The Fish

That's awful for him, and them. He was such a outstanding performer for them last season.

I think we put in a 'thoroughly professional' performance against Sheffield, compete with Man City in the League Cup, then turn our baleful gaze to Burnley and raze the club to it's very foundations. Epic poems will be written about the torment and suffering those muggy little Lancashire goblins endure.

Seeing a lot of criticism of Gordon, or Isak, and Burn, but the issues are 100% the central midfield. Sort that out and everything else will fit into place nicely. Bruno's form is improving and yesterday he was closer to what we expect from him, calm under pressure, linking up with Longstaff, breaking their press with a pass or a move. Much better. However, him, Tonali and Longstaff just don't have the familiarity to play the way we di last season with Joe/Joe, Burno and Longstaff. Tonali is a different kind of player and that's taking a while to dovetail with the other profiles. I'm sure had Longstaff not been injured Tonali would have been eased into the side as is Howe's usual approach. The other issue is that teams are avoiding our high press by clipping the ball over it to the flanks. This is where we need a more front foot left back and a more cohesive central midfield. Last season, so many of our goals came from our wide men or striker putting pressure on their fullbacks and centre backs and forcing errors high up the field. So our creative play was beginning 25-30yds from their goal. We need a way to either lure them into playing to their fullbacks, or develop a creative pathway from deeper. Without a true blue number 6 I think we have to play Longstaff as his endeavour and understanding with Bruno makes Bruno + A.N. Other much much better. Our defence was solid last night, but our midfield and attack were misfiring. This is partly due to confidence, partly familiarity and partly due to injury disruptions. We'll be fine. Anyone even suggesting that we should be considering peddling Howe is a fickle prick. We've pasted Villa, competed with Man City, were unlucky against Liverpool, got pasted by Brighton, put in a professional performance against Brentford and, most importantly, gone drew with Milan. In the club's first CL game in 20yrs. 5 players making their CL debut. Several players making their European debut. Without some key players available. Away from home. At a famous old club. To last season's semi finalists. Yes they had 25 Shots but, of those, only 8 were on target, with an xG of 2.2 and a Post Shot xG of 1.2. In other words, they took a load of hit and hope shots, from not particularly optimal positions, and Pope didn't have to make any world class saves to keep us in it. Our best player was Trippier or Longstaff, their best player was Timori. By a mile. Leao was very ASM-like. Calabria didn't know what to do with Gordon and was hooked at half time because he 100% would have got another yellow if he wasn't. Once we get the midfield more confident, assured, and when we get players back from injury or out of poor form, we'll be a much better prospect. We'll do 'em in the return leg.

Where has our on-the-ball confidence gone?

I can't help you out , but I didn't want your earnest plea for help lost in the mire of petty point scoring from these useless gobshites.

It's been merged with their Uber thread, but on what I can only assume is the 15th page I saw this; So, tunstallhill here, is so not bothered about Newcastle United, he's watching our U21s play against Milan on UEFA.tv, and having an opinion about it all.

Perhaps the brum brum forums have fewer absolute blabbermouth cunts?

Aye, this should just be put down as a great experience for the lads. There are a couple who look decent, but they're let down by lads who just aren't up to it.

Shhh, don't worry about it. It's all coming together nicely. Their lad, who's on a hat trick, looks like he's been playing first team for years. Nope. He's 15.

3-0 Milan are just way, way, better than our lads.

U21s 1-0 down to the Milan Bambinos. Our kids look way below their standard, to be fair. And now they've scored a penalty to make it 2-0

I don't think having a whitey on the hearth rug solves either problem to be honest.

They've already moved the thread about the game to their sewpa seycret hidden boward.

Same here, little man has a very set routine; tea at 6, bath 6:45, bed 7:10. So I might miss a lot of the second half.

That's pucking amazing mate, congrats.

Of course you can, my grumpy lil Yorkshuh Puddin'.

For me? Yes. It's not particularly useful though. Such a small sample size in direct competition, and not sure how valuable it would be to use each teams' league form.

A. Few. Years. They were a few years away from getting out of League 1, a few years ago.

Goals scored vs Expected goals. You don't want to be below the line for a long time (failing to put away your chances), or to the bottom left corner (not making chances or scoring them.) Goals conceded vs chances given up. You don't want to be above the line for a long time (conceding a lot of chances), or to the top right corner (giving up lots of chances and conceding from them) You want to be bottom right, creating lots and conceding few chances. You don't want to be top left. We're not doing great at the minute. Not creating much and giving up quite a few.

That is the worst typed out Italian accent I have ever seen.

"Newcastle took a while to get into their stride, you have to wonder if... " etc.

Looking forward to reading back over their match thread, regardless of the result. A Champions League match thread on a Championship message board. Something they've not had before.

My Oil Baron Brother, I have to pull you up on this bit. If Manchester City (who can replace Haaland with Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne with Foden, and Grealish with Doku) think they have a paper thin squad, what chance do the rest of us have? Like you've said, you've gentler fixtures in the league surrounding the League Cup games, and your Champions League Group is... accommodating. I'm pretty sure you could field fringe players in those fixtures and steamroller the opponents, while naming a strong team to face us.

What's the craic with this?

They can't even get people from Durham to support them, how're they going to get young lads to join their academy?