Yeah I think Bruno will be rotated with Tonali.... willock Joelinton and one of them is a far better mix.
I can't deal with longstaff anymore and unfortunately people think he's a good player so it's more likely they'll sell literally any other player and he'll still be here after we all die.
We're definitely missing a fit Willock and Joelinton. They're going to be missing for a while, but our squad is bigger and Eddie Howe is trying. We'll have to hang in there and try to get better results against the park the bus sides.
Now that Joelinton is out, it makes us realise how important Willock is. Anderson just looks out of his depth. Thank god for Longstaff.
Good result, hopefully those moaning yesterday have taken their medicine this morning because a clean sheet and a point on the road vs CL semi finalist last year is a great result. Still managed to rest players and come out with a result is a decent showing. Get them back to SJP and see how we get on! 2 Clean sheets on the bounce now, Pope sounded like he played a blinder and the whole defense was very good. Need that defensive stability back to kick start the season. Anyone who watched the game have any thought's on Isak, was listening on IPlayer last night to the last 10/15 after coaching and the commentator seemed to think it was the worst performance ever in any sport?
I wouldn't say it was even the worst performance from out starting 11 He was very quiet and was nudged off the ball a number of times and throughout the game seemed to be doubled up on. Any time he received the ball and tried to do something with it he was getting his shirt ripped off of him. The Milan players need to be given some credit though, they were doing it to the blind side of the ref every single time. He also seemed to have zero options for support when getting into an advanced positions. Again, credit to Milan who were very very good defensively.
It still astonishes me to see some of the poor quality players we've managed to drag into the Champions League. I mean seriously, Titus Bramble?
There's some disagreements and that's all fine. For me it's a few things: 1. We've not really laid a glove on 'better' opponents and been a little fortunate that both Brentford and Milan missed sitters. 2. The recruitment was poor. We spent £75m on players who don't play, yet line up vs Milan with Murphy, Burn and Longstaff. 3. The 'tactic' of play the exact same way and hope we're better on the day is reminiscent of poor managers. Nobody can question how far we've come, the rules of FFP are clear, but mistakes have beem made, something isn't right in the team and it doesn't look like we're capable of competing right now. For me, it'll just be a repeat of what happened at City. They started with Cook, Hughes, etc., and look at them now. We're not winning anything with Howe and Tindall.
Newcastle have never gone on from basically being good enough to reach the group stages once in a while. It could be a number of years before Newcastle qualify again but I would expect the next time (assuming that comes) there won't be any dross still getting games. I'm surprised having spent 450 million that Newcastle still have players like Murphy and Longstaff starting, but sooner or later those days will finally end thankfully.
They don't play yet mate plus we're missing willock and Joelinton. Honestly I don't know why people sleep on Willocks involvement in almost everything but they do. Once Newcastle got their best players on the pitch it'll be fine.... might not happen though but it's upto howe and luck with injuries.
Basically, Milan got spanked, Ibrahimovic flew in for a 'pep talk' and - coincidentally - a player he rates VERY highly (Isak) was then absolutely targetted by Milan's players, often doubling up, hatchet job with the message "do NOT let him turn and run at you". Isak was not to blame - that was old school management and it worked a treat. He wasn't the worst out there. Burn, Murphy, Barnes (when he appeared) all worse - all just way out of their depth, which is a huge concern. Gordon was a bit crap as well. Wilson just stepped into Isak's role and got bullied. Botman and Trippier, in part Schar, kept us in the match. Pope was better than he has been, but far from outstanding - most of what Milan hit was straight at him. His kicking is borderline embarrassing at this point. I just hope Howe isn't so far up his own arse he thinks we've re-established defensive solidity - Brentford (Wissa) and Milan (Leao x 2) missed glorious chances to score. Besides which, the fact we're creating basically zero chances against better teams is a massive issue. And we're not even missiny any attackers through injury, the shape just isn't working at all.
We're 2nd in the group 5 rounds to go. Newcastle are in with the best maybe too soon but come on roly mate it's a miracle they're even in this after 2 years. It's a 10 year plan and finishing 4th hasn't changed that.
