Who ever said the side was good? We are at least 2 years from being able to get up with the protected 6.
If you’d told me under Ashley that in four years we’d have European qualification in our hands going to Brentford on the last day of the season I’d have been delighted. I still am delighted. Of course I’m easily pleased - I’m a Newcastle fan not a plastic Manc. Success is not something we are used to.
I don’t know how anyone thought trippier was ready. I don’t know how both Amad and Garnacho were permanently unmarked at corners. I don’t know who decided trippier should be on all set plays. I don’t know who decided back post to burn was literally the only tactic from corners. I don’t know who decides Longstaff is a permanent fixture in this side. I don’t know who thought Barnes was a good purchase. I don’t know who didn’t think the best tactic wasn’t to attack Casemiro, Amrabat and Evans at pace. I don’t know who thought Almiron was worth bringing in in the same formation. What I DO know is whoever made these decisions isn’t ****ing good enough.
I don’t know how anyone thought trippier was ready. He wasn't, due to injury to Tino's ankle on Saturday (now out for season) he had to play Trippier after he put himself forward. (post match interview - Howe) I don’t know how both Amad and Garnacho were permanently unmarked at corners. One's 5` 8" (Amad) One's 5`10" (Garnacho) - Should hardly be a threat and probably other priorities if you want to leave an attacking threat on the break. I don’t know who decided trippier should be on all set plays. That will be down to Tripps as captain pulling rank, trying to do something to get himself back in England contention. FWIW He wasn't on every set play as Hall was taking some free kicks from the deeper areas swinging crosses in. I don’t know who decided back post to burn was literally the only tactic from corners. I'll go with Tindall saying as that's his domain. Trippier saying as he was player doing it at the time. And quite frankly, with a normal flapping Onana I would have done the same hoping one would be dropped in his own net. I don’t know who decides Longstaff is a permanent fixture in this side. The physio would be my guess saying as eveyone's injured. A more important question would be why the **** was Anderson playing in front of Joelinton? I don’t know who thought Barnes was a good purchase. Not me, brink back Maxi. Can only point finger at Mr Can't stick a job more than 3 years (including gardening leave/s). I don’t know who didn’t think the best tactic wasn’t to attack Casemiro, Amrabat and Evans at pace. with the choice of Bruno, Anderson and Longstaff through the middle????? Isak can't hit all 3 of them through the middle on his own. I don’t know who thought Almiron was worth bringing in in the same formation. Pretty much everyone if the choice is Murphy or Miggy. Granted it's like choosing which bollock you'd want cut off first. Difference between Murph and Miggy is I'm guessing it's shop window time for Miggy. What I DO know is whoever made these decisions isn’t ****ing good enough. Would you do a straight swap of Howe for Southgate? I sure as **** wouldn't.
There's 20 clubs....8th would fall into the middle third which is mid table. I have doubts that things will improve under this manager.... that doesn't mean I'm wrong either. It’s merely my assessment and others have the opposite opinion. Will things improve in the future? I would certainly think so, but it's not a guarantee like many seem to think.... those days are gone ... there's obstacles in the way and the big 6 are going nowhere.
I'm not even close to wetting my bed but we really do need to win something, anything, to get that monkey off our back. It just seems that when we get to crunch games we can't do the job. I honestly think this is a club mindset thing that permeates onto the pitch. We let the occasion get to us desperate to win and it's those minute details, like just over hitting a cross or too eager to get in on goal and mistime a run that makes the difference. You can see we create chances and then as the game goes on we fade as disappointment and sets in the early dump of adrenaline takes its toll. Obviously we are not Real Madrid but they are the perfect example of a team who the occasion or even the current in game situation simply does not faze them. They just go about their business from minute 1-90 because they have the experience and club culture of being in those situations.
It’s because they have winners in charge with a winning manager and winning players. None of this “they have to fit in with our happy flappy culture and fan base” who accept mediocrity but do give it a good do. I said I would judge each season on progress. My question to everyone is have we made progress since last season. Have things improved. If it’s the injuries (excuse) then what are we doing to resolve it. 8th I am sure a lot of people at the start of the season would say that’s not good enough. So why is it now?
I agree with the general consensus that until Newcastle win a trophy, the fanbase will be an anxious and annoyed one. I mean, talk about bridesmaid never the bride. We have been so close to not just cups, but even the league, in a lot of fans lifetimes. The league cup final defeat, something I still get pissed off about. We desperately need a cup or something.
You do realise we have another game to play, against a not great team, and just equalling Man U's result will get us 7th?
We should definitely be getting 7th like. On paper man Utd have a better team than us, so losing there isn't terrifying
