The Fish

I also think that because he can cover in the midfield he'll get minutes here and there before establishing himself as first choice.

See this is where I think a lot of criticisms stem from. Just because we're in the CL this season there's a stack of people who think that we're already there. We're a long way away from that being a genuine concern, aren't we? Look at how congested the field is; ARS, CHE, LIV, MCI, MNU, TOT, and Newcastle. Plus challengers like Aston Villa and Brighton. That's 9 teams gunning for 5 spots. To establish ourselves as Champions League regular we'd have to not only oust one of Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, but keep the rest at bay too. We simply don't have the depth or quality to do that regularly, yet.

All we've heard is that this is a long term project, so it makes sense to sign two young players with high ceilings when they're available. We've also signed up a highly rated 16yr old fullback from Wolves, and Ashby from West Ham. Said it before but, we're 2-3yrs ahead of schedule so a top half finish this season (which I think is eminently doable with the current squad) will form the foundation for those young players to break through, maybe add some more players in January too? I'm zen.

https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united-news-ps15m-stars-ps100k-per-week-wage-packet-revealed-reports-3728574

One of the good things about the transfers we've done so far, there are very few who I'd put in that bracket. Target, Burn, maybe? Even then Burn's wages aren't crippling and he's one of those players who'd 'do a job' for a lot of teams in the Premier League after a couple of years. Target's reported wages are eyebrow raising (£100k), and so we may find him harder to shift. But the rest of the deals seem like good business. Our issue is getting shot of legacy players like Hendrick.

I note you've chosen managers from times gone by, but would Guardiola, Klopp permit it? maybe, yeah. Also mutliple title winners for what it's worth. He's not as good as he was last season, but nobody is. I don't think he deserves to be singled out for criticism. I don't think his performances have been particularly bad, and maybe his mind is on his kid, but the problems at Newcastle this season aren't because he's out of sorts. I also don't think him being out of sorts is significantly down to the child, or instagram or anything like that. I honestly believe it's more to do with the system and his teammates.

Fuck that, move to Cheshire. The trains are fine, worst you have to put up with is a Mortimerian Train Guy. Driving is better though, main roads can get canny busy, but the back roads are generally quieter and lovely countryside. Plus, and I know this would be a deal breaker, fewer seagulls.

And I appreciate your patronage.

Joe Fagone C'mon lads, do I have to do it all myself?

Intuition isn't measurable, but it isn't reliable either. He's not playing as well as the image some people have of him, but he's not playing particularly badly. The whole team is off at the minute, and I don't know why. Maybe it's the new additions, maybe it's old players disgruntled at being pushed to the side, maybe it's introducing a new system. But what it definitely isn't, is Bruno Guimaraes kissing the badge or bringing his baby onto the field. We're not pressing as well as we did last season, but that's across the whole team, so something's amiss there. And because we're not pressing, we're not as incisive, not as creative when we recover the ball. We look hesitant.

Is it, or have we played 4 of last seasons best sides, with a new system and a new midfielder? Bruno is still performing ok. I think he's just a victim of the issues above AND a victim of the hype that surrounds him.

What was that taken with? A Nokia 3310? re: shit holes I took the lad to the Gruffalo clubhouse in Blackpool last week. Jesus H tittyfucking Christ is Blackpool a horror show. Bloke passed out surrounded by cans in a doorway on the main seafront, houses and shop fronts boarded up, some with windows smashed in, families having to guide their kids around broken bottles on the street and all that stuff. Not blaming anyone who lives there, but it shows how little the government gives a shit about other people.

Jimmy Snuffit more like.

There is isn't any point in a "Play better!" bollocking. You have to instruct him what to do, why he needs to do it, what areas of his game are easily fixed with application and what the benefits will be to him and his team. This is the difference between a Roy Keane and an Eddie Howe. This isn't about PASHUN, it's about focus and confidence. You try focussing, or having confidence in something, while some drill sergeant is screaming that you are a 5' 6" pile of shit.

I dunno about you, but getting an aimless bollocking doesn't motivate me.

Well I just dropped my lad off at school for his first day. So I'll be wistfully looking of photos of him when he was a bairn for the rest of the morning. My ovaries clacking together like conkers battles before the fat cats in the EU ruined everything.

You're kicking up a fuss about the word fluid? How would you describe it then? "umuhhhh fingy like y'knaa geet changey abouty an that"

Trippier - Progressor Schar - Spreader Botman - Aggressor Burn - Safety Tonali - Creator Bruno - Creator Joelinton - Box crasher Gordon- Wide Threat Isak - Roamer Almiron - Box Crasher Wilson - Finisher Barnes - Wide Threat Anderson - Unlocker Longstaff - Orchestrator

Get fucked, that's not me you tuber tasting twat

Belated congrats PL. I'm not going to criticise the shirt. However, the 'Hello sailor' hand position?

It's a different type of pressure isn't it? The opportunities for disaster are far higher if Newcastle are dispossessed around their box, but when Joelinton is bursting through into the final 3rd, the risks aren't as high. You need someone like Bruno, who can win or receive the ball under pressure, and find a pass or move the ball up the pitch another way. Joelinton can't really do that. He can receive the ball around their box and either use his strength to hold it up for runners, or be that runner himself. That kind of play doesn't work in the defensive third.

Great minds. but what the hell were you thinking when you deliberately typed out "teqnique"? Are you just doing it to wind me up?

Joelinton is the most destructive player we have in terms of physicality and effort, but he's no DM. Defensive midfielders need a greater intelligence on, and awareness of, the pitch. You'd also lose one of his biggest assets; the ability to drive forward with the ball. He'll not beat a man with pace or trickery, but the power with which he attacks a defender scares the shit out of them. All three of them are best when they're progressing the ball forwards, either through power (Joe), passing (Sandro) or a bit of both (Bruno). All three would benefit hugely from someone like Rice, Caicedo, Rodri etc.

Definitely agree with this. Fluidity in the centre and up front too would make us very difficult to defend against, no matter if the opponents set up zonal or man for man. But it's very hard to get right and can lead to spaces appearing and being taken advantage of by the other team. Honestly, I think a top tier DM would mean that the front three and two of the 8s could provide the fluidity, because they have a solid base to build from. Unfortunately we'd have to spend nearly all of our annual budget to get a really top class one. Either that or stalk Brighton's scouts and gazump them when they settle on a 20yr old plying his trade in Bolivia's Liga Nacional B.