The Official Newcastle United Thread

[Blib]

And, here's me thinking you were on your way to buying winning your first trophy under the new 'regime'.

[ajap1979]

Blib said:

And, here's me thinking you were on your way to buying winning your first trophy under the new 'regime'.

Haha, bet you'd take it as a Spurs fan though

[Skyedriver]

Chicken Chaser said:

I've calmed down since last night, and although think that we played well enough to win on another day when things went our way, our purple patch is probably coming to an end.

I still believe that a European competition spot has to be target for finishing this season given how well we performed at the start. It raises the profile and with it, the sponsorships and the calibre of players we can attract. We probably do need several additions if we are looking to compete in Europe, a selection of players from Ritchie, Dummett, Lewis, Lascelles, Fraser, Manquillo probably leaving the club at the end of the season.

I hope that now this is out of the way we can find some form again in the league. Hopefully Targett will be fit again to give Dan Burn a rest, switch out Wilson for Isak and get some goals flowing. I know a lot of people have said it is just the start, but we all know how fickle football is and a few poor results can really turn the fortunes of a team. I'm hopeful that won't be us..

Ryan Fraser has been relegated to working with the youth team I read the other day. Can't believe he's not getting a game, quick and accurate long distance passes and a Scottish international too. A waste of his talent, yes he'll be away at the end of the season. Might be time to move Callum Wilson on too, he looks really lost.

[Scaleybrat]

Skyedriver said:

Might be time to move Callum Wilson on too, he looks really lost.

He just hasn’t been the same player after the World Cup. He’s not even getting into goal scoring opportunities, some of that is due to poor service but also seems to be down to a lack of something - confidence, fitness or luck. Unless he turns it around quickly, I can’t see him being at Newcastle next season.
Eddie has been lucky to play a settled team most of the season but lack of squad depth has made it a necessity rather than a choice. The team look stale at the moment, they need somebody/something to spark the team back to life. ASM has tried hard to make things happen in the last few games but end product has been lacking, although he was closest to scoring in the final.
I’m just hoping our season doesn’t fizzle out and we can, at least, secure a Europa League slot. It’s not my favourite tournament but will be a good stepping stone to increase income and bring in new players.

[ellroy]

A game too far against a better opposition who are bang in form.

Not overly disappointed, always suspected we’d need to be at our best and they less than.

Remember where we were 12 months ago.

Onwards and upwards.

[castex]

I was very disappointed but not surprised. My thoughts on the squad for the final:

Karius: Like his attitude / persona. Did well, Keep him around.
Trippier: Part of the furniture forever. Sort your dead balls out pls fella.
Schar: Decent back-up.
Botman: Long-term 1st team.
Burn: has been glorious. Good lad. We seem to miss Targett's dynamics. Keep him around / will be a decent coach I reckon.
Longstaff: working low-key heroics every game. Not someone we want to let go.
Guimaraes: Sensational. Solid gold. Never sell, and build to keep him here.
Joelinton: As above.
Almiron: Another player with some skill and a fantastic attitude / work ethic. A keeper.
Saint-Maximin: I love Allan dearly, although we've never met. Give him a new contract s'il vous plait.
Wilson: Looks finished. Media distractions. Has until the summer to turn things around for a short-term contract.

Subs:
Gillespie: No idea about this chap.
Lascelles: Goodbye and good luck.
Ritchie: As above.,
Targett: Decent squad player, will be needed over the months to come.
Isak: Has the raw materials. Needs week-in-week-out starts and proper integration. Runs like a cheetah...Isaak's gonna be a world beetah.
Manquillo: Gracias y adios
Murphy: Keep this bonny lad. Has a proper go. Quality lols.
Willock: squad rotation for now.
Anderson: seems still to be in embryonic phase. We like the geordie boys. Keep him, develop him.

Edited by castex on Monday 27th February 21:44

[Skyedriver]

Like playing with 10 men with Wilson on the pitch.
City are pretty hot too.

[Skyedriver]

Joelinton off and Isak on?
Wilson off ASM ON?

[TameRacingDriver]

Agreed, you can certainly see the difference between the two teams, City clearly better. Wilson really has lost his mojo as well.

[Skyedriver]

Feck

[Skyedriver]

Not a bad foul by Burn,over acting by grealish

[Skyedriver]

Frustrating.
City the better team, we weren't bad, just not as good. Lacking in front of goal and giving the ball away like a charity.

[ellroy]

Skyedriver said:

Not a bad foul by Burn,over acting by grealish

I truly dislike that floppy haired, diving, waste of oxygen.

Better team, and more importantly better where it really counts.

We’ve done well so far this season, arguably outperformed, but the depth of squad of the top few teams and their quality is starting to tell.

Cannot & will not complain. Better than us will come properly unstuck against this lot.

[ajap1979]

Real danger of Liverpool, Fulham and Brighton moving above us in the coming weeks.

[TameRacingDriver]

City were clearly the better team today. As usual, we don't look like scoring. As soon as a goal goes in, it's game over. When the subs came on, ASM et al, they looked more dangerous, but then City finished the game off minutes later. Callum Wilson really needs dropping, if not sold in summer.

[Chicken Chaser]

Predictable result. Unless we suddenly rediscover how to score then I'm not sure where this is going to end. Although we still have plenty energy in midfield, we are so toothless up front, we are just as likely to score as when we played Bruce ball at the start of last season.

If Eddie doesn't see Isak as a CF, then why isn't he playing him in the starting line up? If he does, then he should have dropped Wilson to the bench a few games ago and let him get back to whatever he's lost since the WC.

Willock looked lively when he came on which is in contrast with his usual meandering when he starts and credit also goes to Lascelles for a solid performance.

Think we need to see Targett coming back into the side, put Willock Longy and Bruno in the middle with big Joe out for 2 games and 2 from Gordon/Miggy/ASM alongside Isak.

[Scaleybrat]

Chicken Chaser said:

Think we need to see Targett coming back into the side, put Willock Longy and Bruno in the middle with big Joe out for 2 games and 2 from Gordon/Miggy/ASM alongside Isak.

Agree, Targett should come back into the team and move Dan Burn back to central defence.

Wilson is done - the recruiting team will be looking for quality strikers.

[Chicken Chaser]

Scaleybrat said:

Agree, Targett should come back into the team and move Dan Burn back to central defence.

Wilson is done - the recruiting team will be looking for quality strikers.

I don't believe he's done, but whatever happened between November and now (he had COVID but no idea whether that's had an impact) has made a massive difference to his ability. He looks off the pace and the hum of rumour probably now affects his confidence. I don't think we should shut the door on him but any top side doesn't just have 2 options.

[Scaleybrat]

Chicken Chaser said:

I don't believe he's done, but whatever happened between November and now (he had COVID but no idea whether that's had an impact) has made a massive difference to his ability. He looks off the pace and the hum of rumour probably now affects his confidence. I don't think we should shut the door on him but any top side doesn't just have 2 options.

OK, let’s see. My prediction is Callum will not be in the mix next year. If he is, something has gone wrong.

[ellroy]

On a lighter, and more positive, note.

Dwight Gayle.

That is all.