I didn't think much when I first saw him (first half at home to City in the league cup, he was awful but playing midfield), but looked great at the end of last season. Certainly way better than Kelly or Burn at LB.
I hope Howe uses tomorrow as a bit of a free swing to make some tactical tweaks to the team. I'd like to see us be a bit more aggressive in our formation and start playing with a CAM (Willock/Joelinton/Miggy) to support Isak. Bruno and Tonali as the 2 holding CM's. Stop with this inverted full back ****e that he seems to be trying to get going as well - Tino is rapid and has the energy to get up and down the pitch and needs to be allowed to bomb on not go and sit in the CDM position wasting his best attributes.
Not really. We have got 10 points from 15 games where we haven't been playing consistently well and everyone has been saying its the end of the world, there is something seriously wrong at the club, there are dressing room issues, Howe has to go, PIF are going to pull out etc. A good performance tomorrow will show that it was an early season blip, which we have actually come through okay, and we can look forward to the difficult next month and a half with more confidence. When I say we I mean most of us. You and Roly can carry on as usual.
LB is a concern still, unless Hall really accelerates, Pope is getting worse, then you’ve got four defenders over 32 and no competent right winger. Add in the 10 or so out of contract players (albeit overlapping with some of the above) I think squad overhaul is probably about right. That’s the issue when you stagnate over a few windows (3 of the last 4) - it catches up with you. Mitchell said something like 3 in 6 out or some such, every window?
Cast your minds back if you will to last season, when the same XI were played to exhaustion by November, and Trippier and Burn costing us a number of goals at various points. Howe said this today: “I’m a big believer in rewarding people that are playing well. I’m a big believer in there’s no set team, everyone has to earn their place. If you’re not earning your place, you can’t play.” I’m confused. He also confirmed Isak played with a broken toe last week, using pain injections, and was fine until they wore off. Im clearly no expert but isn’t this a bit stupid?
He said similar after the last match, when asked about Tonali. Sounded like making excuses to try to explain away the lack of Tonali in the starting lineup last weekend. Certainly didn't feel completely true, as he's looked to have his favourites, particularly last season, regardless of form.
This game is a free hit anyway gentlemen... as much as I take the piss out of you all I do think this one will see Newcastle put in a performance and they might even win.
I'm not sure you could iron out the creases of the assessment that we are at an all time low. That one's pretty creased up.
That kind of comment makes me look balanced. All time low?! Even going by the fact there's no such thing as football before Sky got involved, didn't we play Rotherham away less than a decade ago?
Oh my god. That was a bet on finishing 5th which wasn't unrealistic at the time. No, cos the suggestions were ****e.
