Yes the over reliance on players. Being too loyal. The Burn love at left back when he was getting skinned every game. Losing games against poor sides. These things all cost us top 6. Still 7th isn’t bad. I am just saying he made mistakes. Which he did.
I’ll agree with some of those views, it was the injuries one that some say was down to him which I think is harsh at times.
A lot of the injuries were not his fault. Probably most to be honest. Our style of play demands more from the players and without squad rotation it takes its toll. The problem he had was he didn’t have the squad to rotate because of the random injuries and things kind of just perpetuated (I think that’s a word). But I think the club mean business now hence why there is a performance director in. Interesting that Howe came out and more or less said let me do my job and you do yours to them. I like that. Howe can sit back and see what they bring in for him. They do a bad job and he just folds his hands behind his head and says “ok don’t expect miracles”.
I wasn't ready for this much optimism on a Wednesday morning lol. This must be the only time i'm wanting others english teams to do well in europe, hope the extra games and travel take it out off their squads and let us benefit.
No, no and thrice no. We were 3 points off top 6 and with a far better GD than Chelsea, a huge injury crisis cost us top 6, and only just at that.
Hot and cold reflection my friend - end of the season I couldn't believe we'd managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and left ourselves relying on other results - which in the end didn't come our way. Having looked back on it we did well, probably exactly what was expected of us (unless your DPP) and were unlucky not to get the European place. Agree with GG however - losing to the poorer (bottom half) sides is a trend we must buck next season. Year before last we lost 5 games all season with to many draws (14 I think) and not a clinical enough edge to the team, last season was falling short against teams we should have been picking up points against. Even if we'd drawn against 3 of those I've mentioned above we'd be packing our bags for another European adventure...
Imo we finished outside the top six because of critical injuries, the biggest ones being Pope and Joelinton.
This all day. Drop off between Pope and Dubravka was like gulf between our squad and Sunderland. Likewise injury to Joelinton left Burn as open as Katie Prices legs
4-6th is a safe call. I think if we finish lower than that without either a trophy or a very good reason then Howe will be off. I feel 5th but will qualify for the Champions League from there as the English clubs will do well. I also think we'll win the League Cup. Honestly I do. Don't think I've ever said we'll win a cup before so there you go.
As things stand I'd probably go with this... But I'm going to currently settle on 'not a clue until we see who we end up signing'.
They're short on quality and it doesn't appear they'll be doing anything significant in this window.. Fingers crossed otherwise.
Newcastle United are eager to push through a move for AC Milan and Germany defender Malick Thiaw, 22, for about £35m. (Times - subscription required)
