Newcastle United 4-1 Manchester United - 13/04/2025

[Froggy]

2 minutes ago, SteV said:

Only on 150 grand a week

 

Fairly decent contract for Eriksen on a free transfer. Already confirmed to be leaving in the summer though.

[Kid Icarus]

5 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

Same feelings, I love tiki-taka and sometimes I would like us to play with more possession. But that's the beauty of football I suppose, there's multiple ways to play well and win. 

 

What you want is a clear evidence that the manager has a plan and it's playing out on the pitch. A bit like Rafa, I could never fall in love with the style of football but it was very evident that the team was incredibly well prepared for every game. 

 

 

 

Definitely, I do love how we play and I can see why we play how we do. We so often control matches out of possession now, force the opposition into about 3 or 4 different traps then pounce.

 

Could be wrong but it feels like we have a few different ways to win now and don't just try and brute force our way to a result in a way that might not really work, like possession football against a team in a low block.

[SteV]

Just now, Froggy said:

 

Fairly decent contract for Eriksen on a free transfer. Already confirmed to be leaving in the summer though.

Rather it sums up the current state of the club that a player who would be one of the highest, if not the highest, paid player at many clubs in the league, is considered a laughable option for a ‘big’ game.

[Froggy]

2 minutes ago, SteV said:

Rather it sums up the current state of the club that a player who would be one of the highest, if not the highest, paid player at many clubs in the league, is considered a laughable option for a ‘big’ game.

 

He's considered that now, as he's 33 and coming to the end of his contract. 

 

You paid Lloyd Kelly £150k a week and he probably played less than Eriksen.

[Wallsendmag]

Was one point yesterday on around the 85th minute mark, I looked up at the pretty empty Man Utd end, those who remained singing defiantly in support of their team, whilst the home fans, still basking in our recent trophy win, sat back waiting for the final whistle to sound on what was a very routine victory and it hit me how the roles of the 2 clubs have been totally reversed.

 

Lost count of the amount of times I've been to Old Trafford, singing my heart out as the clocked ticked towards full time of another defeat there and yesterday that was them. We are the winners, they were the gallant losers making up the numbers. Only real difference is at least we tended to stay until the final whistle went.

[Kid Icarus]

You're stepping on a rake with that one Froggy 

 

 

Edited Monday at 08:45 by Kid Icarus

[SteV]

Just now, Froggy said:

 

You paid Lloyd Kelly £150k a week and he probably played less than Eriksen.

Hugely debatable, and we’ve sold him for 20 big ones.

 

Whereas you’ll be getting sweet FA for Eriksen.

[NG32]

I didn't get to go on Sunday so watched on Sky, thought Man Utd were "Ok" for 20 mins and was actually surprised when they pulled on back.  The quick goal at the start of the 2nd half completely wiped them out  and they started to disolve quickly.  

 

They've got no backbone, no leaders, no one takes responsibility, no one is willing to rattle cages its all just accepted fate.  Like a puma running up a tree and stealing a sloth from its branch, the sloth knows its done for. 

 

As for us, thought we beat these in 2nd gear, didnt need to really push for it, similar to Leicester way.  

 

Would have been nice to rattle in a 5th for old time sake but hey ho. 

 

 

[Sibierski]

11 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Definitely, I do love how we play and I can see why we play how we do. We so often control matches out of possession now, force the opposition into about 3 or 4 different traps then pounce.

 

Could be wrong but it feels like we have a few different ways to win now and don't just try and brute force our way to a result in a way that might not really work, like possession football against a team in a low block.

Sure it was pointed out on a recent MNF (or maybe elsewhere) where more sides are going with the mid block and high press, and for me, we seem to be the best at it for our team. Arsenal and Liverpool to a degree adopt a similar approach, maybe a bit higher defensive line which you’d expect with their recovery pace/expected dominance in most games, but they will sit mid block and press high for mistakes in games they know they won’t dominate.

 

You can’t sit deep, otherwise you are further away from goal to attack (as we’re seeing with Man Utd) and you can’t really squeeze super high with a high defence as we’ve see  in peak Klopp/Pep as it seems more these days teams have the physicality to exploit space. 
 

Essentially we’re in the right path for the style that’s in right now and getting success. Will shift towards end of decade as football evolves, but it’s nice to be part of this.

 

 

Edited Monday at 08:49 by Sibierski

[Froggy]

2 minutes ago, SteV said:

Hugely debatable, and we’ve sold him for 20 big ones.

 

Whereas you’ll be getting sweet FA for Eriksen.

 

Brilliant business by you, but the contract was the discussion. Of all the awful contracts we've handed out, £150k for Eriksen when he was signed on a free wasn't a bad one.

[La Parka]

12 hours ago, midds said:

Zirkzee just reminds me of the fat lad in PE who always got picked 7th when the captains were picking teams. Not shite but he's a moody fucker who lets his head drop, won't defend and runs out of gas 20 minutes before the bell

Oh god he's me. 

 

That's why I like him 😂 

[SteV]

Just now, Froggy said:

 

Brilliant business by you, but the contract was the discussion. Of all the awful contracts we've handed out, £150k for Eriksen when he was signed on a free wasn't a bad one.

