I think we've sold max and bought Elanga for 3 times the price too. It's questionable too. Newcastle are going to wind up in bother soon if they don't get some goals in the squad. The side really looks a bit try hard atm. Very solid but no real fizz. Needs some goals and flair in all areas... Could end up like Everton if they're not careful.
Mate Villa haven't been beaten at home for a year, we should've won and with a striker (or even just composure) we would've won. Elanga's a decent player, lot to learn of course. You and I agree that there just isn't any stardust in this side - Tonali's the most likely and he's a bloody CDM. Hard work has a limit - teams at the top need more and have a Salah, Cherki, Palmer, Wirtz, etc. I just don't think we'll ever get one under steady Eddie.
We have absolutely nothing particularly dangerous anywhere. We don't even have anyone that is good at free kicks. We're good at passy to an extent and work hard too. Some time left to fix it, but if they don't we're in for a long season.
Even with them there's almost nothing coming from corners, free kicks or midfield... We're literaly devoid of goals and have relied far too much on Isak.
I agree we should be fine once we get that striker or two. It’s all we are missing right now. It’s more frustrating for me because we would almost certainly have won with a recognised striker and I am afraid Gordon is not a striker.
I think there is still so much to do at Newcastle, top to bottom. Forest pocketed £50m or so from us for Elanga, spent half that on Ndoye who immediately looks a better player (scored on his debut). We just don't do this - it's like Barnes, if we tried to sell him we'd get about £30m, losing £10m at least and having not really received meaningful contribution. For me it all comes back to our piss poor transfer model, which started so effectively before dropping off a cliff in and around the time Andy Howe became influential.
3-0. Now. We can’t hit the target with our shots. We know where we need to improve. I can’t believe we didn’t take advantage yesterday. Most top sides would have done.
Btw if Howes improving as all these players why can't they score goals? There's less coming from Joelinton and guimareas, less from Gordon,Barnes isn't even shooting much he looks aprensive and Joe Willock can't kick a ball anymore and he had goals in him. Just saying before I get attacked by a ott Howe fan... It's OK Howes great, but I'm challenging a narrative that's all.
The goals have dried up. But we can address that. But will we? Wissa should help. Ramsey is creative.
Here is the flaw... Other clubs will sell their proven prem players at a high price with a cheaper and what they believe better player having been identified by their recruitment teams. Elanga is dangerous, but it has to be remembered Man United got rid at 16 million and he does look at bit maxy, so far anyway... Very early to judge
Howe's strengths seem to be fitness and work ethic. Feels like Joelinton is going backwards as well, hasn't really been good for a while. Willock dropped off a cliff. Gordon's also turned into a lot of huff and puff, but that header was amateurish yesterday, Also something else I've noticed - our players are very quiet, nobody seems capable of calling for the ball. Trippier and Bruno are a bit more vocal but the rest seem silent. That Burn/Schar mix up was bizarre.
All based on a false assumption. 1. Big Joe has never in his time with us scored an adequate number of goals when considering the position he was playing. 2. Bruno. Always chipped in a few but not a lot. 3.Gordon. See Bruno save he did go through brief goalscoring purple patch. 4. Barnes has a decent goals/minutes ratio for position being played. So, not saying you're twisting the facts to suit your narrative but you're twisting the facts to suit your narrative. Edit. And Willock is permanently injured.
There's so many that have burrowed themselves into this idea Howe is right about everything and improving everything. I've noticed that they attribute everything positive to Howe, but if somethings doesn't work, they blame the owners or even journalists at this point. Howes in game management is another very questionable one.... Literally took off better players for worse players vs 10 men yesterday... Like seriously
Chelsea are playing a bit like us mind. Lots of sideways passes with no real penetration and little movement. Chelsea have hardly had a break mind aswell. We will be fine when we get Wissa in. A thought is our players don’t know how to feed Gordon because he’s not a natural striker. So it all gets a bit huff and puff because we are not fluid. I expect a striker in and playing before Liverpool. I also suspect we might get a result against them.
Oh, in game he remains very poor. Osula on in the 90th minute for a completely ineffective Barnes was just bizarre. Why not give him at least 10 mins? He might be headless but he's fast and has energy for days, he'd at least have given them something unknown. Murphy for Elanga was equally stupid - why not Murphy for Trippier? Honestly if they make another Amazon series about us I suggest they name it "433 til I die".
Well as everyone at Newcastle is off on a Sunday, not sure where your optimism comes from. They'll have emails and team meetings first thing in the morning, around 10am. Leaves 7 hours (minus one for lunch) to secure a striker, but presumably they'll all be tied up working on the Ramsey photoshoot. We'll be playing 5-4-1 vs Liverpool anyway. Sorry, 5-5-0.