Eddie Howe

[SteV]

4 minutes ago, Astroblack said:

 

I think we can displace Spurs. Levy has made some strange decisions. We did bid 70 mil for Guehi this summer, just got rejected. 

 

 

 

Howe said we didn’t bid anywhere near that tbf.

[Erikse]

6 minutes ago, JEToon said:

 

It seems a bit redundant asking a question you are answering yourself really.

 

There are squads a lot better than ours, that are obvious, and squads that aren’t, that are obvious, just about every salary table you can find for the league sort of shows where squads are.

 

I would doubt we will finish 10th personally, its December, as I said I expect us to finish about 7th or 8th, which is about what most logical thinking fans would expect from the squad

 

Given we currently sit 2 points of that place in the league it just makes me think a lot of what is being said about this season is just reactionary nonsense, i.e talk of the possibility of the manager being sacked, it is just a lot of online white noise.

 

Hmm. What was the argument about, then? Sorry, maybe I didn't read back far enough. I doubt someone would claim that our squad is on par with the "big six"?

Personally I've seen people blaming it on the squad when we're struggling against lower sides, or talking about how competitive the league is, and how every team is good. In that case all you need to do is to compare our squad to the lower opponents we've been struggling against. Before last game someone made the argument that we don't have any players who can hurt the opponent at all. We have a £100m+ striker who just bullied VVD.

 

 

Edited December 5 by Erikse

[JEToon]

3 minutes ago, Erikse said:

 

Hmm. What was the argument about, then? Sorry, maybe I didn't read back far enough. I doubt someone would claim that our squad is on par with the "big six"?

Personally I've seen people blaming it on the squad when we're struggling against lower sides, or talking about how competitive the league is, and how every team is good. In that case all you need to do is to compare the squad to said opponent. Before last game someone made the argument that we don't have any players who can hurt the opponent at all. We have a £100m+ striker.

 

 

 

 

I don’t really just post to argue, it was a general commentary on where I feel we are relative to our league season, it was a pretty bland, vanillaish point really, shocked you have even replied to it

 

 A lot of rest of your post is a bit strawman argument to me, if you have issues what some other random posts worth replying to them I suppose, you keep up that gate keeping though if that's what you enjoy, more power to you. 

 

 

Edited December 5 by JEToon

[Erikse]

16 minutes ago, JEToon said:

 

I don’t really just post to argue, it was a general commentary on where I feel we are relative to our league season, it was a pretty bland, vanillaish point really, shocked you have even replied to it

 

 A lot of rest of your post is a bit strawman argument to me, if you have issues what some other random posts worth replying to them I suppose, you keep up that gate keeping though if that's what you enjoy, more power to you. 

 

 

 

 

Okay. I meant discussion. Just wasn't sure what squads you think that people are overlooking the quality of. Guess I should've just asked. I don't think anyone here are overlooking the squads of the top sides.

 

 

Edited December 5 by Erikse

[The College Dropout]

18 minutes ago, Astroblack said:

 

I think we can displace Spurs. Levy has made some strange decisions. We did bid 70 mil for Guehi this summer, just got rejected. 

 

 

 

For comparisons Spurs revenue is 2.5x ours.   
 

That gives them 2.5x the amount to invest in the squad if their owners wish. 

 

Spurs choose to be profitable or close.  If their position among the elite was under threat they would invest heavily. Which they’ve started to do but have kept wages relatively low for them. 

 

Tbis is for their last CL season and doesn’t include ours. But the revenue gap between the clubs is going to be massive. The gap is massive. 

 

[dave s]

agree with above. we haven’t played anywhere near our best at all.. but alls not lost. a couple of back to back wins and we’d probably be sitting where villa are now, or forest. we’ve had a tough run of home games.  and done ok in the ones you’d usually expect to drop the points. let’s see if we can get into the “lesser” teams and dig some home form out. there’s only really Villa upcoming that you’d class as a potential top 6 team until end of March 

[PauloGeordio]

9 minutes ago, dave s said:

agree with above. we haven’t played anywhere near our best at all.. but alls not lost. a couple of back to back wins and we’d probably be sitting where villa are now, or forest. we’ve had a tough run of home games.  and done ok in the ones you’d usually expect to drop the points. let’s see if we can get into the “lesser” teams and dig some home form out. there’s only really Villa upcoming that you’d class as a potential top 6 team until end of March 

RW in January too 

[Astroblack]

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

For comparisons Spurs revenue is 2.5x ours.   
 

That gives them 2.5x the amount to invest in the squad if their owners wish. 

 

Spurs choose to be profitable or close.  If their position among the elite was under threat they would invest heavily. Which they’ve started to do but have kept wages relatively low for them. 

 

Tbis is for their last CL season and doesn’t include ours. But the revenue gap between the clubs is going to be massive. The gap is massive. 

 

 

I get all that but I just have an inkling, they won't spend because of the new stadium costs kind of like Arsenal in 2006. We both now shop in the same markets. They can get a Maddison, we can get a Gordon. We have more ambition and I can see us surpassing them in the upcoming years. 

