The Fish

Even then it's not like Plan A isn't a really good plan. The issue is that the squad is so decimated that a reliable Plan B is tricky to come by. Its not just the first XI that are getting injured it's their replacements and the replacement's replacement. So we haven't had a settled squad to select or cater a tactic for. Wilson and Isak have both missed great chunks of the season. So have 2/3 of our first choice midfielders; Joelinton and Tonali. Then their replacements too. Look at the fucking state of that man.

It's just lazy pundits and knee-jerk fans. Last season we benefited from our new players and new style surprising so many of the opposition, other teams having poor seasons and a good amount of luck with injuries. So our position of 4th was definitely better than expected. In many other seasons we'd have finished around 6th or 7th This time we've had to try and compete in four competitions, without a great deal of new players available and the worst injury crisis I've ever seen. Without the injuries I'd expect us to finish around 5th or 6th. We're still making progress in my opinion.

To even be in with a fucking shout of Europe given our luck this season, is remarkable. 2 domestic Quarter Finals, about 30 minutes off getting out of the group of Death, 8th in the league, 3rd best attack in the league. All with an injury list that would have most teams in the relegation conversation.

Another game where, if we had any real options from the bench we win it comfortably. Wilson, Almiron, Joelinton, Trippier, Targett, Livramento, Miley. Any one of those as choice and I think we win that comfortably. Dummett fucked us, but he was just slipping a softy into the gaper left by the John Holmes-endowed Injury List.

Plus ça change

Inherently classy.

Yeah if Lascelles doesn't go off forcing a reshuffle, we probably don't concede their equaliser or second. Barnes would likely have replaced Isak or Gordon at some point.

Genuinely, which of their players would get into our squad? ( If we weren't dry fucked by injuries?)

That fantasy is all they have. They don't match up in terms of recent quality, even in the halcyon days of Six in a Rowuh it meant more to them because they knew we were the better side, with loftier ambitions and greater chance of reaching higher heights. So they'd need something abstract upon which to pin their support.

I dunno, they might have had a better left back than us at the time, or whatever. But if you stack their very best against ours for a combined XI and the entire squad is turning out in black and white. Like, is Wilson a better forward than Bent, Defoe or Phillips? Arguably. Wilson isn't even in my top 5 Newcastle forwards of the past 40yrs.* Honestly think that's why they fawn over Henderson and Pickford even though those two played there briefly and played their best football elsewhere. It's because they're the closest claim they've got to actually good footballers. * Shearer, Beardsley, Cole, Ferdinand, Ba,

Oh aye I forgot about the 17yr old kid drafted in to cover for the injury crisis subsequently getting injured

Khai Khai was really good when I was last up.

I'd argue that a fair few of our current squad are better than any player they've had at their club in the last 40yrs. Isak, Bruno, Trippier at the very least.

Nicked off twitter: Pope - 4 months out, dislocated shoulder could be a long term issue Tripps - mental breakdown, currently injured Schar - constant niggles somehow carries on Botman - nursing injury for too long, out until the summer Burn - broke back hasn't been the same since Targett - missed most of the season Lascelles - ACL out for 6-9 months Longstaff - nursing injury all season & gone to shit Bruno - fit but not the same trying to avoid suspension for weeks on end Joelinton - out for months Willock - missed most of the season Barnes - barely kicked a ball & been out for most of the season Tonali - 10 month ban Anderson - out for months with broken back Wilson - missed months of the season Isak - missed loads of the season & nursing a groin injury when he does play Almiron - season of niggles Murphy - out for weeks with dislocated shoulder Dubravka - was playing through a mystery illness Never known a season like it

Missed most of this game and each of the 7 goals. My review is as follows

Venice is too busy, too touristy, too expensive. Even if it is arbitrary, it's right to exclude that smelly oddity.

You. I grew so very tired of your bullshit. Youngest is cluster feeding so I didn't get much sleep, then the eldest woke at 6 to tell me he needed a wee, as if he hasn't been going by himself for about 6 months. Yeeeeesh.

So. Fucking. Tired.

Those are some absolute 6-Form band names mind.

Pics or gtfo

What the fuck are you doing awake at gone 2am on a school night?

Thing is, the game against Chelsea was turned on its head after an against the run of play brain fart and slice of bad luck for Palmer's opener. If we scored first I think their fans would have turned and we'd have gone on to win. But, as with Man Utd, Chelsea's team is peppered with quality individuals who can dig them out of trouble without any broader plan. Howe is getting criticism for sticking to his style, and I understand why it would be frustrating, but I don't think he's still rigidly adhering to the high intensity, high pressure we saw last season. Trouble is, when we are chasing the game that's our most reliable goal threat. And unfortunately we're quite often chasing the game because Dubravka isn't as good as Pope. So Howe is trying to change tactics but gets pulled back to the horse what bring him.

Well, the newest member of the Fishy family was born today. 12:14, weighing a healthy 8lbs 11oz (3.94kg). Baby Girl Fish seems pretty chill so far, but has a powerful set of lungs when riled. Hopefully get back home tomorrow. No way am I sleeping tonight, on a semi-comfortable chair in a ward of 4 newborns. Mrs Fish is spark out, so the little'un. NHS staff have been amazing.