Almost certainly - we're not going to buy another LCB, Botman will be back Sept/Oct. So, yeah, sadly Burn will miraculously start again. Tonali isn't back til the season's underway so Longstaff will start. Appreciate we can't directly compare, but just aspirationally: Man City (23 players): 2 keepers (3rd is Carson). 7 recognised defenders, including teenage Rico Lewis. 6 midfielders, plus 3 prospects. 3 forwards. Newcastle (32 players): 3 keepers (4th choice is still getting on the bench). 9 defenders, plus 2 prospects in Hall, Murphy. 9 midfielders, plus 3 prospects in Miley, White and De Bolle. 4 forwards, plus 1 prospect in Diallo. We are ****ing clogged up with ****. Yet I believe Lascelles, Ritchie and Dummett have all got extensions. It's laughable. I understand City have bought well and paid handsomely, but the squad management is appalling. It's so low rent. Why on earth are Dummett, Ritchie and even Lascelles getting minutes and contracts, yet Murphy, White, Diallo can't even get on the pitch. How does anyone permit Eddie Howe these excuses - I mean, how many matches more have City played, and won?! I'm really not a fan of Howe. I hate the fact he needs less games to win more matches, because we need a manager who can manage a Euro squad, and based on ability, not their sense of humour. Unai Emery is managing to the latter stages of the ECL, and is battling for fourth. Howe's 7th, could be 8th, and has now lost another 3 players to injury. A key issue for me is I don't believe Staveley really gets it. I think we're in real Gary Cook/Mark Hughes territory now and it won't change until someone significant gets appointed. Maldini would be a big statement, but I expect it'll be a promotion for Nickson.
I honestly think the summer will be another underwhelming one. I'm pretty sure they'll sell Guimareas to free up funds and the players they bring in will be basic. When this takeover went through they came out day 1 claiming they were going to win everything, but since then they've lowered the aims to becoming a regular top 6 side and now say nothing and just a sit there looking glum. Where is this ambition? They are doing nothing really just plodding along... almost 3 years in and we've got Eddie Howe as a manager , the dof is jumping ship, players like dummett and Ritchie are still here and the clubs mid table where it was for 4 years before the takeover. This takeover is not what we all thought it was going to be and I'm wondering if the Saudis just aren't that arsed... we might see another sale.
I just think it would've been better if they didn't march in saying we're going to win everything. If they'd stuck to the reality which was saying there isn't enough money to compete, but we'll give it a go, see if we can become a top 6 side and maybe win a cup one day everything would be great. I'm basically admitting I fell for it and started getting unrealistic with my expectations.. I've now let that go, but it was all avoidable if they didn't oversell the project to us.
To clarify I was going from this: https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/23/Newcastle-United/squad?se=578 I used that site for City, was in the interests of fairness, City: https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/11/Manchester-City/squad?se=578
Why is everyone getting arsy ? On Saturday the cult were out saying hahaha to the bedwetters and sounding off like they do and none of the bedwetters got arsy.. it was taken well as it should be. Why can't people question things ? Do we all have to run around blowing smoke up the club and the managers arse when when they get things wrong ? Credit when it's due and vice versa has always been my way... I unlike the cult managed that with Steve Bruce because I'm fair... Howe does well I say it and vice versa. It's just a game man.
Can’t remember anyone going overboard about the weekend. I said it was most fun I’ve had coming out the ground in a while and that was that. Likewise last night was far from the ****test I’ve seen us this calendar year let alone this season. It’s a work in progress. Moments of brilliance, moments of ****ness. Goes for just about every player in the squad this year with the possible exception of Longstaff whose moments of brilliance this year have been somewhat lacking but the lad was great last year. They say form is temporary and class is permanent but his form seems to go season by season. Either really handy or frustrating. Pissed off with a few things this year but we’ll improve and go again. get another 3 or 4 in this year and another 3 or 4 next year and we’ll be all good. just don’t see the point in getting so wound up over it. It can’t possibly be fun watching a match and hoping for mistakes just to say “I told you so” on a forum. Obi mentioned on a thread that a supporter doesn’t behave that way and he’s spot on. That’s not being a supporter it’s being a critic.
Before the West Ham game, I mentioned that it was the worst set of officials seen to come to St James' The Premier League have followed up that **** show with this set of officials Referee: Sam Allison. --- league 1 and at best championship ref, only the second Premier Game for this premier league tick box ref based on ethics and not ability, you will not find him reffing Liverpool, Man U Arsenal or City Assistants: Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. -- never liked the twat since denying Newcastle 2 blatant pens against Fulham in our first Friday night game in our last championship season VAR: Jarred Gillett. Being an Australian A league ref does not make you a Premier League ref -- Another Premier league Referee tick box ticked Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.
I agree it's work in progress ... I can't help being critical it's all about credit when it's due. Let's accept I'm just that annoying ****. We get the I told you so stuff mate it's just banter to me I'm sorry if you don't like it. Everyone is wound up about it.. It's all getting a bit silly and there's two sides this... we all want Newcastle to win though, so let's all just brush differences in opinions off.
It's OK. The game is being rescheduled because our coach driver broke his foot and the team have no way of getting to Fulham.
