Absolutely incredible, never seen anything like it while being a Newcastle fan since the chrissy hughton days in the championship where we thrashed everyone 5/6-0. Disappointed we conceded, but that's the only negative. Extremely confident of champions league football. Ratings - Pope - 6 - Didn't have much to do. Trippier - 7 - His deliveries were not always great, and he did get caught up the pitch at times but I suppose that could be forgiven considering we were so far ahead. Mostly good. Schar - 9 - I'll be generous and give him a 9 despite the fact he let Kane in so easily. Insane passing and two assists. All over the shop today. Great performance, only one bad moment. Botman - 8 Burn - 8 Longstaff - 7- Worked hard as usual but the ****er is useless in the box. Bruno - 8.5 - Bossed midfield Willock - 8.5 - Exceptional ball for the 4th, great performance apart from finishing. Joelinton - 10 - Goal, assist, all over the place. MOTM. Isak - 9 - Great goals, skills and build up play. Murphy - 9- Two great goals. I only don't give him higher some of his decision making in build up play is ****. Wilson - 7 Manquillo - 6 - Bog standard defender. Very defensively minded, doesn't do a lot going forward. Gordon - 6 - I'm yet to see anything spectacular from him but he does work hard and makes decent runs. Lascelles - 6 Almiron - 6
Been looking forward to your take on this one Tash. Surprised I haven’t seen the local Kleenex shortage on the news yet.
You'll see nationwide clogged pipes with all the crusty kleenex flushed down the toilets and also a sock shortage as I've had to stock pile on cheap socks.
Seriously though what an insane match and an insane result. Not going to lie, the best part is that it’s players like Joelinton and Murphy tearing the cartel apart. If we do go down the Chelski/Man City route and just buy a team of superstars in future (and I hope we don’t) then we might find ourselves looking back on this season as a golden age. This is raw passion translated into success on the pitch by the alchemist Eddie Howe. You can’t buy that.
Wowzers! What a 20 mins that was! Blew them away. Remember being 2-0 up in 9 mins and thinking "if they get one back" even after the third and Kane getting a shot off I was still thinking "if they get an early on back now"... by 5-0 though I was, honestly, just laughing, I didn't know what to do with myself! Depending on other results I believe we could be qualified by the end of the week. Obviously not mathematically but with the below fixtures, if Man U win both their games and Liverpool and Spurs draw we could be on 65 points with Spurs on 54, Villa on 54, Liverpool on 54 and Brighton on 55 and everyone wins their other games - while having a game in hand over spurs and villa (4 games remaining), level on games with the dippers (5 games remaining) although Brighton (7 games remaining) have a few games in hand but the entire top 4 to play still in those 7. Would take a monumental **** up on our part in the realms of the 12 point lead blown NUFC - Everton (3), Southampton (3) P 33 Pts 65 Spurs - Man U (0), Liverpool (1) P 34 Pts 54 Villa - Fulham (3), Man U (0) P 34 Pts 54 Liverpool - West Ham (3), Spurs (1) P 33 Pts 54 Brighton - Forest (3), Wolves (3) P 31 Pts 55
Agree. So, so much has to go wrong for us to blow it from here. We have to effectively be turned off at the wall to **** it up from here, based on how many points we have given up so far this season.
Regardless of what @Roy Munson says, I think LiVARpool are too far back based on this seasons inconsistencies. Spuds and Villa are not going to make it. Brighton are a bigger worry for me, but they have a tough run, little rest and unless they win their 2 games in hand 6-0, an inferior goal difference (as things stand). I'll never think it's in the bag till it's mathematically impossible for us not to **** it, but it's almost done.
I'm actually even a little disappointed that after being 5-0 up in 20 mins we didn't put double figures past them and totally end them as anything like a competitive force for the next decade or something. That probably would have seen any decent players all leave, an inability to get anyone in Inc a decent new manager, fans walking out until Leavy is gone and all sorts
If it gets better than this then we’re in for hell of a ride. That first 20 mins was us at our most clinical in living memory. How we held it together for the rest of the match is also impressive. The fact it came a week after our most disappointing game is a statement of the resilience of the squad - they’re up for finishing as high as possible. Spurs were already on the beach and took a hiding for it. Our focus was acute and for 90 minutes. At this stage of the season this will really boost us. I saw some post game shirt swapping going on - I hear Richarlison got two Toon shirts! That must be massively embarrassing for everyone connected with their club. But a statement of intent has been sent out. Hope Schar is ok for Thursday and the same team can carry on the magnificent work.
Pope - 6 - agreed, little to do Trippier 7 - played well and kept the team going, deserved a break Schar - 8 - not as generous as Tash, felt the Kane goal showed why he should be replaced in the summer, only real bit of defending he had to do but on the ball he's class Botman - 7 - did what he needed to well Burn - 8.5 - been clamouring for Target but Burn clearly enjoyed himself, bombing forwards, unlucky his header hit Longstaff Longstaff - 7 - back in the team and got a good assist, engine on the lad is insane Bruno - 8 - tidy performance, love his switching of play, everything good we do goes through him Willock - 9 - what a pass, worth the entry fee alone and could have had a goal if he kept his shot a bit more controlled Murphy - 9.5 - I'd have given him MOTM for his face after the second goal alone, best game for him in the shirt and growing in confidence Joelinton - 9.5 - goal, assist, tackles, passes, turns, dribbles, if you'd told me he'd be this good 18 months ago I'd have suggested your pill dosage need increasing Isak - 9.5 - so close to a hattrick, the tracking back after losing the ball, just an absolute baller, 23, only been here 9 months and already on course for legendary status in my eyes. Subs Manquillo - 7 - did well in both directions, tough on him as he's had so little game time Lacselles - 6 - no much to do either Gordon - 6 - lost the ball a few times and should have scored his chance Almiron - 7.5 - looked busy as ever in his 30 mins, good to see him back still creating chances and got the assist Wilson - 7 - Strikers finish, did little else though but a great option to have Howe - 10 - I wanted him originally but boy oh boy I didn't realise How(e) good he would be, to get that reaction after the worst display of the season is a testament to his managerial talent. The lads clearly love playing for him. Should be manager of the season for me!