At the time perhaps, but why the fuck is he still there?

 

Should have been punted ages ago if he’s of no value on that kind of wage. 
 

The fact is the people that have been running the show haven’t known what they’re doing for ages now, and it’s very questionable whether Brexit Jim, Sir Dave and whoever the fuck else is now involved, are any better.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

8 minutes ago, NG32 said:

I didn't get to go on Sunday so watched on Sky, thought Man Utd were "Ok" for 20 mins and was actually surprised when they pulled on back.  The quick goal at the start of the 2nd half completely wiped them out  and they started to disolve quickly.  

 

They've got no backbone, no leaders, no one takes responsibility, no one is willing to rattle cages its all just accepted fate.  Like a puma running up a tree and stealing a sloth from its branch, the sloth knows its done for. 

 

As for us, thought we beat these in 2nd gear, didnt need to really push for it, similar to Leicester way.  

 

Would have been nice to rattle in a 5th for old time sake but hey ho. 

 

Even in the first half we could've scored 3 or 4. 

[Froggy]

1 minute ago, SteV said:

At the time perhaps, but why the fuck is he still there?

 

Should have been punted ages ago if he’s of no value on that kind of wage. 
 

The fact is the people that have been running the show haven’t known what they’re doing for ages now, and it’s very questionable whether Brexit Jim, Sir Dave and whoever the fuck else is now involved, are any better.

 

Eriksen was very good in his first season and has just started to decline naturally with age. He's behind Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainoo and Collyer in the pecking order now but it wasn't always the case.

 

The game meant nothing yesterday so there was no point firing in Collyer to get bullied by Joelinton and destroy his confidence. Bit different from putting in Amass vs. Murphy which was a good test for him.

 

We'll see in the summer if INEOS have a clue what they're at.

[Nucasol]

12 minutes ago, NG32 said:

Like a puma running up a tree and stealing a sloth from its branch, the sloth knows its done for.

[TRon]

33 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

I tell myself that Barca 08-15 is my favourite style of football, but then I watch Joelinton, Tonali, and Bruno ragdolling opposition midfielders and I really have to think twice like, I absolutely fucking love it. Reminds me a lot of how I would have never said Carroll was my type of striker, but then watching him bully defenders was unbelievably satisfying.

 

 

 

 

 

I think there's a sweet spot in the middle somewhere, and we are close to it. I did love Barcelona's football because it did have a point, and no one can tell me it was boring. But then there's something wonderful about a high press barnstorming style that we employ, when we are on it, it's absolutely exhilirating.

 

There might come a point when it won't be enough to win the very highest honours, but then again, it might just need a splash of quality in a couple more areas. We can enjoy the ride until then.

[SteV]

1 minute ago, Froggy said:

 

Eriksen was very good in his first season and has just started to decline naturally with age. He's behind Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainoo and Collyer in the pecking order now but it wasn't always the case.

 

The game meant nothing yesterday so there was no point firing in Collyer to get bullied by Joelinton and destroy his confidence. Bit different from putting in Amass vs. Murphy which was a good test for him.

 

We'll see in the summer if INEOS have a clue what they're at.

If his decline was ‘natural’ with age, maybe the contract wasn’t that good in the first place after all…

[Froggy]

7 minutes ago, SteV said:

If his decline was ‘natural’ with age, maybe the contract wasn’t that good in the first place after all…

 

If only it worked like that.

 

Targett still getting £100k a week? 

[r0cafella]

2 minutes ago, Froggy said:

 

If only it worked like that.

 

Targett still getting £100k a week? 

Froggy man, why you playing the salary game? Makes absolutely no sense given the state of yours. 

[SteV]

4 minutes ago, Froggy said:

 

If only it worked like that.

 

Targett still getting £100k a week? 

And Casemiro’s getting £350k a week, etc etc…

[Kid Icarus]

Targett's pretty much the only signing that hasn't worked out and it's mainly because of injury as well. Brilliant when he came in on loan. 

[Froggy]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Froggy man, why you playing the salary game? Makes absolutely no sense given the state of yours. 

 

As per usual, I didn't start any games.  I said Eriksen doesn't get near the first team, which is true, and people brought up his wage. I'm just pointing out there's poor wage decisions in every team.

 

Our wage bills won't be far apart after this summer either. A lot of increases coming on your end and when Casemiro, Rashford, Sancho etc. leave as expected it's huge amounts off our wage bill.

[Froggy]

Just now, Kid Icarus said:

Targett's pretty much the only signing that hasn't worked out and it's mainly because of injury as well. Brilliant when he came in on loan. 

 

What about the 30 year old, third choice keeper that cost £20m and is on £50k a week? Just a PSR write off?

[JP]

28 minutes ago, Froggy said:

 

Brilliant business by you, but the contract was the discussion. Of all the awful contracts we've handed out, £150k for Eriksen when he was signed on a free wasn't a bad one.

The contract was part of the business though.

 

Always held a resale value.

 

[SteV]

1 minute ago, Froggy said:

Our wage bills won't be far apart after this summer either

Howay man 😂😂