 

65mil for Solanke

40 Mil for Gray. I just don't think they're smart enough. They had their "golden era" under Poch and Kane, but now they're slipping down the mountain.  

[Bimpy474]

Dunno if it's where i live but the Spurs fans i know, and it's a fair few. Nearly all of them think they have it hard, and not as bad as say us under Ashley, but they think they are very hard done by their owner, and Levy.

 

They're weird.

 

 

Edited December 5 by Bimpy474

[Astroblack]

11 minutes ago, Bimpy474 said:

Dunno if it's where i live but the Spurs fans i know, and it's a fair few. Nearly all of them think they have it hard, and not as bad as say us under Ashley, but they think they are very hard done by their owner, and Levy.

 

They're weird.

 

 

 

 

I think one of the craziest decisions I've seen in football was sacking Poch after taking Spurs to the UCL final and fourth place after spending no money that year and then hiring Jose Mourinho. He came off as such a fan boy for Mourinho in that documentary, it was weird. You can see that all that "no trophy" banter really gets to him. 

[Matt1892]

Yesterdays performance was great, as was the home performance against Arsenal a month ago, and the home game against Man City just over a month before that.

 

What that demonstrates is that we are raising our performances for the big games, yet the games in between like Palace, West Ham and Fulham we have been terrible and look unmotivated.

 

Hopefully this is us turning the corner, and the December fixtures don’t look too bad with 2 promoted sides at home, but it does feel like we have been in a similar position a number of times this season and failed to build on it.

[Lush Vlad]

Just now, Matt1892 said:

Yesterdays performance was great, as was the home performance against Arsenal a month ago, and the home game against Man City just over a month before that.

 

What that demonstrates is that we are raising our performances for the big games, yet the games in between like Palace, West Ham and Fulham we have been terrible and look unmotivated.

 

Hopefully this is us turning the corner, and the December fixtures don’t look too bad with 2 promoted sides at home, but it does feel like we have been in a similar position a number of times this season and failed to build on it.

A bit reductive that. Does that demonstrate that?! Not really conclusive, IMO.

 

 There is a huge amount of variance/luck involved with football. When goals are scored, the fine margins of shots needing to be 6 inches one way or the other, available players on the day etc. Then of course the fact teams play totally differently to the bigger sides and are happy to stand off and let us have the ball. 
 

I do think we have certain players who seem more up for the big games. I said so the other day and it is human nature in some ways. Certain personalities up their game, even if subconsciously. At any level when you play sport. You can end up finding a few percent from somewhere and to raise your game against better opposition. It’s one of the reasons why you get underdog stories most years in cup competitions. 
 

I think it’s incredibly simplistic to make out like it’s because we try for the big games and we’re apparently not arsed against the so called lesser sides. There is clearly more to it with that regarding tactics and it is nothing new from the last couple of seasons. 
 

I suppose that is a different argument. If Howe can’t find a way to break down teams who let us have possession and defend deep against us. Then it might be one of the things that ends up costing him his job long term. 

[Geogaddi]

The league is so weird this year, the top 4 is likely going to be the 4 teams currently in it but after that is about 7 clubs that could finish anywhere between 5th and 11th. If we had been anywhere near our best this season we would pretty much be nailed on for top 5.

[HaydnNUFC]

From the most recent Athletic article. Would like to see the same but for across Howe's whole tenure here. A bit damning if there's a trend.

 

Newcastle United 1-0 Southampton - 22.2% possession.

Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur - 34.3% possession.

Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal - 36.1% possession.

Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City - 37.7% possession.

Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool - 41.2% possession.

Newcastle United 0-2 West Ham United - 52.8% possession.

Newcastle United 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion - 59.9% possession.

[Andy84]

2 hours ago, Geogaddi said:

The league is so weird this year, the top 4 is likely going to be the 4 teams currently in it but after that is about 7 clubs that could finish anywhere between 5th and 11th. If we had been anywhere near our best this season we would pretty much be nailed on for top 5.

It really is, a woeful Wolves absolutely smash Fulham away from home, who then lose 4-0 at Everton while Fulham beat Brighton who are playing well. Spurs away at City vs last night at Bournemouth

[TRon]

2 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

From the most recent Athletic article. Would like to see the same but for across Howe's whole tenure here. A bit damning if there's a trend.

 

Newcastle United 1-0 Southampton - 22.2% possession.

Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur - 34.3% possession.

Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal - 36.1% possession.

Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City - 37.7% possession.

Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool - 41.2% possession.

Newcastle United 0-2 West Ham United - 52.8% possession.

Newcastle United 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion - 59.9% possession.

 

I read it this morning, just confirms our players are far better geared to playing on the counter where they have open space to run into rather than having to actually break defences down. Pressing high without goals to show for it is a dangerous approach.

[Lush Vlad]

7 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

From the most recent Athletic article. Would like to see the same but for across Howe's whole tenure here. A bit damning if there's a trend.

