David Kelly

I really do like that Howe never seems to fall into the trap of being a whinging cunt like Klopp, Arteta, Maresca, et al. Even when it was suggested to him we've been unlucky conceding in added on time against Liverpool and Arsenal he just said that we must learn to do better. You can see the impact those managers actions have on their players (Saka whinging that they never get the decisions on Sunday being a prime example) and fans. Maybe you have to be like that to win the big trophies (although it's certainly not helped Arsenal so far) but I'd much rather we have Howe stay as he is.

We need to get Tonali's contract extension sorted sharpish. I really don't see us getting back in the champions league next season so we don't want to be negotiating it from that weaker position. Get it done now because he is clearly the best player we have and other clubs will be sniffing around him soon enough.

We are seeing the result of the awful summer. I never agreed with what some said in that even with losing the rat, we ended up having a good transfer window. It's not just about the squad you end up with, it's what opportunity Howe and his coaches have had to work with that squad and get them ready for the season. He basically had no time with anyone but Elanga. That would be bad most summers, but when you're also having to replace a key member of the squad with players who have come in after you've played 3 games, you're asking for trouble. It's not like bringing in players like for like who will eventually replace the player who's still there (which is no doubt the plan with Elanga/Murphy & Thiaw/Schar) we've brought in a very different striker to the very important one we had. We are going to have to make changes and it's going to take time. It was clear from Friday's press conference that Howe was a bit pissed off that he basically hasn't had the chance to work with the players because of the summer and now the amount of games that we are having. Playing weekend/midweek/weekend just doesn't afford you the time to do the work he would want to do, especially after that summer. Injuries to Ramsey and Wissa in particular certainly aren't helping. Wissa would probably allow us to play in a way much more similar to how we did with Isak and take a lot of pressure off Waltemade (who is handling it well so far but clearly not used to physical requirements of the team and the league). I don't have any long term concerns though, we're more than capable of getting through this difficult spell and going on a five or six match winning run that jumps us up the league. But I do expect this season to be something of a transitional season. We simply can't expect be able to play in exactly the same way with the changes up front. We need to work out a way to play with the players we now have.

Never ever bloody anything ever.

Reminds me myself in Ibiza many years ago after my first pill.

Interesting to see Howe's quote about his training performances. It's clearly something Howe feels is massively important and I get the feeling that it's something that Osula has taken some time to get his head around. I still don't think he's good enough to be starting for us against anyone but lower league opposition, but he now has three goals this season so hopefully it's a sign of him progressing.

Thought Miley played really well for the most part last night. He had a poor opening ten minutes or so when he couldn't find a teammate to save his life, and he was certainly at fault for the goal (even if it was a blatant handball) but in between he started being much more progressive with the ball which led to us looking much better going forward. Big Nick's link up play is superb. If we can get people running past him, and possibly get him and Wissa playing together, I think he'll be a massive (obviously) asset. Overall a solid performance dispatching obviously weaker opposition is not something to be sniffed at. We've seen us slip up so many times over the years in games like this, but under Howe these days (lets forget Cambridge) those sort of things are no longer a massive fear.

Schar is out of this and the Arsenal game under concussion protocols. I'd imagine Thaiw will start against Arsenal so Lascelles may get the nod tonight. Although I think I'd be happier to see Thaiw get more game readiness in preparation for Sunday than I would seeing Lascelles get a bit game time.

I've been going with the assumption that he's been working full time on our defensive set plays.

I'll give that a watch.

Never seen much of him but he was outstanding last night.

Those two were unreal last night. First time in ages that Tonali didn't stand out as better than who he was playing against. We played very decently last night and had we scored first (which we could easily have) the result could have been different. Can't be upset with the performance and the fact I'm disappointed with the result against one of the worlds best is a good thing.

My cousin was on Newcastle's books up to about 15 and then he was released. He never once played football again after that as being with the academy totally took all enjoyment away for him. Surprisingly his son is now there, and apparently a much better player. Wor lass's grandson is a canny little player but at 8 he's not up to the academy standard. He just loves everything about football (and pretty much every other sport tbf). I'm glad he can just enjoy playing with his mates at that age. He's certainly not a bad player and might manage more when he's older (he's had a good appreciation of space from the start) but I'd hate to see him not doing it just for the love of it.

That Tino video is probably the best thing that the club's ever produced.

I guess that they must think he really is something special. I've not heard of anything similar with the Wallsend lads but I'm not that close in with them. But I know there was a few who have signed for Newcastle at 9. Think there was one went to the mackems as well.

Well that was my take on it.

I go and watch my lass's grandson play quite a bit for Wallsend Boys Club and some of the lads he used to play with have signed for Newcastle. Most of the Wallsend teams at under 8 never had keepers so they used to just rotate who played in goal. One of the lads who's signed for Newcastle was playing in goal one day and every time the ball went back to him he just brought the ball out and dribbled past most of the other kids and scored/set up a goal. It was ridiculous how much better he was than everyone else. Joelinton and Trippiers kids both played in the same league so I've seen them there quite a bit. Although I've not seen Tripps for a while now for some reason.

He used to get in the Engine in Howdon when he was playing here. I remember him being in there with Wayne Quinn one time. By all accounts he was a really sound lad.

Howe basically said he had no idea how long he will be out for. As in it could be a couple of days, it could be weeks. That will be taken as he's possibly going to miss months but the reality is he was just saying he didn't know what the problem is. He certainly didn't seem down about it. I thought throughout the conference he seemed much more upbeat than in recent ones.

I don't see it.

He put Isak straight in when he was needed. Nick has just played twice for Germany and had a weeks training with us so he's in at least as good a position as Isak was when he signed. I think we'd have all preferred to have Wissa available being premier league acclimatised and on the back of a couple of goals for his country, but I don't think there's any doubt Woltermade will play.

Do we have another option? After watching the Leeds match, if we thought we did, it's obvious we don't.

Would have struggled to manage any more drinks than I got through!

Still got the original of that. Bought it in Magaluf in about 98? Still fits me which is certainly more of a testament to how loose I wore tops in those days than it is to me being the same size. Bit clicked now but still in canny nick.

Dusseldorf. Match is Cologne I think. Was thinking of seeing if there was tickets left to make the trip.