to be one of the legendary results for the club too, seeing that was pretty fucking magical.

Expand  

 

It's up there with Barca 3-2, if not better.

 

Core memory game, that. 

[Thumbheed]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:49, Keegans Export said:

Yes but we aren't 7th are we? Even in your scenario we're "two wins off sixth" 

Expand  

So the difference is just 2 extra wins? That's it, that's the key and significant difference, right?

 

Madness.

[SUPERTOON]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:53, Elliottman said:

But then you’ve completed neglected the fact that last year was a massive over achievement and that this year we’ve had our worst injury crisis in recent memory. Not a great season, finish it, move on to the next. 

Expand  

But the original post was asking if before the season started I would have accepted it. We aren’t including the injury crisis in it, unless I misread the post.

[The Prophet]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:53, Thumbheed said:

 

"2 QF's and 6 points off 6th with 10 games to go"

 

"No thanks"

 

I'm struggling to comprehend how the difference between taking the above and something I assume you'd have taken (6th/7th) is just 2 extra wins this season?

Expand  

 

6th - 7th is probably about par for the season and would be a decent finish, especially given how it's panned out. But given the position the club was in coming into the season I wouldn't have taken it.

[Keegans Export]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:55, Thumbheed said:

So the difference is just 2 extra wins? That's it, that's the key and significant difference, right?

 

Madness.

Expand  

Yeah but how far do you go? Two wins the other way and we're 14th?

 

You must see how "two wins off sixth" and "you said you'd be happy with seventh" are not the same thing? 

[et tu brute]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:48, SUPERTOON said:

Agreed, I was talking more generally in all aspects of running the club. Have they made one ruthless move ? Even in terms of FFP etc, we have seemingly accepted everything.

Expand  

I think we maybe in for an interesting summer. I'll assess everything after then as I think we should have a much clearer picture 

[Dr.Spaceman]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:29, Keggy_Keagal said:

City have gamed the system to get where they are , they're at least 5 years ahead of us. Understanding defeats is not the same as accepting them. I've said many times we have to learn the lessons. That's us as a fanbase, the manager and the entire club. I firmly believe we'll get there and based on his previous season and a half with us I believe (and hope) Eddie can take us there. 

 

 

 

Expand  

 

They're much further ahead than just 5 years, there is no way we're that good in 2029.

[nemtizz]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:53, Miercoles said:

 

4-1 PSG has to be one of the legendary results for the club too, seeing that was pretty fucking magical.

Expand  

 

Sad to say that was the best night of my life supporting this club.

[SUPERTOON]

  On 16/03/2024 at 21:00, et tu brute said:

I think we maybe in for an interesting summer. I'll assess everything after then as I think we should have a much clearer picture 

Expand  

Aye, I’d hope for an influx of sponsorships.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I thought he had the right idea tonight and liked the approach to have Gordon and Isak closer together for breaks. I thought their first was canny spawny but it's the main moment of the game - changes the complexion completely early on. Similar to Chelsea.

 

For all the talk of a 6, you need your entire midfield to have the appetite to defend, or at least the majority of them.

 

Longstaff and Willock are pretty passive defenders. They're players who get into shape but they aren't the types to often display proper defensive instincts consistently. Obviously, Willock has so many other strengths but he was helped last season by a stay-at-home LB and Joelinton rotating in from LW.

 

Miley is improving but is like this as well, and Anderson is an AM learning his trade.

 

 

Edited March 16, 2024 by Gallowgate Toon

[Thumbheed]

  Quote

 

Expand  

  On 16/03/2024 at 21:00, Keegans Export said:

Yeah but how far do you go? Two wins the other way and we're 14th?

 

You must see how "two wins off sixth" and "you said you'd be happy with seventh" are not the same thing? 

Expand  

 

I think it's pretty clear you go with how far away we are from what you'd have taken (6th/7th) vs where we actually are, no? Unless I've misread your post?

 

So the difference between what you'd have taken and where we actually are is literally 2 wins.  

 

 

[Thumbheed]

  On 16/03/2024 at 20:59, The Prophet said:

 

6th - 7th is probably about par for the season and would be a decent finish, especially given how it's panned out. But given the position the club was in coming into the season I wouldn't have taken it.

Expand  

 

What position was the club coming into the season? And what realistically would you have taken out of interest?

[Keegans Export]

  On 16/03/2024 at 21:10, Thumbheed said:

 

I think it's pretty clear you go with how far away we are from what you'd have taken (6th/7th) vs where we actually are, no? Unless I've misread your post?

 

So the difference between what you'd have taken and where we actually are is literally 2 wins.  

 

 

Expand  

Right. But "7th" and "not 7th" are not the same thing though are they?

 

Regardless of how close you are, if your position was "I'd be happy with 7th" and what's on offer is "not finishing 7th" then its fair to say you aren't happy with how things have gone?