 

Newcastle United 1-0 Southampton - 22.2% possession.

Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur - 34.3% possession.

Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal - 36.1% possession.

Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City - 37.7% possession.

Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool - 41.2% possession.

Newcastle United 0-2 West Ham United - 52.8% possession.

Newcastle United 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion - 59.9% possession.

What trend are you thinking of here? That we can only win games when we have hardly any of the ball? 
 

I think we are much better when we have space in behind and room on the counter. We don’t have too many technicians capable of retaining decent possession high up the pitch. Whilst also looking threatening. But I do also think we are massively reliant on scoring the first goal or at least keeping it level. To ensure the game stays a bit more open for our style to work more effectively.
 

Too many games this season. We have conceded first and from memory, often quite early. I’d imagine most teams struggle to come from behind regularly to draw or win matches. But even more so in our case with how we like to play the game. 
 

 

[Holmesy]

12 hours ago, Matt1892 said:

Yesterdays performance was great, as was the home performance against Arsenal a month ago, and the home game against Man City just over a month before that.

 

What that demonstrates is that we are raising our performances for the big games, yet the games in between like Palace, West Ham and Fulham we have been terrible and look unmotivated.

 

Hopefully this is us turning the corner, and the December fixtures don’t look too bad with 2 promoted sides at home, but it does feel like we have been in a similar position a number of times this season and failed to build on it.

I know I sound like a broken record but this raises the plan B question again. Against teams that attack us and go out to win the game, we are very effective. Against lesser teams that sit back, nullify our strengths and then hit us on the break we are shite. If we can find a way to be more effective at breaking down stubborn defences we'll be flying.

 

 

Edited December 6 by Holmesy

[JEToon]

We weren’t really “good” against Man City in all honesty, what we did was efficient but it wasn’t close to as good a performance as we put up against Brighton when we patently had a load more chances to score goals, we were next to no goal threat against Man City really, we were a far greater goal threat against Brighton.

 

I would argue the same v Arsenal and contrast that to West Ham, we naturally really created a lot more chances v West Ham than against Arsenal.

 

I am realty not sold that this is as simple as some are trying to write it personally.

[HaydnNUFC]

32 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

What trend are you thinking of here? That we can only win games when we have hardly any of the ball? 
 

I think we are much better when we have space in behind and room on the counter. We don’t have too many technicians capable of retaining decent possession high up the pitch. Whilst also looking threatening. But I do also think we are massively reliant on scoring the first goal or at least keeping it level. To ensure the game stays a bit more open for our style to work more effectively.
 

Too many games this season. We have conceded first and from memory, often quite early. I’d imagine most teams struggle to come from behind regularly to draw or win matches. But even more so in our case with how we like to play the game. 
 

 

 

A trend that we often fail to win when we have the lion's share of the ball. Even when we finished 4th, drew 0-0 at home to 2 sides that went down. Score draws to West Ham and Bournemouth that season who finished in the bottom 6 (iirc).

 

Again, I don't know if there's a trend but if there is it suggests a lack of tactical evolution and/or a lack of incisiveness on the ball from players we have.

 

 

Edited December 6 by HaydnNUFC

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I understand this criticism, but also low blocks are hard to break down. That’s their purpose. Otherwise poor teams would just get smashed every week and finish the season on zero points. 
 

Particularly difficult if your team isn’t built for possession football of course. 

[Holmesy]

36 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I understand this criticism, but also low blocks are hard to break down. That’s their purpose. Otherwise poor teams would just get smashed every week and finish the season on zero points. 
 

Particularly difficult if your team isn’t built for possession football of course. 

Low blocks work, that's why teams employ them. But consistently leaving yourselves vulnerable to counter attacks by throwing everyone forward against them clearly isn't the way. I've no idea what is the way with our current squad but it's not my job to find one, just to criticise 

 

[Kanj]

If having 40% possession means we play with that type of conviction, energy and execution im all for it. I couldn’t care if we have 30% or 70% possession. I just want to see us execute a game plan, minimize poor errors and pick up points. 

[Maggies]

I’d like to see a Isak/Wilson combo played against the low block teams.

Sometimes you just need bodies in scoring areas for the chances to fall to.

[TRon]

1 hour ago, Holmesy said:

I know I sound like a broken record but this raises the plan B question again. Against teams that attack us and go out to win the game, we are very effective. Against lesser teams that sit back, nullify our strengths and then hit us on the break we are shite. If we can find a way to be more effective at breaking down stubborn defences we'll be flying.

 

 

 

 

I don't know if we have the players to break down stubborn defences, but I think we need to make sure in these games we don't go behind through leaving gaping holes in the midfield. Hopefully moving Tonali into the 6 position will help with that in future games. It might not be as sexy as going at teams all guns blazing, but if we can keep it level for an hour, then take the chance when it comes, it's one way of coming away with points against teams with the low block. Just be a bit more patient with the passing and draw them out rather than let them sit back and close all the spaces off.