There's a few people upset with things at the moment, so I won't express my views, but what's everyone's feelings about this fixture? Wolves look very good and earlier this season were robbed quite a few times, so their position is definitely not false. Where are Newcastle right now ? Will they rediscover their form this weekend? Predictions?
Newcastle 4-0 Wolves, isak 2, Gordon, burn Starting Lineup Dubs Tripper Schar Botman Burn Almiron Bruno Longstaff Willock Gordon Isak
It’s just reading the names in that team (which is accurate, not laughing at you, just how **** it is) then suggesting 4-0! I mean half of that team arent fit for the championship.
I remember looking at Evertons side a couple of years ago and thinking where the hell is the money ... all the players were still **** and It is EXACTLY the same following our takeover. The money has been completely wasted in some cases and the manager and club has also failed to do anything whatsoever with replacing the useless crap that's been here for an eternity. There's a huge assumption that Newcastle are destined to compete, but the truth is that they might just join the ever growing list of failed attempts since ffp came in. This is why I'm not down for this just give Howe more time we're destined for the top anyway attitude. If they sign nothing but ****e that's it we're done for a decade.. 80 years still trying before we know it.
The money so far has gone on Pope, Trippier, Botman, Livramento, Bruno, Tonali, Barnes, Gordon, Isak. That’s 9 signings in that time I wouldn’t call ****. Burn did well in the relegation fight and last season and is still a good back up so not a waste of money. A lot of youngsters have been brought in hopefully for the future. As you said yourself after the takeover this won’t be an overnight thing. Injuries and the Tonali situation have definitely crippled us this season but I’d agree that this summer is a crucial one for us to get back up towards the top. Also agree that Eddie needs to start turning things around too. Our play this season hasn’t been good for a while.
Three real "6 pointers" coming up vs Wolves, Chelsea and West Ham in the league. Need wins in at least 2 of those games and probably a draw in the other if Howe want's to keep his job beyond the end of the month with he City draw in the cup as well. The only saving grace is after that run we have 9 games left with only Man U, Brighton and Spurs from the top half but we need to get on a run and quickly if we are going to have a positive end to the season.
Since the takeover, which signings have been a waste of money? Wood? Helped us stay up and we got a large chunk of that transfer fee back thanks to Forest. Burn has been good value for his low fee. Hall hasn't been permanently signed yet and if he does, may still turn out decent. Remember Gordon hardly played last season. Barnes I wasn't thrilled with, but still hoping to be proven wrong, once he's settled. Trippier, Bruno, Botman, Pope, Isak, Gordon all have to be considered successful signings surely? Tonali and Livramento we should all have very high hopes for. Not a disaster on the signings front then. Just need to keep on improving each window, which is what we have been doing (this January aside).
As a club we have far too many hangers on, if Howe can't shift them, have a stoney faced Arab do the job. Get rid of them. The usual list, I'm sure @Obi Wan has it on copy and paste. This includes Howes bum boys, specifically Ritchie and Wilson. Start signing some genuine quality, we desperately need a RW, a LB since apparently Hall has the plague. A striker, a striker who isn't a sick note wimp, a tough, strong striker. We need a CB, Shar is too old. He too will become a hanger on before long. We need someone of similar quality to Botman. If we aren't pressing on, looking good next season Howe has to go.
Keep saying it but the squad is decent, but needs a lot of work to be competing at the top table, especially in the back line where we are ok but that as good as it gets. Big amount of dead wood still here from the Ashley days and I haven't included the likes of Ritchie or Dummy in the below... GK - Pope, Dubravka, Karius - Good set of keepers not much wrong there but if you want to be competing at the top you need a world class goalie replace Dubravka or Karius. RB - Trippier, Livarmento, Krafth - Trippier and Krafth to go soon, Livarmento is a good RB with lots of potential and interesting to see where Ashby fits in when he's back from loan next season. RCB - Schar, Lascelles - improvement needed here, Schar getting on Lascelles not quite at the level, both need replacing by end of next season LCB - Botman, Burn - Botman is good and only going to get better, Burn is ok for back up but again needs replacing. LB - Target, Hall - Again another position that needs immediate attention, Target good squad player but no idea what's going on with Hall. Don't think it's Eddie doesn't rate him but more to do with the transfer and clauses of additional payments. DM - Tonali, Bruno - Class, no need to do anything here RCM - Longstaff, Anderson, Miley - 3 local lads who are HG so probably not seeing the back of them any time soon but should all be squad players behind the other CM's LCM - Joelinton, Willock - Class, no need for anything here either RW - Almiron, Murphy - Happy with Miggy as a squad player but need to replace Murphy LW - Gordon, Barnes - Don't see any need to improve here CF - Isak, Wilson - If Isak can stay fit for a full season we'll be fine but need to replace Wilson ASAP, over the hill now and can't manage half a season regularly. Realistically I think we have 7 first team players (Botman, Tonali, Bruno, Willock, Joelinton, Gordon, Isak) ready for where we want to be so need to bring in at least 4 and retain the better squad players (Pope, Livarmento, Schar, Target, Almiron, Barnes) and the local lads (16 in total). Trippier, Burn are probably the 2 past that group (18) that should have another season in them. Past that we need to replace a lot of the dead wood and bring in about 7 players to make a really good squad for next year. Think that will take a minimum of 3 windows (summer, Jan, next summer) probably more like 5 - i.e. the beginning of the 26/27 season. Who knows if our better players will still be here by then though... Priorities for the Summer - CB, CB, LB, CF
Wolves played a full 90 mins last night at least. So we shouldn't be too fatigued in comparison to them. I'm going for a 2-1 win.
Lost one out of 7, the run will continue, a win here. Liv starting again and gets Willock coming off the bench. Give Barnes a chance starting.
Referee: Tim Robinson. games this season v Everton away lost 3-0 v Palace at home won 4-0 Assistants: Eddie Smart, James Mainwaring. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan
